Games, gamers, and relationships
By Josh Visser, Columnist
Gamers, have you ever died in a high-intensity scenario while sending off that âgood nightâ text to your significant other? Perhaps you were testing your charisma with someone on a social-networking app. It has probably happened, and you probably werenât too stoked about it. I know I never am when I die âidle.â
Video games have become very competitive and increasingly difficult these days, often without the leisure to pause the game mid-battle anymore. Hence, my sleep schedule has become wrecked now that I tend to start gaming after my girlfriend has gone to bed.
Iâm lucky, considering my girlfriend understands that I canât stop and leave mid-raid. She does still have trouble telling her friends why Iâm not out with them on the weekend because Iâm playing Magic the Gathering or Dungeons and Dragons.
Iâm finding issues introducing my girlfriend into my world of gaming. I know sheâs probably not going to take up a deck of cards or create a character sheet (however rad that would be). I think the best situation is to revert back to the old games, or at least new instalments of them. Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., Fat Princess, Champions of Norrath, Gauntlet, etc. Something with simple mechanics and hopefully some aspect of nostalgia.
These games are all good to play cooperatively, but some games you can simply take turns and watch. I remember when I ran deep into the depths of the Hellmouth on the Moon in Destiny and gave Jess the controller, and then hilarity ensued.
If you want to introduce someone to the world of gaming like I am doing, I would definitely recommend Naughty Dog games like the Uncharted series and The Last of Us because of their cinematic qualities. For sci-fi fans, the puzzle game Portal or the WRPG Mass Effect trilogy are always safe bets. Try L.A. Noire or even Grim Fandango if your audience is into mystery and intrigue. Establish a time moderator and take turns working out the puzzles together. If youâre the gamer introducing the gamee and you know the answers to puzzles, let them figure it out instead of becoming impatient. Still, give hints if they are stuck and want help.
Games can be used as a way to bond with a person even if they arenât that into them. Sometimes all they will have to do is watch for five minutes to get hooked into the fantasy of that universe.
Games, like love, are far more fun when shared with others.
