We're old...

[Astroquicky]

Re: We're old...

[...] And I realized that even with unlimited power in the game world, I need to first change a lot of things in the real world [...]

So very true. For many people, including myself at one point, games are a place to escape into, fleeing from the real world where they are unhappy or miss something. They provide you with powers and feelings of accomplishment or respect that you might not have or feel (yet) in real life. To a certain extent this escaping from reality can be healthy because it allows you to clear your mind a little, but it becomes dangerous when you start neglecting your own well-being and only care for your virtual reality, leaving the real you void of social contact, sleep, or even food.

I think I can safely say that whereas I have been down that road at one point, it's unlikely to happen again. So while I avoided gaming completely for a time, I'm now enjoying it again for what it is, a place to have "fun".

 

[Luckymofo]

Re: We're old...

Gamers never grow old; they just level up a bit faster (or seems that way)

 

[jel]

Re: We're old...

Gamers never grow old; they just level up a bit faster (or seems that way)

I didn't get the joke.

 

[YogiRat]

Re: We're old...

He was making reference to the perception that time moves faster the older one gets. That is something I can relate to.

The generations that grew up with video games (basically anyone under the age of 40 and quite a few people over that age as well) will probably be playing video games for the rest of their lives. Games overcame the stigma of being "just for kids" a long time ago, and are now just another option when it comes to electronic entertainment. We're no longer stuck with just radio and television.

I think I was 22 when I saw my first pong game, I'm 58 now.


I (dad) was the family Duck Hunt champion also.:yes:

 

[jel]

Re: We're old...

He was making reference to the perception that time moves faster the older one gets. That is something I can relate to.

Oh yeah, me as well, time seems to move faster and faster, the days flys by, months ago seems so close, last year identical with this one, so weird, feels like I'm wasting my time, oh no I have to do something, I have to life my live and not be stuck!!!

Hey I just found a funny button hehe.

I think I was 22 when I saw my first pong game, I'm 58 now.


I (dad) was the family Duck Hunt champion also.:yes:

When I've was younger I tried to get my parrents to play computer games with me, I thought it was much more fun when I shared it with someone, but my dad only wanted to play Pacmania and it's hard to get my mom convinced that she should play with me, anyway it ended up with me thinking internet is close to games, first make her really like the internet, then she'll play games with me later. She got addicted to the internet and fired from her job.

For some reason it was never nearly as fun to play computer games with my friends, I guess doing stuff with those you love have so much more value, eventhough it made my parents a bit worried that I had no friends at a time.

 

[aoaa]

Re: We're old...

Games are definetly less appealing to me when I'm 16-18, compared to when I was about 12 :/

 

[gedda-d-e]

Re: We're old...

I think we are just geeks, like your avarage trekkie or starwars fan (no disrespect to anyone, ofcourse ).
We just like computer and video games. We all found our way here and looking at the join dates on the people of these forums, we've stuck with it for a long time. Ive always enjoyed playing computer games and I doubt that will change when I grow older - but as so many here have pointed out, you might just not have the same time for it when you are older. Back in the day, I wouldn't mind if I spent 13hrs of the day on trying to reach the top of the EuHC ladder - but my current life situation doesn't quite allow that sort of... dedication

Great thread however, some interesting reads. @ YogiRat: 58 - respect. I wish I have your mentailty at when I reach your age. Oh, and duck hunter champion - doubble respect. To this day I have my Nintendo set up, sometimes you just get the urge!

 

[Krugar]

Re: We're old...

I'm pretty sure it's just not a matter of free time. There will be a lot of that coming retirement. But essentially mental predisposition for many of the modern games will not be there anymore. I find myself alrady very little tolerant towards many game types that I used to absolutely adore.

RTSs, for instance, are low on my priorities list these days and this is the one that most shocks me. How can I just not find much interest these days on RTSs? Look at the quality of some of these titles! It both baffles and saddens me as I feel this is a perfect time to enjoy an RTS.

In contrast I find myself more willing to calmly read through pages and pages of game manuals and study the complex game rules that make up such pearls in the gaming industry as Galactic Civilizations II or any of the titles from Paradox Interactive. Deep wargames or 4x strategy games are today my favorite style and I noticed a clear predisposition to this type of gameplay slowly growing in me for the past years.

I'm pretty sure a big part of this is what I've been perceiving as a significant loss of physical skills which invariably and unconsciously force a shifting of interests. Mentally I feel sharper than ever before. But physically I notice a degradation particularly in response times. This is made very obvious to me when I go back to play games of old and notice I'm just not as good as I was before.

However, I'm pretty sure a big part of one's interest in games past a certain age will also have to do with their own life experiences -- Has life been kind, hard? Has one's job been taking its toll emotionally, physically or mentally? Has one found other interests that eventually end up taking an important place in our free time (my father loved to paint miniatures)? Has health been generous? Have friends been many and time consuming? I don't know... all sorts of things can eventually affect our interest in computer games and help shape up our preferred genres over time.

I'd like to hear YogiRat too on this since he's older than I am.

 

[jarpy]

Re: We're old...

I don't think gaming is an age specific activity. And I know that playing Diablo isn't.

