Character Design in Video Games: Visual Recognition through Gestalt and Archetype Theory
Keywords:
perceptual organization principles, visual working memory, archetypal symbols, character identifiability, video game visual designAbstract
This research aims to analyze the cognitive principles underlying the visual recognition of characters in video games. A theoretical-analytical approach is adopted, integrating cognitive psychology, Gestalt theory, and Jungian archetype theory to examine how character design facilitates rapid cognitive processing through formal simplification, contour reinforcement, and the incorporation of archetypal symbols. The findings show that morphological elements constitute the core of identity recognition, while color serves a complementary function oriented toward attentional regulation and emotional induction. Based on the analysis of cases such as Pac-Man, Team Fortress 2, and Overwatch, it is concluded that the cognitive efficacy of character design lies in the application of basic geometric shapes and the strategic insertion of archetypal markers, mechanisms that are modulated by video game genre and perspective conditions. The results provide an operative theoretical framework for character design practice in the industry.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Joseph Israel Reyes Rodriguez, Paola Alexandra Calupiña Feijoó, César Omar Coloma Barragán (Author)
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