Have your parents ever told you that you're too old for games?

[Flacko]

This is something what is kinda harsh to me. They knew that I like videogames and stuff but lately they think like I'm 22 years old and say that I shouldn't play anymore and I need to grow up and not being a baby. And think Mario or Sonic are baby games etc. Why do parents do this, don't they realise that there's much older people who play games? It's strange he never moans at my granny who plays NES sometimes.... and if I do, I get argued that I play old games. One day I got so irritated because my dad told me this and said "nobody buys old games anymore because their old and people throw these away into the dustbins and nobody wants them". I don't live at parents but this topic came up when he said about Guitar hero drums and why are they standing here.


Some reason this still irritates me, because gaming has been my whole life hobby and I got such a wonderful BF TmEE because he is into Sonic and gaming and Megadrive just like me, I thought I will NEVER meet anyone who likes MD, because I had nobody at school who cared of the consoles, only moaned I'm a baby etc. Without Sonic I wouldnt know my best friend Sonic Xtreme from other forum and Sonic Retro and this forum and sega16.

Most weirdest thing is, if I buy a console, he goes like "why am I wasting my money, don't I have nothing else to do?" but then he plays F1 on it or on my x360.... or just sometimes looks technical magazines and say "look, here's PS3 for cheap" blabla. He goes sometimes just so against things... who do they do it is just beyond me.

It's like I have been told I must quit drawing because It's baby stuff and cartoons but I have been drawing since 4 years old and it's my passion. Or tell a sport guy stop doing sports, it's useless, even if he has done it the whole life. That doesn't matter they are old, he said he has played NES too when he was young....

[QuickSciFi]

It's difficult to get your parents (even sibligns) to understand your passion for retro gaming (heck, even friends your own age). I went through that phase in my late teens/early twenties already. It was very ackward, indeed. I've learned to just deal with the fact that I'm the only one I know who enjoys retro games (and games in general) the way I do. I guess that's the magic of retro-gaming forums. If it wasn't for sites like these, I'd probably still be doubting myself. Luckily, I actually met one friend in real life who is as passionate as I am about retro games. But that was just late last year.

[Oldskool]

I never got any flack (haha) from my family for being a gamer. I dunno, no one acts like I am childish if I load up Sonic or something. Maybe I am just surrounded by cool people.

[Guru of Time and Space]

Tell your dad he's just too plain old.

-GoTaS

[allyourblood]

Never had an issue. My family actively looks for video game stuff for me when they're out shopping at yard sales, etc. They all think it's a cool hobby.

[buzz_n64]

"Does your parents ever told you that you're too old for games?"

Sounds weird, change does to have. For future reference, there are a TON of harsher grammar police patrolling these parts. I tend to do my fair share of typos and mistakes as well. With "Dreamcats" "swampmeets"...

[Flacko]

My english isnt my first language, thanks for telling me. Gonna edit it asap. I just had no idea how I should say it....
My mother tongue is Estonia and English is 2nd learned language here. I try my best to write as correctly as possible, it's just sometimes I really don't know how something is written untill someone tells me. Heck, I have even problems writing in Estonia. I get sometimes problems like how is this correctly or that and start to argue with myself and cannot decice which one was now the correct one. I definetely don't do this on purpose to piss people off.... I really don't know why is it so. It's like I cannot understand people that well anymore or something or things do not reach me in first place and they have to tell me 3x or even 4x so I understand....

[Push Upstairs]

I'm sure my parents probably think my gaming hobby is something silly, but you know what? My dad flies model airplanes. One could argue that is somewhat childish as well.


Do what you like and don't worry about others.

[Aussie2B]

Nope, but my dad did tease me a little about having too many games as a teenager, and back then I'm sure I had less than 100 games.

My family is pretty indifferent and clueless about games. Neither of my parents have ever played (well, I handed my mom Tetris once, but I don't think she had a clue what she was looking at and gave the Game Boy back pretty quick). My mom has remarked about a game looking nice or having pretty music from time to time, and sometimes she takes a little bit of interest in what I'm doing in a game, like most recently when I was playing Harvest Moon at her house. I think my mom appreciates how a lot of the games I play are peaceful and positive rather than the image the media portrays of games being all about guns and violence. I think she also like the entrepreneurial side to my game hunting. I think she secretly wishes all the games I buy would be for selling, rather than adding to my already large collection, haha.

