Think I might be done...

[gothamhunter]

I have a ton of backlog, and even have some games Kickstarter'd, but I think it's just time to give up the PC gaming. I've always seen it as my main hobby and thing to do, but since getting married it's been cutting in a lot with spending time with my wife because for some reason I can't see it as a "small scale" hobby; probably because most of the games I play on it are competitive or MMORPGs.

I have my Vita, and my 3DS, which I have been loving and are great in just playing in bed before I go to sleep or sitting on the recliner while we're both just bumming around; playing on the PC I'm always playing with an old friend of mine and I can get caught up in hours before even realizing how much I've neglected everything else.

Growing up is nice, but also sucks; sometimes I wish I was still that goofy kid playing Diablo 2 until 5am with my best friend.

Meh, just felt like sharing. Anyone else have similar thoughts?

 

[KaOTiK]

wife

found your problem

 

[gothamhunter]

found your problem

True

Trade-off is worth it though.

 

[HeXen]

I have a ton of hobbies, I just squeeze gaming in as one of them I cycle through. Maturity has nothing to do with gaming yet any hobby should also not be your life. You shouldn't have to spend every waking moment with your wife as every man needs a "time managed" hobby but whatever you like to do is what you like to do.
At least you could part your gaming stuff out and make some cash. I already spent the morning with my wife, after I mow the lawn it's time for some Metro: Last light

 

[gothamhunter]

I have a ton of hobbies, I just squeeze gaming in as one of them I cycle through. Maturity has nothing to do with gaming yet any hobby should also not be your life. You shouldn't have to spend every waking moment with your wife as every man needs a "time managed" hobby but whatever you like to do is what you like to do.
At least you could part your gaming stuff out and make some cash. I already spent the morning with my wife, after I mow the lawn it's time for some Metro: Last light

Oh I don't disagree; I'll never stop playing video games. I just have a problem once I get in the zone with my PC gaming. I could sit there for 6 hours before realizing what time it is; lights off, door closed, headphones on.

Getting a gaming laptop was supposed to help with that because I could just play in the living room still and not in the other room completely ignoring her, but then there's the issue of sound so do I put on headphones well then I can't hear her anyways then I see all my Steam friends wanting to play and ugh.

 

[Phynaz]

I thought I was done. Then five minutes ago I caved and bought the Sonic bundle.

 

[Markbnj]

I'm 52 and I still play, although I no longer play MMOs, which are a whole different level of time-sink and, more importantly, isolation from the real world. When you're playing an MMO you have to focus on what the group is doing, anything coming in from the real world is an interruption. When you have kids, something is always coming in from the real world. In a single player game it's just: hit pause, help with homework, un-pause. Games now are what I do for an hour or so after dinner to relax, while my wife watches her show or works on her computer. After 21 years of marriage, I can tell you that having separate interests and not feeling like you have to spend every waking moment focused on each other is a great strength.

 

[Kalmah]

My hobbies have been dropping like flies over the last 5 years or so. 16 years of guitar playing and havn't touched my guitar in over 2, my telescope collects dust, I've barely played a pc game for more than a few hours this past week.

Combine a nagging gf, with a vehicle that's breaking down, school, work, people actually wanting to socialize etc. and I have no time for anything. The youthful me wants to just tell everybody to leave me alone, but the aging me is changing my priorities. The best choice I think is to drop all hobbies altogether except for my guitar, because that at least can be sociable. I want to build a new gaming machine so bad though, and that would be pointless without games. lol

 

[WiseUp216]

I think we made it almost a week without a "Goodbye, PC gaming" thread.


Credit to OP, though. Your post is more coherent than most of them.

 

[cmdrdredd]

You do have to balance your time and sometimes it seems impossible. I always find time to do some gaming. Once in a while I forgo one hobby to play a few hours. Only thing you can do sometimes.

