Get In The Game is a weekly column by Dan Yarrington, managing partner of Myriad Games in Manchester & Salem, New Hampshire, Treasurer of the Professional Game Store Association, and Editor-in-Chief of GameSalute.com.  This week, Yarrington talks about the role of families in gaming.

Welcome back to Get In The Game, a column that explores proactive ways we can improve the games industry.  This week, it’s time to refocus on the family and remind ourselves why we get up every day.

Refocus On The Family
Family.  That one word connotes so much.  There are all kinds of definitions of family.  Suffice it to say that family is the closest part of our community.  Families are important.  Your family is irreplaceable.  Yet all too often, we give our families short shrift in our list of priorities.  We take for granted that our family members will always be there.  We may be quick to assume that our relationships with family members do not require the same level of investment, care, and attention as our friendships and professional acquaintances.

Little Things, Every Day
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the day to day and ignore those closest to us.  We need to remind ourselves to take time off to appreciate our families.  This time of year, when folks are frequently vacationing, remember that the people in your family should be your focus.  Remember to express your love for your family whenever you talk with them.  Remember to take time to chat with them regularly.  It could be once a week, once a month, or once every so often.  Set an appointment in your calendar to call your parents or siblings or children or close friends that you consider family.  Don’t feel like you need to make a big deal out of it or draft a formal letter-style email.  Just chat, say hi, remind them that you care and that you’re thinking of them.  Little things, every day, make all the difference.

Schedule Fun
The best way to make sure you spend time with the people you care most about is by treating it like everything else important.  Add it to your schedule.  Force yourself to make time for those most precious to you.  If you need to excuse yourself from something, excuse yourself from tedious chores and demands of work by putting family first.  Family time is not merely an obligation, it’s an opportunity.  Try it out. Just one day a week, schedule something fun.  It could be going to a movie, going for a walk, watching a favorite TV show, playing a game, or just sitting together and catching up.  Make these fun appointments a part of your regular calendar and you won’t be disappointed.  You’ll be able to look forward to these occasions each week and relish that time together when it arrives.

What Does This Have To Do With Games?
Alright, seriously, this is schmaltzy and all, but what does it have to do with games?  Everything.  Games are a social experience and families are key to any healthy social network.  We play games with our families and friends so we need to have games for everyone and every occasion.  There are quiet families and loud families.  There are big families and small families.  There are dysfunctional families and mythical families.  And there are games for every one of them.  Next time you’re selling a game, think about the family that will be playing it.  Think about what will make them happy in that shared moment together.  Make gaming a part of the fabric of a family and you not only spread the joy of games; you create a whole group of customers who make games a part of their regular family traditions.  We need more Family Game Nights and it all starts by refocusing on the family.

Talk Back!
Who do you consider a part of your family?  What are the most precious parts of your day?  How can you make more of them?  What’s your favorite memory with your family from the past month?  What’s your favorite game to play with your family?

What are you waiting for?  Get In The Game!

The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.