Hey guys,

I'm going to have a little kid in a few months and was wondering how a newborn affects your gaming routine? Is it still feasible to game on a regular basis when you have a little baby?

If so, how has it affected your game time/play style?

/bow

Is this serious?  How old are you?  You need a serious priority-check in your life.

Gaming should be the absolute last thing on your mind.  Take care of your child, you'll be too tired to care for much else.

That's about all I can say about this, since I'm getting more angry the more I think about it.

Originally posted by Eben

Is this serious?  How old are you?  You need a serious priority-check in your life.

Gaming should be the absolute last thing on your mind.  Take care of your child, you'll be too tired to care for much else.

That's about all I can say about this, since I'm getting more angry the more I think about it.

I understand. I wasn't trying to say I'll be gaming instead of taking care of my kid. Just wondering what kinds of experiences others have had...

Funny thing, but i am in same situation.

I guess , having kids is not end of gaming (as some like to make you believe) Lots of people i play with in MMOs are parents.

So yes , they find time.

But on other hand ... grind time wasting hardcore MMO obsession, is best left for those college years.

Actually GRINDING is just wrong , anyway.

And...to be honest... even if you drop MMOs alltogether you will not miss much, with trainwreck quality this genre is heading anyway

Ah.  Well, in that case...as a parent of two young boys...it depends.  There's really no cookie-cutter answer to that question, because even between our two sons, there were incredibly diverse differences in eating, sleeping and behavior.  One woke up every 2-3 hours, screaming to be fed, the other was rather passive in his sleep and eating habits.  My wife and I tended to try to rest while they were asleep, so most behavior for the first few months, as far as my wife and I were concerned, was almost like an autopilot blur.  Granted, during that time I wasn't playing an MMO, but judging from the amount of free time I had, I'd say it would have been difficult, depending on the type of gaming I intended on doing.  Multi-hour raids?  Impossible.  Hopping on for a few minutes here or there, with no set in stone commitment on how long I had to be in game?  Possible. 

See, what you need to realize is that your life is about to drastically and dramatically change, forever.  Even now, as my kids are a bit older, the concept of me sitting here for hours focused on a game, unable to do anything else...it's just not going to happen, unless my wife and the kids are asleep and it's later at night.  So, be prepared, and good luck.

Hey I have a 7 month old, and for the most part when she was born I didn't play much at all, but as shew grew older and got on a schedule i've slowly been able to play a little more.  I wouldn't expect to be able to play a ton if you want to be a good parent.  I am simply unable to play a game like FFXI anymore as my gaming sessions can get cut short at any minute.  If I was you i'd cancel the sub to whatever game you are on, and in a few months as you get into a rhythm you can see if you have time to resub.

I now have a gaming session with IRL friends once a week at night, and randomly during the babies naps or downtimes.  My girl is on a schedule where she sleeps from 7:30pm to 7 ish am so you will find there is time here and there.  The thing is my wife was higher maintenance than the baby after the birth.  I'm not a super addict so it didn't hurt to cancel whatever subs I still had.  I have been subbed to EVE for years and it's a great game for these kinds of things, but you should focus on your family.

Honestly after my baby came my whole life changed.  Anything that I did for myself suddenly meant almost nothing as providing for my family took precedence over everything else.  That's not to say you don't need a break now and then and won't be able to still game though.  Good luck finding a balance.  Remember family above everything else.

Now I don't have any experience myself, but my buddy he has a 3 year old.
For the 1st few months, after she was born, he didn't really play.... cept maybe at work, when he could.
But he is lucky in that regard cause he could play at work, not something some of us get to do.
After things got stable and they settled into a routine, he plays a couple nights a week, after he puts his daughter to sleep.

Originally posted by kelstar

Hey guys,

I'm going to have a little kid in a few months and was wondering how a newborn affects your gaming routine? Is it still feasible to game on a regular basis when you have a little baby?

If so, how has it affected your game time/play style?

/bow

Having kids doesn't effect my gaming.

That's why I keep the woman around.

One of the guys I knew from my work was heavily into LOTRO, if I remember correctly.  Very active in a guild, constantly completing content with his guildies, pissing his wife off royally.   But, he was still playing, despite being married and a fairly demanding job time-wise (teacher).

