Comments on: Social Gamers? No way!

By: Adele

Adele — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:16:10 +0000

Ah yes, much better than sitting on our rumps watching tv.

By: yunk

yunk — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:47:33 +0000

Maybe the 1 in 10 includes stalking? “but she really likes me, we HAD a relationship, I swear!” I have heard a few stories like that.

By: James

James — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:53:16 +0000

Good point on the “one couple covers two people.” That obvious fact escaped me and does indeed make “1 in 10″ more realistic.

By: Julian

Julian — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:04:49 +0000

I met my wife through an online Star Wars gaming club. Does that count?

By: Zubon

Zubon — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:38:05 +0000

Making 1 in 10 more realistic: that is ever, so if you once hooked up after a player meet, you count. She also counts, so the two of you cover 18 other people. If there are two couples at a full 40-man raid, that is 1 in 10. Also, you may know one person who has hooked up with half a guild; congratulations, you have covered your entire server.

By: James

James — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:19:33 +0000

1 in 10 seems high to me too (even though I’m a member of that group!) Curious if you have a link to the source survey?

I do think games can help with some social skills… and it is a little frustrating how the mainstream is slow to catch on to this. In all fairness, though, I find real-life social interaction is even -more- helpful :-)

By: Mythokia

Mythokia — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:58:50 +0000

It wouldn’t surprise me if the success rate for physical relationships was comparable, if not better, than matchmaking sites. Because the game itself would be something both of you are passionate about, and hence a solid common ground to further the relationship. On the other than, matchmaking services often have to piece together people who might not share event remotely similar interests.

And it’s not just MMOs. I met up and still continue hanging out and keeping in contact with some of the guys that I played FPS games with in the past, such as UT, RtCW or Tribes 2.

By: Loredena

Loredena — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:08:31 +0000

I’m not entirely surprised. I’ve met a lot of my in-game friends in ‘real life’ over the years. Most particularly, my husband started out as a hunting partner in EQ — and I know several other married couples who met in EQ.

By: Verilazic

Verilazic — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:53:30 +0000

Very true. It also helps to have something in common to talk about; the game is basically an extremely effective icebreaker.

By: Cyndre

Cyndre — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:38:34 +0000

1 in 10 seems very, very high. My guess is that it is 1 in 10 of survey respondents who may or may not be lying…

I certainly know of many people that develop deeper emotional attachments to people they meet in a virtual world. Many people that I consider good friends were met online and a good percentage I have never met and probably never will.

Its interesting when you make a connection with someone, and then find out later that they are the antithesis of your real world friends, and you begin to realize just how many good friends you have probablly not met in your life because thier impression of you or yours of them, caused you to not reach out…

Its easier to befriend the elf wizard then it is the person of a different race/ religeon/ economic/ social circumstance as yourself…