This is a feature on Yahoo giving tips on how to save your relationship if your spouse is loving his video games more than you.
Yes, I did type “he” only. Not his/her. The article, posting on the video games section on Yahoo offers tips to save (or distract) your male spouse from being engulfed in video games day in day out.
I would guess the article is a joke, because I can’t imagine that you’d need to turn off the power in your house if the gaming addiction is that bad. And the suggestions aren’t really that great - maybe you’d just be better off getting your spouse therapy. The cosplay suggestions are mostly of models and boothbabes and the only useful tip I can gather from the article is the “if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em” tip at the end.
Well, check it out anyway for your amusement. But we all know that gaming in moderation is key.
1. Learn from the game
Games like World of Warcraft use classic behavioral control techniques: they tie small rewards very closely to repetitive chores. If your spouse is neglecting household tasks — a common complaint among sufferers — try employing a little positive reinforcement. The next time he empties the trash, play a loud ‘Ding!’ sound and tell him his Refuse-Disposal skill just increased.
2. Suggest a date at a video game movie
Just make sure it’s a good one, because most of them are terrible. Resident Evil is a good choice, and assuming your spouse is male, the prospect of staring at Milla Jovovich for an hour and a half should certainly pique his interest. Don’t let him sneak off to play his game once the movie is done, either: segue into a more intimate scenario before it ends, or you’ll lose his attention.
3. Fake a power outage; cuddle up with candles and a board game
No matter how bad your addiction is, you can’t play Warcraft with no electricity. Slip out to the junction box and flip the switch (after, of course, making sure any sensitive equipment is safely powered down). Your spouse will be devastated, but they’ll be looking for something to keep their mind off the game. What better chance to propose lighting a few candles and playing a round of Scrabble?
4. Put some game into your nighttime activities
If your spouse’s gaming addiction is cutting into your bedroom time, think about how you might switch up your usual routine. If they’re into military games like Call of Duty or Splinter Cell, uniforms aren’t hard to find (nor are night-vision cameras, if you’re game). But if they call you a “n00b,” it might be time to think about kicking them to the curb.
5. Try a different kind of role-playing game
If you’re having trouble distracting your husband from the game, surprise him with a treat. World of Warcraft is packed with sexy female characters (and, let’s face it, most other video games). With a little effort in the wardrobe department, you can recapture his attentions by dressing up as a character from the game. We’d suggest a Night Elf as a good starting outfit. For bonus points, learn the character’s corresponding dance moves.
6. Get away from it all
Surprise your spouse with a weekend getaway to distract them from their addiction. Something that incorporates outdoor activities is best, because then he or she won’t have the time or energy to miss their game. Try skiing, mountain biking, watersports, or fishing, or head for an action-packed hotspot like Vegas or New Orleans. Stay away from relaxing beach vacations, and for goodness sake, leave the laptop at home.
7. If you can’t beat ‘em…
If all else fails, it’s time to consider extreme measures. Have you ever played the offending game yourself? Lots of couples play Warcraft (or similar online games) as a team, leveling up complementary characters and turning isolated and nonconstructive activities into good, old-fashioned quality time together. Most massively multiplayer games are deceptively easy to learn, and you’ll have the benefit of an in-house expert to answer your questions in exhaustive detail. Just be careful not to start shirking familial duties yourself.
Click here for original link to article.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Coming from a male gamer in a long-term (seven years, 4 married) relationship, I can offer perspective from the other side.
Basically, if you picked a gamer, be mature enough to speak your pleasure/displeasure with the intensity of the habit. Sometimes they aren’t aware, and that’s all that’s missing.
Now, let’s not make it seem like gamers are specific to this problem. The above solution is the correct one regardless of the pastime one feels their spouse is into more than them.
All those topical solutions (specifically, the things that involve bringing games into areas that they aren’t currently in this hypothetical relationship, like cosplay, game-themed movies(?) etc.) Is merely fluffwork for the article.
Obviously, it’s all in fun (I hope), because training a spouse like a dog for them to do housework isn’t healthy for him or for the wife.
Unless that’s their sort of thing. Who am I to judge?
March 18th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Excellent advice !
March 20th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Good advice there, MaSTA.