Welcome to the Cosplay Generation; Comic-Con Delivers Love, Marriage & Babies (Named After Make-Believe Characters) Year After Year

BEVERLY HILLS, CA--(Marketwired - July 22, 2014) - Looking for love and family? Then grab your favorite costume and get down to San Diego for this month's Comic-Con, where the fantasy lifestyle is resulting in relationships, families and an incredible number of children named after cherished fictional characters. A recent poll by entertainment research firm VGMarket indicates that cosplay is a lifestyle on the rise, influencing parents' decisions for their children -- starting with their names! For example, do Zelda, Thor, Daenerys, Parker or Elsa ring any bells? 

Perhaps it starts with love at San Diego Comic-Con, where, according to the VGMarket poll, 57% of respondents know someone that met their spouse/partner at Comic-Con. 30% of married respondents met their spouse/partner at Comic-Con. Also interesting, 35% of respondents said they have dated someone that they met at Comic-Con. Among those that haven't, 79% say they would date someone they met at the convention.

"Comic-Con is the mecca for future fantasy families," commented Michael Gluck, Founder and President of VGMarket. He noted, "We knew attendees loved comics and characters; what we learned is that they have really integrated that fandom into their everyday lives. From dating to committed relationships to naming children after favorite heroes and villains, the cosplay lifestyle is no longer under wraps."

Additional poll findings include:

• 35% of respondents have dated someone that they met at Comic-Con. Among those that haven't, 79% say they would.
• 57% of respondents know someone that met their spouse/partner at Comic-Con. 30% of married respondents met their spouse/partner at Comic-Con.
• 78% of respondents have dressed up as a character at Comic-Con.
• 71% of respondents know someone that has named their child after a fictional character.
• 76% of respondents know someone that has worked their favorite fictional character into a child's birthday party or similar event.

San Diego vs. NY Comic-Con Findings:

• 45% of respondents that have attended both San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic-Con prefer San Diego Comic-Con. 32% prefer New York Comic-Con.

*Poll was conducted in June 2014 with a random sampling of Comic-Con attendees in the United States.

About VGMarket
VGMarket is a leading global provider of market research for entertainment, media, and technology. VGMarket services more than 50 video game companies, as well as Fortune 100 companies in telecommunications, retail, and mobile applications. For more info, please visit VGMarket.com.