WHEN GAMING AFFECTS YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Sometimes in a gamer's relationship, a line is crossed. Example: Your girlfriend comes home in the middle of a Halo clan match only to disrupt your killing spree. After the disruption, you proceed to snap at her, like it's her fault? "What the f*** babe!? Are you kidding me? I only needed one more kill. Great timing babe... ggreeaatt." I've been there guys. But we don't need to be such assholes when this situation happens. My girlfriend knows how important video games are to me. Video games are important to a lot of guys out there. But when gaming affects your relationship, how far is too far?

Like most of you gamers out there, video games have been a part of our lives in one way or another since we could remember. Some guys choose sports, some guys choose to mod their cars, some guys choose to get drunk and do stupid shit with their buddies to pass the time and tape it all for YouTube. So if it's not gaming, it's Poker night. It's Fantasy Football. It's Beer Pong Championship 2009. Either way, there is something that could get in the way of a relationship. But gaming? Gaming seems to be a developing problem, dare I say epidemic, for a lot of couples.

Exhibit A:


What girls need to understand about us guys and our games

Gaming is what we do. It is a stress reliever. A portal that takes us away from reality. A way of unwinding after working all day or going to school and it's also a way that we bond with our friends. For me personally, I don't live anywhere near my friends, so having the 360 around to hop online and play games with your bud like he was right next door is important to retaining that friendship. Online gaming is a community, and we really enjoy being a part of that community.

Guys like the challenge of gaming. We like to be the best, all of the time. It's the Alpha Male that we all have in us. Yes, even the most pansy-ass one's still have that Alpha Male in him, wanting, yearning to prove that yes, "I am the fricken' man!" I'm #1. You suck. I win, you lose, better luck next time. And it's that ever apparent goal of ours to prove ourselves, not just in games, but life in general that drives us to succeed. To be the best at whatever game we get our hands on. That challenge draws us in and keeps us there for hours and hours staring at the TV screen until our eye balls dry up.

We don't mean to ignore you.  OK, maybe some of us guys do. Like in Exhibit A video above, how much bitching do you do, and do you really think that helps in getting your boyfriend to stop playing games, and instead pay more attention to you? It is most likely your bitching that is driving him to play games so many hours out of his day. How about you stop the bitching and actually try to communicate with him? Better yet, join in on his gaming adventures. Find a game both of you could play and enjoy. I know from past experience in my relationship, as well as many gaming couples I have met, playing a game you can both enjoy solves a lot of avoidable gaming related issues.

Look ladies, we're not going to stop gaming. It's a, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" type of situation. There are other ways of getting your point across about your distaste of your boyfriend paying more attention to a game console than you. But this? Taking the guys Xbox 360 and destroying it? I understand the message she is trying to get across but for the love of God lady, at least remove the hard drive before you go ape shit on the thing. It's not like he won't go out and buy another 360 to replace the one you destroyed anyway. All you have done is piss him off and spend money that may have been better spent on you.

What guys need to understand about girls and their warning signs

They love to talk, and they love talking to you. It doesn't matter what it is they talk about. Maybe they just want to share their day with you, tell you a funny story, or talk about making plans for the weekend. Either way, taking the time to put the controller down and spending some time with your girlfriend is not going to kill you. The game isn't going anywhere. Hit pause, go to the dashboard, or turn it off entirely. Spend an hour or two with her. I know games are important, but are they really more important than her? A little effort goes a long way.

Watch for the "fed up" look. Obviously, this guy did not heed the warning signs his girlfriend, no doubt, threw his direction on multiple occasions. You know she did, otherwise it would not have come to this level of physical destruction. Don't let it go this far guys. If you get, the "huff and puff", the "rolling eyes" or the worst, that "penetrating stare" that could disembowel a moose, finish up your game quick and talk with her before it's too late. Communication is key. Come up with a compromise if gaming is becoming a daily argument.

If you get the "evil laugh" like you hear at the end up this video, it's too late for you pal. Pack your bags and head north. That sick and twisted laugh after seeing your face of despair is enough to convince any man to think twice about who he's really dealing with.

Guys,  gaming is not supposed to affect your relationship in a negative way. If anything, it should help develop your relationship with both partners participating in an activity together. Video games are there to create memories. Remember all the great memories gaming in the past? Continue that tradition, but try to involve your significant other in the process.  Don't ignore her, don't snap at her. Things do not need to go this far. However, if they do, at least be smart enough to record the whole thing like this girl did. It helps people like me realize how awesome my relationship really is.

And to the poor soul who lost his 360 for something far worse than the Red Ring of Death, no, your crazy girlfriend whacking the hell out of your 360 with a 5 iron is not going to be covered by the warranty.

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