When we were dating, he hardly ever played his XBox and we would play together and not for too long. Now we’re married. We have little fights about cleaning the catbox. Our love life is better than our first year of marriage. I remember how silly we felt trying to get that right. But the Xbox has a prime, shrine location in our living room. My honey can’t seem to go a day without handling the other ‘tool’. We call it the tool because penis is not acceptable in mixed company. Seems to be okay to write it in a blog lol.

Why are video games so addictive ? Add more  in your comments.

Signs of Addiction

1. Obsession or preoccupation about computer games or playing video games on a video game console excessively,
2. Dropping out of activities such as social groups, clubs or sports,
3. Neglecting relationships to spend more time playing video games,
4. Have you ever “called in sick” to stay home to play your favorite game?
5. Lying to others about computer or video game use. Do you sneak time to play games, perhaps late at night while others are asleep?
6. Do you spend most of your time thinking or wishing you could be playing your favorite game or surfing the web?
7. Do you become so involved in playing video games that you sometimes neglect to eat, sleep, or bathe?

THE GOOD NEWS

1. They’re fun. Obviously! You can play games for hours.  In today’s video game market, you can find something you like. Video game developers have made something for everyone.
2. Sense of accomplishment – Having that feeling of accomplishment can be hard to come buy. Video games can bring that sense with a little determination you can conquer anything.
3. They can cheer you up – Play a boxing game and kick the crap out of someone, and that in some way can bring a smile to your face. Not to mention playing a few rifts on guitar hero is always good for the sole.
4. Add Adventure– Video games are great for filling that void you may have by adding exciting adventures to your life.
5. You can lose weight – Shedding those unwanted pounds can be as easy as playing a video game.

Nowadays board games have become much more creative with their settings and rules and it’s a far cry from simplistic Snakes and Ladders. But the basic criteria stays the same … they are all games for players who actually sit down around a board and play. They interact socially, they bond, they argue and they question. And they learn how to get along with one another.

The majority of board games are gentle, non-violent and some are very funny. Even the board games that could be thought of as mildly aggressive, like Chess and the Viking war game, Hnefatafl, merely involve the capture of one’s opponents playing pieces. These are games of cunning and slow, long view strategy but they are much more cerebral.

The good news …

This is not just sentimental nostalgia on my part. It is more a genuine acknowledgement that a lot of fun can be had by families and friends sitting noisily round a table, arguing and laughing over an apparently simple board game.

How about a puzzle? 2000 pieces anyone?