Not sufficed with replicating real-world markets, politics and governance, virtual worlds have also been mucking around with family rituals too. Marriage has been part of the fabric of in-game society for titles like The Sims Online (a pdf by MemoryCard blogger Mia Consalvo) and Star Wars Galaxies, and has existed since the early Multi-User Dungeons ruled the internet waves. However, a marriage contract hadn't been incorporated into the game mechanics until Korean international best-seller Ragnarok Online introduced the ties that bind as a legal in-game construct a few weeks ago.
The honeymoon perior is over now, according to Gameinfowire.com. Apparently, in response to overwhelming player demand, divorce has been added into the experience. It's now as official and as pricey as the real thing. A foray into the divorce court will set the players back 2,500,000 "Zeny" (between $12.50-$21.25 by today's calculations).
I expect that when the more prurient institutions notice what's happening in the virtual city, they are going to take umbrage with this.
