I think anyone that reads and enjoys "Ask Alle" understands that MMO's are certainly a great place to find new friends and potential mates.

http://www.guildcafe.com/Vox/071207-MMO-Love-sex-advice.html

[[Ok then , if you find a mate then she (guessing) is more desperate then you are. Case in point , the cradle robbing 45 year old woman marrying a 30 year old man in person and then on line at the recent SOE Fan Faire. That is so(e) sad that this is the best an MMO relationship can do]]

What exactly is wrong with that? If it was the other way round--older man, younger woman--you'd be congratulating the guy on scoring a younger girl.

Honestly, one would think games would be the perfect place for people to meet potential partners in the sense that most of the shallowness is left out of the picture and mostly "pure" human interaction remains; in addition you meet people who obviously have the same interests, so wouldn't it actually be preferable meeting someone online opposed to offline?

There is always the risk of people being untrue on-line, but does this not also hold true in off-line? God knows how many people have turned up for a blind date only to find that the person they are supposed to be dating have lied about something about themselves. Honestly I think it's about time people stopped caring so much about "how" other people met eachother and instead ask "Are you happy?". That is all that counts in the end isn't it? :D

Ok then , if you find a mate then she (guessing) is more desperate then you are. Case in point , the cradle robbing 45 year old woman marrying a 30 year old man in person and then on line at the recent SOE Fan Faire. That is so(e) sad that this is the best an MMO relationship can do

I think finding friendships and romantic relationships on the 'net will eventually become unremarkable, and not just on MMOs. For example, society used to look down on getting together with a person you met in a bar. Some people still do, but most people's mothers won't faint dead away and need smelling salts upon learning that their baby has become engaged to a person they met at a place where the demon rum is sold (translation: where sweaty losers and addicts hang out--sound familiar?). It'll get accepted with time.

The author did gloss over (or ignore completely?) the extra hurdle of finally meeting in person that net couples and friends go through, but I think she's right that you can get some meaningful information about a person's *real* personality in a game even if they're slipping into a different role.

I think this could be a good trend, Honestly, my girlfriend hates the fact that i play WoW. That is one of the biggest obstacles in our relationship. I don't play it constantly like some i know, she just thinks that playing games online makes me "Weird" I could see how people would appreciate finding someone who shared their love for the escapism that is Online Gaming.

(oops, double post!)

Fascinating. Like so many other things gamers have known for years, the mainstream media is just noticing these things.

Short, hairy, sexist, idiot seeks same for PvP, possobly more.
e-mail: Hagan@desperate.com. Serious enquieries only please.

ahhhhh this is sad, get off the net and go out..

MMOGs have coupling rates of 10% - that's better than any partnership website, well at least that's what that study (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=27648) states.

Still, I guess you won't be successful in finding a partner if you aren't at least somewhat enjoying the game.