Co-Op Gaming versus Life

Or, how I embraced adulthood and got on with it

Dear Diary, this week as been good, I have managed to play around three hours of co-op gaming.  What with the house, the job, the wife and the kids, getting some “Sam Time” is no longer as easy as it was.  Sometimes I feel like there is a constant battle between my Life and my Gaming, but which will win?

As a schoolboy and then a student of history, the time I had for gaming now seems almost as legend.  As soon as I got back from school or lectures I would boot up my Super Nintendo/PlayStation/Xbox and play for a couple of hours.  My brother/flatmates would soon turn up and an impromptu session of versus football or co-operative shooting would entail, but then came graduation.

Potential Weekly Co-Op Gaming Hours: 70

Like everyone of the planet who was not born with a silver spoon clamped squarely between their lips, a job was required for me to provide the basics; food, shelter, new games.  Suddenly the hours of 9-5 where not reserved for napping and thinking about going to lectures, but things like spreadsheets and thinking about napping.  Work was eating into my co-op gaming time.  However, with the hours after work still open, things are not too bad – yet:

Potential Weekly Co-Op Gaming Hours: 45

Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife, but she doesn’t half get in the way of some quality gaming time; what with the paying attention to her and whatnot.  I am lucky to have a partner who knew about my gaming when we met and is happy for me to play now.  In fact, get the right game and she can be the ultimate co-op partner; always on hand to play.  However, this is not the norm.  There is no denying that after work it is not just 5 hours of fun gaming, but more likely a civilised meal and some sort of TV show that is not really my cup of tea.  Get to about 10pm and the night opens up, but don’t I need sleep?

Potential Weekly Co-Op Gaming Hours: 20

To an Englishman, his home is his castle.  It is also a massive albatross that hangs from his neck like a money sucking leech.  I love my new house, but the combination of tidying, repairs and paying for the damn thing really gets in the way of gaming.  If I am not standing in the pouring rain fixing the guttering with a shoe innersole (I am not very DIY handy), I am looking at all my potential gaming money being spent on keeping a roof over my head.  Gone are the days of buying the latest releases and basking in the new instruction manual smell; instead this is replaced with relying on a game rental service which provides random games – some co-op, others not.

Potential Weekly Co-Op Gaming Hours: 10

I am yet to hear the sound of tiny feet running over my perfectly polished wooden flooring, but that is not to mean that Kids have not already made a heavy dent into my gaming time; especially co-op gaming.  My brother and many of my friends now have children and this means they have little to no time to play online.  I have to arrange several weeks in advance to get a game with a mate; even going so far as to arrange trips out for our wives so that we can stay at home and game.  When did it all get so difficult?   

Potential Weekly Co-Op Gaming Hours: 3

Three hours, three lousy hours (if I am lucky).  I have gone from living an almost Matrix like existence in the online space, to being a man who cooks, cleans, works and dreams – but I love it.

I don’t see my increasing responsibilities as a burden, but as a joy.  No longer am I playing at co-op, but living it with friends, family and, of course, my wife.  For every hour of co-op gaming that work, wife, house and kids take away from me, they add hours of co-op life.  In fact, in many instances you can actually gain gaming time too:

The important thing about co-operative gaming is not how many hours you get to play, but making sure you enjoy those hours when you get them.

Potential Weekly Co-Op Gaming Hours: Limitless