A press release by SOE, makers of Everquest2, just in time for Valentine's Day. It is saddening to realize how someone wastes time on this survey & topic when they have probably not even spent an iota of thought on making their real life partner happy on this day.

What's even sadder is that this page has gotten the most hits today... so far it's at least double than the page's most popular day (aka most hits). I have a feeling there are a lot of sad people today, and if you are one of them, please don't forget that there are others who know how you feel and what you are going through. You're not alone. And it's not your fault that he or she doesn't want to spend time with you.

"Love Is In The Air!

SOE made a press release today regarding their recent Valentine's Day surveys held at the EQ2Players website. The release is below:

SAN DIEGO, CA - February 11, 2005 - Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming, today announced results of a recent Valentine's Day-themed poll of its user community. Over the past two weeks, Sony Online Entertainment quizzed the player population through its EverQuest II community site www.eq2players.com to find out what players feel are the most romantic spots, sexiest characters, and romantic gifts in EverQuest II. The results reveal a deeper, more romantic side of online gamers not often seen amongst the hundreds of thousands of players who spend their time questing through the online world of Norrath.

"When you put hundreds of thousands of people together in an exciting new world filled with action and adventure, it doesn't take too long before relationships blossom and thoughts turn from orc slaying to love," said Scott Hartsman, senior producer of EverQuest II, Sony Online Entertainment. "The social bonds formed between players are the biggest draw of our games and these surveys show that our subscribers are not just thinking about dungeon raids and magical tomes all the time."

Sexiest Race: According to 25% of the players surveyed, Dark Elves are the Sexiest Race in EverQuest II, with Wood Elves running a close second with 24% of the vote. Players found the giant, misshapen Ogres to be the least hot of the 15 selectable races available for players.

Most Romantic Archetype: Players voted Scouts as the most romantic archetype with 37% of the vote, "because they're skilled in the dark." Another 24% chose Priests because they "know about the healing,"14% liked Fighters "because they get up close and personal," and 13% said they liked Artisans because "they know how to put it all together." Only 13% of the responses chose the mystical Mage archetype, despite the fact that "they make you feel sparks."

Best Spouse Class: Druids topped the list of best class for a spouse with 25% of the vote, followed by Paladins, Wizards and Carpenters. Conjurers are apparently the least suited as spouses at 9% because of their affinity for "pets."

Best In-Game Gift: Lingerie was voted the most popular in-game gift that players would give if available with a staggering 45% of the vote. Another 16% chose a suit of red armor, 11% said flowers, and 10% said a comfortable bed. Surprisingly, candy, a Valentine's Day perennial favorite in the real world, garnered only 2% of the vote for best in-game gift.

Most Romantic Spot: The shore of Antonica at sunset must be the right place for love, since 50% of respondents voted it the most romantic spot in EverQuest II. The runner-up for most romantic spot was the Beach in the Enchanted Lands with 27% of the vote. Fishermen and sailors didn't fare as well; only 3% of the respondents found the entrance to Freeport harbor romantic.

Sony Online Entertainment also held a Valentine's Day "screenshot" contest on the EverQuest II website. The company challenged its 300,000 plus-strong EverQuest II player base to submit both funny and romantic images captured from the game, with prizes awarded to the winners. Hundreds of images were submitted to the company - some of them being of a questionable romantic nature - and the results will be posted to www.everquest2.com later today, before the Valentine's Day weekend begins."
(http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/loadNews/2706)