39 replies to this topic

[Ensifer]

I know 3 couples that met and got married over WoW, so I don't think this is unbelievable at all.

[Tannlin]

I did not meet my wife through WoW, but...

We were in the same social circle when we were introduced, and that circle included people who also played WoW. She played on a different server when she originally started playing, then she switched with a couple other friends to play on my server. Knowing each other in person first helped, but knowing that we had the same interests helped more. She understands when I come home and have "guild meetings", "raid scheduled" and that's pretty huge. But more importantly, in my opinion, is she shares the happiness I feel when hitting certain milestones. That could be PvP rating, gear acquired, or encounter defeated. And I likewise feel the same about her involvement in gaming.

[Archangel]

I did not meet my wife through WoW, but...

We were in the same social circle when we were introduced, and that circle included people who also played WoW. She played on a different server when she originally started playing, then she switched with a couple other friends to play on my server. Knowing each other in person first helped, but knowing that we had the same interests helped more. She understands when I come home and have "guild meetings", "raid scheduled" and that's pretty huge. But more importantly, in my opinion, is she shares the happiness I feel when hitting certain milestones. That could be PvP rating, gear acquired, or encounter defeated. And I likewise feel the same about her involvement in gaming.

My boyfriend and I also equally share a love of gaming and understand each other's commitment to it. It's not an issue with us either. In fact, we're downright super supportive of anything each other does. It really is a great, understanding relationship.

[Demosthenes]

I don't even know where to start. Don't go into a game trying to meet someone, that's the worst thing you could do. And if you do meet someone, make sure they're... normal, and who they say they are. Online relationships can be weird, especially if you break up but still play the game and see eachother. Been there, done that. I'm not saying you can't find someone totally awesome in a game, because it's happened many times. But I do doubt that the success rate is as high as they say.

I do completely agree with that no one gets into a game to find a significant other, but consider this, if you're already going to places like eHarmony or really any place where you socialize online, then it's safe to assume you're okay with socializing without seeing another person's face. Once you've reached that level of acceptance (not saying it's a bad thing), then the idea of actual online dating seem okay, since you're already socializing that way.

The progressive part I feel WoW has versus a dating site is just that, you don't go there for the relationship, you go there for something else. When I played Rugby, I didn't play to pick up the cute Rugby guys/girls, I went there to play Rugby, but yet I ended up going out with someone on the Girl's Rugby team because of the social interaction. We were both there for the Rugby and that's how we learned to know more beyond each other, yet we had a common interest despite our few differences.

Try and apply this to WoW. If a boy and a girl who are around the same age, for example, are doing dungeons together and they enjoyed the time there. Both of their initial interests were complete the dungeon, but maybe the guy liked the girl's jokes or maybe she knew more about the guy's class that he was playing and she decided to help. Both of those just lead to more socialization. None of the examples listed have to do with wanting to be with each other, but it may lead to them being with each other. This is just the same as it may go in real life, just like in my Rugby experience example.

I'm no expert in online dating, but my impressions of online dating are, see their interest from a web browser, and then talk to each other online, and then maybe meet each other. The only thing they both have initially have in common is that they both want to be with someone else to some degree. Most people want just that, so online dating is not specialized, it's mostly open, so you can find some duds. With WoW, everyone there is for the same reason, but most people in the world do not play WoW, so the people who do play WoW are just one step ahead than the people of online dating since the social interaction is more unique because it's only based on a special group, and not most of the human population who has an internet connection. much like my Rugby experience, yet again, because the Rugby group was unique that we all liked to play Rugby, but most of the human population wants to be with someone else, which did overlap into the person I ended up going out with. Since we both had two things in common, we were also ahead of online dating because of our obvious interests and this is the same for WoW.

[Deft]

Very good analysis. I agree. Maybe there's not a high chance you'll meet someone, but if you do, you'll immediately have things in common with them.

[Blaedr]

Demo summed it up best, I believe. It is that mutual interest that then leads to uncovering other mutual interests which, over time, buds into a relationship. It is very common in hardcore PVE or PVP guilds where you are spending tens of hours a week playing with that person that also can lead to these relationships. It is the theory of being ideal due to always being with that person and a sense of "well, we interact a lot and like the same things so, why not?". Back when I played WoW, I know 3 couples that began their relationship in my guild and then got married later on. I guess to a degree it can be an unsung dating site.

[Bjohn]

ugh . I just subscribed to Match.com after two ok dates hoping the third date would be the charm. what a waste.

haha I wish I read this first.

[Deft]

^True. And it's the opposite for me. I end up looking worse in pictures, and the women look better (even though they still photoshop everything to hell).

[Melody]

Eeeh, I wouldnt say that EVERYONE's pictures are like that.
But honestly, would you put the worst picture you have up on a dating site?
No LOL.

Idunno, if people meet people over WoW, s'all good. But I'm perfectly happy with finding people in real life too ;P.

[Hegr]

Eeeh, I wouldnt say that EVERYONE's pictures are like that.
But honestly, would you put the worst picture you have up on a dating site?
No LOL.

Idunno, if people meet people over WoW, s'all good. But I'm perfectly happy with finding people in real life too ;P.

so they put up a false advertising picture up, go on a date, the guy doesnt like her because its not what he thought and never hears from the guy again. I cant see how this would be good emotionally for a girl. Getting the attention she wants for a day then losing it all.

[Deft]

I think it's good to go about halfway. You still need to attract someone initially with a good picture, but it doesn't have to be your best, and definitely should not be something that is "fake". That way their expectations aren't set too high and you have the chance to really impress them in person. This is even more important for guys, because we're pretty shallow that way... Anyway this is getting more and more off topic.

