Get Your Girlfriend to Play Video Games

5 Parts:

Definitely Do These

Don't Even Think About It

Recommended Games For Partners

Tips, Tricks & Warnings

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Gaming with your girlfriend, for some, is the "Final Frontier". Well it doesn't actually have to be all that difficult. There's a little bit of gamer inside all of us, and as gaming is breaking into the mainstream today with smartphones and online casual gaming it's becoming that much easier to get your significant other to join in on your favorite pastime. Gaming together can be a great new way to spend quality time doing something you will both enjoy, but how do you go about it? Read the How To below for some ideas to get you started and some warnings on what not to do when getting your girlfriend to play video games.

1. 1
   Choose your medium

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   Gaming together should be a joined experience, most preferably in a co-operative game. Lounging on the sofa on your phones is not gaming together. To do this right, you are going to need a PC or a console. A console would be the obvious choice here. To the uninitiated, gaming on a PC can be daunting, as it's perceived as being a more "hard core" system. Having a PS3, a Wii/Wii-You or an Xbox 360 can make gaming much more accessible and familiar, especially if it is part of your living room centerpiece.

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2. 2
   Let's face it

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   Most people today are casual gamers. Almost everyone has a Facebook account and has tried the odd bit of FarmVille or Candy Crush Saga, and as smartphones become more prevalent, it's likely that your girlfriend has spent some time gaming on one of those too. But that's a little different from 10 hour marathon sessions on Call of Duty online. You need to choose your games wisely at this point. Find out what your girlfriend has played in the past. She may have had a Nintendo or Sega as a kid and might have some Mario or Sonic The Hedgehog nostalgia. Try to play on this by choosing games that bring some of those memories back. Is she in to sports? Well that one is a no-brainer, as there are plenty of sports games available across the various consoles and many of them offer cooperative game play. As they say in marketing, "Always know your audience."

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3. 3
   Co-op Games

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   These are the kind of games where you will work together toward a common goal rather than hunting each other down or beating the living daylights out of one another. This can be a great way to boost your relationship because these type of games involve a lot of teamwork, support and a crucial element of trust. You can try games like Minecraft and Terraria, where you will be creating and designing together. The Lego series of games are also excellent co-op games that cater to a casual and more seasoned audience. They also feature familiar big name franchises like Batman and Indiana Jones.

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4. 4
   Remember that she is a beginner

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   Before calling her out as a "noob" and all the other insults that you would use online, remember that she is a beginner and mostly uninitiated into gamer culture. If you want to draw her in make the experience fun. Show her the mechanics of the game and teach her all the functions of the controller. Give her encouragement and feedback. FUN is the key word here. If the game is too difficult and she's not feeling it then keep trying until you find one that's right. This should be something that she wants to do, not that she's forced to.

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5. 5
   Be fair

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   This doesn't just mean in the game. If she's taking the time out to learn something that you enjoy then try and return the favor. You may not be into shopping or the kind of movies she likes, but in relationships there is always a compromise. Try to find a way to pay her back which shows how you appreciate her taking the time to learn your hobby.

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6. 6
   Physical games

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   You have probably heard of the Wii. After all it's one of the best selling consoles of all time. The Wii and Wii-You offer Motion Controls, which make the whole experience more interactive and for first timers it can be the most enjoyable way to play and become a gateway to more "hard core" gaming.

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1. 1
   Violent Games

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   Unless you're absolutely certain she's into it (think what kind of films and TV series she watches), then avoid these. Games like Street Fighter and Tekken might be OK, but it's likely that the first time around, she won't want to play a realistic first person shooter or gore game. Even with some of the lighter games, tread carefully, especially if you are going head to head, as you don't want her to feel like you are constantly dominating her.

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2. 2
   Long Gaming Sessions

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   In the beginning you will probably be going for an hour at the most. Look for signs when she starts to get bored or distracted. If you notice she's not laughing or talking as much after some time then it's a good point to take a break or try a different game. First impressions last, so make it a good one. Also try to space your sessions out. Maybe try two or three in the first week. Once she becomes the one to initiate, you're on the right track.

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3. 3
   Put Downs and Judgement

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   She's a beginner and, as mentioned earlier, she is uninitiated into gaming culture. Something that you might say off the cuff could sound very harsh to her and almost any insult you could casually say to another gamer is absolutely the wrong thing to say to your girlfriend. Avoid in all circumstances.

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4. 4
   Forcing It

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   Gaming is not always for everyone. Some people just don't have the desire to play, no matter what methods and games you try. If, after a few sessions, she is really not getting in to it, then it is probably a good time to find another way to spend your down time together.

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Use these a starting point when choosing games for her first play through.

• Family Game Night (Xbox 360): This is one for the whole family, but can be great for getting your girlfriend onto the Xbox . It includes classics like Battleship, Sliders, Connect Four, etc., but offers fun new twists and game play modes that make them more than just digital versions of the board games.
• Minecraft (Xbox 360/PC):
  
  This one is a modern day classic and the fastest selling game on the Xbox Live Marketplace. It is an open world game where you can mine resources to craft different materials and build almost anything you can imagine. It's a great co-op game because it's easy to learn and creating together can be a bonding experience.
• The Need For Speed Series (Xbox360/PlayStation3/PC): If she's into The Fast and The Furious, or cars in general, then you can probably have some fun together in this game, providing you don't make it a point to finish 30 seconds ahead of her in every race.
• New Super Mario Bros Series (Nintendo Wii/Wii-You): A remake of the classic, which includes multi-player co-operative game play. Mario is the biggest selling game franchise in history and chances are she's heard of it or played it at some stage. The new versions look gorgeous and play better than ever so if you want to cash in on some happy childhood memories this game could be for you.

Getting your girlfriend to play video games doesn't have to be hard. It can be easy and fun for the both of you, or a complete failure. Be sure to stick to these rules, keeping in mind what you have learned, and you should have positive results.

• Choose the right games.
• Gradually build your play time.
• Make it fun for her, by being respectful, helpful and supportive.
• Show her that you appreciate her trying out your hobby.
• If she can't get into it, know when to quit. Gaming isn't always for everyone.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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