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When Gamers Die, What Happens to Their Online Personas?

by Peter Mychalcewycz on March 16, 2009 at 05:54 PM



It may seem odd to consider the fate of a real person's virtual life after that person dies, but the topic is one of interest and importance to thousands of gamers around the world. The relationships forged between gamers in virtual worlds, like Blizzard's popular 'World of Warcraft' game, often transcend the medium and become real-life, meaningful connections that need tending, in both life and death.

There are a few services that will, upon a person's passing, send alerts or e-mails to online factions that are familiar with the deceased. The Deathswitch site, for example, allows people to compose e-mails that will be sent out if the user does not check in at certain customizable intervals (say, every six months). Members pay $20 a year and have the ability to create up to 30 e-mails complete with attachments (such as video files or other media). Slightly Morbid offers the same service, but does not require the member to check in. Information required to log in to the sight is divulged to close friends or family who then have the responsibility of notifying people online if the member dies.

One grief-stricken reality is difficult to cope with. Two is almost unbearable.

[From: AP, Via: Google News]

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Tags: death, mmorpg, online, virtual worlds, VirtualWorlds, web, world of warcraft, WorldOfWarcraft, wow

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