If the "average age" of today's gamer is mid-thrities, how come....

[Master_of_Oldskool]

While I can't speak for other gamers, I play single-player campaigns only specifically to avoid the little shitstains.

 

[Xannieros]

In my experience, the majority of players online don't have headsets plugged in. Even I mute most of the voices if I have the option when I go online. It also might depend on exactly which game you're playing, or what time of day you choose to go online.

They learnt how to mute everyone else other than their friends or use 3rd party software like Skype to only communicate with their group.
Only kids and idiots use in service chat.

These 2 quotes summarize mine up quite nicely. I know a lot of WoW users use Ventrillo and Teamspeak 2 to talk. And a lot use them for clans in FPS. Most I've heard sound like they're in their 20-30's.

 

[Lonan]

all I ever here in multi-player or co-op single-player are people that sound under the age of 15? I play a wide variety of games, from shooters to RTS, RPG's, etc. But I have yet to hear or talk to someone that sounds as old as myself (26). Where are all these thirty-somethings that supposedly make up the largest demographic of the gaming market?

I've never experienced the people you're talking about. I no one really speaks during the game for the most part.

 

[BlackWidower]

Probably because the 30-something gamers are all playing the single-player campaigns, and don't bother with the multiplayer. I know I do. Primarily because with the single-player campaigns I feel like I'm getting somewhere.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Because the older people are the only ones that actually bother to take the surveys. I don't see the problem in older people gaming. I met a woman on Guild Wars who's 53 years old. Both her AND her husband play. And she's one of my best friends on that whole game. Playing games does not mean you're emotionally under-developed or immature. Actually in my time playing MapleStory when I was 17 or so, I met 13-14 year old players that were more mature than half the mid 20's players that I encountered on popular FPS games such as Call of Duty. I'm just 20 and I find myself more mature than half the other players I encounter that are beyond my own age. Though I think that might be why I evade the multiplayer in most games. I just have more fun playing single player games. Multiplayer games are always too competitive for me. No one wants to play with me, just against me, so I don't bother.

Well averages are tricky things. For every three 12 year old kids playing CoD and calling you whatever swear/racial slur they learned in school that day, there's 1 60 year old house wife playing Peggle. Then you mix in the rest of the upper age gradient and viola, you have the age of 30.

Well, lets face it, gaming is marginalized, especially if you're in your 30's and up. It's just not socially acceptable. It's fine if you're teenager, but an adult...nah. By the time you're "of age" your interests should have grown beyond sitting slack-jawed on the couch playing useless games. Ya, they're fun (I still play games from time to time) but I do recognize the stigma attached. I'm not trying to pick a fight, just stating my opinion.

I find that statement odd considering the majority of the people who grew up in the NES generation are about to hit their 30s if they aren't there already. I really feel sorry for the people who have "grown out" of video games. You know they didn't do it of their own free will, they simply let the disapproving sneers of the previous generation beat them down. Didn't they teach us in school not to let peer pressure talk us into doing something we don't want to?

The stigma comes from people who are actually of sound mind and responsibility giving into that peer pressure; thinking that to be "serious adults" they must cast off all the pieces of their younger days. There's no actual part of your brain that suddenly stops enjoying video games once you hit 25+, you've allowed society to beat something you love out of you which no one should ever let happen. What we're left with is the fat, 30 year old, basement dwelling "nerd" stereotype because the people who are so terrified of being associated with them have fled rather than showed resolve in the face of adversity. We need to stop allowing this marginalization, not give in to it or else we'll always be considered this creepy, lazy sub-culture.

I'm also curious about what your interests change to when you're "of age?" Going to college? Clubbing? Finding a job? Finding your significant other? Sex? Starting a family? Playing canasta with the other old people? Are growing into a well rounded, responsible, human being and playing video games in your spare time mutually exclusive activities? In the grand scheme of the universe, are any of these activities more "useful" than the others? When we're all dust will the historians look back with utter disgust at those who spent Friday night raiding on WoW with their friends while those who were doing meth and having unprotected sex in the bathrooms at the dance club are immortalized in golden space-temples?

