Virtual Marriage

[SenorPhrog]

<div></div>Like baseball and Starbucks, marriage is an institution that is recognized throughout the world.  What happens when art imitates life and people get married in game? Kiara dicusses why people tie the knot, and what impact is has on gameplay.<blockquote>Why am I thinking about marriage? Certainly not because I'm married or planning to get married anytime soon. Been there, done that, MADE the t-shirt. And yes, that is a slightly bitter aroma you're smelling right now. Don't get me wrong. Marriage can be a wonderful thing with the right person. There are a lot of ups and downs though. So, one has to ask, why on earth would you get married in a game? You get none of the benefits! Your virtual husband can't take out the trash, or cook outdoors, or kill the big, fist-sized, woman eating spider that just crawled across my wall. * shudders * Ugh. One moment while I find a shoe.</blockquote>Read the rest of this insightful article entitled <a href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=808&meid=237" target=_blank>Virtual Marriage</a>.<div></div>

[ironman2000]

Seriously, I don't want to be a nah sayer, but whats the point of virtual marriage in this game, when they completely negated the family elemant of the game by not even putting in the family grouping into the game? It was one of the features of the game that drew me in (i'm not a big guild person, but I play with several members of my real life family), and that feature was never here to begin with, along with a lot of other selling points, that just didn't seem to make it into the game for one reason or another.

[DarkArrow69]

<div></div><div></div><blockquote><hr>ironman2000 wrote:<div></div>Seriously, I don't want to be a nah sayer, but whats the point of virtual marriage in this game, when they completely negated the family elemant of the game by not even putting in the family grouping into the game? It was one of the features of the game that drew me in (i'm not a big guild person, but I play with several members of my real life family), and that feature was never here to begin with, along with a lot of other selling points, that just didn't seem to make it into the game for one reason or another.<hr></blockquote>If it was never in the game to begin with how did it draw you in?  Do you mean family grouping like Lineage has, or what?  You can always share a last name with other players and roleplay as a family... but was there supposed to be some sort of system in place to link you together like a guild?  You realize you can always start a family guild? You don't have to let outsiders in and you can name your guild "The Smiths" or whatever you like? There are quite a few points to virtual marriage in this game.  A few are mentioned in the linked article, but obviously you didn't read it or else you would have absorbed them.  One is married couples who play the game together wanting to roleplay their union in-game (or just wanting to discourage any sexual innuendo from other players, which happens more frequently than people let on).  Another reason is two players who meet in-game and hit it off enough to start an out-of-game romance and want to declare their love for each other in game as well.  Yet another reason is pure roleplay.  Just like in real life, when a male and female character spend a lot of time in game together, sometimes sparks fly!  A logical progression to this would be for the characters to start an in game romance... Any roleplaying game needs character progression beyond leveling and acquiring loot.  Just as people fall in love and wed IRL, characters fall in love and wed in-game. It's fantasy.. you can pretty much do whatever you want. =) Edited to remove brain farts.<div></div><p>Message Edited by DarkArrow69 on <span class="date_text">04-27-2006</span> <span class="time_text">11:12 PM</span></p><p>Message Edited by DarkArrow69 on <span class=date_text>04-27-2006</span> <span class=time_text>11:18 PM</span>

[ironman2000]

It was not PUT INTO THE GAME, it was ADVERTISED AS A FEATURE THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.  It was supposed to be a seperate system from guilds, and was supposed to have its own advantages, ie: for marriages, family relationships and include tools to manage family dynamics in the game.  I still don't see the point of Virtual marriages, and I did read the article, I just don't necessarily agree with it.  I'm stating the way I feel about it, so take it as that, purely my OPINION, you don't have to agree with me either, but i'm going to post my view on the subject.

[SenorPhrog]

<div></div><div><blockquote><hr>ironman2000 wrote:<div></div>It was not PUT INTO THE GAME, it was ADVERTISED AS A FEATURE THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.  It was supposed to be a seperate system from guilds, and was supposed to have its own advantages, ie: for marriages, family relationships and include tools to manage family dynamics in the game.  I still don't see the point of Virtual marriages, and I did read the article, I just don't necessarily agree with it.  I'm stating the way I feel about it, so take it as that, purely my OPINION, you don't have to agree with me either, but i'm going to post my view on the subject.<hr></blockquote>No offense, but while you read the article, I don't think you fully grasped its intentions.  The purpose of Kiara's article (and she has no problem correcting me if I'm wrong on this), was to examine the translation of a real world institution, into an MMO.  She wanted to look at what purpose in game marriages serve, and what effects it has.   This is an long standing extension of the games social aspect, and one I find a little interesting.What you are discussing with families is a game mechanic.  It has nothing to do with two people and their affection, it has to do with a complex set of rules that group player characters together.  The family idea didn't work out apparently, or it would be here by now.  While it might be a neat little aspect, I personally didn't see the purpose of family names and felt guilds filled the void well enough.  </div><p>Message Edited by Radar-X on <span class=date_text>04-28-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:03 AM</span>

[Christofurious]

