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Now that consoles have seemingly grown up, there are more and more older gamers around. It’s nice to go to work and be among other people who have the same gaming interests as myself, but there still seems to be a stigma attached to the gamer at work.
I often take a games magazine to read at lunchtime, if I’m not reading a book or Fortean Times, and although a few people come up to me and chat about games, I still get funny looks. These seem to come from the stuck up suits that think squash or golf should be everyone’s sport, but if that’s what it takes to get to their level, I’m not going there!
So, is it right, now that there are so many gamers, that we should still have to deal with so many people who think gaming is only for those who haven’t left school yet? Well, the whole idea of ‘growing up’ revolves around becoming more mature and more responsible, but this doesn’t exactly dimiss the idea of playing games so it has to be something else. I believe that there are a couple of reasons why many people still don’t ‘get’ older gamers and their love of games.
1) The idea of fitting in
Some people are so insecure that they rely on other people to tell them what to do and what they should be interesting. Of course, the people they look up to are sometimes thinking exactly the same thing, which leaves everyone holding one foot in the air waiting for someone to make the next move. You have a situation here where someone who doesn’t care about this whole structure comes in and does their own thing. They get instantly shot down for it, because no one else wants to jump away from the herd.
2) The fear
Technology is still an unknown for some people, often people higher up on the company ladder. These people don’t want to be interested in gaming because it involves something they are not good at or don’t understand and they need to feel in control. They belittle gaming adults because they feel more secure with the things they know.
I’m sure there are more reasons, but these seem to sum up most of the people I’ve met who dismiss older gamers as pathetic or stupid, without saying it sometimes but making it obvious none-the-less. The answer is for all of us to proudly display our love of games, get others interested and get people talking. I’ve already got 2 people now thinking about getting a console who previously may not have even bothered. The two things that sold it were Rogue Leader pictures from my Nintendo magazine and the wealth of football games on the PS2, not to mention pictures of FIFA 2002 which were hanging around at the time!
Does anyone else here in the mature gamer bracket find that others feel obliged to point out their hobby or avoid them because of it? What have you done about it or did you feel segregated by it?
I often take a games magazine to read at lunchtime, if I’m not reading a book or Fortean Times, and although a few people come up to me and chat about games, I still get funny looks. These seem to come from the stuck up suits that think squash or golf should be everyone’s sport, but if that’s what it takes to get to their level, I’m not going there!
So, is it right, now that there are so many gamers, that we should still have to deal with so many people who think gaming is only for those who haven’t left school yet? Well, the whole idea of ‘growing up’ revolves around becoming more mature and more responsible, but this doesn’t exactly dimiss the idea of playing games so it has to be something else. I believe that there are a couple of reasons why many people still don’t ‘get’ older gamers and their love of games.
1) The idea of fitting in
Some people are so insecure that they rely on other people to tell them what to do and what they should be interesting. Of course, the people they look up to are sometimes thinking exactly the same thing, which leaves everyone holding one foot in the air waiting for someone to make the next move. You have a situation here where someone who doesn’t care about this whole structure comes in and does their own thing. They get instantly shot down for it, because no one else wants to jump away from the herd.
2) The fear
Technology is still an unknown for some people, often people higher up on the company ladder. These people don’t want to be interested in gaming because it involves something they are not good at or don’t understand and they need to feel in control. They belittle gaming adults because they feel more secure with the things they know.
I’m sure there are more reasons, but these seem to sum up most of the people I’ve met who dismiss older gamers as pathetic or stupid, without saying it sometimes but making it obvious none-the-less. The answer is for all of us to proudly display our love of games, get others interested and get people talking. I’ve already got 2 people now thinking about getting a console who previously may not have even bothered. The two things that sold it were Rogue Leader pictures from my Nintendo magazine and the wealth of football games on the PS2, not to mention pictures of FIFA 2002 which were hanging around at the time!
Does anyone else here in the mature gamer bracket find that others feel obliged to point out their hobby or avoid them because of it? What have you done about it or did you feel segregated by it?
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I once got my mum to play F355 on the Dreamcast with the Ferarri wheel. I wanted to know just how realistic it was, since it was supposed to be the most realistic driving sim ever. She could drive, I couldn't you see. I turned off all the assists and let her play.
She wasn't bad I suppose, although she was going at about 25 mph the entire circuit, but after a few laps, she said it was making it her dizzy. So she quit.
She wasn't bad I suppose, although she was going at about 25 mph the entire circuit, but after a few laps, she said it was making it her dizzy. So she quit.
I wholeheartedly agree. I am 18, and must be the only person who even talks about games at school, let alone play them. When I try and strike up a conversation about them, I either get the age old misconception of 'I thought they were for kids' or members of the 'I-only-play-PS2' Club who talk about the latest Fifa game and laugh when I say Pro Evo is better. Like you, I get wierd looks from people when I'm reading NGC, people who think that the only two publications in the world are Kerrang and FHM. To be honest, that's the main reason I joined these forums. I don't know if that's the 'fitting in' thing you mentioned, I've never been one for conforming or fitting into a certain type of people - I do my own thing, and that means playing games. If other people don't like it then tough - I like it and that's all that matters.
