With kids the whole concept of gaming changes. You are now responsible for another human being(s). So you have to get more creative in finding time(excuses) to game.

1. Prerequisite:
For those not yet tied down. Make sure you have a women/man(that shouldn't be hard) that understands your gaming issues and is ok with them. And I mean really ok... they need to know that this is not a passing hobby that as you get older will go away. If you start out with a significant other that is trying to change you, or is waiting for you to change then things are really going to go down hill after the kids arrive. And for the less socially inclined ones... do not tell her/him this on the first date. You will need to work it in slowly over time.

2. Start with having boys:
I hate to put this stereotype out there... but boys are usually more interested in gaming for a longer period of time than girls. Now I don't know if this is just a product of the environment, or some other deep genetic code thing. If any of you gamer girls or parent with one want to enlighten me please do so. If you are interested in having a boy, there have been scientific studies that show women who eat more banana's are more likely to have a boy (has something to do with potassium levels).

3. Go mobile:
Your DS/PSP should be on you at all times. You never know when you may get a free cycle to play something.
- While in the shitter


- Waiting for the baby to stop crying


- While the wife is breast feeding (no, not my wife)


Important Note:
With your gaming devices around, make sure that you are very aware of where your little man's winky is pointing when changing a diaper (and for gods sakes keep your mouth closed!). You don't want a pee soaked repair order form (they are embarrassing to ask for). Or better yet get these Peepee Teepee's (I shit you not).

4. Late night crying:
This one can score you a couple of different options. When the baby starts crying in the middle of the night, you get up and let your significant other know that you got it. Then after everything is settle down with the baby, you are off to enjoy whatever you would like. And you score bonus points for going and taking care of the baby. The second part of this is when the baby isn't crying you can jump up out of bed and say you heard something, then sneak off to your favorite gaming spot. The downfall of these methods are you have to be willing to pause the game in case the baby starts crying.


5. Buying things through your offspring:
The payoffs of having kids can't be measured, especially when it comes to getting toys. You will first learn this when shopping for simple toys like Lego's. You get to play with Lego's again! And no one will think less of you! This was a big deal for me. I really enjoy my Lego's, even when they are called Mega Blocks.
So this buying of toys that you can play with sets a precedence. Which will only grow as your kid does.
Me: "Oh, we need a Wii."
Wife: "What for?"
Me: "The boy is 2 years old now."
Wife: "He is too young for that."
Me: "Well just look at what this 22-month old can do!"

Me: "Think of how much he can develop if he has a toy that teaches motor skills."
Wife: "How much is it?"
Me: "Its $250, really a small investment in our child's future."

(Yes I am wearing Christmas Pajama's... and I love them)

6. Getting the child interested (i.e. brainwashing):
As you talk to your child about Mario or Zelda (or insert your favorite character/series) he will become interested. So when you play a game that they see one of them in... they will ask you to play it all the time. Let me repeat that, your child will ask you to play it all the time! I come home from work, "I want to watch Mario Kart", I wake up in the morning "I want to watch Mario Kart", we finish dinner "I want to watch Mario Kart". And he can easily switch gears so you are not stuck on one game. Its awesome. All I have to say is "Well he really wants to watch me play."


7. Passing on the tradition:
Then there is also times where Daddy needs to "teach" the son how to play. When your child gets old enough where they can actually start to figure things out, then you need to sit down with them and really make sure they understand how things work. This can take days if you play your cards right.

(I swear his hand is on the controller... I am just helping him)

So these are my little ways that I find time to game while having a family at the same time. How about you other dads? Or for that matter how about you kids with gaming a dad... how does he do it?