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On a visit to my local Woolworths store, itself 28 miles away, i thought i would pre-order some games to go with my new PS2. I had a good idea what games that i wanted, so i went straight up to the counter and asked the old dear behind it if i could put my order in. Of course you can she said, and proceded to take my order. Then she asked how old my son was, this as you can imagine made me a little nervous, after all i had no idea how this woman knew me, or knew that i had a son. Quietly i replied that he was 3 years old, at which point she looked at me silly, then proceded to lecture me about letting my young son play with such "horrific" games. Once she had finished, i pointed out that the games were for myself and not for my son. At this she became very haughty, and completed my order. After giving me my collection form, she apologised for assuming that i was buying the games for a minor, but that she didn't know adults of MY AGE were playing computer games too.
Is this kind of experience normal, or was this poor woman just a rotting corpse re-animated to save Woolies paying for live staff. Are things really that much different away from the backwaters of my home land.
I am 27, and don't feel old enough to give up gaming yet. I can't imagine life without my daily fix of PSX pleasure.
The only up-point i can think of living in a land which is so deviod of gaming retail outlets is the fact it took until the 17th September to sell out of pre-orders for PS2, and i am assured of one on launch day.
Onnllly joking.
Humm. Films are the closest things to games really, and they aren't frowned apon. They even call films art.
Why aren't games art? Some games are, really invloving and beautiful games, with great plots, are better than any film created.
Really if I was sensible I would stop playing games as it does cause arguments some times, But I love games and gaming is my hobby. As Babylonian pointed out, other games are not frowned upon merely because they are more widely accepted. I play chess often and people never look down on this.
I say lets kick ageism out of Gaming. I personally look forward to the time when I can sit down with my children and beat them at MarioKart 2010, or Tekken 15 (or more likely Streetfighter 12xxss2010.)
Despite the millions of older gamers 'exposed' by PlayStation, it's still looked on as a kids pastime by many. But I have no idea why!
Why should a videogame be seen as inferior to any form of game? How many 'older' people (yes, even older than us - well, me... at 29) still play games?
Chess. Backgammon. Domino's (Not the pizza! Mmm... pizza... cue Homer-esque drooling sounds...) Numerous board games enjoyed by whole families. None of these are generally frowned upon, so why should videogames be any different?
As machines and games get more advanced, I think they do more for you - stimulating senses, hand-eye co-ordination, reflexes, and yes - even making you think.
As long as you don't get too addicted. I would honestly say that I have a controlled addiction; I'm not playing games at every free moment, but I do get pretty grouchy if I'm disturbed while playing. (Of course, some would say I'm disturbed even when I'm *not* playing. But they wouldn't say it to my face...)
Anyway, I can't sit here talking to you peasants all night - I have a game to finish! ;-p