Study Shows that MMOGs Promote Sociability

chrisb33 writes "After studying several MMOs, University of Illinois researchers have concluded that the games 'promote sociability and new worldviews.' The study found that the games did not foster social isolation, but actually encouraged meetings between players of differing backgrounds, supplying the 'social horizon-broadening...sorely lacking in American society.' While they caution that, in extreme cases, fixation on internet gaming could diminish offline relationships, the tone of the press release with regard to gaming is remarkably upbeat compared to that of most recent news about gaming."

So talking about what you want to get is social?

[kinglink]

Seriously who has been on any MMORPG and can honestly said they were "socialable?" I'm not talking about talking to people, I'm talking about talking to people about stuff that doesn't directly relate to the game.

Every time I was in a guild in any game all I heard was guild issue, guild fights and random crap. There was no real socialization there was discussions on crap like "when are we taking on Moltan core" "are we going to power level me today?" "who can help me with this?" It's true there's some social events on the game, but for the most part, I don't count dancing in a line, talking about the dancing in a line, and then taking pictures of dancing in a line as "social events".

That's not to say it's bad. It does foster problem solving, and speaking up about problems, asking for help. All of these are good things. But at the same time it doesn't actually feel social. The only socializing I really got done on World of warcraft was Pms to my ACTUAL friends, who if I wasn't on an MMORPG I'd be talking to on IM.

P.S. Experiences include Everquest, SWG, Guild Wars, as well as others.