In Week 16 of Advanced 3D Computer Animation, Professor Nigel Mairs suggested me to work on the next steps towards progressing my thesis proposal by refining the direction of my research and expanding the core components developed from my previous literature review. This week was important in transforming the critical arguments from my literature review into a structured proposal that clearly defines the purpose, methods, and expected contribution of my study.
Step 1: Developing the Proposal
I continued developing my research question, “Who Owns Your Avatar? Platform Control vs. Player Rights in Digital Games”, with a stronger focus on the conflict between theoretical copyright ownership and practical platform authority. I further established the main objective of my research, which examines how Terms of Service, moderation systems, and platform regulations determine the actual control over player-created avatars within commercial digital games.
Step 2: Reviewing Case Studies and Methods
I began identifying the overall structure of my proposal, including the introduction, research design, methodology, chapter organisation, and expected outcomes. I developed a qualitative doctrinal research approach, focusing on analysing legal documents such as platform Terms of Service, intellectual property policies, and scholarly discussions around digital ownership. This helped me justify why document analysis was the most suitable method, as the central issue of my research depends on contractual frameworks rather than user perception.
I also reviewed the key platform case studies including Roblox, Fortnite, VRChat, Second Life, Minecraft, and The Sims 4 to identify recurring patterns of platform control. These examples strengthened my argument that player creativity exists within boundaries established by digital platforms.
By the end of the week, I had a clearer roadmap for developing the complete thesis proposal. I understood how each section of the proposal must connect back to the central research question, ensuring that my study maintains a focused argument from the introduction through to the final conclusion.