From Basement to Boardroom

or Why Gamers Can Meet in the Open Now

by Medeor

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Back in the day (oh, about a year or so ago) gamers typically met in dark basements and away from the prying eyes of the public. The typical "meeting" was held thousands of miles apart, with the players connected by their computers and broadband (if they were lucky). Gamers didn’t meet in public; heck, they didn’t go out much. Part of that was our culture--gaming was frowned upon by “people” and gamers didn’t want to risk the ire of the “people.”

Fast forward a whopping 12 to 18 months, give or take. The gamer of today can walk proudly into EB Games in the mall and walk out with the latest hack-n-slash and not feel like they are strolling out in public carrying porn. We’ve come a long way, baby. But this is not an article about how games have become more mainstream, it is about how gamers have become more mainstream, and that heading out to meet up with fellow gamers is not only cool and interesting, it’s better...oh yes, better. Now it’s almost accepted.

Have you met up with a fellow gamer? Five years ago most people would have said “Eww, have you seen the people that play those games?” Now they need only look in the mirror to see the people playing those games. I have looked in the mirror, and you know what? I like me, so I’d hang out with me.

The interaction in an MMO is so different from consoles that I won’t spend any time discussing the way that a 3 minute Halo match won’t build community. MMOs on the other hand, bring people together for the purpose of a greater good–loot! Oh wait, I mean...progression and accomplishment. I have seen it over and over again. Heck, the military uses this tactic to bring the troops closer, and the theory is that those groups who struggle, claw and scratch their way through some heinous back-breaking experiences will come out the other side willing to die for their group mates.

This is why I wouldn’t necessarily meet up with any of the Halo l33ters who have fragged me, but I would meet up with my MMO buddies. I don’t know many who would literally die for their guild mates, but their avatars take punches for them every night. It is really quite chivalrous. Maybe we could get that back into society, hmm? Once again Shay is going to kill me because I am tangent man and can’t stay on the point. [Editor's Note: Not yet, Tangent Man. Not...yet. --Shay] The point is, I have met fellow online gamers out in public (folks I didn’t know before in real life) and we had a good time.

Storytime! There was a very good guild friend who we all hung out with on Teamspeak during PvP nights and Raids. Together we killed more enemies than I could ever count. He came to town on business and we went out for a bee. I was nervous because I thought, Just because we play the same game doesn’t mean we’re going to have anything else in common. Wrong! We hung out for more than a few beers (and boy did I get funnier!) You know what? He was similar to me in that we’re both married with kids and jobs and have a lot of interesting things going on outside of the game. We talked about all kinds of things in addition to the game, our guild, and strategies. I’m beginning to think we’re more the norm than the exception. So the answer is: yes, I would hang out with someone I met online. I don’t know if I’ll make lifelong friends, but I’ve sure met some cool people along the way.

Some people have met lifelong friends, and others have even met their partners. Many of us have likely read the Wall Street Journal article talking about gamers who found their mates by gaming: “To Find a Mate, Raid a Dungeon Or Speak Like an Elf: Flirting in Online Games Can Lead to Offline Love (Lord Krideldek's Ploy)” by David Kesmodel (June 9, 2006; Page A1). I think you need a subscription to open it, but here is the link. In my last two offices, I have met couples who got together through gaming and moved multiple states to be with their new significant gaming other.

Another good article is from the BBC, and it really brings home a lot of the examples I provided above: “Meeting Your Online Gaming Pals."

"But Medeor," you say, “What will happen when our kids, who are spending all their time gaming on their dern computers, grow up?”

“Bah!” I say, "They're going to be more group-oriented, mindful of others, and internationally wise." Check out this little gem of an article: “Gamers Make More Friends Not Less.” Here's one quote from it:

“We noticed that, rather than forfeiting existing friendships, teenagers logging into the game environment are actually adding to their group of friends. This was because they meet different groups in different virtual meeting spaces."

And what will they do with all these online meeting skills? Call me crazy, but I’ll bet $4.4B they start businesses and go on to be successful. Yes, that was with a B. And all that money will bring people together in ways we can’t even fathom: "Online Gaming is Serious Business."

So in the meantime, I’m still waiting for my Outlook to pop up with the Meeting Invite that says: “Come to our board meeting! Join us on WoW server Bronzebeard, in the Winterspring (Neutral Site) Inn for drinks and discussion. (Raid to follow, and the character that ends up with the Epic item must make coffee for all of us at our next meeting.): "Businesses Find Real Uses in the Virtual World."

The ultimate question is whether or not any community members would get together for a Ten Ton Hammer meet and greet. My answer is yes; I would definitely go out of my way to hang out with the great people I’ve met on the boards and on Vent and Teamspeak. Would you? Tell us here!

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One last fun tidbit I found in researching this article:

If you still don’t believe me, gaming is even making its roads into academia, making the mainstream news, and it even makes web conferences, who knows, I might "see" you there:

Exploring the Learning Potential of Multiplayer Online Games: Web Conference

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Share your thoughts and let us know if you'd be interested in a Ten Ton Hammer meet and greet here!