New Study: MMORPG Players Not Socially Introverted
By Shawn on Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 at 2:37 PM PST In Computer, Gamer Life, Games, World of Warcraft
Researchers at Nottingham Trent University have done a study, published in the US journal CyberPsychology and Behavior that shatters the general assumption that online gamers are asocial.
“This study has revealed many aspects of MMORPGs that were not known before,” said Nottingham Trent University professor Mark Griffiths. “Previous research has suggested that gamers are socially inactive, but MMORPGs are actually extremely social games, with high percentages of gamers making life-long friends and even partners.â€
The study entitled “Social Interactions in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Gamers,” involved nearly 1,000 online gamers from across the globe. Players averaged 22.85 hours of game time per week. The game played most often was World of Warcraft.
Researchers found that 75% of gamers make good friends on line, 50% meet them in real life, and 10% of online companions develop physical relationships. A full 30% of players admitted to being attracted to another player and 40% admitted it was easier for them to discuss sensitive issues with their online buddies than their real life friends.
“As well as making good friends online, 81 per cent of gamers play with real-life friends and family, suggesting MMORPGs are by no means an asocial activity, nor are the players socially introverted,” said Griffiths.
“The virtual world that these games offer, allow players to express themselves in ways they may not feel comfortable doing in real life because of their appearance, gender, sexuality, age, or other factors. They also offer a place where teamwork, encouragement and fun can all be experienced.â€
My family plays MMOs together quite often. We usually choose Guild Wars because of the advantage of not having to pay three monthly fees. We also have two Lord of the Rings Online accounts. This study just goes to prove what I have always believed. The family that slays together, stays together.
50% of the people who I game with on Teamspeak on a regular basis I know in real life or have met them. Gamers aren’t the social retards people make them out to be.
How much money are they spending on these useless “studies” ?? Nothing here is news to me, this is all obvious and well know to anyone thats ever touched a MMORPG or even any multiplayer game. Idiots with their degrees and diplomas
They may not be “socially introverted” but they are “socially retarded”. Trust me. You don’t need a lab coat to research this stuff. Just talk to a few of ‘em and you’ll get a sense that indeed, there’s something askew about the average MMORPG fanatic.