Video game dates provide cuddling opportunities

Natalie Livshitz
Comics and Graphics Editor
Sometimes there is nothing quite like staying home with your significant other, cuddling and appreciating each others’ company.
My boyfriend and I stay in quite a bit, actually. We always come up with fun and exciting adventures to embark upon – like rock climbing, skiing or camel riding through a desert – but when crunch time arrives and we’re trying to come up with plans for the evening, we are often both exhausted from school and want nothing more than to just stay home and relax.
Staying in with your partner can be a wonderful and soothing experience, which can be made even better by filling your time with a fun activity the two of you can enjoy together. My boyfriend and I usually end up watching television shows or movies when we stay in. This weekend, however, we decided to switch it up and have a video game date.

Originally, I was unsure of how well this plan would play out, as I am pretty much a novice when it comes to gaming. My boyfriend, however, is quite the seasoned veteran, so I trusted he would teach me well.
He arrived at my house bearing his PlayStation 3 console, two regular controllers, two PlayStation Move controllers and a bag full of games. Picking out a couple of games to play was tough, but we ended up with a good variety: Racquet Sports for Move, Call of Duty: Black Ops and, my personal favourite, LittleBigPlanet.
Racquet Sports was rather fun. I was able to pick up on what to do within the first minute of gameplay or so, which makes it great for the novice gamer. Upon beginning the game, you are presented with eleven athletes to choose from. Once you have chosen the athlete you would like to use, you choose which racquet sport you would like to play: tennis, ping-pong, badminton, squash or beach tennis. Next, the games begin.
I found the graphics in this game really cute. The movement and the competition was a nice change from lying in a vegetative state in front of the television; however, don’t mistake this game for something similar to playing actual racquet sports. The controller does not come close to the feel of a genuine racquet, and the movements of your virtual athlete are somewhat limited.
In terms of cuddling, this game was a bit awkward. I was sitting up against my boyfriend and each time I swung the controller back and forth, I felt like I was about to clock him in the face. All in all, this game kept us entertained for about fifteen minutes. It was a fun game for a beginner to play, but nothing to write home about.
I was surprised at how hard it was for me to pick up on first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops. It took me quite a while to figure out how to walk while looking in the right direction and also paying attention to what was going on around me. To be honest, I spent most of my first game standing in one spot, spinning in circles and shooting at the sky – good times! I was pretty impressed by my boyfriend’s score of 38-7, and by how he could seek out the tiniest movements on-screen and shoot accurately enough to take out the other players in one shot.
Ultimately, the amount of concentration this game requires means it’s definitely not a good cuddling game.
Finally, we got to the game that I was the most excited to play: LittleBigPlanet. In this puzzle adventure game, you lead a little doll-like Sackperson through levels, collecting various objects and manoeuvring through obstacles. To be honest, I didn’t really understand the point of the game, but it was very easy to pick up and the graphics were awesome.
My boyfriend and I spent the first half-hour of the game picking out clothes and accessories for our Sackpeople to wear. I ended up with a Sackperson made of floral fabric with a cute little dress and a cupcake on her head, which made me happy. My boyfriend’s Sackperson was made of black fabric with glowing, white eyes and a feathered war bonnet.
This game is great for couples to play together. It is complex enough to entertain for quite some time, while the graphics are absolutely adorable and kept me giggling the whole way through. Most importantly, it did not require an excessive amount of concentration, so my boyfriend and I could devote some loving attention to each other. Ample cuddling time ensued.
All in all, our video game date was a great success. As opposed to watching television, it was nice to actually interact with each other while staring at the screen.
Sometimes, you just need a night in with the one that you love, and video games are a fun way to bond as a couple. A little bit of competition is great for the soul and for your relationship, so game on!