Anyone else like me??

[ImBob]

I love video games, old and new, but I can only play about 5 hours a month. Seriously, sometimes I go a month without playing. But I still check these forums everyday, and check ebay for good deals at least 3 times a week.

I've been playing Zelda for the Wii and Bioshock for PS3 for the past year and a half and I still haven't finished either of them, but I'm getting close. I did log in about 60 hours over this past winter which helps.

But when you have 3 kids, a wife who thinks video games are a waste of time, what the hell do you do?

I know, I know, get rid of the wife.....Right?

[ZombieK]

I love video games, old and new, but I can only play about 5 hours a month. Seriously, sometimes I go a month without playing. But I still check these forums everyday, and check ebay for good deals at least 3 times a week.

I've been playing Zelda for the Wii and Bioshock for PS3 for the past year and a half and I still haven't finished either of them, but I'm getting close. I did log in about 60 hours over this past winter which helps.

But when you have 3 kids, a wife who thinks video games are a waste of time, what the hell do you do?

I know, I know, get rid of the wife.....Right?
Alot of things people do in life are a waste of time.
But the point of life is to enjoy what you love. [I bet she does a few activities that seem a waste of time too you also]

But yeah I see this starting to happen with me but not because of a Wife and kids But because of my working schedule Im usually too tired when I get off to play and just wanna vegetate or If i do play some games its usually on the weekend for a few hours or maybe 1-2 hours some nights.

Bah these days i can have anything i wanted to have as a kid but finding the time and energy thats another thing...

[tofu]

I still love video games and when I got a job within the industry I was thinking I had struck gold. By my calculations I would be spending 14 hours of gaming related stuff per day!

But... by the time I get home from work at night I can't even look at video games without getting a little repulsed. My PS2 crapped out and I don't even care. I spend time searching the web for Saturn games that I'll never actually play. When they arrive, I just shove them in a box. Sometimes I worry that the used Saturn discs I'm collecting don't even work.

[Ro-J]

But when you have 3 kids, a wife who thinks video games are a waste of time, what the hell do you do?

I'm the same, but with only two kids (the oldest of which is 4). I've pretty much abandoned modern console gaming, seems you need at least a couple hours to really get into most games these days and I don't have that much consecutive free time. Mostly my gaming tends to be portable with games that don't need much more than 15 or 20 minutes to get a good session in. Sometimes I play at night before bed (instead of reading a book) and sometimes I just keep my DS in the bathroom above the toilet. Instead of my usual magazine while sitting on the john, I'm now playing Big Bang Mini [insert National Lampoon's Vacation 'asteroids' joke].

[Gaara_Of_the_Sand]

i dont play games anymore aside from maybe once a year or so that a new zelda/sonic/pokemon/call of duty comes out.

I still collect consoles as a hobby though, Its fun to do and they make great convo pieces.

[RJ]

Play the games w/ your kids, & get a DS, PSP, or other mobile system to play at work (assuming you leave home to work.)

Oh, & my nongamer wife loves (& only plays) Wii Mario Party 8.

[Zthun]

Most men in this situation tend to be complete chodes and when the wife says she doesn't want said husband playing, then most men will give it up cause they think that they will never be able to find someone else. Seriously, your significant other should allow you to be you. Any other woman is a waste of your time.

But you have 3 kids which explodes the responsibility. So if you just don't have time, then you just don't have time. You're kids come first; however, as children grow up, you won't have to dedicate as much time to them as they won't want to spend every waking minute with you (they need space too - you shouldn't use TV as a substitute for responsibility, but you shouldn't be spending time with them if they're doing school work).

If the problem is your wife, it sounds like you have a clinger. Tell her to back off a bit and let you have a little space. If you come back and say what I bet you'll say which is 'lol, I can't do that,' then you're just being a pussy. I bet you wouldn't tell your wife not to engage in her hobbies. Though losing her would be bad since you'd probably wind up paying mounds of child support for those kids.

[kupomogli]

a wife who thinks video games are a waste of time, what the hell do you do?

It's time to bitch slap the wife.. or try to find something she likes.

Does your wife like to read? If so why don't you tell her that it's a waste of time. Playing an RPG is somewhat the same as reading a book. You could always try to get her into one of those. Start with something like FF10, which sucks, but has a girly storyline.

[jcalder8]

I don't have kids but with my ex I would get up early before work to get in an hour or so of gaming before heading out.

[Jorpho]

I'm not sure if I like you; you haven't been here very long yet.