In terms of negative judgment, I think I've had more issues with strangers than anybody else. For that reason, I don't really wear on my sleeve that I'm a gamer. To a lot of people, female + big on games + over 12-years-old = freak, and it's worse yet when you're 20+. But it's no big deal, my family accepts me even if my interests are foreign to them, and with my fiance, his siblings, and his friends, I'm around plenty of people that love games, including retro games.

[buzz_n64]

My english isnt my first language, thanks for telling me. Gonna edit it asap. I just had no idea how I should say it....
My mother tongue is Estonia and English is 2nd learned language here. I try my best to write as correctly as possible, it's just sometimes I really don't know how something is written untill someone tells me. Heck, I have even problems writing in Estonia. I get sometimes problems like how is this correctly or that and start to argue with myself and cannot decice which one was now the correct one. I definetely don't do this on purpose to piss people off.... I really don't know why is it so. It's like I cannot understand people that well anymore or something or things do not reach me in first place and they have to tell me 3x or even 4x so I understand....

I'm sorry. Didn't mean to make you feel out of place. Just some people like to jump on the errors. (I do as well on occasion) and I guess this occasion as well, but not in a malicious way in this case. I welcome you to DP! Possibly our only Estonian.

Well, about parents, I say who cares, it's not like you're selling drugs or joining a gang.

[Flacko]

I remembered one thing tho, my mum sometimes plays games but some Ikariam stuff or casino games (Not with real money). I once installed Peggle on her PC and told her to try it, its cool game and same to my sis and later they blamed me I gave this game for them, because they were addicted. It was so funny tho, they do not play that much.

"Possibly our only Estonian."

Wrong! TmEE is too :P.

[Nz17]

Well Flacko, let me teach a useful English word to you: hypocrite. It is what your dad is. :)

As far as language difficulties go, don't worry, it is normal for artists. It actually is quite common for people who are highly artistic in some way (like drawing) to have difficulty with structured things like language or math.

Concerning "too old to game," thankfully I don't really get that from anyone. Then again, I have only a few friends and of those all of them are gamers. Both my mother and my sisters are gamers, though only casually at that. However my mom usually plays Zoo Keeper (a Bejeweled clone) every night when she's resting before going to bed. I think my dad believes that gaming is a waste of cash and wishes that I wouldn't waste time and money on it, but he doesn't actively discourage me from my hobby. Usually if anything I'll have someone tell me, "Cool shirt!" when I have on a gaming shirt.

As with all "new" media, give it time and it will grow to be accepted by the masses. We just have to wait until everyone has grown up gaming.

[Bloodreign]

My family bitches about me buying retrogames, but I tell them that they can't stop me as I'm well old enough to do whatever it is I want.

[Sabz5150]

My dad is almost 70 and he still games. Consequently, I've never been told that I am too old for video games.

[Olls]

My parents play games too.

[The Jackal]

I used to get it all the time; family pretty much accepts I like games now. They still torment me for being a Sonic fan; even though I'm 25 and I'm not as passionate about as the series as , say, when I was 16.

Parents are there to knock your lifestyle choices; just ignore them and do what makes YOU happy.

[Nebagram]

Occasionally (for the record, I'm 28 and still living at home). My mum is tolerant of my hobby- she bought me my first console when I was 8 and is quite happy to let me while away a couple of hours each night on a game as I a) pay for all my stuff myself as b) I have a full-time, well-paying job and c) I have plenty of friends and a non-gaming hobby that sees me travel nationwide.

My brother, however, is a different story. He's ten years older than me and is my polar opposite in just about every conceivable way. I could write an entire frigging book on growing up with him but concentrating on the gaming front, he's constantly trying to get me to sell all my games so I can spend money on a car (something I already have- he wants me to get a 'better one'), and is constantly berating me for 'sitting on my arse all day eating sweets and playing games'.

[c0ldb33r]

None of my family takes issue with me playing games. Really, it's none of their business anyway. I'm 30 and can make my own decisions.

I don't see why they would or could complain. I'm better off than everyone else in my family, so it would be really strange for someone to say anything. The only person in my family that would really have standing to care would be my wife, and she's happy with it. Most games that I play, she likes to sit with me and watch, or on occasion play with me.

Flacko, to judge your Dad's reaction, we need a little more information. You're 22 - do you still live with them? do you work? Is it a good job? Are you in university?

If, for instance, I had a son living at home and he was either unemployed or had a crappy job flipping burgers, and instead of showing any initiative, he sat around gaming all day, I'd tell him to get his ass in gear and knock off the games. That's just me though.

[sheath]

My family told me when I started gaming that I would outgrow it. I always asked them why my older brothers only talked about new shoes and new clothes. They told me my interest in games would transfer to those. Well, it didn't happen.