Sorry I'm not in a 'mature age bracket' - I'm 14 -, but I do get segregated from people at school. Many own a GC (fair play), but just because I have an X-Box I am immediately in the wrong. One such fan boy wants to have some rivalry with me - calling himself "Gamecube boy" and me vice versa - "X-Box boy", not girl!
I hope that I do continue my hobby of computer gaming, as it is fun. Personally I think that this is the only point. For me, an older gamer would be really cool - their knowledge of retro gaming especially interesting.
For you to get funny looks from people, I wouldn't take any notice of it. I love gaming, you love gaming, and everyone on this forum loves gaming (no matter how they express it in certain areas!).
Nice post aswell.
I hope that I do continue my hobby of computer gaming, as it is fun. Personally I think that this is the only point. For me, an older gamer would be really cool - their knowledge of retro gaming especially interesting.
For you to get funny looks from people, I wouldn't take any notice of it. I love gaming, you love gaming, and everyone on this forum loves gaming (no matter how they express it in certain areas!).
Nice post aswell.
I tried to get my Mother to play SA2 once but she didn't really get the hang of it. She kept moving really slowly 'cause she didn't really know waht wa going on. Its a Sonic game for christs sake! Run! Run! RRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!
Now that consoles have seemingly grown up, there are more and more older gamers around. It’s nice to go to work and be among other people who have the same gaming interests as myself, but there still seems to be a stigma attached to the gamer at work.
I often take a games magazine to read at lunchtime, if I’m not reading a book or Fortean Times, and although a few people come up to me and chat about games, I still get funny looks. These seem to come from the stuck up suits that think squash or golf should be everyone’s sport, but if that’s what it takes to get to their level, I’m not going there!
So, is it right, now that there are so many gamers, that we should still have to deal with so many people who think gaming is only for those who haven’t left school yet? Well, the whole idea of ‘growing up’ revolves around becoming more mature and more responsible, but this doesn’t exactly dimiss the idea of playing games so it has to be something else. I believe that there are a couple of reasons why many people still don’t ‘get’ older gamers and their love of games.
1) The idea of fitting in
Some people are so insecure that they rely on other people to tell them what to do and what they should be interesting. Of course, the people they look up to are sometimes thinking exactly the same thing, which leaves everyone holding one foot in the air waiting for someone to make the next move. You have a situation here where someone who doesn’t care about this whole structure comes in and does their own thing. They get instantly shot down for it, because no one else wants to jump away from the herd.
2) The fear
Technology is still an unknown for some people, often people higher up on the company ladder. These people don’t want to be interested in gaming because it involves something they are not good at or don’t understand and they need to feel in control. They belittle gaming adults because they feel more secure with the things they know.
I’m sure there are more reasons, but these seem to sum up most of the people I’ve met who dismiss older gamers as pathetic or stupid, without saying it sometimes but making it obvious none-the-less. The answer is for all of us to proudly display our love of games, get others interested and get people talking. I’ve already got 2 people now thinking about getting a console who previously may not have even bothered. The two things that sold it were Rogue Leader pictures from my Nintendo magazine and the wealth of football games on the PS2, not to mention pictures of FIFA 2002 which were hanging around at the time!
Does anyone else here in the mature gamer bracket find that others feel obliged to point out their hobby or avoid them because of it? What have you done about it or did you feel segregated by it?
I often take a games magazine to read at lunchtime, if I’m not reading a book or Fortean Times, and although a few people come up to me and chat about games, I still get funny looks. These seem to come from the stuck up suits that think squash or golf should be everyone’s sport, but if that’s what it takes to get to their level, I’m not going there!
So, is it right, now that there are so many gamers, that we should still have to deal with so many people who think gaming is only for those who haven’t left school yet? Well, the whole idea of ‘growing up’ revolves around becoming more mature and more responsible, but this doesn’t exactly dimiss the idea of playing games so it has to be something else. I believe that there are a couple of reasons why many people still don’t ‘get’ older gamers and their love of games.
1) The idea of fitting in
Some people are so insecure that they rely on other people to tell them what to do and what they should be interesting. Of course, the people they look up to are sometimes thinking exactly the same thing, which leaves everyone holding one foot in the air waiting for someone to make the next move. You have a situation here where someone who doesn’t care about this whole structure comes in and does their own thing. They get instantly shot down for it, because no one else wants to jump away from the herd.
2) The fear
Technology is still an unknown for some people, often people higher up on the company ladder. These people don’t want to be interested in gaming because it involves something they are not good at or don’t understand and they need to feel in control. They belittle gaming adults because they feel more secure with the things they know.
I’m sure there are more reasons, but these seem to sum up most of the people I’ve met who dismiss older gamers as pathetic or stupid, without saying it sometimes but making it obvious none-the-less. The answer is for all of us to proudly display our love of games, get others interested and get people talking. I’ve already got 2 people now thinking about getting a console who previously may not have even bothered. The two things that sold it were Rogue Leader pictures from my Nintendo magazine and the wealth of football games on the PS2, not to mention pictures of FIFA 2002 which were hanging around at the time!
Does anyone else here in the mature gamer bracket find that others feel obliged to point out their hobby or avoid them because of it? What have you done about it or did you feel segregated by it?
Page: