"Robbie Cooper concentrated on so-called massively multi-player online role-playing games (MMORPGs), which have complex social elements aside from the aspect of gaming. They have existed in various forms since the early days of the web, and are now big business for major games makers. They have also attracted much attention from academics. In these games, social bonds are made and clans are created, but some often choose to meet up in real-life too.
"Technologically-mediated interaction is made out to be dehumanising and unnatural, and I think that is maybe a bit exaggerated," said Mr Cooper.
The self-images that people create vary, but most show that there is an echo of the person in the avatar.
"Mostly people go for either human, or a variation on humans, like a dwarf or elf or humanoid alien," said Mr Cooper. But the more control players have over how the avatar looks, the more there is some sort of reflection of the real person.
"It is quite a subjective thing, putting together a likeness. Your real life is bound to be reflected in it."
But those echoes are not necessarily physical. They may be aspects of a person's personality rather than a look."
Jo Twist "Virtual gamers reveal themselves", BBC News.