Wait, what was this thread about?

[Gamingking]

I'm not sure if I like you; you haven't been here very long yet.

Wait, what was this thread about?

Your very annoying. I wouldn't say get rid of the wife, Just make her accept it. You should have known this before you married her obviously.

[Berserker]

Your very annoying.

You're sense of humor need's work.

I'll sometimes go long periods without much gaming, while still checking the forums every day. Even if you consider gaming as a part of your life, it's still only one part - so, you just try to balance things out as best you can, stay at least tangentially involved by going to places like this, and play when you can.

[buzz_n64]

I'm not really a "gamer" but I am a video game collector. I'd rather read about a game, watch a review, go to the swap meet and find a game, than play it. Once every other week I'll maybe play a game, unless a friend comes over, and maybe we'll play some co-op games. I watch tv and movies all the time. I used to be in a situation where my ex gave me an ultimatum where I had to choose either the games or her, and I told her "I had the games before you, and I'll have them after you." I called her bluf, and we were still together for a while after that, but now it's just me and the games.

[Swamperon]

I told her "I had the games before you, and I'll have them after you." I called her bluf, and we were still together for a while after that, but now it's just me and the games.

Which is exactly what I've told people I've dated previously. Well actually it was about certain friends of mine they didn't like and I gave them the "They were here before you and they'll be here after you".

[Clownzilla]

Let this problem be a lesson to those not married yet. Make sure that your future wife supports your hobbies and interests. She doesn't have to like them but atleast she should allow them to continue after the marriage without any resentment. The same should apply to her hobbies (my wife likes scrapbooking which I find extremely boring but I support her pursuit of it). Personal hobbies are good to relieve life stress and this is ALWAYS good for a marriage. Wow, I'm starting to sound like my father:o

[Gamingking]

[QUOTE=Berserker;1754628]You're sense of humor need's work.

I'll sometimes go long periods without much gaming, while still checking the forums every day. Even if you consider gaming as a part of your life, it's still only one part - so, you just try to balance things out as best you can, stay at least tangentially involved by going to places like this, and play when you can.[/QUOte

You need work.

[RJ]

Yeah, I'd lean toward keeping the family, games are just...games, a hobby. I'm in your boat but w/ 2 boys, & games will be a part of their life. Just this week I've been showing them Atari 2600 games. :)

But I had to make some decisions about my gaming, as do you. I traded/sold LOTS of my stuff, & it's pretty much where I want it now, though I could get rid of more. & I dumped 99% of my M-rated games (already played thru them). My kids'll find out about those soon enough w/out my help.

I wouldnt consider a PS3 a "family" console, but thats your deal. The Wii is def. family-friendly, choose some kid- (& wife)- friendly multiplayr games. I cant imagine your wife disliking you keeping the kids busy w/ a few games- as long as thats not ALL they do- but again, thats your business not mine.

Again, get a DS (I have one) or PSP for yourself. A nice thing about DS is during a game if you have to go do something kid/wife/family-related, close it & the game pauses, & you can pick right up where you left off. I think thats true for all DS games. Plus you can hide in the bathroom for privacy & play- no one needs to know what you're doing in there. ;)

Long story short: what Ro-J said, above. ^^^

[punkoffgirl]

Why are you guys making it all about the wife? He said she thinks they're a waste of time, not that she ever told he couldn't play. Yes, they ARE a waste of time, along with the other hobbies people mentioned like reading, watching tv, etc. That's what they were designed to do - kill time. Pretty much anything could be qualified as a waste of time if it isn't something that improves your lot in life, right? And that little bit about the 3 kids is way more significant than anything else. Three kids are a lot to care for, especially depending on age, and they need care all day, EVERY day. At least you're still getting some play time in.

[BHvrd]

http://www.ablog4guys.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Multitasking.jpg

[Icarus Moonsight]

Nice, so where is the after-children photo?

http://s3.images.com/huge.39.199100.JPG

[RJ]

I have to ask: did you influence your wife's view on gaming? I mean, has she watched you play certain games & based her conclusion on that?

DsiWare has tons of inexpensive downloadable games: card games, Uno, Scrabble, sudoku, Bookworm, Bejeweled, etc. & there are classic board/family game collections on cartridge. Surely she must like something.

Get a DSi & load it up w/ a bunch of them, then pass it back & forth one night when the kids are asleep. Thats your 1st step.

(I know Im starting to sound like a DS ad, but it truly saved my gaming life.)

