Can love bloom on the battlefield?

Stop the presses: Girlfriends and video games seldom mix. A healthy gaming habit can put an unhealthy strain on one’s romance. That includes you lucky schlubs with a lady friend that knows her way around a D-pad. We’ve all seen the eye rolls, endured the nagging, or been accused of the atrocities of neglect. The truth is that there’s no quick-fix for this problem. Whether you’re in it for a fling or the long haul, it’s going to take some compromise if you want your love to not just survive, but to thrive! No man likes to be alone, so fellas, I’m going to help you save your relationship!

The absolute first step is to make time for your girlfriend. And I don’t mean a late-night rendezvous in Azeroth to quest for phat l00t. You’re gonna have to look at her, preferably at her face. Whether she’s low-maintenance or high, a girl craves her due attention. Make her feel like the special lady that she is by devoting at least one day of the week where you don’t play at all in favor of kickin’ it with your snugglebunny. Cook her dinner, take her shopping, or–holy crap–talk with her! Whatever you do, the games stay off for the entire day. Avoid setting a routine day by changing it up every week…keep it spontaneous! Show her without words that you appreciate her settling for your dopey behind and tossing you the occasional mercy jump.

I understand the above is a test of great will power. For those who cannot so easily unplug, there is a compromise. You could try to include her in your hobby. A couple needs to bond in order to strengthen the connection between them. This does NOT mean sitting her next to you while you show off your best combos in single-player Dragon Ball Z: Budokai. She may pretend to be your cheerleader, but she’s too sweet to tell you that she’s bored. Find a game that you two can engage in together; I suggest something co-operative. If your current video game library requires too much of a learning curve, expand on the bonding experience by shopping for a game together. Need help? Here are some suggestions.

If all of the above fail you, then we’ve entered dark territory. As I said, there’s no “trick” to keeping your girlfriend at bay while you indulge your gaming appetite. Hiding won’t help. You’re as sick as your secrets and once you’re busted, you’re in for tenfold the usual venom. It’s then time to come to terms with which you consider your true love, and which is inevitably not meant to be. However, I do wager that once you get the ball rolling, the joy between you and your gal will perpetuate you both onto the right track. Good luck, and don’t forget the flowers!