[Apth]

I'm not insanely shallow or anything, but I think it's messed up when girls commit blatant picture fraud; and expect the other person to be ok with it. It's like going to the store to buy a PS3, and coming home and opening the box to find a PS2. Wouldn't you be a little disappointed, and take your PS2 back to get the PS3 you agreed on when you made the purchase? I don't feel bad for them, because they did it to themselves. They should of been honest, because honesty goes a long way in a relationship.

While I definitely agree with the honesty bit, some people feel - for whatever reason - that their honest-to-goodness self isn't worthy of attention, so they pretend to be 'better' than they actually are, in whatever respect.

There are probably also a bunch of people out there who are afraid of putting themselves too far out there for fear of getting hurt, and having sort of an eDating persona is an extra layer of protection.

That's mostly speculation, having not actually been on a dating site before. Met my current girlfriend at a barcraft, she's bringing me dinner during the beta weekend

[McDili]

I met my ex-fiancee on WoW. Traveled about 1000 miles to get there and we did well for a long time but then she slipped up on a lie and it opened a door to about 10 more lies. Needless to say, the concept of meeting people over WoW isn't bad, and my situation could have happened to anyone regardless of how they met. Just gotta meet the right person


Really sucks to be 20 and have an ex-fiancee lol.

[WildFire]

I've found that a lot of people I play games with and met in World of Warcraft have met people in World of Warcraft and are now dating or married to those people. I believe that due to World of Warcrafts nature if you are a Raiding player you tend to form bonds with numerous people while you work towards a common goal, this also allows you to joke around and get to know each other at a level that most dating websites cannot offer in a few descriptions and a picture. While I personally do not think either method is superior as different people are attracted to different offerings I can see how someone could consider World of Warcraft to be similar or better than some dating website services.

Imagine you're meeting someone for the first time after meeting them on a dating website, you've probably only ever interacted with them in Emails, IM's, SMS and other text based forms of interaction and a few times over the phone. Some people might use webcams, Skype and other VOIP services but I imagine the amount of people who meet on dating sites probably don't utilize a lot of Skype or Teamspeak to interact with each other. You probably don't know very much about them and what you do know is probably exaggerated and or amplified by their ego.

Now picture it from the point of view of a World of Warcraft raider, you are with this person 2 - 5 times a week working for hours on completing raid objectives (progression, farm, etc) and while doing that you are interacting with that individual over Ventrilo, Teamspeak or Skype for upwards of 2 - 4 hours a night over the span of months to years. You get to know an individual at a much deeper and personal level through banter and a bit of flirting, you share stories, you tell them how your day is going, you talk to them about your problems or accomplishments, you offer them gifts and you interact with each other in a method that mirrors the behavior you exhibit when interacting with close friends / romantic relationships. I believe that this part of World of Warcraft is superior to dating websites but ONLY if you are actually able to be a raider for extended periods of time with the same individuals. I cannot see a lot of PvP scenarios where it would lead to a longer lasting relationship.

Just my opinion on the matter, I didn't really enjoy the article, it felt like it was assuming a little to much about the 12 million subscribers in World of Warcraft (which is now down to around 10 million), not everyone interacts with people at the same level in an MMO or is in an area of the game where romantic relationships are easily formed.

[Zyll]

Regardless of such, whatever floats your boat, and as long as you're happy in the end. More than plausible imo.

I met my ex-fiancee on WoW. Traveled about 1000 miles to get there and we did well for a long time but then she slipped up on a lie and it opened a door to about 10 more lies. Needless to say, the concept of meeting people over WoW isn't bad, and my situation could have happened to anyone regardless of how they met. Just gotta meet the right person


Really sucks to be 20 and have an ex-fiancee lol.

Well hey at least she didn't turn out to be a man right? And as for the age thing, consider it a bullet dodged and a godsend. Almost went down that road, phew (no not the almost a man part lol).

[McDili]

Regardless of such, whatever floats your boat, and as long as you're happy in the end. More than plausible imo.



Well hey at least she didn't turn out to be a man right? And as for the age thing, consider it a bullet dodged and a godsend. Almost went down that road, phew (no not the almost a man part lol).

Yeah, the silver lining is that I didn't get married into that situation, then it would be terrible haha.

[Caeleste]

I did not meet my wife through WoW, but...

We were in the same social circle when we were introduced, and that circle included people who also played WoW. She played on a different server when she originally started playing, then she switched with a couple other friends to play on my server. Knowing each other in person first helped, but knowing that we had the same interests helped more. She understands when I come home and have "guild meetings", "raid scheduled" and that's pretty huge. But more importantly, in my opinion, is she shares the happiness I feel when hitting certain milestones. That could be PvP rating, gear acquired, or encounter defeated. And I likewise feel the same about her involvement in gaming.

He once woke me up when WotLK was still the current expansion (and the Battered Hilt was still a BIG deal) with the nerd squees of new loots.... he had won the roll for the hilt. I was excited.
I've known several couples who have gotten together due to WoW.
3 of those couples got married. I know that 2 have stayed together, 1 couple was married long before Tannlin and I got married... the other shortly after.
The third couple... I have no idea what happened with them.

[Perseus]

I think the figures in the article area bit high and a bit generic to be quite true, although I have no doubt that quite a few people do meet on WoW to say that just because both partners play WoW they are a couple because of WoW is a very wrong statement to make. Also demand webcam before a date on online sites. Weed out those photo edit.