Web series Game Over pokes fun at what it's like to be in a relationship with an online gaming addict.
Ten hours a day in front of a computer. More specifically, ten hours a day gaming in front of a computer.
An Auckland actress was part of a brainstorming team trying to come up with ideas for their next project when she revealed to the group details of her home life - how the 24-year-old had been in a relationship for nearly five years and her partner spent most of it gaming away his spare hours.
Online gaming might be fun for many people, but when it becomes more than that - an addiction - it can hurt relationships.
This honest account from a friend prompted Auckland director Patricia Phelan to turn the issue into a web series, Game Over.
"We didn't know the extent of it. We thought they were quite a happy couple because you see them out in social occasions, but when you close the door at home it's behind the scenes; it was a completely different matter," says 28-year-old Phelan.
Along the way there are laughs, mishaps and action, but there’s heartache.
Game Over follows four Kiwi girls who bond together from their shared hate of computer games. They set up a secret club to stop their addicted boyfriends from gaming their lives away.
Phelan hopes the series helps shed light and create conversations about gaming addictions and the potential impact on relationships. She’s been surprised since undertaking the project at how many people have come forward to her saying they can relate to the issue.
“Even an accountant who’s in her 40s at my work said ‘Oh, it’s funny actually because my husband gets home from his office job and now is addicted to gaming.’ And they’ve got kids - it’s affecting their family life and their family dynamics. So I think it will maybe make people talk about it more.”
Actress Jess Holly Bates, who plays the character Sacha, says audience members can expect to feel a range of emotions throughout the series and to care deeply about the characters and the challenges they endure.
“Along the way there are laughs, mishaps and action, but there’s heartache. I just think they can expect the full human package.”
Phelan isn't one for wanting to write heavy scripts on heavy topics. She's passionate about writing comedy and decided to tackle the issue through an off-beat web series.
"I love bringing comedy out of tragedy."
Photo: Supplied
In order to keep the balance between a comedy series on a serious topic, Phelan says they had to focus on creating strong characters. Bates says a lot of the comedy lies in the dynamics between the four main women in the series.
"I think that a bunch of girls of various competencies coming together to sabotage their boyfriend's gaming careers - there's always going to be something that goes wrong. That comes from a genuine place of 'we're not entirely happy with how our relationships are going'."
Bates says it was a hard topic to research as there's very little information about online gaming in New Zealand.
"All the conversations in New Zealand are about casinos. They actually have almost no information about online gaming or e-sports." She says it seems to be a silent issue here. "Nobody ever talks about online gaming in New Zealand so it's like an undiscussed culture."
Phelan decided a web series was the ideal platform for the concept because of its accessibility as well as being easier financially.
Nobody ever talks about online gaming in New Zealand so it's like an undiscussed culture.
"It was a bit more achievable to make short snippets of video content as opposed to making a big feature film."
A Kickstarter campaign helped raise around $6000 towards the production costs. It wasn't enough to cover all costs and Phelan pulled out her finest charm to bribe volunteers.
"I owe a lot of people a lot of chocolate cake, home-made dinners. I promised the editor lasagnes since the beginning and I haven't made him one," she says.
"It's such a passion project. They can see the crew and the cast really believe in the concept and the idea. I think that's what's kept us going."
The team is now applying for NZ On Air funding for season two and has brought in television producer Nigel Snowden to help out.
Season One of Game Over will be released fortnightly online through their official website and through the Web Series Channel. The first episode is out now.