Balancing Gaming With Family Life. - Blu-ray Forum

BluStation 3 · 07-21-2010, 06:24 PM

Just curious as to how you guys/gals balance your gaming habits with family life/kids. Do you alternate nights between gaming and family time or do you just play games with no set schedule or until your loved ones threaten to disown you? LOL. Anybody incorporate their family into their gaming, like with family game nights?

Dirk504 · 07-21-2010, 06:34 PM

I just had to drop out of an online dynasty for NCAA 11 because it was taking too much time away from me spending time with my wife. I work 40 hrs a week, so I really only play 3-4 days a week. If my wife is outta town, it's 7 days a week lol.

1cleans13 · 07-21-2010, 06:37 PM

Thats a good question. I have an 11 month old, and lately trying to find time for gaming its been really hard. I work from 7 to 6 mon thru friday and every other saturday. When I get home I spend that time with my wife and kid until he goes to sleep around 9:30ish and by the time I shower and get ready to play some games its about 10:20 to 10:30. the problem is, at that time I am tired as hell so I dont feel like playing after that.
I am curious to see how other people with similar schedules handle this.

Warjack Prime · 07-21-2010, 06:39 PM

Yeah I'm with you. I've got a 3 year old and a newborn due in a month or so. Sometimes I'll play after the boy goes to bed, so I may play during the week from 9 to 10 and a few hours on the weekend. I'll do this if I get a new fun game until my wife starts getting annoyed. Then I'll stop playing for a few weeks and work it back in slowly.

Right now I've got nothing exciting to play but come October it'll be a shiznitstorm!

Chordata · 07-21-2010, 06:41 PM

I have a wife and 2 kids. They come first. If they're busy, sleeping, away, etc., then maybe I'll play Halo for a bit. Every once in a rare while I'll turn on the Wii.

That's the extent of my gaming.

Dreemworx · 07-21-2010, 06:51 PM

To be good at gaming, really good, you need to spend countless hours online honing your craft.

If your single no worries.

If you have a family...it is selfish after a point.

I put too much time into clanning a for 2 years and although I handled my business, I also regret putting too many hours into it.

Now, I 'pub' perhaps 2 or 3 hours a week late night when all are in bed, if even that.

Besides with BluRay now available...who wants to waste time gaming?

;p

ratandjmt · 07-21-2010, 07:18 PM

I manage my time pretty well, IMO. I am married, have 2 kids, go to school, spend time with my family and have a full time job. I usually play a hour or so at night when everyone goes to bed. Friday and Saturday night I usually play a lot more, I was up till 0230 Saturday finishing up Singularity.

It seems to work for me but I have never been a big sleeper, I am usualy good on 5-6 hours a night for a few weeks.

MaCruz · 07-21-2010, 07:23 PM

I play an average 1 hour Monday - Thursday.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is very rare unless I have a league game.

When Madden 11 comes out. It will be up to 3 hours Monday - Thursday, but it will die down after football season.

My PS3 is mostly used as a BDP.

GF, family and activities are first. That's why my short gaming time doesn't affect my personal time.

kman · 07-21-2010, 07:31 PM

This is a very good topic, well done OP.

Now that life has started (full time job, Wife, Dog, House and responsibilities) and I am no longer in school anymore with loads of free time my gaming habits have changed considerably. I used to be very "dedicated" to counter-strike playing in clans and leagues but it required far to much time to play at the level required.

Now I mostly focus on single player console games just because its always available when I am ready to game. Get off work early after a big case I can play some Bioshock 2. I dont have to wait till my friends get home from work to jump on MW2.

I guess I could play with just random people but man...thats difficult...

CYMBOL · 07-21-2010, 07:37 PM

Wife, 2 kids, job - yeah, it's hard. So, I do it when I have time.

Basically, if there isn't anything to do - I try and get some games in.

When my kids down for a nap - I throw in LBP and get some work done on a level.

When everyone goes to bed - I'll play some Warhawk.

Or, if the wife is giving the kid a bath - I play a little.

But, if my wife is up and wants to watch a movie or a show, then we'll do that instead. I never say no to doing something non-game related.

It might seem like a lot - but if I wasn't gaming, I'd be on the internet, or flipping channels, so I see gaming as being the same as those. Just wasting time, but at least with gaming I am "doing" something, instead of just staring.

HOWEVER, my big thing is, if the wife says, "I'm taking the baby for a walk, do you want to come?" - I always turn off the game.

