Video Games And Other Halves

Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 12:30 pm in General Gaming · Comments

If you’re looking for insightful tips on how to get your missus loving Master Chief, run along. I’m looking for those that can tell me how to get my other half as excited about frags, Achievements, and all things Tom Clancy as I am.

Yet again I find myself in another relationship with someone disinterested in video games. I knew this from the get-go as it was, of course, a mandatory question I asked on our first date (ahem). Hairy chest? Check. Non smoker? Check. 360 gamer? Negative. I told myself, however, that he may catch the console bug like I have, and a few days later he text asking where he could pick up an original Xbox, already showing promise.

Last night he turned up just as my Skate 2 session was winding down. I know from my previous relationship that playing video games around those that don’t play video games is considered rude, not to mention boring, but just as I was about to turn my 360 off, my boyfriend asked if he could have a go.

5 minutes later, manifested as a pixel perfect Rob Dyrdek, he was freeskating around a San Vanelona plaza. Pulling off ollies into grinds, kickflips into manuals, and even asking “how do I do a pop shuvit?”. My boyfriend knows what a pop shuvit is.

It was then I decided to introduce him to something a little heavier, which would involve assault rifles and setting things on fire. Left 4 Dead. If you’ve been reading this blog or following me on Twitter, you may have the impression I’ve developed a crush on Left 4 Dead, and you’d be right. My boyfriend, on the other hand, isn’t impressed by zombies at all, even more so when I mentioned they were of the sprinting variety, but surely the opening CGI sequence can’t fail to excite anyone?

So, there we were, Bill and Zoey, attempting to escape incapacitation in No Mercy on medium difficulty (I forgot to change the campaign to Dead Air, which may have excited my budding pilot boyfriend a bit more). After a brief rundown of the controls and taking account of some tactics, we had fast approached the third level of the campaign, in which time he’d managed to free me from the grip of Smokers and all sorts. But by that point, much to my dismay, he’d lost interest, even pausing to take the piss that Left 4 Dead is how I spend my Friday nights.

It’s a huge thing for me to actually have a boyfriend who can maneuver their character while simultaneously using the camera to pan around the room. Hence why it feels such a waste he has no desire to play video games. I’m hoping that changes. This lady needs someone to finish off the world tour in Rock Band with, and I’ve seen him play on Expert - for someone who had never done it before, he has the potential to be my perfect co-op partner! But how to ease him in? Doing the annoying, girly “pleease, do it for me” spiel doesn’t sit well with me. Tips and suggestions much appreciated; I know a lot of you got your ladies into gaming, which couldn’t have been that easy.

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13 Responses to “Video Games And Other Halves”

xenon

# March 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

Well, as being a person never achieved to get any of my girl-friends even near any videogames (PC it is) might be i´m not the perfect advisor.

I always thought about categories in playing video-games. There are the builders (any strategie-driven games), the fighters (any shooter), the drivers (anything involving vehicles) and the role-players (uhoh - fanatsy involved).

I guess the most difficult to bring in someone not very interested in video-games is the fighters. And to be honest - it´s just not the thing you say at partys “Yes i like to slash 1500zombies an evening - that´s my fav. hobby”.

Game-mechanics are always about rewards - that´s why we stick to it. The feeling of success makes you wanna have more.

As for real-life rewards it´s kind of up to your fantasy (or maybe his) how to…

In games you should try something that gives rewards and shows that you might achieve a lot more - so try some role-playing things and start a new character. Take a game with a good story line and not too much single combat elements. No game would be more perfect then WOW…but that´s not 360.

Anyway give some more tries - tie it up with some real-life rewards and use some rewarding game.

Andrzej

# March 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

Haha!

I am encountering the same problem. My lady didn’t show any interest in gaming at all. But when you get a good approach and preapre a smooth learning curve with a perfect selection of titles, you might be successful.

I’ve started with Forza Motorsport 2 (she is soooooo into cars), but this turned out to be too difficult. So we downgraded to Project Gotham Racing 4… and it went all smoother. Afterwards we’ve tried Lego Star Wars, but she didn’t like the shooting and sceneries too much, so we switched to our friend Indiana Jones - 100% hit! :)

It’s not all so beautiful though. I’ve made a try with Gears of War 2 recently, but that was a 100% FAIL. I guess she won’t be into any FPP, TPP games anytime soon.

Regarding Rock Band 2, that you’ve mentioned… she was a bit shy with Guitar Hero (but she didn’t reject it!), so we stayed with Lips for now. I think the fact that he’s a guy will make this one A LOT easier for you.

Anyway - choose the right titles, take it slow, and you’ll have your own game addict in no time :)

P.s. I wish though we could inject people with something to make them love gaming in no-time ;)

Alexander Radsby

# March 6th, 2009 at 1:25 pm

I never got my ex-girlfriend into gaming. It was sad really. Haha.

Dave

# March 6th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

Mrs M dips in and out, when she has time she will happily play Professor Layton on the DS and LocoRoco on the PSP. She used to play the PS2 alot as well. With the xBox it was a little more difficult, until Astropop came along….

We play Tomb Raider Underworld together and I think she might get into Prince of Persia soon, the other day when I was very much stuck on Gears she actually agreed to try and help!

