Women's Health Mag: Grab your man's joystick

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 14th 2007 at 2:32PM }

Los Angeles-based social psychologist Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. explains for Women's Health magazine that the couple who plays together, stays together. The games they recommend in the piece are Guitar Hero II -- excellent choice. Lego Star Wars and Spinter Cell -- still with you. Then they go for Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition -- yeah, that's a bit of stretch. Mario Party, WoW or even co-op Halo/Gears of War would have been less of a reach -- women like to chainsaw enemies in half too, you know?

Despite the Cpt. Obvious factor of this article, having a partner who is interested in your gaming lifestyle can help sustain the relationship after you get bored of lovingly staring into each others eyes. So, do you game with your significant other and what games do you play?

Tags: couples, playing together, women's health

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Scott @ Jan 20th 2007 8:53PM

Yes, we played a crap load of pikmin 2 together. She would always freak out when one died and start the day over. She also liked Wind Waker and whatching me play resident evil 4, I couldnt play unless she was there.

Now she like wii sports and elebits.

Oh and all of the monkey balls.

luigi193 @ Jan 14th 2007 5:04PM

Significant other...LOL

Daniel (PR) @ Jan 14th 2007 3:11PM

I think this comes down to one thing and thats having things in common, if you have nothing in common with your partner then you will not last.

Me and my wife have tons in common together which most has been made after we met, and that includes playing poker games on the xbox 360.

Raz 4 life @ Jan 14th 2007 5:20PM

"Grab your man's joystick"

Hopefully it's not an analogue nub!

Nissan288 @ Jan 14th 2007 6:41PM

Lately my gf has had a lucky streak in Super Puzzle Fighter Turbo and Puyo Pop, I don't know how she pulls out the win sometimes...

Wii sports is pretty good too and lately she's taken an interest in guitar hero. Frankly any games with co-op are pretty solid games to play, preferrably on the same computer.

Thomas @ Jan 14th 2007 6:56PM

My girlfriend and I throw down in Mario Kart DS all the time, and it's an absolute blast.

Les Doodis @ Jan 14th 2007 10:38PM

Unfortunately, the wife hates my video games with a passion. But at least there's some kind of passion, I guess.

Joonas @ Jan 14th 2007 11:19PM

When possible, yes. We've done a lot of Mario Kart on the Gamecube, for instance. Wario Ware is good fun, too.

Otherwise there's the same problem as with board games and whatnot: competition isn't always healthy! For instance, I find playing beat 'em ups against my wife a very exact art. You can't win by too wide a margin, and getting a beating really does feel like crap, much moreso than against other people.

Co-op games would be ideal, yes, but for us, it works that both play their own games at their own pace and then we just, you know, talk about them. As gamers do.

MV @ Jan 14th 2007 4:20PM

Joystick is a euphemism for penis! Aren't they clever!

Mick @ Jan 14th 2007 4:37PM

I love my wife, and I enjoy doing things with her, but games are my thing. i wouldn't want her to get interested. It's my escape from her and the kids. Just like I don't want her to golf, lol.

just a girl @ Jan 14th 2007 3:09PM

We met on a text-based MUD and still play there. We play silly flash games over the phone, Starcraft, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros Melee, MTG, and other stuff I am not thinking of right now. Damn, we are geeky.

Mike B. @ Jan 15th 2007 1:11PM

My wife doesn't play games much, but she generally enjoys watching me play them. Mostly, she really likes Zelda. She's watched me play hours and hours of ZTP and even asks me to turn it on when I'm not playing. Hey, can't argue with that. The only games she really plays herself are Katamari and Brain Age.

Ben @ Jan 15th 2007 9:41AM

We've been playing a lot of Wii Sports and Excite Truck lately, but during the dark time before the Wii, there was a lot of Mario Tennis on GC, as well as several DS games over Wi-Fi when necessary.

Kaizoku Risu @ Jan 14th 2007 5:19PM

My girlfriend of about 4 years loves to watch people play video games, so I got lucky! She will ask me or my friends if we will play a certain game, just so she can watch. She really likes creepy games for some reason, even plays some on her own on the PC. Plus, she loves to play Mario Kart DS with me all the time, (and she's always kicking my butt). Wii Sports is another game we play together, obvious choice! Man, I love my gf! ^^

CherryMay @ Jan 14th 2007 3:19PM

Whilst it's certainly a true statement, it reminds me of a men's relationship help column advising the male in a partnership to take up dancing lessons as a primary hobby. It'll work if they do it, but most people won't exactly be too motivated to change their lifestyle to something they're not so interested in.

My personal opinion? Find someone who shares your hobbies beforehand. If you're into gaming, find a gamer, if you're into dancing, find a dancer, if you're into taming lions and juggling knives, date a circus performer. It'll all work out perfectly.

