Video games vs. family: the unwinnable battle – Reader’s Feature

metro.co.uk:

A reader gives three examples of when playing video games at home can cause problems, when another member of the family walks in.

I’ve been playing games for the last 40 years and the thrills of Manic Miner and Chucky Egg are nothing compared to what is possible now. But the biggest change is having a family. I have to choose what to play and consider who might be watching when I’m playing. Below are a few lessons I’ve picked up from some of the incidents when I didn’t pay attention to who was around (Warning: spoilers for Horizon Zero Dawn).

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Outside an enemy complex in the frozen forest. I’m trying to infiltrate the base without being seen. Within the swirling snowstorm enemy patrols can be glimpsed wandering past, oblivious so far to my arctic camouflage. It’s taken several attempts, but I finally know what I have to do to complete this level…

‘Oh my god, why are you shooting those dogs?!’ shouts my wife, suddenly walking into the living room, holding our baby son in her arms. I try to explain that you have to take the dogs out first before the soldiers, otherwise they clamp onto you and it’s game over, but my explanation does nothing to placate her as I proceed to complete the level, but it’s a pyrrhic victory.

Batman: Arkham Knight. Great, I’m driving the Batmobile! More tanks? I hope there’s only a couple of these encounters, as that could get old really fast! Here’s something different, I’ve captured a villain and I need to get information out of him, he’s next to the wheels of my car which has given Batman an idea…

‘Oh my god, why are you driving over that man?!’ exclaims my wife,