She feels I'm on it too much, but I ask her if she'd be more happy if I was vegging in front of the TV - she says, "For some strange reason, yes". And I say, "Get over it". And we continue being happy.

I've also explained to my women friends that ALL guys are like this. They pick something and devote all their time to it. For some, they have 3 junk cars in their front yard and all they do is work on them, for some it's computers, for some it's movies, for some it's fishing, for some it's sports. . .

Can someone's hobby become too much for the family - yes.

My advice, do what makes you happy, but always be able to stop at anytime to make those around you happy as well.

Blu Bull · 07-21-2010, 07:56 PM

My two kids go to bed between 7 and 8, my wife goes to bed at 10, I don't sleep as much as they do. I also try to get some games that I can enjoy with my oldest daughter (7), as you can tell by my signature.

BluStation 3 · 07-21-2010, 08:02 PM

Yeah seems like alot of you guys are in the same boat as me....full time job, kids, wife/girlfriend. I try not to play too much but sometimes a game comes along that grabs you and you can't help but play it continuosly and you even think about it when you aren't playing it, lol. I try not to play 2 nights in a row because it makes me feel selfish and sort of guilty like i'm neglecting the family. Its one of the biggest reason why I dont play online games. Last online game I played (Uncharted 2) I got hooked on really bad...like 4-5hr sessions on the weekend. Luckily though the family loves blu-rays so it's somewhat good that the PS3 is not only a gaming system. Makes me feel like it contributes to family time too. Plus bluray Pixar movies are so beautiful, half the time I pretend like I bought the movie for the kids when really I wanna watch it, lol.

iam1bearcat · 07-21-2010, 08:08 PM

great topic OP!

i've discussed this before in another thread or two, but essentially, i'm a greedy guy. i like being able to do whatever i want to do, whenever i want to do it. so if i want to watch a movie or play a game, i don't have to wait until time allows. i've got my job and that's really the only thing that gets in my way. the gf works 40 hrs a week, like me, and then she has her hobbies and whatnot, so we only see each other maybe 3 days a week for a few hours at a time.

but, this is why i don't want a family or kids. i'm so set in my ways that i can't change now. my money is MINE. and i like buying games and movies, so i can play / enjoy them when i want to. not when the gf (or kids) would want to or let me have time to enjoy my activities. that would drive me crazy.

Rike255 · 07-21-2010, 08:12 PM

No kids, but my fiance and I try to play games together from time to time. Then I'll play my own stuff when she's busy with other things or just for some alone time. I don't play nearly as much now that I'm living with someone though and I assume play time will decrease even more with children.
My motorcycle is taking up all my free time now

Uber12 · 07-21-2010, 08:12 PM

My 3 kids (6,4,2) are usually in bed before 8pm. After that, if I have nothing I need to do and my wife is busy doing something else, I'll play some games. I probably average 4-5 hours per week. My two older kids also like playing video games so if they're playing and I have time, I'll sit down and play some Lego Star Wars or something with them. Playing Co-op games with my kids is great fun. My 6-year old can even take me on pretty well in competitive games like Sonic Racing.

When my youngest child was a newborn, she needed to be fed every 3 hours. If I got up with her in the middle of the night, I would feed her then hold her and play games until she fell asleep. Thank goodness I have a PS3 and not a Wii or she might have gone flying across the room.

Ferris · 07-21-2010, 08:12 PM

I agree... good thread topic, OP...

I have a wife and a 2-month old son, along with 2 cats, and we own our house. There is a LOT of responsibility there and ALL of those things come first. If my chores are done, and my son is sleeping, and my wife is doing something else (out, napping, or on the computer) I'll play a little. This usually happens 1 - 3 times per week. I've set myself these rules because I know too many people who allowed gaming to ruin their marriages, jobs, and lives. I love my wife, son and pets (yes, my pets are family too) to no end, and I refuse to allow something to stand in the way of that.

iam1bearcat · 07-21-2010, 08:15 PM

ugh. things like this remind me why i hate being an adult.

- bills
- family
- jobs
- responsibilities
- kids
- significant others
- house maintenance...

ugh.
not that i have kids or a wife, but i just want to watch movies and play games!
why is it so difficult!