What makes playing a video game so much more "useless" than say bowling or going to a party? Do you get paid for those activities, do you gain some status in society? Possibly, but probably not. Are they more fun? Maybe, maybe not. I think we've all had some pretty miserable social experiences for one reason or another.

Why are you "slack-jawed" while playing the game? Are you not enjoying yourself? If so, why play it in the first place. No one is forcing you to do it. Is slack-jawed in front of a game somehow worse than slack-jawed in front of a movie screen? Or slack-jawed at a concert?

Honestly, statements like the one I quoted really sadden me. Drinking, gambling, clubbing, smoking, any kind of sports, and any number of dozens, if not hundred, of other "socially accepted" activities, most of which are far more destructive the self and others and just as "useless", are consider normal in nearly every society yet saying you game is met with strange looks or outright hostility. It is that "Oh, I need to grow up, adults don't play games" attitude that keeps video gaming classified as this "children's" activity. Yes, it has gotten better as the kids that grew up with games have moved into the forefront of society, but there's still this stigma, for absolutely no reason, other than people who could help to change it deciding to hide and letting the extreme stereotypes get all attention. Don't shout it from the rooftops but don't deny it in shame and sure as hell don't let all those baby-boomer ex-hippies who spent their youth smoking pot, protesting, and spreading social diseases tell you that your hobby should be frowned upon.

I give many internets to this person. Whoopsie, made edit to typo I didn't see.

 

[ultimateownage]

30 year olds are wise enough not to play Call of Duty all day, that's why.

Also, a 26 year old should know the difference between 'here' and 'hear'.

 

[PleasantAsAHeadcrab]

I...have never met a gamer in their mid-thirties, excluding my brother.
For what it's worth, most of my playmates are in their early twenties.

 

[DTWolfwood]

all I ever here in multi-player or co-op single-player are people that sound under the age of 15? I play a wide variety of games, from shooters to RTS, RPG's, etc. But I have yet to hear or talk to someone that sounds as old as myself (26). Where are all these thirty-somethings that supposedly make up the largest demographic of the gaming market?

Single player. No1 in there 30s will suffer the teenagers that infest the multiplayer realm. Im 25 and i sure as hell only play MP games that DOESN'T allow VOIP. or has a mute option.

Also, join a gaming clan, there is where you will meet all the older players. I was in a clan of over 100 and the vast majority was over 30. Shoot there was even 2 retiree's in it lol. You want to laugh, than you want to play with some1 in their 60s XD.

 

[silversnake4133]

Probably because kids don't have a care in the world, yet they can't entertain themselves, so video games do it for them. And kids can only be entertained on single player for so long, that's when they switch to online mode. As for how they interact with people online depends on how immature they are and their level of douche baggary. The "average gamer" meanwhile has to struggle to get by in this world, which means that many of them are working two-three jobs just to keep their living establishment, pay their bills, and put food on their tables. And when they finally get some free time they'll mostly be doing chores, bills, sleeping, or taking care of natural needs.

So yeah, that's why there aren't more 30-something gamers online. They have things called "responsibilities".

 

[JMeganSnow]

all I ever here in multi-player or co-op single-player are people that sound under the age of 15? I play a wide variety of games, from shooters to RTS, RPG's, etc. But I have yet to hear or talk to someone that sounds as old as myself (26). Where are all these thirty-somethings that supposedly make up the largest demographic of the gaming market?

We're playing games that aren't full of 15-year-olds. The average age of people on my DDO server seems to be about 40 from what I can tell.

Keep in mind that even if the average age of people who self-describe as "gamers" is around 33, this does NOT mean that 33-year-olds buy and play the most games. Older gamers generally have less time for their hobby and only pursue the games that they're REALLY interested in. They are also less likely (in my experience) to play multiplayer or co-op games. If they want a multiplayer experience it seems they go to an MMO, and they only play ONE MMO.

 

[Yureina]

I find older players in MMO's quite frequently. In fact, at 23, I often find myself feeling young around most of the people I end up playing with in those types of games.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Because computer games became popular in the 1980's....It's as simple as that.