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 14th 2007 5:00PM

Me and my wife spend our time playing videogames, watching DVD's... and when we are going to shoping, we go to Best Buy... we are a couple of geeks =)

Turo @ Jan 14th 2007 3:28PM

my girl and i are actually very different in hobbies/music, etc. however, our beliefs are almost exactly the same so we work. but she goes crazy if my xbox is on if shes present! ive gotten her to play halo 2 before and geometry wars (she stared at the colors for a while lol). also, i couldnt get her off my wii one night for 2 hours LOL. but shes still no gamer =(. one day...

resistance: fall of 360 @ Jan 14th 2007 3:34PM

Thought Guitar Hero II isnt released yet...probably they mean Guitar Hero 1, on the PS2..then you can try Ico and Okami as well, should be there on this list!

amethystperspective @ Jan 14th 2007 5:22PM

To paraphrase Chris Rock, you can't say you're going to church, ask your husband what's he doing, and he responds, "hittin' the pipe" (I know I butchered it). You need to have some things in common. It's easy to miss the logic train when hopped up on L.

Completely unrelated, what's up with that advertisement disguised as a blog entry? That's taking things too far. I read that damn thing.

AlexC @ Jan 14th 2007 5:17PM

My girlfriend is not a gamer at all, but we've logged tons of hours on We

Bodie @ Jan 14th 2007 3:37PM

The Wii is a godsend to gaming couples. My wife used to play Uno, fighting games, and the occasional racing game with me on Xbox 360. Maybe once every couple of weeks.

I picked up the Wii, now we play together a couple times a week. It's great.

Bennyishere @ Jan 14th 2007 3:49PM

A woman who knows her way around a joystick is a big turn-on for me :D

alexanderwales @ Jan 14th 2007 3:39PM

Don't get them addicted to an MMO - it pretty much kills any time to be together.

naib @ Jan 14th 2007 3:41PM

I had a girfriend that games, but she was pretty selective.

Early on we played a LOT of Quake3 Freeze Tag together, later on some WoW. Eventually she was the only reason I maintained the WoW account(it's all she played).

On the 360 she liked a few arcade games. She tried a little co-op GRAW a few times. We usualy stopped when i could tell she was getting frustrated. She was a WASD girl. Never could get used to analog sticks.

Had to let her go I'm afraid. (not 'cause the WASD thing)

Defenestrator2.0 @ Jan 14th 2007 3:43PM

Lawlz, innuendo.

E.J. @ Jan 14th 2007 5:53PM

My girlfriend is the reason why I never finished Fable. She liked it so much, she began her own save and finished the game. Yeah, I know it's not gaming "together" so much, but it's an example of my girlfriend getting into gaming.

She's eyeing Twilight Princess... but to that I say, "Hell, no."

Playing together: Donkey Konga 1 & 2, Halo 2, LEGO Star Wars I/II, and Assault Heroes.

Darkness @ Jan 14th 2007 4:02PM

My girlfriend and I play WoW mostly. Sometimes we play other games like Elebits and FFXI. Being able to actually play games together is pretty awesome. Passes the time better and gives us something to talk about.

jackal @ Jan 14th 2007 4:58PM

"Women's Health Mag: Grab your man's joystick"

I thought the title was contextually referring to grabbing a man's penis.

VAStateOfMind @ Jan 14th 2007 4:10PM

My wife has *DETESTED* all forms of video gaming that have existed in our home since our two sons began gaming in earnest around 2000 -- including many iterations of Nintendo handhelds as well as the PS2 and PC games. And then came the Nintendo Wii. She laughed at our wild gesturing with the Wii-mote on Christmas morning, then actually picked one up and tried Wii Sports herself at the kids' invite. Believe it or not, she has asked ME for a round of Wii Bowling or Wii Tennis nearly every nite since the holiday. I am in awe of Nintendo's ability to melt the heart of a game console agnostic such as my wife. She's certainly not ready for Worlds of Warcraft, but she has become quite the dedicated Wii-er!

Matt @ Jan 19th 2007 3:57PM

#8

Lol @ WASD

Nice ass.

Aaron @ Jan 14th 2007 4:35PM

My wife's favorite game is GTA SAN ANDREAS. One of my favorite gaming experiences with her was playing the Terminator 2 inspired mission where you get chased through all the dry waterways.

Her second favorite is GOD OF WAR. She can't wait for the sequel.

Right now we're playing the GODFATHER.

She also loves DR MARIO, DDR (Great exercise for us both), CALL OF DUTY, BULLY, RED DEAD REVOLVER, WII SPORTS, MADDEN for WII, SUPER MONKEY BALL BANANA BLITZ, any four player FPS, old school TECMO SUPER BOWL, KUNG FU(She kicks my but), ZELDA, and Castlevania SOTN.

She like GUITAR HERO, but GUITAR HERO 2 is better for two player since it has coop mode and each player can play at different skill levels.

I'm pretty lucky to have such a great woman who is also such an avid gamer.

Durinthal @ Jan 14th 2007 5:05PM

My girlfriend isn't a hardcore gamer, but she does enjoy playing and the culture in general. She just told me that she fell for me while we were playing Heroes of Might and Magic V together, and she likes to trash me in fighting games (primarily Soul Calibur 2). I've also got her started on Zelda, and she jokingly suggested that we name a female child after her.