BluStation 3 · 07-21-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

great topic OP!

i've discussed this before in another thread or two, but essentially, i'm a greedy guy. i like being able to do whatever i want to do, whenever i want to do it. so if i want to watch a movie or play a game, i don't have to wait until time allows. i've got my job and that's really the only thing that gets in my way. the gf works 40 hrs a week, like me, and then she has her hobbies and whatnot, so we only see each other maybe 3 days a week for a few hours at a time.

but, this is why i don't want a family or kids. i'm so set in my ways that i can't change now. my money is MINE. and i like buying games and movies, so i can play / enjoy them when i want to. not when the gf (or kids) would want to or let me have time to enjoy my activities. that would drive me crazy.

Hey man nothing wrong with knowing who you are and being open and honest about it. I applaude that. Family/kids aren't for everyone. I know it was a major adjustment for me especially when kids came into the picture. I used to look at my bank account and say..."I can't believe how expensive these kids are...all this money could go towards gaming!" But honestly I wouldnt trade my son for anything. Kids are a lot of work at first but once they get around 6 months old or so and their little personalities start coming to life, its the best thing ever.

Monk360 · 07-21-2010, 08:29 PM

Let's see...

8:00 - 5:00 Work
5:00 - 6:00 Outside Time w/daughter
6:00 - 7:00 Dinner
7:00 - 10:00 Family Time
10:00 - ?? PS3/360 Time
?? - 8:00 Sleep

Obviously, the amount of time I spend gaming roughly equals how tired I want to feel the next morning.

For Final Fantasy XIII...it was VERY tired. For Halo: Reach....VERY tired.

Rike255 · 07-21-2010, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferris

I agree... good thread topic, OP...

I have a wife and a 2-month old son, along with 2 cats, and we own our house. There is a LOT of responsibility there and ALL of those things come first. If my chores are done, and my son is sleeping, and my wife is doing something else (out, napping, or on the computer) I'll play a little. This usually happens 1 - 3 times per week. I've set myself these rules because I know too many people who allowed gaming to ruin their marriages, jobs, and lives. I love my wife, son and pets (yes, my pets are family too) to no end, and I refuse to allow something to stand in the way of that.

Oh ya my 2 cats. To my surprise these little guys take up a lot of time too! I wouldn't trade them in for anything though.

07-21-2010, 06:24 PM	#1
BluStation 3 Active Member Member since:Feb 2010 Location:Virginia	Balancing Gaming With Family Life. Just curious as to how you guys/gals balance your gaming habits with family life/kids. Do you alternate nights between gaming and family time or do you just play games with no set schedule or until your loved ones threaten to disown you? LOL. Anybody incorporate their family into their gaming, like with family game nights? Last edited by BluStation 3; 07-21-2010 at 06:26 PM.

07-21-2010, 07:37 PM	#10
CYMBOL Blu-ray Knight Member since:May 2007 Location:I move around a lot. Blu-ray collection:8	Wife, 2 kids, job - yeah, it's hard. So, I do it when I have time. Basically, if there isn't anything to do - I try and get some games in. When my kids down for a nap - I throw in LBP and get some work done on a level. When everyone goes to bed - I'll play some Warhawk. Or, if the wife is giving the kid a bath - I play a little. But, if my wife is up and wants to watch a movie or a show, then we'll do that instead. I never say no to doing something non-game related. It might seem like a lot - but if I wasn't gaming, I'd be on the internet, or flipping channels, so I see gaming as being the same as those. Just wasting time, but at least with gaming I am "doing" something, instead of just staring. HOWEVER, my big thing is, if the wife says, "I'm taking the baby for a walk, do you want to come?" - I always turn off the game. She feels I'm on it too much, but I ask her if she'd be more happy if I was vegging in front of the TV - she says, "For some strange reason, yes". And I say, "Get over it". And we continue being happy. I've also explained to my women friends that ALL guys are like this. They pick something and devote all their time to it. For some, they have 3 junk cars in their front yard and all they do is work on them, for some it's computers, for some it's movies, for some it's fishing, for some it's sports. . . Can someone's hobby become too much for the family - yes. My advice, do what makes you happy, but always be able to stop at anytime to make those around you happy as well. Last edited by CYMBOL; 07-21-2010 at 07:39 PM.

07-21-2010, 06:34 PM	#2
Dirk504 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2008 Home Theater Gallery:25 4K collection:152 Blu-ray collection:367 Blu-ray reviews:4	I just had to drop out of an online dynasty for NCAA 11 because it was taking too much time away from me spending time with my wife. I work 40 hrs a week, so I really only play 3-4 days a week. If my wife is outta town, it's 7 days a week lol.