When Diablo II came out, I was 21 and my sister was 25. Our little brother was 8 and our Dad was 44. We all enjoyed D2 and we played it a hell of a lot. The back room in my Dad's house was like a permanent LAN party in those day with people from 8 to 44 all enjoying playing together.

Good times... good times.

 

[YogiRat]

Re: We're old...

However, I'm pretty sure a big part of one's interest in games past a certain age will also have to do with their own life experiences -- Has life been kind, hard? Has one's job been taking its toll emotionally, physically or mentally? Has one found other interests that eventually end up taking an important place in our free time (my father loved to paint miniatures)? Has health been generous? Have friends been many and time consuming? I don't know... all sorts of things can eventually affect our interest in computer games and help shape up our preferred genres over time.

Very perceptive Krugar :thumbup:

Playing electronic games with family would seem pretty normal for my demographic, why I still play them is another kettle of fish.

In 2000, I had reconstructive surgery on my left wrist, my dominate hand. This was a result of repetitive stress and job related. I retired, rather take a desk job. I had already played D2 for a month and a half before the event. Recovery took six months, that was long enough to get a pretty good D2 addiction.

I was a model-railroader and a bit of an artist, but moves, loss of space to work, this silly game, have kept me from moving back into those mediums.

I'm still a pretty good cook though, shrimp curry tonight, green ofc.

 

[otodude]

Re: We're old...

I've just hit 50 and yes, I too can relate to the fact that time appears to pass more quickly than it did say ten years ago.

Funny, I was single and silly when D2 came out. Now I'm married, 2 kids and the oldest now plays it with me on the LAN

We're both looking forward to D3, whenever it hits the shelves.

 

[Rolland]

Re: We're old...

42 here (soon 43 /ouch)

I love PC games, been playing since my Freshman college year...I take care of all the RL stuff that needs being taken care of (wife, job, house...) and play when I can.

I play casually, though a bit every day. So burnout I doubt will ever be a factor, more like which of the 20-30 games on the shelf am I going to mess with today

But I'm sure that D3 will move to the top of the list for quite some time as soon as it hit!!!

As I grow older I sincerely believe that "old" is a state of mind and not the the increasingly lined and gray trimmed face I see staring back at me :thumbup:

Regards2All

 

[Mao]

Re: We're old...

I'm 27 and I thought I was the oldest "kid" still playing d2. But with people here 40+ or even 50+, I feel I'm still young

 

[dickydoo]

Re: We're old...

Being old does not mean you can not live young, trust me. I am eighty two years of age and in a nursing home. Ive been playing games since I was young and have enjoyed every minute of my gaming experiences. I still remember my first video game on the computer and it was tic tac toe. A very simple minded game I must say but I got a kick out of it. I still play d2 and will continue till d3 comes out. Thank you.

 

[Mao]

Re: We're old...

Being old does not mean you can not live young, trust me. I am eighty two years of age and in a nursing home. Ive been playing games since I was young and have enjoyed every minute of my gaming experiences. I still remember my first video game on the computer and it was tic tac toe. A very simple minded game I must say but I got a kick out of it. I still play d2 and will continue till d3 comes out. Thank you.

Are you seriously 82? I have a dream that I can play games all day when I retire someday.

 

[stillman]

Re: We're old...

I think we will actually get better and better as we get older (as long as the games we choose aren't designed for ADHD kids and populated by ADHD kids). For RPG's, I think we will be on top. Why? Well, I find games just keep recycling the same ideas, strategies, and routines that we've seen for decades. There's not much for us to figgure out, so we can get right down to mastering the new games and competing. Younger people have less experience with the cliche tasks. Maybe this will give us older fans an edge.

Edit: sure, d2 and 3 are action RPGs, but its more about choices, planning, etc than action.

 

[In the name of Zod]

Re: We're old...

I'm not a fan of this 'no one makes games for me' attitude. A lot of games are made by young people probably because they 'still believe'. Younger people can't make games for us oldies, we have to do it for ourselves. The catch is that making games for an older gen is less rewarding because its harder and there's no guarantee people will like it anyhow. Especially if all we are going to do is whine and whine about things. I don't consider that a rant either its just the reality of the situation we are cutting out for ourselves. So please don't whine about these things. :alright: Not targeted at anyone specifically.

 

[Transistor EMF]

Re: We're old...

Whoa 82 ! dickydoo you really have my respect... I can just imagine my old age in 60+ years with my family- "C'mon grandpa stop playing on that old contraption, use my Playstation4000" and I'd say to them- *old grandpa voice*"When I was young we did'nt have all these fancy 3d holographic games ! We did it the old fashioned way with just a mouse & keyboard !"

 

[Krugar]

Re: We're old...

A person with such life experience certainly can come up with a better story than tic tac toe. I'll pass...

 

[TarnishedHope]

Re: We're old...

Heh. Too true.

I've been waiting for D3 since 2001. I remember writing a letter to Blizzard Entertainment, inquiring about Diablo 3, as part of a school project in 2003. They replied, surprisingly, and told me they intend to work on D3 eventually, but were too preoccupied with Warcraft-related projects.

All the anticipation, and now, only 1~2 more years to endure. :jig: