1. Conjugal Gaming: An Analysis of World of Warcraft from the Perspective of Real Life Couples Kate Compton Marleigh Norton Brandon Yarbrough

2. Why Conjugal Gaming? World of Warcraft –Fastest selling video game of all time –Just started Problem: Too broad a topic. Solution: Pick a sub-population to study –Not the stereotypical gamers –Real life couples

3. Outline Brief demo Participants Data and analysis of couple-related issues –Role-playing romance –Adventuring together vs. playing at the same time –Communication –Long-distance activity

4. Demo

5. Participants 6 couples -> 12 participants –Recruited via personal contacts, forums, in-game chat –Some interviewed together, some separately Ages 22-54, average 34 3 couples married, 1 couple engaged All gamed before WoW All but one couple gamed together before WoW

6. Data Role-playing Romance Not common among our participants –Many didnt role-play –Others didnt want to mix real life romance with in-game romance Bad experiences in the past

7. Analysis Role-playing Romance WoW supports romance as toy –Items: wedding dresses, rings, flowers –Emotes: flirt, hug, kiss, dance Could add romantic quests –Write someones name in the stars for a day No good solution for in-game/out-of-game romantic awkwardness

8. Data Adventuring Together vs. Playing at the Same Time Adventuring together –Requires characters near same level –Coupled characters –Game dates Playing at the same time –Still a shared experience –Watch each other play –Constantly talking about the game

9. Analysis Adventuring Together vs. Playing at the Same Time Parties with two characters –Works well, better than EverQuest –Classes broader Level disparity a big problem –City of Heroes has good solution –Link characters

10. Data Communication Play in same room, if possible –Communicate by talking –Faster than text chat Can see each others screens, usually dont look

11. Analysis Communication Text chat clearly not good enough –Voice chat –Redesign chat window Awareness is good

12. Data Long-Distance Activity Something to do with partner when apart –Business trips Long-distance relationship –Good and bad When he has problems with the game, it makes me think that he doesnt want to play with me, that my games not good enough for him.

13. Analysis Long-Distance Activity Works great as a long-distance activity –MMORPGs are designed for that purpose Long-distance relationships… –We can help, sort of –Better than nothing, but not a substitute for face-to-face

14. Summary Brief demo Participants Data and analysis of couple-related issues –Role-playing romance –Adventuring together vs. playing at the same time –Communication –Long-distance activity

15. Questions?