Ah, Valentines… for Gamers this means either one of two things: you either love or hate this holiday, all depending on your disposition.
Majority of your liking to Valentines depends if you’re a single gamer or a ‘hitched’ gamer; if you’re part of the latter and are referred to as “part of a better half” (I’ll leave you to decide which one YOU are) than you’ll have to face the fact that there’s no escaping it; you have no choice BUT to embrace this holiday.
Yet while Valentines has become less & less about the celebration of love (and more of a corporate cash-in holiday) doesn’t mean you can’t make the best of it.
With all the obligatory gifts you’ll be buying i.e. flowers, chocolates, dinner, dessert? – why not change it up this year and give her the gift of gaming too?
Now don’t worry, until your gf becomes a true gamer she probably won’t want to take away your Gears of War or Halo 3 from you. But maybe she’ll be keen to your Guitar Hero II or WiiSports?
And what better way to celebrate a holiday about love by spending some ‘quality’ time. While girl Gamers are still a niche in the largely male-dominated gaming world, female Gamers numbers are rising; which is a good sign for the gaming industry and culture as a whole.
If you haven’t done so already this might be the perfect time for you two to finally play – together. Think about it. Valentines is the perfect occasion to get your significant other into games. By playing games together, you’ll develop a bond, all the while still getting some game time in.
In fact, a recent article that expresses this same concept can be found in the January/February Women’s Health magazine. In the article, a social psychologist from Los Angeles named Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. states that “Playing video games allows you to bond and learn how to problem-solve as a team.”
Just make sure if you do play games for valentines that you still do the obligatory flowers, cards, candies. Subsituting games for these basic valentines tokens to increase your funds unfortunately is NOT usually an acceptable option.
So what games would work well for couples you ask? Obviously the best games would depend on your lady’s individual taste (does she like puzzle games ? action games? racing?) and most likely it would help if it were a 2-player co-op or versus.
If your loved one can learn the ropes of the game you’ll end up having a better time too.
Some examples of couple friendly games:
SIMS BUSTING OUT by EA. (multiple platforms)
CUPID says: This game is great for couples as its addictive nature can cater to both men & woman alike; is easy to pick up and play, and can be saved for more fun.
Last year, while my wife was pregnant, I would have to call her mid-day to remind her to eat and take a break as she began to get absolutely hooked on a little game called “Sims: Busting Out”.
What started out as a way for me to get some game time with The Sims became a game where we both became hooked into getting our characters some cool upgrades.
For her, the addicting part came in getting enough money to buy the things she couldn’t buy (yet) in real life. From clothing to getting enough cash to spruce up her character’s pad by buying a new TV or couch, she simply couldn’t get enough of the game.
MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH by Nintendo for GameCube
CUPID says: Another game great for couples, this game can easily get the ladies glued to their seats (and if you play your cards right they won’t even know you’ve LET them win!); fast and furious, but still cute and simple, the gameplay is great for couples on the go.
KARAOKE REVOLUTION by Konami (ps2)
CUPID says: Karaoke for Gamers? Valentines? Sounds like gaming couples bliss. Nuff said.
So go ahead, get out there and play together. Who knows, you might have found your perfect opponent – who happens to be just right next to you.