Most gamers have grown up with them hence the average age of a gamer being 35.

 

[FuzzyRaccoon]

I'm 19 years old. I grew up listening to my 25 year old brother talk a lot about games. He's in your demographic.

I play singleplayer and co-op exclusively. If I cant have someone sitting next to me, or a bud I personally know? Ain't gonna happen.

My brother also ends up playing at odd hours. I think right now he's into Metro 2033. I played it for a bit and it seemed fun, but I'm so rusty at the PC set-up that it's laughable.

 

[General Vagueness]

well I'm 22 about to be 23 but hearing me on a headset, tape, phone, or heck maybe even in person you'd think I'm 15... or that I'm my mom... who's in her 40s... which is undesirable on a whole different level
anyway I know at least two people over 50 that regularly play Halo and fairly often play on-line and with headsets, and I kind of know a third involved with this site [http://www.othclan.com/] so they're out there

 

[Lucane]

all I ever here in multi-player or co-op single-player are people that sound under the age of 15? I play a wide variety of games, from shooters to RTS, RPG's, etc. But I have yet to hear or talk to someone that sounds as old as myself (26). Where are all these thirty-somethings that supposedly make up the largest demographic of the gaming market?

that doesn't that that age group isn't the biggest ,but it doesn't say anything about what they play or how they could play the same games but at different times or the same without a headset or not have as much time to play like others have said I've met plenty of 20 something or older with headsets the If most people are like me they've stopped bothering right away to voice chat with random people when it repeatedly goes unheard limiting their headsets for friends and/or other people who seem to actually have their wits among themselves.

Also,yeah if your not old enough to have a job chances are you have more free time than someone who has one.

 

[FuzzyRaccoon]

all I ever here in multi-player or co-op single-player are people that sound under the age of 15? I play a wide variety of games, from shooters to RTS, RPG's, etc. But I have yet to hear or talk to someone that sounds as old as myself (26). Where are all these thirty-somethings that supposedly make up the largest demographic of the gaming market?

.. . . That, is a good question. I'm 19, and don't ever pull off anything immature on the headset or even in the game itself. However, I am assuming a few reasons why it's always these little kids who usually play then thirty year olds:

- Those who play games at ages 30 or over have kids of their own who usually take up the passion with gaming.

- Those of 15 years old and younger are the ones to tend using a headset far more then the thirty year olds.

- Parents buy their kids games spite if the rating is for 'Mature only' because I remember when I was 16, my Mom bought me the game 'God of War' and trust me.. she was okay with me playing such a hardcore game.

- Certain games like Call of Duty attracts audiences that are younger then the older audience. Black Ops has constant users who are actually around 11 or younger, but most seriously get on my nerves for they make immature emblems and 'troll' people with their headsets.. childish tones they speak in makes me feel their parents should be smacked. Sorry to say.

No, I think more than that, it's the tail end of my generation. You grow up with sibilings you played videogames... they become a natural part of your life. Like any interest, parents will get you stuff that coincide with your likes.

It probably has to do with the games you're choosing to play.

 

[Beryl77]

I don't remember the last time I heard someone talk in css. I've muted that years ago and or course I'm not talking either. My guess would be that kids like to use the microphone more and you have bad luck with the people you play.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Where are all these thirty-somethings that supposedly make up the largest demographic of the gaming market?

Usually, on PC, using Teamspeak or Vent to talk to each other 'off' the server.

Seriously, get onto most Pc clan's servers and everyone's on vent having a grand old natter. The average age of players seems to jump a good fifteen years on reputable clan servers too. Probably because all the pre-teens get banned, muted or booted.

 

[Sethzard]

The really young people are the sadly vocal minority.

 

[an_luas]

I am 40. I mostly play single player games because I grew out of multiplayer games in the 1990s and haven't really gone back. When I play online, which is rarely because I don't have the free time of a 15 year old - I play with my close friends who are mostly my age. I doubt I would bump into most people online.

I'm 20 and I do the same!
OT: I used to talk to people during the original xbox days in battlefield 2 but when the 360 came out i just kinda stopped and only talked to friends