Since I've been dating my boyfriend of over two years, his love for video games has always been evident. Between the time he would put into playing to how much he would talk about it after he was finished, there was no mistaking his passion for gaming.
Over the years, I started to learn the lingo and even would ask questions when I knew what he was talking about. Soon enough, I knew all of his favorite players, his stats for games, and the difference between a good game and bad. Most importantly I could start to pick up on when it was actually his teammates' faults and when he just wasn't having a good game.
Then Twitch came out and Ninja became popular. When he wasn't playing video games, he was watching them and learning how to be better at the games he played. I would fall asleep on the couch hearing gunshots from the game and then dream with gunshots in the background.
This eventually lead to, "Love, I could do this for money too!"
Large amounts of time have since been allotted to finding what will make a "successful streaming setup" and how much all of this costs. Fast forward to now, when all the materials that make up a "sick gaming center" have been found and most of his free time is spent practicing or streaming to earn new followers.
Sometimes the amount of time he invests into a stream is extreme and frustrating for me, who sits there or waits for him to be done.
Many friends have recommended suggestions on how to find a better balance or said they wouldn't even be supportive of that many video games in general. But regardless of my frustration or anything else, because of his passion for video games and dream of doing something with this as a career, I'll be there in full support.
Whether it's in spirit, in person or through helping create the "sickest gaming setup," I couldn't imagine not helping him follow his dreams.
Most importantly, if my attitude after a stream doesn't reflect what I'm writing now, the aggravation will pass. What truly matters the most to me is his happiness.
