The age old question

[TheButtonMashEffect]

I had an argument with my mother the other day which got me thinking.

She argued that i was now to old to be playing games and that it was a childish thing to do and people my age don't play games. I thought WTF? Everybody my age plays games and people older now do. Everybody i know has a console and plays games regulary even my girlfriend plays Jak and Daxter. This got me thinking then.

It is rare to see or meet a gamers over the age of say 40. This is because when these people were younger gaming and it's industry was only a baby. Not many people back then could afford to play games or was interested. Where as now in this day and age every household has some form of video gaming entertainment. Does this mean because my generation and new generations are growing up with gaming thinking it is a normal thing to do and is a great form of entertainment, will it be no suprise in 80 years time or so to see somebodys grandad or grandmother playing games such as GTA or MGS and nobody thinks it's werid or strange?

Or do you just suddenly get to a certain age and your interest in gaming dies.

 

[SeanTheIrishBastard]

There's really no question- your mom's position is either wrong or poorly represented.

 

[ArcadianTrance]

Well if I ever become a grandmother I assure you I'll still be playing games then.

 

[oni565]

I can see video games being played by grandparents in time.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

Show her fallout 3's VATS mode. Take off someones head with a railroad gun. Then ask her if its childish.

 

[xitel]

They didn't grow up with it, and people at that age find it difficult to adapt to new things.

 

[Fightgarr]

Thinking that there is an age to gaming is terrible. Is there a maximum age that you can still have fun? What's the problem with gaming that makes them less appropriate the older you get.

 

[Shurikens and Lightning]

We are the first mainstream Videogame Generation.

Did you know that about %50 of gamers are over 18? How old are you though?

The reason she might be saying that is because maybe she thinks that you should get more resposibilities and get a job. That is what my parents said when I had that arguement. Except I was 11 so they kinda were a bit early.

EDIT: Welcome to the escapist by the way!

 

[TheButtonMashEffect]

Show her fallout 3's VATS mode. Take off someones head with a railroad gun. Then ask her if its childish.

Haha what a spenldid idea. I did try to show her Metal gear solid 4 and explain that it was a piece of genius and how it was the future of entertainment.

She just said "Thats nice Liam"

I am 18, the first console i got was a megadrive when i was six.

 

[JokerGrin]

Thinking that there is an age to gaming is terrible. Is there a maximum age that you can still have fun? What's the problem with gaming that makes them less appropriate the older you get.

Word for word.

I don't think anyone should ever stop doing something they enjoy just "because".

 

[TheButtonMashEffect]

Thinking that there is an age to gaming is terrible. Is there a maximum age that you can still have fun? What's the problem with gaming that makes them less appropriate the older you get.

Word for word.

I don't think anyone should ever stop doing something they enjoy just "because".

Excatly! Thats why i argued with my mum explaining that gaming is about having fun and enjoyment no matter what your age is!

 

[Ace of Spades]

Uhhh... the average age for a gamer is something like 30. I was born a gamer, and I will die a gamer. Long live the gaming spirit.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

They didn't grow up with it, and people at that age find it difficult to adapt to new things.

Agreed, it's not that they grew up with video games and then lost interest in them. They merely just never played them so they don't understand them.

 

[Bored Tomatoe]

The entertainment that a generation grows up with becomes both normal and part of said generation's culture. If you think about it, videogames are the natural evolution of entertainment, Radio was strictly audio, Television brought images into the mix along with audio, and by extension, videogames are an interactive audio visual entertainment form.

 

[zacaron]

ya no matter how old I get I dont think that anything will kill my passion for gaming.

 

[Ralackk]

Thinking that there is an age to gaming is terrible. Is there a maximum age that you can still have fun? What's the problem with gaming that makes them less appropriate the older you get.

Word for word.

I don't think anyone should ever stop doing something they enjoy just "because".

Excatly! Thats why i argued with my mum explaining that gaming is about having fun and enjoyment no matter what your age is!

Find a game you think she may enjoy and convince her to have a go at it. The easiest way to get someone to see your point of view is for them to experiance it.

 

[TheButtonMashEffect]

I do not think i will ever stop gaming to. Its is people like us who will keep the industry alive and there are plenty of us. Gaming we can safely say then is our generations and i am glad that i was born at the right time.

 

[BigTex]

in my opinion, ppl like your parents tend to either not like gaming wen they young to start with, or the play the wii and still call that gaming(ps the wii really is dumb and i wish it was never made)

 

[JokerGrin]

I was born a gamer, and I will die a gamer. Long live the gaming spirit.

Amen brother!

Also, just out of interest, what does she want you to do instead of gaming? Start getting numerous tattoos, drink until you're sick every night, go to bed with hundreds of different girls and do a stupid amount of drugs? Cos you can still fit the odd game into that schedule.