Originally posted by Alders
I can't be the only one that plays MMO's to get away from the social media crap.

You're not.  I'm in the same boat.  I play games to get away from all the real world drama, not import it.

Originally posted by OgreRaper

*yawn*

Has anyone ever had trouble finding their friends in an MMO. Seriously? Has this ever been an issue for anyone?!

So yeah, this is a whole lot of nonsense that I don't really care is in an MMO I play.

I've never had a problem because we actually got together and talked to each other in real life first! 

Originally posted by Latronus

Originally posted by OgreRaper

*yawn*

Has anyone ever had trouble finding their friends in an MMO. Seriously? Has this ever been an issue for anyone?!

So yeah, this is a whole lot of nonsense that I don't really care is in an MMO I play.

I've never had a problem because we actually got together and talked to each other in real life first! 

This. Also, you're locked into your factions so megaservers won't help anyway unless you were lucky enough to pick the same faction as the "friends" you don't communicate with.

One of you will still have to create a new character if you want to play together.

I don't mind having the option of adding your Facebook/Google+ friends to your ingame friends list, but usually, Facebook integration means nobody, not even important news like "our servers got hacked and customer information was stolen" gets posted on the official site.

So far, in every game that started using Facebook while i was following, the "official" (games website, forum, blog etc.) started to suffer. Some of them to the point of being a waste of time, money and space.

Just take a look at how mmorpg.com handles it:

Instead of posting on Facebook that they have a lottery here on mmorpg.com, they post here that they have a lottery on Facebook. So the people following them on Facebook stay there, the people here that use Facebook go to Facebook, and the people not using Facebook have no reason to visit mmorpg.com. Everyone spreading the news will also post the link to Facebook, saying "you can win something on Facebook", not "you can win something at mmorpg.com".

Some of the companies that handle their different channels more competent, GearBoxSoftware, still posts SHIFT keys specially for Facebook. the people with Facebook get both those from Facebook and Twitter/other sites, the people without feel betrayed.

And the real winner is Facebook.

For some games/companies, it would be enough if the official website would simply redirect to the Facebook page.

This is the wrong type of social connect, we need in-game mechanics that like that of Asheron's Call, patron/vassal system, game play that encourages making friends but doesn't gimp or hinder you like a road block if you don't.

It's the difference between games like World of Warcraft, where you instinctively want to avoid other players.

and games like AC where you want to make friends because there is actual benefits besides that of just new person to chat with.

Here's the thing:  The Secret World, RIFT, and EQ2, just to name a few, all have social media integration to some extent or another.  I also subscribe to the FB feeds from my favorite games and studios to get the latest news, but I can count the number of times I've gone out of my way to post screenies, achieves, and other in game events to FB.

This will be fine for some guilds, but I have doubts that most people will use this.  I have some friends on FB from GW1 and LotRO, but we've known each other for years now.  I wouldn't add total strangers to my account nor would I enjoy the friction from declined friend requests.

This is a nice option for the game, but an undersold features I don't think it makes.  I just don't think there is any evidence that social connections with existing friends translates into a better social community in game or that integrating people from game into my social network is going to make a better community.  Think about the in game social stereotypes we have (the list is long) and then think do you really want those people spamming that same crap on FB?

This is just another way for the devs to have the playerbase passively advertise the game for them. 

Connect to facebook and have it post status updates on your achievements and activities for you; so that that all of your friends and familly can see what your playing. 

It's just another company trying to turn your facebook page into another advertising resource. 

TESO also won't be the first game to have this social network connection, Rift already does it.  I don't know a single person that actually uses it either. 

And quite frankly, when I see developers hyping this sort of stuff it just gives me the impression that they've got nothing of substance to show anyone and instead are resorting to gimmicks. 

Just seems a little odd tha tthey have yet to mention anything about crafting or non combat related proffesions in the game, yet they're talking about being able to connect to facebook.  Awesome. 

Who needs a real Elder scrolls MMO when you can play generic MMO number 637; now with more facebook, and phasing, and quest grinding, and themepark. 

Meh,

 Was hopping for a good game not a facebook/twitter/phone ap. Farmville and angry brids can have it.    

   Yes, yes i know i'm a dinsaur who would rather actually play a game, then serf the web, order food, and chat in a game all at the sametime

Originally posted by Rohn

Frankly, I don't care about external social networking in a game.

I am far more interested on how a game's design fosters social interaction and interrelationships within the context of the game.

I actually thought this acticle would be about just that when I read the tittle.

Most of my rl friends/family aint into gaming so it wouldn't work for me.

Originally posted by GwapoJosh

Originally posted by kartool

Originally posted by Shadow-Focus
First!

People still do this?

Sadly, dumb repetitive things entertain people without ever getting old to them..  People still enjoy talking about bacon and laughing at Chuck Norris jokes in game chat.  It's usually a sign of a low IQ.

bacon remains awesome.