Ageing and Gaming

[norashepard]

I'm not really old at all or anything, but I've had a lot of experience in gaming, both playing and programming, and I've noticed that as I get older, or perhaps just see more and more games, I want more of them to try new things, mostly with plot or setting. I can't really think of how they'd make any new genres, but then I'm not very creative in that way.

Also I'm hoping that someday video games will be considered 'Art' without any contest, so more games can be made with an emphasis on either story or visual style or message, instead of the current focus on graphics and functionality (even if those too are important). And maybe if someone wants to hire me to write their game because of that, WELL THAT'S EXTRA GOOD.

Also I find that as I age I'm more willing to play new kinds of games and less willing to play anything big name that isn't an RPG or something with a proven good story. I had never picked up a sports game until a month ago when I got FIFA13, and even if that game is terrible in some ways it can be really fun. Same thing with some of the more creative indie games, like The Polynomial or something.

 

[PeterMerkin69]

I'm 27, and while I still enjoy games, movies and television shows, I find that I spend a lot less time on those things than when I was a kid. This has lead to greater enjoyment of the things I do still choose to experience, as someone mentioned above, because I'm free to skim the cream rather than gobbling up whatever's in front of me. I've been around the block, I know what I like and what I don't, and using my awesome powers of pattern recognition, I can make informed decisions about purchases beforehand. I've really gotten quite good at this. It's sophisticated media min-maxing at its best, and I love it.

 

[NightHawk21]

Turning 21 in a few months. I've noticed I'm not getting as excited about the same sort of nonsense that I used to, and I don't have the patience to just play annoying multiplayer, ie. CoD, with people who keep complaining about their fuckin grade 9 math test on linear equations.

Basically it just comes down to me having next to no time to play games. For like the last 3-4 weeks I've logged maybe 10 hours, whereas it wouldn't be uncommon for me to log that in like 2-3 days a few years back.

 

[Zipa]

I'm 24 and yeah my gaming tastes have changed quite a lot since I was a kid (used to play worms and racing games mostly on the ps1).

When I was 16-17 I started playing MMOs , got hooked on SWG and played it for a long time did all the grindy stuff and loved it.

Now I can't stand grinding of any form it really really bores me and I just think fuck it and play something else.
I also want to play games mostly on my own now instead of with other people. Guess its because I have to deal with people all day at work and I just want to play something on my own to unwind.

 

[Belaam]

37, married, 2 kids - 4 and 1.

I tend to play quieter games; gunshots wake the little ones so almost no FPSs. I also had to put away Demon's Souls as the no save made it unplayable. In MMOs, I avoid raids/dungeons as I don't want to leave them hanging if one of the kids has a bad dream, throws up, etc. I'm assuming that will change as they get older. But for right now, almost all of my gaming is from 8pm - midnight, once they are down, but before I go to bed.

My wife games as well, though only a few crossover games with me. GW2 is main one we play together. The biggest change for us is that we recently moved away from old friends, so have switched from funner party/social/fighting games (MarioKart, Smash Bros, Soul Caliber, etc.) to either stuff we play online or solo/paired games.

My eldest kid is not really into games. I try to interest her occasionally, but she'd rather be coloring, looking at books, going to the park, or watching shows, so we do that most times. My youngest is way into controllers, and electronic toys, so I'm guessing she will be more into gaming, but will need to wait for her manual dexterity to catch up with her interest to try.

Overall, I play a lot less, nothing M when the kids are up. I also find myself watching a LOT less tv. Maybe 3-4 shows on Hulu, and even then, I'm as likely to have them as background noise as I am to curl up on the couch with my wife to watch them.

 

[Rad Party God]

I'm 24 and in may I'm turning 25 and I'm still as excited as ever about my favorite hobby, even with it's flaws and all (and sometimes even sworn to not ever buy another AAA game ever), I still find comfort in searching for old games (thank goodness for GOG) and I'm always pleasently surprised by new indie games (see, almost any game from the HIB).

I see lots of potential for the F2P market, even if many people seem to scoff at it on this site.

Heck, I'm still excited for AAA gaming overall, just not for anything with EA, Ubisoft and/or ActiBlizzard logos.

 

[Phuctifyno]

27/common-law/1 kid

Couldn't agree more with your appreciation for a beer and a game after a long day of work. My fav: Southern Comfort and Ginger Ale + one level of Hitman: Blood Money...

Its definitely true that as you get older, you get to do these things less frequently, but appreciate them more. Its because you are no longer doing them to fill free time, but having to make time to do them.

Incidentally, I'm playing hooky today to finish off a playthrough of KOTOR. I also have a painful, messy cold... but mainly KOTOR.

I don't find that my tastes change that much as a result of age though. They do change, but usually because I've discovered or sought out something new, not because I've just tired of what I was enjoying before. Though I probably never would have enjoyed a game like LA Noire anywhere near as much as I did if I had been younger, so I could be mistaken.

 

[IndomitableSam]

For me, I've noticed that I play games and watch TV less than I used to, but strangely enough, I think I enjoy them more. Coming home from a long day at work and unwinding with some game time and a beer is so much more satisfying. Generally, I feel I've been getting better at most things (sports, relationships, understanding drama, PlayStation controllers), maybe that also helps me appreciate them more rather than just being frustrated all the time. So ageing has been pretty awesome I guess.

Thoughts?

Pretty much this for me, too. I do miss the times where I was younger and had more time to game, but I miss all aspects of life at tha age. Younger and healthier parents, less responsibility, no bills, etc. I turn 30 this summer, so, yes, agreed with everything.

I don't buy as many games as I used to due to bidget, but I also read as much as I can about the game to make an informed decision before I buy.

However, I don't finish games much anymore. Especially RPGs. I play for 20, 30, 40 hours and then just am done playing. I wish I could finish things, and I do start them up again, but there are a few I haven't ever finished. New Vegas and Deus Ex: HR are the ones I'd like to finish, mostly.