# Social Networking Site Just for Gamers? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 6, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188 "2010-04-06T20:08:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Natty\_Bumppo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e480ec/32.png) [@Natty\_Bumppo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Natty_Bumppo)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/1 "2010-04-06T20:08:17Z")
Just throwing out an idea to see what Dopers think. Would you participate in a social networking site devoted to gamers and gaming? Imagine that it has a searchable database of video game players to help you find people with similar gaming interests, geographical locations, prefered play times, and similar information. And, maybe there could be a feature that matches you up with other gamers via a questionaire. Would you pay for something like that? Would you mind if there were ads on the website? ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/2 "2010-04-06T21:41:53Z")
I might join, but pay? No. Most of the games I play either have decent online matching on their own or are hooked with Steam, so I can see who in my friends are playing (and I accept friend invites from people in games where we had a good time). Now offline gaming, e.g. tabletop RPGs and board games and the like, I would most definitely consider paying if there was actually useful info for my area (read: giant market share, not a wee startup who will have maybe one person in my state). ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/3 "2010-04-06T21:58:53Z")
I already use the Internets for that. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/4 "2010-04-06T22:56:34Z")
I may be wrong, but I think Steam might be adding a few of these features to their new UI overhaul that goes into effect soon. (it’s currently in open beta I think). Also, wasn’t there already an Instant Messenger program that was similar to this, albeit not quite as in depth? I seem to remember seeing quite a few people using it at LAN parties a few years ago. I’m sure I’ll think of the name as soon as I post this… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/5 "2010-04-06T22:58:00Z")
X-Fire! That was it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/6 "2010-04-07T06:31:29Z")
> [@Natty\_Bumppo](#): > > Just throwing out an idea to see what Dopers think. Would you participate in a social networking site devoted to gamers and gaming? Imagine that it has a searchable database of video game players to help you find people with similar gaming interests, geographical locations, prefered play times, and similar information. And, maybe there could be a feature that matches you up with other gamers via a questionaire. Would you pay for something like that? Would you mind if there were ads on the website? I can’t imagine how you’d do it without one or the other. Every other social networking website has ads. And I doubt you could get gamers gamers to pay for such a feature, so ads would have to be it. Remember too that even Facebook didn’t actually turn a profit until less than a year ago. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/7 "2010-04-07T10:36:34Z")
> [@Captain\_C](#): > > X-Fire! That was it. This is mostly what the OP was talking about. No need for something new. I also wouldn’t pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/8 "2010-04-07T10:51:50Z")
How about existing forums like [beyond3d.com](http://beyond3d.com) and [neogaf.com](http://neogaf.com) ? ---
**Author:** ![Natty\_Bumppo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e480ec/32.png) [@Natty\_Bumppo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Natty_Bumppo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/9 "2010-04-07T12:17:16Z")
Checking out X-fire, it looks like a setup for PC based gaming, but not consoles. Do you think console gamers would be interested? Also, X-fire appears to be pretty cluttered. Maybe a clean, simple interface would appeal to a broader base? I figured as much about charging a fee. I probably wouldn’t pay for it either. Existing forums are great, but tend to serve a niche. Maybe a site like I’m envisioning could provide a sort of directory to those kinds of boards, or suggest sites to visit based on the individuals preferences. (Maybe that could be a little revenue stream, too.) Agreed, **fluiddruid** , a site like this would be useless if it didn’t have a ton of participation. Whe cares about searching 50-100 people. It would have to be tens of thousands to work. Here’s another question: How \*\*do \*\*you find people to game with online for PC, or consoles? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/10 "2010-04-07T13:16:12Z")
Live is a PC and Xbox site. I don’t know any details as I don’t use it. It may include other platforms. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/11 "2010-04-07T15:16:57Z")
> [@Natty\_Bumppo](#): > > Checking out X-fire, it looks like a setup for PC based gaming, but not consoles. Do you think console gamers would be interested? Also, X-fire appears to be pretty cluttered. Maybe a clean, simple interface would appeal to a broader base? > > I figured as much about charging a fee. I probably wouldn’t pay for it either. > > Existing forums are great, but tend to serve a niche. Maybe a site like I’m envisioning could provide a sort of directory to those kinds of boards, or suggest sites to visit based on the individuals preferences. (Maybe that could be a little revenue stream, too.) > > Agreed, **fluiddruid** , a site like this would be useless if it didn’t have a ton of participation. Whe cares about searching 50-100 people. It would have to be tens of thousands to work. > > Here’s another question: How \*\*do \*\*you find people to game with online for PC, or consoles? If you’re 25 or older, [2old2play.com](http://2old2play.com). ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/12 "2010-04-07T16:31:56Z")
Pay for something ? On the internet ? In the immortal words of Keanu Reeves : woah. What do you think this is, 1997 ? ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-networking-site-just-for-gamers/535188/13 "2010-04-07T17:07:22Z")
Wizards of the Coast tried to do this with Gleemax. It failed so hard that it cost Randy Buehler his job.