07-21-2010, 06:37 PM	#3
1cleans13 Active Member Member since:Oct 2008 Location:South Florida 4K collection:6 Blu-ray collection:285 DVD collection:2	Thats a good question. I have an 11 month old, and lately trying to find time for gaming its been really hard. I work from 7 to 6 mon thru friday and every other saturday. When I get home I spend that time with my wife and kid until he goes to sleep around 9:30ish and by the time I shower and get ready to play some games its about 10:20 to 10:30. the problem is, at that time I am tired as hell so I dont feel like playing after that. I am curious to see how other people with similar schedules handle this.

07-21-2010, 06:39 PM	#4
Warjack Prime Senior Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:*Omaha, NE USA PSN Network: WarjackPrime Blu-ray collection:172 Trading Score:2	Yeah I'm with you. I've got a 3 year old and a newborn due in a month or so. Sometimes I'll play after the boy goes to bed, so I may play during the week from 9 to 10 and a few hours on the weekend. I'll do this if I get a new fun game until my wife starts getting annoyed. Then I'll stop playing for a few weeks and work it back in slowly. Right now I've got nothing exciting to play but come October it'll be a shiznitstorm!

07-21-2010, 06:41 PM	#5
Chordata Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Home of N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys Blu-ray collection:75 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:1	I have a wife and 2 kids. They come first. If they're busy, sleeping, away, etc., then maybe I'll play Halo for a bit. Every once in a rare while I'll turn on the Wii. That's the extent of my gaming.

07-21-2010, 06:51 PM	#6
Dreemworx Expert Member Member since:May 2010 Location:Seattle Home Theater Gallery:28 Blu-ray collection:427 Blu-ray reviews:96	To be good at gaming, really good, you need to spend countless hours online honing your craft. If your single no worries. If you have a family...it is selfish after a point. I put too much time into clanning a for 2 years and although I handled my business, I also regret putting too many hours into it. Now, I 'pub' perhaps 2 or 3 hours a week late night when all are in bed, if even that. Besides with BluRay now available...who wants to waste time gaming? ;p

07-21-2010, 07:18 PM	#7
ratandjmt Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Oct 2007 Location:San Antonio, TX 4K collection:122 Blu-ray collection:670 Trading Score:2	I manage my time pretty well, IMO. I am married, have 2 kids, go to school, spend time with my family and have a full time job. I usually play a hour or so at night when everyone goes to bed. Friday and Saturday night I usually play a lot more, I was up till 0230 Saturday finishing up Singularity. It seems to work for me but I have never been a big sleeper, I am usualy good on 5-6 hours a night for a few weeks.

07-21-2010, 07:23 PM	#8
MaCruz Community Gaming Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Mar 2009 Location:Jacksonville, FL Home Theater Gallery:160 4K collection:105 Blu-ray collection:959 DVD collection:18 MA collection:394 Digital collection:570 iTunes collection:527 Prime collection:192 Blu-ray reviews: 23 Trading Score:139	I play an average 1 hour Monday - Thursday. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is very rare unless I have a league game. When Madden 11 comes out. It will be up to 3 hours Monday - Thursday, but it will die down after football season. My PS3 is mostly used as a BDP. GF, family and activities are first. That's why my short gaming time doesn't affect my personal time.

07-21-2010, 07:31 PM	#9
kman Senior Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Denver, Co Home Theater Gallery:13 Blu-ray collection:370	This is a very good topic, well done OP. Now that life has started (full time job, Wife, Dog, House and responsibilities) and I am no longer in school anymore with loads of free time my gaming habits have changed considerably. I used to be very "dedicated" to counter-strike playing in clans and leagues but it required far to much time to play at the level required. Now I mostly focus on single player console games just because its always available when I am ready to game. Get off work early after a big case I can play some Bioshock 2. I dont have to wait till my friends get home from work to jump on MW2. I guess I could play with just random people but man...thats difficult...

07-21-2010, 07:56 PM	#11
Blu Bull Senior Member Top contributor Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:254 Blu-ray collection:1208 DVD collection:592	My two kids go to bed between 7 and 8, my wife goes to bed at 10, I don't sleep as much as they do. I also try to get some games that I can enjoy with my oldest daughter (7), as you can tell by my signature.

