The title of this article is hilarious. Think about the hard core gamers you know and their social skills. Love 'em, but they're not generally social butterflies.

Eryn Grant might be going for a PHD but she obviously has no idea how to conduct a decent test. It sounds to me like there are no controls in this test at all. Although these users may be improving their online social skills, placing them in a real live situation involving real human interaction would prove to show slim to none improvement. Going to a school chock full of 247 gamers all playing interactive games including 2nd life only further detaches people from reality. Different rules apply to the social interactions one experiences in these games, the fact is, is that its not real and you can say and do anything you want and there would be no consequences other than possibly being kicked off of the game... oh no. This study although i feel is a good idea due to constant social gamings impact on the users actual social life is affecting millions of people world wide. I feel that the findings of this test must be inaccurate. Becoming better at a game is one thing, and even when the game emulates real life it still isnt real life. Actual social interaction depends on a multitude of variables especially confidence. And when your avatar is a good looking guy its a whole heck of a lot easier to talk to people when your hiding behind your character. Actually being confident for who you are and what you look like in real life def are huge variables in this test and it is obvious that they are not being tested.