 

[Madia]

I have a ton of backlog, and even have some games Kickstarter'd, but I think it's just time to give up the PC gaming. I've always seen it as my main hobby and thing to do, but since getting married it's been cutting in a lot with spending time with my wife

I'd like to introduce you to the wonderful world of board games:

http://boardgamegeek.com/

Seriously, it's a great hobby for gamers and is social by nature so you'll be spending quality time with your wife, friends, kids, etc. There's a ton of great games so you can easily find what you want from a quick two player game to a six+ hour game with multiple players. The gateway games are usually:

Ticket to Ride (plus 1910 expansion)
Settlers of Catan
Carcassonne
Dominion
Pandemic

The hobby can be a wallet drain so if you're interested I'd recommend focusing on games that actually hit the table vs. building up a "collection". Also, a lot of the popular games are on the iphone/ipad so you can check them out before paying full price for the physical game. The downside to that is that if you really get into a board game on your ipad you'll be a significantly better at it than you opponents when you play the physical copy.

 

[Nintendesert]

I have a ton of backlog, and even have some games Kickstarter'd, but I think it's just time to give up the PC gaming. I've always seen it as my main hobby and thing to do, but since getting married it's been cutting in a lot with spending time with my wife because for some reason I can't see it as a "small scale" hobby; probably because most of the games I play on it are competitive or MMORPGs.

I have my Vita, and my 3DS, which I have been loving and are great in just playing in bed before I go to sleep or sitting on the recliner while we're both just bumming around; playing on the PC I'm always playing with an old friend of mine and I can get caught up in hours before even realizing how much I've neglected everything else.

Growing up is nice, but also sucks; sometimes I wish I was still that goofy kid playing Diablo 2 until 5am with my best friend.

Meh, just felt like sharing. Anyone else have similar thoughts?

Same situation. I used to play all the time with my brother, now I haven't played with him in a month or two. It's growing up, wife and kid and dogs and ... on and on. I miss the time we spent gaming, they were good times. Life however needs to move on and now it's more choosy about which games we do get to play together when we can.

 

[HeXen]

Oh I don't disagree; I'll never stop playing video games. I just have a problem once I get in the zone with my PC gaming. I could sit there for 6 hours before realizing what time it is; lights off, door closed, headphones on.

Getting a gaming laptop was supposed to help with that because I could just play in the living room still and not in the other room completely ignoring her, but then there's the issue of sound so do I put on headphones well then I can't hear her anyways then I see all my Steam friends wanting to play and ugh.

I take it she gets onto you about it? My wife did at first when we initially moved in together or would say I'm ignoring her when I can't hear due to my HP's, but both parties need have an understanding.
I used to respond with stuff like "what I can't do something I enjoy? I have to sit there and stare at the wall so i'm ready to respond to you at all times?...she didn't like that but now she doesn't bug me and understands I have hobbies.

It's all just about learning to manage that time appropriately.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I'm 52 and I still play, although I no longer play MMOs, which are a whole different level of time-sink and, more importantly, isolation from the real world. When you're playing an MMO you have to focus on what the group is doing, anything coming in from the real world is an interruption. When you have kids, something is always coming in from the real world. In a single player game it's just: hit pause, help with homework, un-pause. Games now are what I do for an hour or so after dinner to relax, while my wife watches her show or works on her computer. After 21 years of marriage, I can tell you that having separate interests and not feeling like you have to spend every waking moment focused on each other is a great strength.

Yes, having a separate computer for my wife and myself is essential!!!


I am older than you, and still play a lot, even though some of my friends think it is silly. I dont play online as a rule thouigh, and never play MMOs, so I can pretty much play how much I want, when I want.

If there is a game I am really interested in, I play a lot, but if nothing is interesting, I just do something else like read or something. I have to say though, that I am getting less interested in gaming now, because so many of the games are becoming free to play online, with no single player component. The last 2 games that have really caught my interest were Skyrim and Borderlands 2. The only one I am looking forward to a lot is COH 2.

 

[taq8ojh]

My wife doesn't mind me playing games at all (unless I start punching walls or smashing the keyboard while yelling fffuuuuuccccckkkk!!!!!!). She more or less says that 1) she likes to have a microscopic "break" from me and 2) she has time for herself then. Sometimes she even brings me food and wine to my room while I play I have to admit I hit a lottery ticket with that woman, though.

