the couple that plays together, stays together

My husband and I both are pretty avid gamers. He was a console gamer almost exclusively during his teenage years, and until we met in 2008 he hadn’t really played a console since the SNES. However, after getting a PS3 when we moved in together, he hasn’t really looked back. He started off with Uncharted 2, and since then has played the Assassin’s Creed series, all the adventures of Kratos, and everything in between. Now, me … well, I’ve had consoles since I was about 7 or 8, and over the years have played dozens and dozens of games.

Now, having two gamers under one roof, with one Playstation and one TV, can be hard. Evenings become a gambling, balancing act on who gets to play first, and for how long, and “OMG why didn’t you charge the friggin’ controllers???”

It isn’t easy. But I’ve got some suggestions as to how to make it a little easier.

1. Playing together

The easiest and simplest solution to sharing screen time with your significant other is playing together. Playing games together not only means you get to spend some time hanging out and having fun, but you also get to play something as a team, and experience some really amazing co-op games out there. Tony and I have been playing Portal 2 together recently, and I can’t believe how much more fun the game is with another person. Not only that, but when I get stuck on a puzzle, Tony has a different idea on how to approach it, and vice versa. I wrote a piece on how to play games together on my own site last month, and made some suggestions on some great ones that we like to play together.

Playing together also avoids any arguing over whose turn it is to use the TV. Now, arguing over which portal needs to go where … that’s another story.

2. Finding one to watch

Now, finding a co-op game isn’t always the easiest, and sometimes you just want to play alone with a full screen and make all the decisions. Well, sometimes you can share gaming space in your living room by taking turns or simply just watching. For example, when Tony and I first got the Playstation he picked up Uncharted 2 for himself. I wanted to play it myself, but I instead got drawn into watching him play, and ended up observing the entire game like it was a movie. And I loved it. I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything that way, because I got to see every action sequence and every dramatic shoot off just the same as someone actually controlling Nathan Drake.

When I play the endless list of JRPG’s I have on the go, Tony loves to tune into the cut scenes, and keep along with what’s going on in between the grinding and levelling I love so much. Even though only one person is playing, we are still both enjoying the game time together!

3. Get a handheld

The technology available in a pint size handheld console these days is nothing like the Game Boy Color I used to get stuck with when my brother played Twisted Metal or Crash Bandicoot on the basement TV when I was a kid. Now, the graphics are clearer, the games are involved, complex, and exciting, and you can even play multiplayer games cross console in some situations, a great feature that is constantly growing and accommodating more.

Whether it’s a Vita or even an Android or iOS device, there are ways for both people in a partnership or friendship that are cohabitating to both get playtime with one TV. The other night while Tony played The Last of Us, I was playing Tiny Towers on my iPhone. I can see myself getting lost in Persona 4 Golden on a Vita with no interest whatsoever in the big screen in front of me.

4. When all else fails, schedule!

Sometimes one person wants to play Tales of Xillia and one person wants to play Dead Island: Riptide, and there is nothing you can do about it. So, take turns like a family, and try to get along. Usually Tony lets me play first, so that when I get a little sleepy on the couch he can play and I can just watch him. Or play Tiny Tower. Because damn that game is addicting.

Discuss:

What do you do to share game space with your significant other? Let me know in the comments below!