[Fuyukaze]

Balance. It's all about balance. You cant have it all and expect to have enough time to enjoy everything. Figure out what's most important to you and dump what ever isnt. If that's gaming, well that's life. If it's your wife, well that's realy wrong but it's your call. You've got so many hours a day. It'll be hard, but you've got to figure out a better way to spend them if you want to enjoy the little things like gaming. Your wife doesnt have to think games are great. She can think they are a waste of time all she wants. It's your hobby, not hers. If you try getting her interested in it, it could work out but it could just as well backfire on you. Best you can do is try talking to her about it. Ask questions like why she thinks its a waste. Dont get mad if you dont like the answer though. Chances are you may initialy not like it but give it some thought before you come to any conclusions on if she knows what she's talking about.

[exit]

Considering you have 3 kids, it's understandable that you have very little playtime. If your wife is the problem, then tell her that playing games help you relax and that all you're asking for is a few hours every once in a while to play. You could come to an agreement where every other week one of you gets some time for yourself where they can relax and do what they enjoy. It could be an entire day, or (more realistically) just a couple of hours, that way you each have a chance to relax.

[Shingetter]

Nice, so where is the after-children photo?

http://s3.images.com/huge.39.199100.JPG

I feel their pain. That should have been a bench outside the outlet mall.

[grolt]

No marriage or kids here, but work gives me little free time to enjoy the games I want to play. Like you, I spend time on the computer reading about games or checking forums, but it's rare to actually be able to play them. Still, for me it's something to always look forward to and strive towards, making me work that extra bit harder in hopes I can call it a day early and pop in a game. Doesn't always work out, but hey, it's good to have goals.

[eskobar]

The problem is that you give way too much importance to videogames.

There's time for everything in life and usually many gamers take advantage of its high school or college days to play enough games to be satisfied when there is no time to play.

I am married and have no children and still don't have time to play .... when i get home from work i usually go out with my wife and friends because its much more fun than sitting a few hours in front of a TV, but sometimes my wife understands me and we don't go out in a friday or saturday night to let me play.

You should be thinking about spending more time with your children and wife and not in some stupid videogame console .... but if you are really looking forward to play some, play at night or get up at 4 or 5 am on Sunday, hehehe, that's what i do :D

[Streetball 21]

Video games are something I will always love. Like some of the previous posts mentioned, it whether you have time or not. I'm married, work full time and play sports 2 nights out of the week. My wife supports my gaming habits. Video games are no different than other hobbies. This is how I prefer to spend my free time. I've heard it all, you have no life, what a waste of time, its for kids etc. etc., but I could care less what other people say. We are all different.

[BydoEmpire]

I have very little time for games anymore, too. I'm working 70+ hours a week, plus wife and toddler. When it comes down to it, I find a little time for classic games (Atari, Inty, etc), but it's because I can play a few rounds in 10 minutes and have fun. Modern games are too time-consuming and I'd rather spend my precious free time doing something else. Above all, though, that's the key. I *could* spend my little bit of free (non-Family) time playing games, but I'd rather spend it with music, reading, etc. It's all about priorities, and games just aren't it for me anymore, especially modern games.

My wife has always been good with my gaming, it's all about how I choose to spend my free time, whether it's 1/2 hour a week or 4 hours a day.

[c0ldb33r]

Everyone's busy.

My problem with this thread is the title. I hate threads that, after reading the title, I have no idea what its going to be about :mad:

[sisko]

My problem with this thread is the title. I hate threads that, after reading the title, I have no idea what its going to be about :mad:

I thought it was about a desperate guy seeking internet romance.

[PapaStu]

I thought it was about a desperate guy seeking internet romance.

Then this thread would have this title, but would be in Off Topic.

[duffmanth]

I'm like that minus the wife and 3 kids. My game playing is very sparatic. I might game for a week or more in a row without stopping much, then I might not touch anything for a month or so. I just finished Red Dead Redemption the other night, and I've had it since the week it came out. I just go through periods of time when I just don't feel like playing and would rather do other things, but I always come back to my games eventually.

[Rob2600]

Let this problem be a lesson to those not married yet. Make sure that your future wife supports your hobbies and interests. She doesn't have to like them but atleast she should allow them to continue after the marriage without any resentment.

This is true, but as others have posted, there needs to be a balance. Yes, find a partner who supports your hobbies, but at the same time, make sure your hobbies haven't turned into obsessions. You might see it as a harmless, fun hobby, but your wife might see it as "Our children need new school clothes and he just came home with six new games."