Big C @ Jan 14th 2007 6:10PM

Mrs. Big C likes to play the X-Men Legends games, Basketball games, and most of all DDR. Basically I find that anything you can play co-op is something that Mrs. Big C might like.

cmtdrt @ Jan 14th 2007 5:08PM

I was gaming before my husband even owned a computer or console...back when my Dad brought home a Timex Sinclair in yon old days.

I also had to teach him to love football, so....

Wraith Eight @ Jan 14th 2007 4:59PM

My wife and I are playing through Gears of War co-op on Insane right now. We already did Hardcore all the way together, and we switched up who was Dom, this time, so we both get those achievements.

AlexC @ Jan 14th 2007 5:20PM

(oops, continued from above)
Love Katamari. I don't think you have to share the same hobbies as your SO, but you do need to be open to new things. She'll play video games with me, I'll go out dancing with her; we can still enjoy and appreciate things together even if we wouldn't elect to do them on our own.

CTBravadoman @ Jan 14th 2007 5:21PM

My girlfriend and I just started dating like 3 months ago. While she doesn't game herself (yet), as we find other things to do when we are together, sometimes she does like to watch me play certain games. Odd, but she's rather captivated when I play Gears of War Co-Op with my roommate or Condemned. She finds them almost as entertaining as watching a movie and I guess that's kinda true in some regards.

I might try to get her into Viva Pinata.

bp @ Jan 14th 2007 5:25PM

My girl plays many games she mostly likes rpg's (FF), puzzle games, and games like viva pinata. shes will watch and help me play games. We have played zelda almost the whole way through. So its definitely something we can do together.

I read through most of the comments and i didnt notice one from a woman... joystiq=100% men?

Korova @ Jan 14th 2007 5:28PM

My wife used to beat me fighting games all the time. I dont much like them though. We played GTA San Andreas together, DDR, Dreamfall (a little bit). But mostly she likes to watch me play and cheers on. She got me my xbox.

We once had a conversation about the possibility of our kids being professional video gamers. Ha! Her true colors came out. She freaked, basically!

I cant wait to get a Wii. I have high hopes for some Ninty love from her.

Largo @ Jan 14th 2007 5:30PM

people like Turo (comment 4) that type "lol" all the time do not deserve a girlfriend.

CherryMay @ Jan 14th 2007 5:46PM

bp: I'm not sure where you're looking, but I noticed two in the first three posts.

Josh V @ Jan 14th 2007 5:55PM

My girl plays games sometimes and dont mind that I am a hardcore gamer, hell she was even wanting to camp out in line for a PS3 cuase I want one so bad though im the one that talked her out of it, surprisingly, only thing is she expects me to drop the game im playing instantly if she wants attention, which she seems to want sex alot right at the most important parts of the games but she has her own little ways of gaining my attention from it fast, especially when she dresses up in one of her many sexy outfits. hmmm sex..game...sex...game...this is gonna be a hard one when I get MGS4. ;)

J Korn @ Jan 15th 2007 9:37PM

"5. Thought Guitar Hero II isnt released yet...probably they mean Guitar Hero 1, on the PS2..then you can try Ico and Okami as well, should be there on this list!"

No. They did not mean Guitar Hero I. Guitar Hero II was released a few months ago. As for "Resistance: Fall of 360," I have just one thing to say: LOL. Fuckin tool.

Matt @ Jan 15th 2007 11:38AM

My GF used to hate video games until I got her a Nintendo DS. She has been playing Animal Crossing for litterally a year straight. We play quite often now in Mario Kart, AC, Meteos and some others.

I think the DS really warmed her up for the Wii release and we play Wii Sports and Trauma Center together quite often.

Pikachelsea @ Jan 14th 2007 6:58PM

Just having the same hobbies doesn't guarantee anything. My ex and I were both big gamers, yet we broke up anyway. And I can tell you right now that no amount of multiplayer gaming would've saved that unsalavageable craphole of a relationship.

willie @ Jan 14th 2007 7:17PM

Though i dunno if this counts, my little sister loves playing Midnight Club 3 DUB Edition Remix, Resident Evil 4, and she and my mom cant stop playing New Super Mario Bros (my mom especially)

Sobtanian @ Jan 14th 2007 7:18PM

My girl friend of 2 years is every similar to #24, she LOVES to watch people playing games.. even more so than watching TV.. Currently she's watching (and helping) me play Zelda on Wii...

Saying that, she plays tons of games herself, kicks my ass in Mario Kart DS, and has played everything from the Sonic on the Mega Drive to The Nomad Soul (what a geek!) on the PC.

We play lots of Wario Wares Smooth Moves together which is an awesome game for couples/friends etc..

Only thing she doesn't play is FPS on PC... am trying to get her to join me in Quake/FEAR deathmatches but it's all too fast for her.... perhaps one day. I hate to think what our kids (if we have any) will come out as...

miguel @ Jan 14th 2007 7:51PM

My wife can't watch FPS games without wanting to puke.
She also doesn't like all of the violence because it makes her feel uncomfortable.. The games she does play though, she's freakishly good, like lumines and astropop where she made it to something like level 60. Damn!