I'm interested in systems where players can build up relationships with NPCs, and one recent example of this is the ability to marry some of the NPCs in Skyrim. So what I'd like to know (assuming you played the game) is, which one(s) did you marry, and more importantly what made you choose that one? If there was one you wanted to marry but couldn't I'd like to know that too. What made you want to marry a specific NPC instead of the many others available?

Personally I found the voice-actor to play a big role in which NPCs seemed attractive to me, which I probably wouldn't have noticed except for the fact that there are about 5 male voice actors for the whole game, and it's easy to recognize which one did which characters.

Well, I didn't play Skyrim that much, but I ended up marrying the archer girl with tattoos and stuff. Forgot her name, but she was in the companions guild I believe. I wanted to marry Lydia first, but it wasn't possible if I recall correctly. For me, I think it's because I was playing an archer, so it just made more sense to have a ranged companion, otherwise she'd be in my line of sight all the time. And she was more or less the first "available" (for lack of a better term) spouse so I just went through with it. Plus she had good artwork, and that counts too.

But I didn't feel emotionally involved at all, if that's what you're asking. She was just another companion to me, perhaps prettier to look at, but that's about it really. The extra bonuses were nice, but the game was so easy already. Frankly, I didn't pay too much attention. I never found very attractive the concept of interactively involving the player's romantic feelings in a video game. Just like the whole phone dating thing in GTA IV, I never really caught on. Feel free to disagree, though!

My spouse met her fate a few days after the wedding to one of those rotating spikes, regardless. She will be missed. Sort of.

I find that a bit disturbing.

I think you picked up one of the dullest relationship systems around as example. It's just a "wanna marry me?" "k thx bai" *adds "stay in players house" AI package*

Skyrim characterization is null for NPCs except for *very* hand picked examples related to the main quest (Ulfrik, Phaarthumax, and thats it pretty much).

You should inspect games where those things are a more prominent feature like Dragon Age Origins, Mass Effect, maybe the whole Triss or Shani issue in The Witcher 1.

Skyrim's solution to in game relationships is very weak, not what I'd pick as a reference.

I mean, your question is, what did you make marry that NPC? Well, how many things Skyrim offers me to like that NPC? Their voice, their appareance, maybe what they do, and thats it. There are very few examples of NPCs you can have a conversation with, or that you may get to know better. Stuff like where did you grew up, how you enjoy yourself in this forsaken place, do you like where you're living, why did you move to Skyrim, what do you think about Skyrim, do you like me, do you like what I do, etc. Basically, things that get you to know someone, are non existant in Skryim, it offers players very little hooks for making them like a particular NPC.

Haven't (had time yet) played skyrim but i liked the companion/wife system in the king's bounties, gets something (additional armor slots) even for non RPing but stat fanatics like me!

Would you be a bit disturbed to later find out that one of those attractive male voices was a member of GameDev.net? Especially if it was one you wanted to (or did) marry?

Would you then not find it hard not to give said individual special privileges?

Do people take those marriages seriously?

Wouldn't bother me, I don't think I'd feel any compulsion to give that person special privileges in an online situation like this, though face-to-face I'd react to them the same way I would anyone with an attractive voice (that I didn't have some other reason to dislike). I don't take marriages in games seriously because I have yet to see one where an NPC manages to be convincingly like a person. However I do know people who take in-game marriage to another player as seriously as any other long-distance relationship, and get really upset if they think that person is cheating on them with someone at their location, etc. Are you sure the ones you heard about weren't between two players?

I think you picked up one of the dullest relationship systems around as example. It's just a "wanna marry me?" "k thx bai" *adds "stay in players house" AI package*

Skyrim characterization is null for NPCs except for *very* hand picked examples related to the main quest (Ulfrik, Phaarthumax, and thats it pretty much).

You should inspect games where those things are a more prominent feature like Dragon Age Origins, Mass Effect, maybe the whole Triss or Shani issue in The Witcher 1.

Thank you for the recommendations. :) I'm definitely interested in looking at other games that have made some attempt at having romanceable NPCs. Though, I think because of the very basicness of Skyrim's system it makes a good test for those few elements it does provide that might make the player prefer one NPC over another (voice, appearance, maybe social role in their town. I know that I am actively repelled by a character being a beggar or a drunk, for example.)