Then, they had a kid.  He pretty much stopped playing cold turkey.  It was like the guy was kicking heroin or something...  Well, not really, but I bet that's how it felt on the inside. ;-P

Seriously, I think if you have a kid, you will want to spend time with them rather than play, and there will be times when you will want to play as a break from all of that resposibility.  I hope there's room for both.  I know a lot of people that make time for both and don't seem to be neglecting either.  I guess that depends on the person, though.

As a father of two sons (born 2000 and 2002) I can honestly say it will have an impact on your gaming. How big that impat is is entirely up to you and your wife (presuming you're a guy and that you live with your wife and kid(s)). Make sure you have a mutual understanding regarding anything that concerns your kid - wich I might add should have top priority (not your gaming).

The first months are usually the toughest, since you are forced to new routines, might suffer from too few hours of sleep (depending on the kid), etc. As your kid(s) grow it will be alot easier to get time off to do "your" stuff.

I used to be "hardcore". No more raiding at 18/19.00 for me. I still play alot, late at nights - wich does include raiding. There are tons of parents out there playing all kinds of games. Find a mature guild and you'll have the best of two worlds.

Best of luck to ya!

Originally posted by kelstar

Hey guys,

I'm going to have a little kid in a few months and was wondering how a newborn affects your gaming routine? Is it still feasible to game on a regular basis when you have a little baby?

If so, how has it affected your game time/play style?

/bow

Take this as advice from an old man whose child are grown -there will always be games.

But the moments that you spend with your child, when you see them make those first little events through out their life - those are priceless.

Your child will be your legacy to the future - the blood, sweat, and tears that you spend on their upbringing will be payed back a hundred times.

I would tell you to put any games on the shelf for a time period of three to five years and concentrate on being a parent first and foremost.

You'll be glad that you did.

Hammertime1, a proud parent and grandparent.

Originally posted by kelstar

Hey guys,

I'm going to have a little kid in a few months and was wondering how a newborn affects your gaming routine? Is it still feasible to game on a regular basis when you have a little baby?

If so, how has it affected your game time/play style?

/bow

MMO requires a lot of time(specialy raiding) and babies requires even more time in the first few month. I had to give up mmo for the first 3 months because I just coulnd't let my wife do all the work and it was a work that was never over. When you have to wake up every 3 hours, you will be to tired to play( at least that was for me), but after the first 3 month is possible to return to mmo's if you can because you will realised that babies are always need of attention and everything about then makes you fell bettter. Maybe that's why i gave up mmo's for over an year.

Well, I'm a father of two girls (one 3 years old and the other almost 5). I was an avid MMO player, but once the first  was born, the only way I managed to play was with sound off, kid sleeping in my lap on the bed, computer next to me and play a bit. No chatting, since the keyboard made too much sound and be prepared to give up on grouping, since you might have to drop everything any second because the kid either cries, has to eat, needs to poo, or whatever.

So yes, serious hardcore MMO gaming definately goes down the drain.

I'd say, get a nice laid back MMO, that does not require grouping to do. Keep in mind that you will be interrupted tons, and once the kids start realizing what you do on that computer you will have to switch to something non violent.

I had to leave my  guild and switched MMOs a lot of times in order to find the one most appropriate for the kids to watch when I'm playing. In the end, when they  watch a movie, I play a bit online. Other than that, the playing really is secondary to anything involved with the kids. It also became less fun to play to me, since I have a ball playing with my kids. Something an MMO will never be able to compete with, I can assure you.

So really, your life will have a completely different focus altogether once you have a kid. You  can game, but dedication to the game will be next to impossible. If you are an achiever that can be quite frustrating. If you look at it like me, as being a nice distraction from the hectics of a bunch of rascals, it can be fun to on and off play a bit. Just don't put your expectations of your gaming high and you still can have fun every now and then with an MMO.

I recon that the real fun will come when they are old enough to play with you, but then you will really have to be patient.

ps. I have to agree with previous posters though that the first months, if not years, will definately take all your time with your kids, as it should. I happen to be home a lot, so I kan find time to game next to the other things I do, but I can imagine that someone with a normal job will not be able to find the time to game for years.

Well I wanted to thank you all for your input. Indeed, it will of course be one of the greater moments in life. For the few who doubt me, rest assured I do have my priorities straight and my kid will get the number one spot, as he (it's a he) deserves.

I've been an avid MMO player since 2004 and have played pretty much non-stop throughout various titles, so it really is going to be the first time (vacation and work assignments set aside) that I won't be playing on a regular basis. That's more the feeling that is hard for me (now at least) to accept. I love gaming and yes, I'm a bit of an achiever in game, love to do the hard stuff and get the great gear. I imagine all that fades as soon as you see your kid come into this world.

