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Gaming is generally seen as being for the younger generation in society. Nintendo who, by and large, target their games at a younger audience, reflect this.
Just recently however my Mum asked me "Are you going to still be playing games when you’re 25?" To which I replied "Probably". This short and sweet conversation got me thinking though. Are you ever too old to play and enjoy games?
I know there are numerous ‘Older gamers’ on this site (I’m looking at you Goatboy and Meka) but they still seem to get enjoyment out of their games. So will this ever change? Well, no I don’t think it will. As long as YOU personally still have fun playing games then you’re never going to be too old. Mario and his ilk can still appeal to you when you’re 30 or over. In fact, Goatboy and Meka seemed to have proved my point for me.
Take Clive Sinclair for example. He was 43 when the ZX81 was released. HE obviously wasn’t too old. Shigeru Miyamoto’s another. He’s well over 40 and he still creates superb games... like Zelda! The developers themselves are never too old. They can’t be. If they were then I’d have a top job with Nintendo! With Grix and co doing all the technical stuff...
But CAN you be too old? Well, I think that depends on whether you are still interested in gaming when you reach a more mature age. If you’re not interested in the gaming world then you’re never going to get the same enjoyment factor out of playing games. But as well as staying interested you’ve also got to keep up with what’s happening. You can’t stay stuck forever on one console, because, eventually, it will splutter and die. No more games will be made for it and you will be left with a gameless console. You CAN’T be a throwback in the gaming world. The constant technological advancements make sure of that, so this forces you to buy a new console, which will eventually die... and this goes on.
However, if you don’t buy a new console when your old one gives up the ghost then you’re going to start to lose contact with the gaming world. This contact will then get less and less, and then one day you realise that you haven’t bought a games magazine or looked at a gaming website for over a month. But by then you can’t be bothered and you just don’t care. So you give up all together. And that’s when you’re fun-filled fling (:-)) with the gaming world peters out and is left as a thing of the past. Something for you to look back on and say "Those were the days" :-)
Then I thought of another question. If you’ve never played before can you start when you’re older?
Well, yeah you can. But you would have had to have had something to do with that gaming world before that. For example. You can’t easily get your grandparents to play a games console, can you? Why’s that? Well it’s all foreign to them. They were around when you got caned at school and there was only black and white tele. So forcing them into the future can’t be done. They either won’t except it or won’t understand it. You’ve GOT to be up to date with modern technology to be able to play games if you’re from an older generation. Otherwise it will all seem complicated and strange.
So, you see, you’re never too old to play games and enjoy them, but if you don’t enter into the spirit of gaming fully, then you’ll eventually be left behind as the world advances, changes and evolves around you as it no doubt will.
RBS
Just recently however my Mum asked me "Are you going to still be playing games when you’re 25?" To which I replied "Probably". This short and sweet conversation got me thinking though. Are you ever too old to play and enjoy games?
I know there are numerous ‘Older gamers’ on this site (I’m looking at you Goatboy and Meka) but they still seem to get enjoyment out of their games. So will this ever change? Well, no I don’t think it will. As long as YOU personally still have fun playing games then you’re never going to be too old. Mario and his ilk can still appeal to you when you’re 30 or over. In fact, Goatboy and Meka seemed to have proved my point for me.
Take Clive Sinclair for example. He was 43 when the ZX81 was released. HE obviously wasn’t too old. Shigeru Miyamoto’s another. He’s well over 40 and he still creates superb games... like Zelda! The developers themselves are never too old. They can’t be. If they were then I’d have a top job with Nintendo! With Grix and co doing all the technical stuff...
But CAN you be too old? Well, I think that depends on whether you are still interested in gaming when you reach a more mature age. If you’re not interested in the gaming world then you’re never going to get the same enjoyment factor out of playing games. But as well as staying interested you’ve also got to keep up with what’s happening. You can’t stay stuck forever on one console, because, eventually, it will splutter and die. No more games will be made for it and you will be left with a gameless console. You CAN’T be a throwback in the gaming world. The constant technological advancements make sure of that, so this forces you to buy a new console, which will eventually die... and this goes on.
However, if you don’t buy a new console when your old one gives up the ghost then you’re going to start to lose contact with the gaming world. This contact will then get less and less, and then one day you realise that you haven’t bought a games magazine or looked at a gaming website for over a month. But by then you can’t be bothered and you just don’t care. So you give up all together. And that’s when you’re fun-filled fling (:-)) with the gaming world peters out and is left as a thing of the past. Something for you to look back on and say "Those were the days" :-)
Then I thought of another question. If you’ve never played before can you start when you’re older?
Well, yeah you can. But you would have had to have had something to do with that gaming world before that. For example. You can’t easily get your grandparents to play a games console, can you? Why’s that? Well it’s all foreign to them. They were around when you got caned at school and there was only black and white tele. So forcing them into the future can’t be done. They either won’t except it or won’t understand it. You’ve GOT to be up to date with modern technology to be able to play games if you’re from an older generation. Otherwise it will all seem complicated and strange.
So, you see, you’re never too old to play games and enjoy them, but if you don’t enter into the spirit of gaming fully, then you’ll eventually be left behind as the world advances, changes and evolves around you as it no doubt will.