07-21-2010, 08:02 PM	#12
BluStation 3 Active Member Member since:Feb 2010 Location:Virginia	Yeah seems like alot of you guys are in the same boat as me....full time job, kids, wife/girlfriend. I try not to play too much but sometimes a game comes along that grabs you and you can't help but play it continuosly and you even think about it when you aren't playing it, lol. I try not to play 2 nights in a row because it makes me feel selfish and sort of guilty like i'm neglecting the family. Its one of the biggest reason why I dont play online games. Last online game I played (Uncharted 2) I got hooked on really bad...like 4-5hr sessions on the weekend. Luckily though the family loves blu-rays so it's somewhat good that the PS3 is not only a gaming system. Makes me feel like it contributes to family time too. Plus bluray Pixar movies are so beautiful, half the time I pretend like I bought the movie for the kids when really I wanna watch it, lol.

07-21-2010, 08:08 PM	#13
iam1bearcat Blu-ray Knight Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Club Loop Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray collection:54 DVD collection:28 Trading Score:29	great topic OP! i've discussed this before in another thread or two, but essentially, i'm a greedy guy. i like being able to do whatever i want to do, whenever i want to do it. so if i want to watch a movie or play a game, i don't have to wait until time allows. i've got my job and that's really the only thing that gets in my way. the gf works 40 hrs a week, like me, and then she has her hobbies and whatnot, so we only see each other maybe 3 days a week for a few hours at a time. but, this is why i don't want a family or kids. i'm so set in my ways that i can't change now. my money is MINE. and i like buying games and movies, so i can play / enjoy them when i want to. not when the gf (or kids) would want to or let me have time to enjoy my activities. that would drive me crazy.

07-21-2010, 08:12 PM	#14
Rike255 Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:AB, Canada PSNetwork: Rike255 Home Theater Gallery:44 Blu-ray collection:57	No kids, but my fiance and I try to play games together from time to time. Then I'll play my own stuff when she's busy with other things or just for some alone time. I don't play nearly as much now that I'm living with someone though and I assume play time will decrease even more with children. My motorcycle is taking up all my free time now

07-21-2010, 08:12 PM	#15
Uber12 Active Member Member since:Apr 2009 Location:Saskatchewan, Canada Blu-ray collection:260 DVD collection:109 Trading Score:1	My 3 kids (6,4,2) are usually in bed before 8pm. After that, if I have nothing I need to do and my wife is busy doing something else, I'll play some games. I probably average 4-5 hours per week. My two older kids also like playing video games so if they're playing and I have time, I'll sit down and play some Lego Star Wars or something with them. Playing Co-op games with my kids is great fun. My 6-year old can even take me on pretty well in competitive games like Sonic Racing. When my youngest child was a newborn, she needed to be fed every 3 hours. If I got up with her in the middle of the night, I would feed her then hold her and play games until she fell asleep. Thank goodness I have a PS3 and not a Wii or she might have gone flying across the room.

07-21-2010, 08:12 PM	#16
Ferris Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Tampa Bay Area Blu-ray collection:79 Trading Score:1	I agree... good thread topic, OP... I have a wife and a 2-month old son, along with 2 cats, and we own our house. There is a LOT of responsibility there and ALL of those things come first. If my chores are done, and my son is sleeping, and my wife is doing something else (out, napping, or on the computer) I'll play a little. This usually happens 1 - 3 times per week. I've set myself these rules because I know too many people who allowed gaming to ruin their marriages, jobs, and lives. I love my wife, son and pets (yes, my pets are family too) to no end, and I refuse to allow something to stand in the way of that.

07-21-2010, 08:15 PM	#17
iam1bearcat Blu-ray Knight Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Club Loop Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray collection:54 DVD collection:28 Trading Score:29	ugh. things like this remind me why i hate being an adult. - bills - family - jobs - responsibilities - kids - significant others - house maintenance... ugh. not that i have kids or a wife, but i just want to watch movies and play games! why is it so difficult!

07-21-2010, 08:29 PM	#19
Monk360 Active Member Member since:Apr 2010	Let's see... 8:00 - 5:00 Work 5:00 - 6:00 Outside Time w/daughter 6:00 - 7:00 Dinner 7:00 - 10:00 Family Time 10:00 - ?? PS3/360 Time ?? - 8:00 Sleep Obviously, the amount of time I spend gaming roughly equals how tired I want to feel the next morning. For Final Fantasy XIII...it was VERY tired. For Halo: Reach....VERY tired.

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