I don’t really know what to advise except to keep trying! There is bound to be game he likes… ;)

Skar

# March 6th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

I somehow got lucky. My previous gf’s all weren’t into gaming. And my current gf wasn’t either… until she started to enjoy watching while I was playing Call of Duty 4 online. Sometimes she’d even ask if I wanted to shoot, because she wanted to watch.
And one night I was playing but I needed to do something, so I layed down the controller… and she picked it up and never let go anymore. Now she’s even more into COD4 and COD5 than I am. And after playing some Fable2, she also wanted to play it herself… so I made my gf a gamer!

The fact that your bf wants to play, but loses interest might suggest it’s not really his type of game. Maybe you should do what Alexander tried: just try different types of games and see what works and what doesn’t.

I kinda have the same problem with L4D. I would LOVE to play it with a friend splitscreen, but still can’t find anyone to play with :-(
My gf doesn’t like any shooter, except COD4/5 online. And most of my friends don’t like shooters/FPS either. My brother does, but he somehow doesn’t enjoy playing L4D.
So my last bed is on my cousin who will join tonight and hope he likes playing L4D together ;-)

So. To summorize, the same advise Alexander gave: take it sloooooowwwww, don’t expect him to love every game you love, expect nothing and you’ll be surprised. Maybe ask him what he wants to play? And try different titles… maybe some demo’s from XBL?

Goodluck Ashley.

Skar

# March 6th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

Woops. I meant the advise Andrzej gave. Not Alexander. Sorry!

xenon

# March 7th, 2009 at 10:58 am

At this point i wonder - does he read your blog ?

Rockers Delight

# March 7th, 2009 at 12:09 pm

Whoo, thanks for all the responses. Some good advice.

@xenon

Categories is a good way of looking at it. He’s into sports, but the only sports game I own is Pro Evo, and, typically, he’s not into football - more so rugby and american football. I’d actually consider picking up a sports title if it meant luring him into 360 gaming ;) As for your other question, I doubt he reads my blog as he’s not interested in playing games, let alone reading about them.

@Andrzej

Aah, your relationship gives me hope! I’m pretty sure I could get him into the lego games, specifically Batman, which is something we would both enjoy. I’ve got him playing Rock Band on a few occasions, and he was really good at it, but that was with a group of people, not just him and I.

@Dave

Did your wife dabble with games before you met? So many men seem to have little problem getting their partners into gaming. I have tons of male friends who have introduced their girlfriends to it.

@Skar

That’s pretty cool your girlfriend enjoys watching you play. I’ve never experienced that myself. I always felt pressure to switch my 360 off in my previous relationship if my ex was about. What can I say? Your girlfriend’s a keeper! ;)

Dave

# March 9th, 2009 at 12:36 pm

@Rockers Delight Yeah she did, her brother develops games for the PS3, they played lots of Tomb Raider together so it wasn’t too hard to get her into the xBox world, with the baby now though she is more than happy just to chill rather than play computer games with me!

Rockers Delight

# March 11th, 2009 at 11:51 am

@Dave

What a cool job her brother has! I bet you’ve picked his brain on many an occasion, especially if he’s worked on any cool games. As for becoming a new mum, I’m sure once Max gets a bit older Mrs Moran will have a bit more time on her hands to game.

Dave

# March 11th, 2009 at 8:19 pm

@Rockers Delight Shame he doesn’t work on the xbox though, I’d be on his case a lot more ;)

As for Mrs M, she has just entered the world of Peggle, there goes my night ;)

Dave

# March 18th, 2009 at 4:15 pm

I am so lucky that my better half was a) hot and b) a proper gamer. Obviously I had no chance with her until she say my flashy gaming skillz. Anyway we are now happily engaged. She is a massive Resi fan having completed every single one including RE4 twice on Pro on PS2 and twice on Pro on Wii. Last night was spent with me kicking back with my new addiction, EVE Onilne, and her playing RE5.

Best thing about living with a female gamer is that we always get the latest console and games pretty much on launch - I no longer have to justify my hobby. Course none of this helps you Ashley, sorry :(

Ben

# April 3rd, 2009 at 5:16 pm

My wife has shown little to no interest in gaming over the years. Which is ironic considering that she bought me my first PS2. Now she laments doing that. With time, however, I have brought her around somewhat. She’s a touch-n’-go gamer. A little DS here, a little Little Big Planet there. But she’ll never share my obsessiveness for playing. Although I have managed to guilt her into co-oping on RE5 with me. That should be good for a few laughs.

Regarding your boyfriend, you might be fighting a losing battle. I’m not sure it’s possible to make someone love something that they just have no interest in. My wife keeps trying to get me into her passion - knitting. Not going to happen. “Lots of guys knit,” she says. And while that may be true, it just doesn’t flip my switch. I really can’t see myself going, “Wow, finishing this pair of socks is just so much more fulfulling than mowing down virtual bad guys with an assault rifle!” Nope. Not for me.

Of course, if you enjoy one another’s company and you have other common interests, then that’s the important thing.

Wow. I really haven’t offered any helpful advice.

Um . . . get him drunk?

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