For decades, arcade machines have masterfully incorporated player identity through various avatar and customization systems, creating a deeply personal connection between the player and the game. Unlike modern consoles, arcades developed unique approaches to player representation within their technical constraints.

The most fundamental system was character selection. Fighting games like Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat revolutionized arcades by allowing players to choose from a diverse roster of characters, each serving as the player's avatar with unique movesets and personalities. This selection became an extension of the player's identity on the screen. Sports games like NBA Jam took this further by allowing players to select real-world teams and players as their virtual representatives.

More sophisticated systems emerged through save systems. Neo Geo's memory card system allowed players to save progress and customizations across cabinets. Games like The Simpsons and X-Men let players select colored characters corresponding to specific joystick positions, creating immediate visual identification. Some racing games like Initial D Arcade Stage used card systems where players could save customized vehicles, performance upgrades, and driver statistics, creating persistent avatars that evolved with play.

Modern arcades have embraced even deeper customization. Bandai Namco's system allows players to create detailed profiles with customized avatars that carry across multiple games. Rhythm games like Dance Dance Revolution track player progress and high scores under personalized names. Light gun games often let players choose special forces operatives with different attributes.

The physical cabinet itself contributed to avatar incorporation. Dedicated racing cabinets with steering wheels and gear shifts made players feel embodied in the driver avatar. Flight simulators with cockpit enclosures and flight sticks created immersive pilot identities. The joystick and buttons became extensions of the player's hands, directly connecting their physical actions to their avatar's movements.

This evolution demonstrates how arcades created persistent identity long before online profiles existed, using both digital and physical means to make each player's experience uniquely their own through the avatars they controlled.