Saturday, April 22, 2006

Cyberspace Unites Families Through Online Games

Although computer games have often been thought of as a pastime for the antisocial, communal online worlds such as the one in Guild Wars are the hottest things in games these days. The most popular title in this genre, World of Warcraft, has more than 5 million subscribers -- all text-chatting with their fellow players or using microphones and headsets to collaborate on the latest monster-killing mission.

Game companies don't track how many families play online games together, but they say the trend helps drive their popularity. Some families play games to maintain contact from far-flung towns; some parents play online games with their kids in the next room as a way of bonding with them.

While they play, the family members can catch up on comings and goings. The trend for familities to connect through online games is increasing especially when families are separated by military duty. For others, it is becoming a social space where families could interact and understand the personality traits of members better.

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