Today my eight foot tall custom gaming shelf draws attention for its footprint, but most people assume all of those Genesis and Master System cases are VHS movies. ;)

[Yoder]

I'm sorry. Didn't mean to make you feel out of place. Just some people like to jump on the errors. (I do as well on occasion) and I guess this occasion as well, but not in a malicious way in this case. I welcome you to DP! Possibly our only Estonian.

You're not the only person who noticed the grammar mistakes (which are clearly an "accent"), and maybe I'm just sticking up her, but doesn't it make sense to see where someone is from before you correct their English?

Not trying to single you out, but a lot of Americans lose sight of this. We should keep in mind that 90% of us only know one language fluently.

Now when Americans have horrible grammar, spelling, and usage it drives me nuts since they pounded that stuff into us so much in school... So I'm right there with you :)

Back on topic... Sounds like your parents are a bit judgmental and perhaps should keep their comments to themselves. I'm 36 and my family and friends know about my hobby and they think it's cool and support it.

So just stand your ground and set your boundaries and they'll find someone else to pick on.

Edit: Oh, and Flacko, perfecting your English will be a lifelong endeavor. Just do your best to talk with native speakers (if there are any in Estonia) and try to identify problem areas to work with. I speak enough Spanish to be dangerous and have a lot of friends at work who are non-native speakers so I understand how challenging it is...especially when you become fluent because it's harder to identify your mistakes and some of the minutiae see like splitting hairs at times.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I'm usually telling my parents to grow-up... They're boomers (ex-hippies too), whadaya gonna do?

[leatherrebel5150]

I never had this problem most people that know me know I'm really big into nostalgia, I listen to decades old music, have a '77 trans am, and got shag rug in my room. So my friends and family just attribute it to that and usually embrace it.

[joshnickerson]

My dad is fairly indifferent towards my gaming, but my mom used to give me a hard time, calling me a giant man-child, usually in just a teasing way.

Then a couple years ago I bought her a DS.

Now I think she puts in more hours of gaming per week than I do. *L*

[villahed94]

I´m 16 and parents say the same. Flacko, remember gaming it´s your passion and if that makes you happy, then keep doing it.

[Flacko]

Flacko, to judge your Dad's reaction, we need a little more information. You're 22 - do you still live with them? do you work? Is it a good job? Are you in university?


No I don't have a job, it's very hard me to get job here right now because there's certain job I wanna do and it must be done at home, I want to do graphic design or animations but there's 1% change to be able to do these here....people just do not offer me any or not allow me to do at home. But I get paid pension every month for my disability, I can not work with other people as I get easily anxious and that's why I must work at home.. I play games what Tiido has or I have bought and earn some euros by doing art for people. I don't live with parents. I still want to enjoy games because it makes me happy and gives me inspiration for my work. I could of got work beginning of the month but some reason, they still went to search graphic designer from UK....and not one of us (me or 2nd dude)
Most GD want me to know programming but this is not what I want to do, I want to draw pictures, not write millions of codes...It's just not my cup of tea:/.

Programming and art designer are 2 absolutely different subjects. I have head for more artistic and cartoony stuff and can think up interesting levels and stuff. There are other people who can program...

Yeah I know what you mean with your brother, but I do not play all day like he does.Sometimes yeah, I have played a bit too much because some things have been addicting and it has been rare, but I do more art for people to cheer them up, even it I dont ask any money, I feel such a joy to see people go very happy to receive my art. Sometimes doing something with your heart is way more rewarding than asking money for it. I know I'm strange but I just CAN'T ask money for something I do for free and with a passion and with a meaning to entertain people and make them happy. I only ask money for like certain requests but if I go into a forum and tell "I'm drawing pictures for people for free" and then it stays so, because that's whats in your heart, counts - a very kind person who shows the world that there are nice people too, not only rapers or killers and drunk people.

Apologises for long text, I'm sliiiightly drunk and for some weird reason, then I talk a lot and very precisely, I do not want to be same loser like your brother. I still do food for Tiido and helping him with things. I am happy to own such an awesome boyfriend like Tiido is, even if he sometimes does a bit loudy noise, I still love him. Atleast he knows my passion to games and we share the same interests, heck, I even have got interested into soldering but I just have no idea WHAT to do. I keep looking jealiously his stuff and when I wanna solder my mind is empty. I can only think doing art things with the chips and transistors and leds and capacitor, not sure if Tiido likes it. Gaming has also helped me to get interested doing my OWN games and just in Megadrive style. That is why gaming is so strong in my hobby. Gaming is also an art, a moving art and you can play it and see other people world designs or characters and so on - it's epic. And of course gaming is very similar to animation too, so very much everything what I mostly like, art, gaming, animation - is all in one.

