Orcs Make The Best Friends
Posted by Kwip on August 15th, 2007 5 Comments 
From the “Here’s Something Anyone That Actually Games Could Tell You” Dept: Playing those wacky MOGs can lead to real-life friendships!
In an article on GameDaily, they reveal a study by U.K.’s Nottingham Trent University that shows gamers make real-world friends with their virtual-world companions. Who’d a thunk?
A new study out of the U.K.’s Nottingham Trent University would seem to reinforce the social value of MMOs. The study looked at almost 1,000 online gamers from across the world and ultimately found that “gamers make good friends with the people they meet in their virtual worlds, with almost half meeting in real-life situations and one in ten going on to develop physical relationships.”
Hard to believe, right? The study also revealed such shocking statistics as nearly 50% of all the surveyed players play WoW.
It’s funny to us, but I wonder how “shocking” this study will be to “outsiders.” Is there really still the perception of gamers as solitary basement dwellers?
Pffft. Next you’ll tell me comic book readers AREN’T all lonely teen boys…
August 15th, 2007 at 11:54 am
I like how they looked at 1000 gamers when WoW alone has 9 million subscribers =P
August 15th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
How Shocking!!!
I’ve met a few of the people I’ve gamed with, have an ongoing online friendship with many more, four online friends have visited my home (with three visiting overnight… with hubby’s permission), and even have a god-daughter from my longest standing online friendship (6 years).
Giggles!
August 17th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Good thing only 50% of the gamers were WoW players, or they might have had different results. Worst friggin community ever. Great game, but dude… it’s still a bunch of b.net kiddies.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
of cours not comic book rteader could also be over weight middle aged men who still live with their mom
August 20th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
>I like how they looked at 1000 gamers when WoW alone has 9 million subscribers =P
That’s just an issue of statistics. Since the study is valid, I’m betting it’s a representative sample (within reason, statistics always have their limitations. And after this study has come up with something most (non-gamer) people didn’t expect, there will probably be a bunch of new studies done with much larger samples.