The Street Fighter Spell

I used to think my boyfriend was a one off (nut case). I'd lived a sheltered existence far away from the clutches of the gaming phenomenon that is…Street Fighter.

I used to naively think that my boyfriend enjoyed spending a normal amount of time playing computer games. But that was before we moved in together! I was completely unprepared for what was to come. Hours spent in front of the TV practicing, friends over going at it all day, advanced tactics videos on youtube. I mean come on, It must get boring after a while!

During the first few months at our new flat, I came to question if given the ultimatum, would Street Fighter 4 would take priority over me? I've learned that while he's playing Street Fighter (or pretty much any game for that matter), any attempts at conversation are a waste of time. I've also learned not to ask “What’s wrong?” when I hear grunts of anger from the front room.

The other day, I came home from work to find six guys who looked like they would never hang out together, all gathered round our TV playing the game. It looked like a Benetton ad was being filmed in our living room. They were Chinese, Japanese, Jamaican, African and plain old English. After I got over the initial shock, I thought it was amazing how SF4 and games in general bring together geeks from all around the world. I’ve seen him spend hours quite happily with Japanese people who don’t speak a word of English!

Our homepage on our iMac used to be the Guardian website, where I would keep up with all the latest news but now it's www.shoryuken.com (Street Fighter forum) and it’s always up or in the background. I tried to understand the appeal, but I just don’t have a love (or even a passing interest) in games. I’ve tried getting into a Nintendo game called Zelda (it was fun at first) and Street Fighter (way too many things going on for me there), but I just don’t have the patience to play them for hours on end.

As much as SF4 can get on my nerves though, I’d love to have a hobby that I’m so obsessed with (or dedicated to depending on who you ask). It got me wondering if there’s something that I can do or play which allows me to immediately strike up a conversation with someone from anywhere in the world about? I don’t mean the obvious things like shopping or going to the cinema and meeting up with friends.

So my new mission is to find a proper hobby. Suggestions would be very welcome!

He's just started to play less which I thought was fantastic. Now I find out that he's "resting" in anticipation of a new Street Fighter which is coming out next month… great.