RBS
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First of all, I must say to Rasta, good post, I couldn't have summed it up better myself.
And in reply, I must say that you can never be to old to play games.
I am coming up to 20 and I still love playing games, although I must admit, I don't have as much time to play then as I used, what with work and college.
And in reply, I must say that you can never be to old to play games.
I am coming up to 20 and I still love playing games, although I must admit, I don't have as much time to play then as I used, what with work and college.
Unfortunately I am nearing the 30 mark (afew months after Wookiee - the old git).
I don't (yet) feel any more distant from the gaming market. I still eagerly await the releases of the new magazines to read up on the new games and advances in technology (GBA and GameCube here I come), but I would say I am far more choosy.
Back in the day when I was a Spectrum or Master System owner, I thought nothing of buying a game or two a week, thinking I liked the look of it, only play them a handful of times before banishing it to the rubbish game cupboard.
Those days are over. Now it is a game every couple of months, trading in where possible. My money is not my own (house, kids etc), a fiancee who nags about me being too old to play stupid games (although she wants my GBC when I upgrade), and who also spends too much time at home demanding my attention when I should be playing the PS2. The delights of drinking, smoking and a social life (ok, the proper social life is her idea, mine is a four player N64 gaming session). Just some of the problems you youngsters will realise when you move out.
Anyway, the point is no - you are never too old. You can use the kids as an excuse ("They need something new to play woman!!"), but if you want the freedom of a fuller gaming life never move out of you parents home and never meet up with the opposite sex (unless they are game freaks - make sure you ask on the first date).
Take this as a warning. Don't make my mistakes.
I don't (yet) feel any more distant from the gaming market. I still eagerly await the releases of the new magazines to read up on the new games and advances in technology (GBA and GameCube here I come), but I would say I am far more choosy.
Back in the day when I was a Spectrum or Master System owner, I thought nothing of buying a game or two a week, thinking I liked the look of it, only play them a handful of times before banishing it to the rubbish game cupboard.
Those days are over. Now it is a game every couple of months, trading in where possible. My money is not my own (house, kids etc), a fiancee who nags about me being too old to play stupid games (although she wants my GBC when I upgrade), and who also spends too much time at home demanding my attention when I should be playing the PS2. The delights of drinking, smoking and a social life (ok, the proper social life is her idea, mine is a four player N64 gaming session). Just some of the problems you youngsters will realise when you move out.
Anyway, the point is no - you are never too old. You can use the kids as an excuse ("They need something new to play woman!!"), but if you want the freedom of a fuller gaming life never move out of you parents home and never meet up with the opposite sex (unless they are game freaks - make sure you ask on the first date).
Take this as a warning. Don't make my mistakes.
Essexex wrote:
Good post by the way, we were discussing the same
> thing not long ago, and you have summed it up nicely.
Thanks mate!
Good post by the way, we were discussing the same
> thing not long ago, and you have summed it up nicely.
Thanks mate!
Grix Thraves wrote:
> You've been rather moody towards Ninty's as of late, ssxpro. What's
> up with you? :0)
I have a friend from A-level who disagrees with all my opinions. He likes Coulthard in F1, and tries to tell me Schumaher can`t drive. He also loves Nintendo, and rather than discussing, he is determined to make it all one sided, so I guess I`ve go fed up of arguing with Nintendo owners, so I no longer bother, I just sit there making silly remarks.
As for the comment to Rasta, I was only kidding, as you have already overtaken me in the posts, I was wondering how long it would be until you were ahead on words as well. Not long by the looks of things! Good post by the way, we were discussing the same thing not long ago, and you have summed it up nicely.
> You've been rather moody towards Ninty's as of late, ssxpro. What's
> up with you? :0)
I have a friend from A-level who disagrees with all my opinions. He likes Coulthard in F1, and tries to tell me Schumaher can`t drive. He also loves Nintendo, and rather than discussing, he is determined to make it all one sided, so I guess I`ve go fed up of arguing with Nintendo owners, so I no longer bother, I just sit there making silly remarks.
As for the comment to Rasta, I was only kidding, as you have already overtaken me in the posts, I was wondering how long it would be until you were ahead on words as well. Not long by the looks of things! Good post by the way, we were discussing the same thing not long ago, and you have summed it up nicely.
ssxpro wrote:
> Hey there Rasta! Trying to overtake me in the word count as well as
> the posts for the last 30 days eh? :-)
Believe it or not this was only just over a page in Word so, NER!
:-P
:-)
> Hey there Rasta! Trying to overtake me in the word count as well as
> the posts for the last 30 days eh? :-)
Believe it or not this was only just over a page in Word so, NER!
:-P
:-)
You've been rather moody towards Ninty's as of late, ssxpro. What's up with you? :0)
At least if it gets as far as Gamecube 7, then they won`t be able to have a go at us Sony fans for having sequels.
When I'm 60 or 70 I'll probably have more time for games.
Especially on my Game Cube VII.
Especially on my Game Cube VII.
Hey there Rasta! Trying to overtake me in the word count as well as the posts for the last 30 days eh? :-)
when im about 30 40 i proberbly wont play games as much
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