Have you thought about that idea that you may have just grown out of it? Interests and hobbies never last forever. Eventually, people will always shift to new things. It's a very common occurrence. Maybe you're moving into a stage where you prefer a game that you can pick up for a few hours, and then put it down for a few days, and it doesn't matter to anyone but you. It's completely natural. It's especially true when you find your hobby changing.Â
For me, I barely purchase any new games anymore. Why? 90% of them are first person shooters, generic action games, or sports games. I don't enjoy those style of games very much at all. 10 years ago, I was buying a new game damn near every paycheck and enjoying it. These days I can find maybe four or five a year I care about, and even less that I actually buy. Perhaps the same is true for you with MMOs. Newer MMOs don't have whatever magic drew you to, and kept you in, FFXI.
But to help with the situation itself; try talking to your girlfriend about it. Regardless of what you want to play... perhaps a day or two a week you spend time doing the things you like to do separately would give you your 'fix'. Then the other days you two spend together, and you don't play much, if at all.Â
While I completely understand your desire to just decompress after work (I'm the same way)... you need to decide which is more important to you-- games or your relationship. You're the only one who has the right answer to the question, and neither answer is truly wrong. If you want both, you absolutely have to take the time to sit down and explain things with your girlfriend. You never know, she might simply not understand what you need to keep your mind healthy. You may even discover ways you can decompress and INCLUDE her in on it as well. You may find games you two can play together, or find other ways to relax.
I can tell you (from unfortunate experience) that she's not going to want to have to constantly ask you to spend time with her. Eventually she's just going to give up. If that's not something you want, you have to take the initiative. You may hear things you don't want to hear by talking with her about it, and it may lead you to a break up... but that probably means she wasn't really right for you and you weren't right for her. Without communication though, the inevitable outcome is not going to be nice, pretty, or mutual.
For me, I barely purchase any new games anymore. Why? 90% of them are first person shooters, generic action games, or sports games. I don't enjoy those style of games very much at all. 10 years ago, I was buying a new game damn near every paycheck and enjoying it. These days I can find maybe four or five a year I care about, and even less that I actually buy. Perhaps the same is true for you with MMOs. Newer MMOs don't have whatever magic drew you to, and kept you in, FFXI.
But to help with the situation itself; try talking to your girlfriend about it. Regardless of what you want to play... perhaps a day or two a week you spend time doing the things you like to do separately would give you your 'fix'. Then the other days you two spend together, and you don't play much, if at all.Â
While I completely understand your desire to just decompress after work (I'm the same way)... you need to decide which is more important to you-- games or your relationship. You're the only one who has the right answer to the question, and neither answer is truly wrong. If you want both, you absolutely have to take the time to sit down and explain things with your girlfriend. You never know, she might simply not understand what you need to keep your mind healthy. You may even discover ways you can decompress and INCLUDE her in on it as well. You may find games you two can play together, or find other ways to relax.
I can tell you (from unfortunate experience) that she's not going to want to have to constantly ask you to spend time with her. Eventually she's just going to give up. If that's not something you want, you have to take the initiative. You may hear things you don't want to hear by talking with her about it, and it may lead you to a break up... but that probably means she wasn't really right for you and you weren't right for her. Without communication though, the inevitable outcome is not going to be nice, pretty, or mutual.
My life is a chip in your pile. Ante up!
