The Effect of Physical Co-Location on Social Competence, Gaming Engagement and Gamer Identity within a Competitive Multiplayer Game

Playing digital games in the physical co-location of others elicits a different experience than solo play, with the experience of social play often being described as more immersive and fun. The current study investigated in a sample of 40 individuals (mean age=20.3 years), the effect of playing a competitive multiplayer game on gaming engagement, gamer identity and social competence; and whether this effect was influenced by the physical location of another player. Results showed that across all participants there was an increase in gamer identity, gaming engagement and social competence. The physical location of another player had a significantly greater effect on social competence than playing alone (p= 0.02). However, this was not the case for gamer identity or engagement (p>0.05). A significant positive relationship was found between engagement with identity (p<0.001) but not social competence (p>0.05); an association which held across game condition (i.e. solo and co-located gameplay). The results suggest that location of another player during competitive gameplay improves individuals’ self-evaluation of social competence and gaming more generally has positive impacts for players’ perceptions of identity.