by Russell Linton

Created on: November 09, 2010

Stop playing and listen.

Seriously.

Now before the average gamer gets up in arms about the above statement, think about the implications here. Spouse – i.e. that person you made a lifelong commitment to have and to hold until death do you part versus the video game – i.e. that thing you do to have fun or just kill time when you aren’t out doing other higher priority things in your life. Things like providing for your family, and hopefully enjoying some face time with them.

One of these, you have wisely or unwisely made a solid (and legally binding) commitment to. The other is simply a hobby. And while it may often demand more attention than asking your spouse what kind of topping she wants on her pizza, it is still just a hobby.

Yes, raiding with 50 other players and trying to keep the buffs and heals going so the tank doesn’t  die which of course starts that domino effect that will kill off your friends virtual avatars can be a stressful event. However, so can getting served divorce papers and grinding through the cavernous bowels of the “Labyrinth of Judicial Process” on the “Quest of Epic Irreconcilable Differences”. This particular quest will last years on end only to see your Tier One big screen LCD TV, your actual living breathing pet, half of your retirement vault, and the very computer you enjoy your video games on being swept away into the now victorious ex-spouses possession. (Yes, he / she will likely make a play for the computer or gaming system that “ruined your marriage”. Nobody plays fair in divorce court.)

Now that you are hopefully listening, find out what the problem is. Sadly, if your spouse is up in arms it is very likely that you do spend an inordinate amount of time playing video games.  Most gamers will deny this, but sadly it’s true. If you spend more waking hours in a virtual world than you do with your spouse, it is very possible you need to reconsider joining that new guild and committing to a new season of “pwnage”.

If this is the case you have three options:

If you were smart (here’s a cheat code for all the newbies) you would have tackled this early and maybe planted some gaming seeds prior to all the knot tying. You would have already thought to talk your significant other into playing said games.  You might just have been able to create a fellow gamer. Then you could both be absorbed in video game nirvana and maybe take your relationship

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