<div></div>I don't know about this virtual marraige stuff...I mean there is no yard to mow, houses to paint, appliances to fix, grocery store to go to, etc.  I just don't see it working without some "honey-do's"!  <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span> <font size="2">Didn't read article...ducks head to avoid rl wife EDIT: After reading the article, as far as Divorces are concerned, I think we have now seen the real reason they put in /duel and /duelbet! </font> <div></div><p>Message Edited by st00ler on <span class=date_text>04-28-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:32 AM</span>

[ironman2000]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> st00ler wrote:<BR> I don't know about this virtual marraige stuff...I mean there is no yard to mow, houses to paint, appliances to fix, grocery store to go to, etc.  I just don't see it working without some "honey-do's"!  <SPAN>:smileyvery-happy:</SPAN><BR><BR><BR><FONT size=2>Didn't read article...ducks head to avoid rl wife<BR><BR>EDIT:<BR><BR>After reading the article, as far as Divorces are concerned, I think we have now seen the real reason they put in /duel and /duelbet!<BR></FONT> <P>Message Edited by st00ler on <SPAN class=date_text>04-28-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>07:32 AM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000 size=4>ROFL!!!!</FONT></STRONG> <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Kurizok]

<DIV>If you're married in game then everyone knows not to send cyber requests to such and such's wife.</DIV>

[Melchiah]

I need a "I'm actually a dude" flag for my female characters.

[ironman2000]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Kurizokun wrote:<BR> <DIV>If you're married in game then everyone knows not to send cyber requests to such and such's wife.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Like thats really going to stop some stupid horny teenager from sending cyber requests to your wife because she plays a hot toon.  How are they going to see shes married, a virtual marriage licsense that floats over her head?  You're really that worried about your wife cybering with them?  Then you have other issues that you need to address.  Seriously, tell em to bugger off and move on, how many hot elves are out there?  Shes not the only one i'm sure.

[ginfress]

Getting married in a game is more or less a RP feature imo. I have done it once in another game with someone i played with 90% of my time. For the RP community it was a logical step if you saw her in a zone you could safely bet i was there too. Now the fun thing is my wife plays the same games i do and no the in game wedding wasnt with a char of my wife. And no she didnt see anything wrong with a play char of mine getting married with another game char. It was logical for her too since the in game experience from my char with that other char moved us in the RP fashion towards an in-game wedding.

[Savanja]

<div><blockquote><hr>ironman2000 wrote:<div></div>It was not PUT INTO THE GAME, it was ADVERTISED AS A FEATURE THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.  It was supposed to be a seperate system from guilds, and was supposed to have its own advantages, ie: for marriages, family relationships and include tools to manage family dynamics in the game.  I still don't see the point of Virtual marriages, and I did read the article, I just don't necessarily agree with it.  I'm stating the way I feel about it, so take it as that, purely my OPINION, you don't have to agree with me either, but i'm going to post my view on the subject.<hr></blockquote>Advertised as a feature?  I do believe you are confused.  It was an idea tossed around during beta, even before out of house beta, and never made it into game.  That happens.  Such is the nature of game development.  Lots of feature that were pondered didn't make it in game, and lots of things that weren't openly discussed, did make it in.In game marriage is used just for the reasons that Kiara mentioned, roleplaying being the main one.  Plus, sometimes it's just fun to have that cutesy little aspect between friends or couples.  It's all part of the fun, and for some, it truly is fun.  After all, this is a roleplaying game, and some do like to roleplay.Kudos Kiara on a cute article.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div>

[*SLiDE*]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Melchiah wrote:<BR>I need a "I'm actually a dude" flag for my female characters.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>ha!</P> <P>That would definately save me some time when I'm hitt... </P> <P>I mean... that would definately help cause less confusion.</P> <P>You could always go the last name route too... "Eymuhdood"</P> <P><img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[LordAdd]

<DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> *SLiDE* wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Melchiah wrote:<BR>I need a "I'm actually a dude" flag for my female characters.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>ha!</P> <P>That would definately save me some time when I'm hitt...</P> <P>I mean... that would definately help cause less confusion.</P> <P>You could always go the last name route too... "Eymuhdood"</P> <P><img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>or Ivathurdlegg</DIV>

[BoriKitty]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Melchiah wrote:<BR>I need a "I'm actually a dude" flag for my female characters.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>ROFL!  I played FFXI for 2 years.. when people got married.. it was hysterical (I FINALLY got married 1 year later.. dang GM's did a LOTTERY for the services.....).. We had a race called Mithra (cat).. they only came in Female so many of the Mithra were actually "Manthra" since they character had the best agility in the game (best thieves, etc.).</P> <P>When you got in a party.. most of the Manthra would mess with each other.. but when a REAL girl was behind the Mithra.. the cat calls were horrible.. </P>

[Forsaken Falc]

<P>Online Marrige is just harmless fun. From a Ex-Raganrok player point of view in-game marrieged is basicly about team work just as in real life, I was an Assassin & She was an White-Smith (upgraded blacksmith) Bassicly I killed loot & She'd crafted and sell.</P> <P>As for the question of what benafit does it bring? Well in RO You got 3 new skill's <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P> </P> <P>1 = heal's partner</P> <P>2 = teleport's partner</P> <P>3 = Give mana to partner</P>