 

[CottonRabbit]

I have my Vita, and my 3DS, which I have been loving and are great in just playing in bed before I go to sleep or sitting on the recliner while we're both just bumming around; playing on the PC I'm always playing with an old friend of mine and I can get caught up in hours before even realizing how much I've neglected everything else.

Get an Nvidia Shield and stream PC games to controller? The device sounds like it was designed for your situation.

 

[rivethead]

My hobbies have been dropping like flies over the last 5 years or so. 16 years of guitar playing and havn't touched my guitar in over 2,

Man I feel for you. I haven't touched my Les Paul in 7. Coincidentally, my second son was born 7 years ago......need to sell the damn thing but the wife won't let me (the guitar, not the kid )

OP I feel for you too. It is hard having a wife and a hobby like PC gaming. It gets harder when the kids start coming. I rarely get to play myself, but my older son is 14 and our topic of conversation is typically gaming. I enjoy that. It's good to have the same hobby.

Find that balance. You'll be fine.

Personally, I don't play any online games. Only single player campaigns for me. And I go at my own pace.

 

[DigDog]

life is cyclical; quit games, teach your son how to pwn n00bs. doesn't get any better than that.

 

[futurefields]

Anybody else sick of seeing threads like this?

"I dont have fun playing video games anymore "

 

[Obsoleet]

I'm married and play a ton of League of Legends and Killing Floor. I won't touch MMOs tho, and I couldn't recommend them to anyone due to the time needed.

It really depends on the woman. Mine prefers me happy and when I don't get to play my happiness goes down.. so everyones happier if I play when I want. If she doesn't care that you're happy (and some truly dont), then don't marry her or divorce her.

With kids (I don't have any), it's got to be more difficult. You just don't have kids until you're ready to sacrifice more of your time. In theory that trade would be worth it.

We also play Castle Crashers, Rayman Origins, Magicka ect together, we both enjoy those casual games together. No consoles, no handhelds, we have enough gaming with the PC.
I'd suggest getting rid of the rest of the stuff and sticking to PC only.. you need one anyway for real work, the games are better and go back 30 years including the oldies. If you want handheld, look into that Nvidia Shield thing.. I don't like it but its nice to have that option. If they had a cheaper version around $200 I'd probably get one and never look at consoles again (currently I at least consider Nintendo's stuff due to the exclusive games).

 

[blankslate]

True

Trade-off is worth it though.

It would probably even be more worth it if she played PC games too. but they're rare I guess.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

PC gaming seems to lend itself to adolescent males and retirement age males. The space in between with wives and children are not only too busy buy fundamentally incompatible with the kind of solitary nature of PC gaming.

I was big on PC gaming until I got married, and after having a child my gaming time has dropped to nil. I feel dirty saying it, but for at least the next 10-15 years I'll have to crawl back to consoles for a more communal gaming experience. I'll come back to PC gaming after whatever kids I have are in college... If there is a PC gaming to come back to DUN DUN DUN!

 

[gothamhunter]

To respond to a few points:

We do play board games a lot; Settlers, Pandemic, and with some others Munchkin to name a few. We also have a 9000 piece puzzle in our dining room :O

She doesn't really get on my case about it, but I can tell she gets sad; if I'm zoned in with my headphones on she feels shut out like I don't want to be around her. I've played games plenty of times though with the volume on mute so we can talk and I can game

We have separate computers; I don't think I could handle sharing one haha. It doesn't help that we don't have smartphones or anything so the laptops are the only way to "get online".

The Nvidia shield seems kind of niche, but an interesting idea. I've played around with the idea of building a small form factor HTPC that can do gaming and emulators for the living room that I would game off of. I think she'd be accepting of that.

I never said I don't have fun anymore; quite contrary I love video games.

I wish she liked video games; it doesn't help that she actually quite hates them and doesn't like playing them at all.

Ironically enough, she enjoyed watching a friend and I play LBP2 tonight.

 

[paperfist]

When the glow of being married wares off you'll be back gaming on the PC

Seriously, you'll both want some 'me time' which will signal your reemergence into PC gaming.

 

[Via]

This lull is deeper for me too. I think we grew up on a different type of game, and our gaming psyche has starved.