I'll take it as it comes, slip in some game time if there is time and like one of you said, playing with your kid surely beats playing with some mobs.

Thanks again for all your tales and tips, they are most appreciated, and if you have more, please keep the thread going :)

/bow

Originally posted by kelstar

Hey guys,

I'm going to have a little kid in a few months and was wondering how a newborn affects your gaming routine? Is it still feasible to game on a regular basis when you have a little baby?

If so, how has it affected your game time/play style?

/bow

Get an abortion. You will want to kill youself in a few years if you honestly want to play MMOs AT ALL, while having children. It either goes like this. You be a decent - good parent by actually raising the child and loving for them.  

OR you play games and you end up one of those steriotypical people who have their child right behind them in a crib all lonely and bored while you play raid with your ingame palz.. That's called neglect. Don't do that, your child doesn't deserve it, for all the trouble he/she will be.

As hard as these words will be for you to hear... You half to turn your baby into you're new MMORPG... Is that really the kind of dungeon you want to raid? That's gonna be one messy instance. It will be so tough I bet you will wipe every time.

Originally posted by denshing 

Get an abortion. You will want to kill youself in a few years if you honestly want to play MMOs AT ALL, while having children. It either goes like this. You be a decent - good parent by actually raising the child and loving for them.  

OR you play games and you end up one of those steriotypical people who have their child right behind them in a crib all lonely and bored while you play raid with your ingame palz.. That's called neglect. Don't do that, your child doesn't deserve it, for all the trouble he/she will be.

As hard as these words will be for you to hear... You half to turn your baby into you're new MMORPG... Is that really the kind of dungeon you want to raid? That's gonna be one messy instance. It will be so tough I bet you will wipe every time.

I liked your analogy at the end lol. And yes I wonder how you can even find time to play mmorpgs when you have a wife and kid, both of which need heavy love and time commitments(unless your wife plays mmorpgs with you, then play together :D).

 I used to play FFXI online, and then WoW.   I have 3 small kids now.  It took me a while to figure out (stupid I know) that playing MMO's and helping raise a family are very hard to do at the same time.  I haven't played any MMO's in a year now.  I just play games like Left4Dead etc....

I wouldn't mind a casual MMO that I could play like Left4Dead, but not have to spend so many continuous hours playing in order to achieve anything

Just a tip: Try to decline from yelling "STFU n00b!" to your newborn when its crying during one of your gaming sessions.

First off, welcome to Parenthood!

I have a 2 year old son and a 6 week old son. Im a gamer.

When i had my first, I got really worried, for many reasons not just gaming.

Yea they take alot from you, depending on your sleeping habits and if your a live at home dad or mom or the bread winner.

Get it in your head your now a servent for live to that kid. Its his world and your just living in it.

You will do the job and never stop!!! He is a blank slate, your mirror, everything you do from how you go about your day to day life in his eyes to how you respond to everything. He will copy you, everything about you good and sadly the flaws.

Will you have time to enjoy games again... yes he will sleep up to 15 hours a day in intervals usually ranging at the 3 or 4 hour mark.

Every cry means something every darn one. and when he crys its immediate desperation. Usually he will need to burb first before anything, then feed him, he will eat 2 ounces.

Read the book then throw it away. Every kids different.

Talk to your kid like you would talk to anyone else, he cant understand you but your voice will be comforting.

Kids are a full time job, as they get into the 4 month mark everything will change, and that will change even more everyweek there after.

You will be able to game according to his sleeping time.

Kiss running a guild or really going heavy into mmog's goodbye, you never know when your needed by your son.

As he gets older and can nearly walk ( depending on how much you work with him on it) he can go outside, he needs the sunlight to turn that vitamin c into something useful. Also to get his skin some sun. Its good for his visual perspective and the black rings that tend to form around the eyes. from never being in the warm outside.

So to sum it all up, yea your gaming life is going to take a huge hit. Kids are a full time job. Prepare to get blown away.

You are the architect for his future in every way. His habits to the way we will react to everything in his path.

Sing to your son even if you suck, it really does wonders, and who cares about pride when it comes to your kid, in his eyes you are his hero, and he will be your biggest fan.

We parents are very lucky to be able to experience such wonders and gifts. Let us build them well!!

You too will know the true meaning of life.