Gaming and Practicality (or lack thereof)

[Mozgus]

It always seems like the women in my life go through the same pattern. When we first start dating, they think my video games are endearing. Then they start to make small jokes about my collection, with an undertone of maliciousness, and then they go to outright contempt, as if my video game collection is the only thing standing between them and ever lasting happiness. I've gotten smart enough now that I don't let it get that far, but I'm always envious of people whose significant others and spouses are actually understanding, if not outright supportive, of gaming. I hear about these people, but I've never been lucky enough to actually date one of them.

Well, at least you were lucky enough to find some who were temporarily "endearing" towards them. That's better than me. All I see is a bored or disgusted expression on any girl I mention videogames around. I just don't even bring up the subject unless directly asked anymore. It never helps anything.

My Fiancée is the same. She's still playing Broken Sword 3 I bought for her about 2 months ago. She still hasn't completed it! I bought her PoP:SoT and Freak Out but she refuses to play them until she has completed BS:3. Bless.

Go to hell.

[MrPopo]

What sucks for me is that most of the games I play are the single-player, story heavy RPG games, which don't even lend themselves to something like "Hey, want to come over and play some Street Fighter?"

[redmachus]

What sucks for me is that most of the games I play are the single-player, story heavy RPG games, which don't even lend themselves to something like "Hey, want to come over and play some Street Fighter?"

Oh come on. Everybody loves Street Fighter.

Most of the women who come into my life don't have anything to do with video gaming, which I think might be my problem. I'd love to meet a girl who was into video games as much as me, but then I'd worry that she was too in to them. I've got a life outside of gaming, and the last thing I'd want is a girl that would rather hang out online with her WOW group then hang out with me.

Can't have your cake and eat it to, I suppose.

[DaGamingMonkey]

Benefit of meeting a girl who's into games?
You have someone to play with and she doesn't mind you spending money on your collection.

BUT!

You end up with a girl like that.... she make go after your games in a break up.
I would hate to see a custody battle over chrono trigger or some other game you're in love with.


Imagine only getting to play your dreamcast every other weekend!

[Citizin]

You should mod an Xbox and then you won't really need the older consoles. I've found emulation is near perfect, especially SegaCD, and just easier than on the PC since you don't have to deal with Windows.

I'm pretty sure clicking an .exe file is allot easier than modding an Xbox I still don't get why everybody thinks a modded Xbox is so damn great.

[GagaMan]

I try to keep my console numbers down by getting systems that can play multiple systems worth or games, and save even more shelf space by getting the smallest models.

Multi Mega = Mega Drive + Mega CD + Master System (which converter) + (eventually) 32X
Playstation 2 Slim = PS2 + PS1
Wii = Wii + Gamecube
Dreamcast = Dreamcast + whatever I decide to emulate on it
GP2X = also for emulation
Amiga CD32 = CD32 games + all other Amiga games (when I get a floppy drive for it)

I still end up with quite a few systems, but that's roughly 5 or more systems I don't need to own by having those ones. If I wanted to play Xbox games I'd buy a 360 so that's also two-in-one.

[Harvey]

Video games are a practicality issue when you have classes, work, romantic relationships, etc. There are other things I could be doing, but often, I play video games at times when I would be watching TV otherwise. I totally think playing video games is better than passively watching TV. With video games you are interacting with something, increasing eye-hand coordination, and thinking critically about in-game decisions. Rarely does a television show push me to think critically in the way that video games do.

As far as having a wife, my wife and I are both mild introverts, so we usually like to recharge our batteries alone. For us, that means that I chill out by playing video games, and she will relax by reading and hanging out on the computer. If video games are a real issue in a marriage, then that is something that obviously should have been discussed before making the vows.

[Gamerforlife]

I knew a girl not long ago who was a real big gaming freak. Didn't bother me at all, but she wasn't what I would call attractive. One of my old friends had a wife who loved those free games you find on the net and she'd play Halo every now and then. Again though, didn't strike me as attractive.

I known some pretty women at work who play games though, but it's just a casual thing for them. Still, they see nothing wrong with playing a game for fun. There's one girl at work, incredibly hot, just recently married and I think I heard her talking about her husband's game room one time. She seemed okay with it. My kind of woman. 28 years old I think, about my age, but taken, damn. She's what I would describe as geeky hot. Brainy looking, but a real knockout bod and a nice smile

Never really had a girl in my life who was big into games. Probably why none of them lasted Most of them were open to it though so I think any gamer can find a nice girl who is okay with their hobby and they shouldn't settle for less

[redmachus]

Never really had problems finding a girl. It's finding one that, you know, lasts more than a couple months that seems to be tricky. I'm not much one for compromising, and I've always thought it a bit stupid to try and make something work that isn't. May as well try punching the wind. Still, I have fun, and I've yet to find a girl that will turn down a game of Bubble Bobble.

[profshiny]

Finding someone with hobbies that can mesh with gaming, rather than finding a co-gamer, can be tremendously helpful. My wife knits, and as long as I don't completely monopolize the TV (read: as long as she gets her Project Runway fix) she knits while I game. It helps if I'm playing something with some audible plot and pretty graphics for when she looks up from her yarn and needles (she loved when I started Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, hopefully I'll have a chance to pick up my PS3 from the in-laws' soon and resume that.) I dated a girl who liked games once and would never do it again. I know that sounds hypocritical, but I hated fighting for screen time and watching her get so sucked in that I couldn't get any attention for literally several consecutive hours.