There are many things human begins cannot do in real life that they can do in a video game. Fly. Kill people without facing repercussions. Turn into an invincible ghost-eating yellow circle. Oh, and get married. A new massive multi-player online role-playing game (or MMORPG for those in the know) from Taiwan will let players get hitched to characters of the same sex. But! They draw the line at polygamy.
The game is Runes of Magic, a World of Warcraft-esque free to play MMORPG that makes its money through micro-transactions. In an upcoming free expansion, called Chapter III – The Elder Kingdoms, a marriage system will be introduced that allows same sex marriage. What’s interesting is that Runes of Magic is developed by a Taiwanese studio, called Runewaker Entertainment. Taiwan, which is governed by Republic of China, does not have any recognition of same-sex unions.
Although Runes of Magic’s marriage system is still shrouded in mystery, the game’s Western publisher, Frogster, told VideoGamer.com that married players will gain bonuses. “You will be married and somehow connected to the other player,” explained Frogster’s Philipp Senkbeil. “Of course you can only be married with one person at the same time. It’s even possible to have gay couples, so no need to just have a male and female character. Two male characters and two female characters can marry each other.”
The first iterations of a wedding chapel are already in place. Players will be able to propose and tie the knot, although we don’t know if an in-game ceremony will be involved. Senkbeil added: “There will be some bonuses for players. For example, one could be a ring to teleport to the other person.”
And like wise gay-friendly conservatives, they’re setting gay marriage up to be a bidness transaction.
[Video Gamer] [image via]
Andrew
This isn’t all that surprising, Taiwan was considering SSM back in 2000 and the President was in support, but it just never got done.
Either way it’s cool. Now for Maplestory. D<
Fitz
But can you have affairs when your husband is off on an adventure?
Dickie
That’s great! I admit, I was a little surprised to see this here first as compared to the gaming blogs I frequent, but I’m glad to hear about it anyway. Runes of Magic is a pretty solid game all together, this is just a nice touch.
Nerd note: the picture you have is from Warhammer Online, a game which does not feature any type of character marriage.
TonyD
I cannot stand by gnome and tauren marriages! The gnome would be mushed in seconds!;) (Geek reference)
tallest
That picture is definitely Warhammer online
@TonyD: Incidentally do you think cross-factions marriages would allowed? If WoW introduced marriage I’d have to marry a dwarf.
Vantado
1. Lineage II did the same exact thing years ago and no one said a word. Applaud NCSoft not these people.
2. That’s not a picture from Runes of Magic, that’s a picture from War Hammer Online: Age of Recoking. Epic Fail.
3. There’s no dwarfs in Runes of Magic, only Elves and Humans…
Vantado
@Vantado: I spelled Reckoning wrong…epic fail on me…
Sam
@tallest: Cross-faction marriages would make for some interesting Romeo & Juliet-style storylines! Maybe not a tauren and a gnome (as TonyD pointed out… smoosh!) but, like, a night elf and a blood elf? Ooh, drama!