There's a difference between spending $60 a month on gaming (a hobby) and $300 a month (an obsession). It's all about balance and priorities, especially if you have a family.


Plus, you might find as you get older that you evolve and that your needs and priorities change. This is normal and healthy. Maybe 10 years ago, you enjoyed coming home from school and gaming in your bedroom for six hours straight. Maybe now, you enjoy coming home from work, cooking dinner with your wife, helping your children with their homework, and watching a TV show together instead.

And, whether you grow out of a particular hobby or not, always communicate with your partner about everything. Don't shut each other out. If, for example, your gaming is bothering your wife, talk to her about it and work out a solution.

[ImBob]

Why are you guys making it all about the wife? He said she thinks they're a waste of time, not that she ever told he couldn't play. Yes, they ARE a waste of time, along with the other hobbies people mentioned like reading, watching tv, etc. That's what they were designed to do - kill time. Pretty much anything could be qualified as a waste of time if it isn't something that improves your lot in life, right? And that little bit about the 3 kids is way more significant than anything else. Three kids are a lot to care for, especially depending on age, and they need care all day, EVERY day. At least you're still getting some play time in.

That is correct, my wife only says they are a waste of time, not that I can't play them. In fact she doesn't even care that I play them late at night after all the kids are in bed. Of course she probably allows me to play them because I only play 5-10 hours a month. Now if I tried to log in 5 hours a day, that would be a different story.

[ZombieK]

That is correct, my wife only says they are a waste of time, not that I can't play them. In fact she doesn't even care that I play them late at night after all the kids are in bed. Of course she probably allows me to play them because I only play 5-10 hours a month. Now if I tried to log in 5 hours a day, that would be a different story.
thats what I was thinking. I didn't see you say that she didn't let you play. All of a sudden everyone made comments on that like they never even read the first post lol.

[Dobie]

I'm married with two kids and one on the way. I have to say my game playing has slowly been going down in frequency and duration since college, but I have managed to find time despite being busy with other more important things. I'm a night owl, and always have been, so its natural that I can play games after the kids are in bed. I don't play games every night, but I manage to squeeze in a few hours a week. Typically I get the kids to bed, head to the gym, then come home for a couple hours of gaming.

My wife generally doesn't mind, and lets me know if she thinks I've been playing too much or too late into the night. The biggest stipulation she puts on the gaming sessions is I have to get the kids if they wake up. I'm happy to take some of the load off of my wife and let her get some rest, and I get my game on at the same time. Win-win.

[garagesaleking!!]

I honestly have not picked up my 360 controller in 2 weeks at least. I unplugged it before I left for vacation and have never had enough of an urge to plug it back in. I think I will play more in the winter and once I am back up at school. I just have so much stuff to do and days go by so quick in the summer, I never get around to gaming. However, I do check these forums everyday and still shop for games, haha, its just an addiction.

[Darko]

I'm not married and have no kids, but one of my best friends does. As far as the wife goes I have one word: Farmville. It worked like a charm for him. He only has one daughter, so that probably makes things easier.

[Robocop2]

I'm married with two kids. My wife doesnt really care about games but has her own ways to spend time i.e. reading novels. Reall once the kids go to bed around 8ish we have plenty of free time to do whatever we want.

[Jorpho]

I'm not married and have no kids, but one of my best friends does. As far as the wife goes I have one word: Farmville. It worked like a charm for him. He only has one daughter, so that probably makes things easier.Nope, no chance of something going wrong there. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/apr/07/farmville-user-debt-facebook)

[woodrolf]

lol,u can play it when u have spare time

[bluenote]

It's just a reality that the older you get, the less time you'll have for gaming and other hobbies. I'm married and we have a 1 year old daughter. After getting home from work, making dinner, taking the dog for a walk, and putting my daughter to bed, it's suddenly 9:00pm. So, from 9:00pm and onwards I have free time to spend time with my wife, or watch tv, or play video games, etc. It's really not too bad. It's the fact of life now, and this is what happens. We don't have 6 or 7 hours a day to do what we want.

This is why I no longer collect games, I just like to play them. I'll never have time to play all the games that I would want to collect, so I just will buy a game that I know I'll really like, and will play a lot of. I never had a lot of games to begin with, but now I just have maybe 10 games for each system. (I have 7 systems). This usually results in me buying a game every 6 months or so. This is perfect for my new lifestyle.