[retro junkie]

I've been gaming since the early days of the Turbo Grafx 16, still play it. I'm now 56 years old and I am still gaming, only now with a family of gamers. I have only had someone say something like that one time. I don't pay any attention to any comments of that sort. I'm a happy gamer. :) Let them cry outside the door. They will never understand until they come in.

[Flacko]

Woah, 56,that's epic. I also feel kinda nerdy or funny that my granny has played NES and makes me feelI have a cool granny and I want to be same 1 day.

If I ever want kids in the future, I promise to everybody in sega16 and here and Tiido, that I will show them NES, famicom and Megadrive games and Sonic. The gaming must live on. I am just afraid that people forget old classics like Felix the cat or other great tites.... and I do not want it to happen!

[porlino87]

If you are passionate about something, and you love it, you can be never too old for it. Yes, obviously being addicted to an unhealthy drug is easily argued to be "bad" for you. A 30 year old man with a family shouldn't be sniffing yeyo every morning and all day.

From personal experience, all my "special lady friends" were indifferent to video games. One actually said:

"I don't care about them because they ARENT REAL"

I said, "what about your lord of the rings novels, they are very real".

Anyhow, my special-lady-friend at the moment LOVES watching me play. She is by far a "gamer" (other than mario cart and the gimicky dancing games). But, she loves watching me play, and she truly enjoys the stories, the struggles, and the emotions that I go through while I play.

I'm 24, and she's 19. Once she even thought MARIO 64 was THE FIRST one in the series. I felt like a grandpa.

Anyhow, just chill dude, dont listen to other people. Enjoy your toys, because they make you happy. Its actually a very safe and peaceful hobby (but expensive...).

Just take a look at your collection, and feel that warm fuzzy feeling inside...

[Flacko]

Wow, I feel such a joy inside listening how other people have started gaming and how females like watching them. I do the opposite way, I watch sometimes Tiido playing games and I laugh when he moans sometimes and he reminds me AVGN.

I'm tiny bit afraid maybe they will sell my games what I have in their home, as I have no room to put them here in Rapla. But I trust my parents enough that they would not do it to me, It would be too mean.... that fear still stays tho...
Has anyone had similar things about parents selling your stuff without telling or I just overreact?

[porlino87]

Wow, I feel such a joy inside listening how other people have started gaming and how females like watching them. I do the opposite way, I watch sometimes Tiido playing games and I laugh when he moans sometimes and he reminds me AVGN.

I'm tiny bit afraid maybe they will sell my games what I have in their home, as I have no room to put them here in Rapla. But I trust my parents enough that they would not do it to me, It would be too mean.... that fear still stays tho...
Has anyone had similar things about parents selling your stuff without telling or I just overreact?

It happened to me...My mom sold all my stuff at a garage sale without telling me. I am still trying to complete my collection again....

But my mom is not very, how should I say it, "present", therefore, I wouldn't use her as a good example.

If it bothers you, put them in heavy containers that can be locked.

[QuickSciFi]

I've been gaming since the early days of the Turbo Grafx 16, still play it. I'm now 56 years old and I am still gaming, only now with a family of gamers. I have only had someone say something like that one time. I don't pay any attention to any comments of that sort. I'm a happy gamer. :) Let them cry outside the door. They will never understand until they come in.

This gives many of us so much to look forward to. Thank you for that comment.

[villahed94]

Flacko, AFAIK, you can do art with soldering too!

[The Shawn]

Meh, I'm 39 and still game and collect. Never was an issue with my folks as I never started collecting until my late 20's. My mother still games and she's 61.

Well she sorta games, I had to go down there recently to show her how to use her new Wii, but she tries. Dad would but he doesn't pocess 'teh skillz' to figure out anything not 2600 related. He just say's, "If I wanted to watch a movie I'd put one in!"hehe.

As far as my wife goes, she's not into gaming like I am unless it is something like Animal Crossing or Family game night. But the interest is still there. She's known to watch me for a couple hours at a time when I was playing Goldeneye or GOW as she really is all about the storyline.

But yeah I never had any issues with my folks or anyone else for that matter telling me to 'Grow up' because I gamed. Hell, their are plenty of 30 and 40 year olds on xbox live itself.

Tell your folks to eat shit.

Also with your art skills being what they are, a person would naturally assume you gamed anyway's. Very good.

[porlino87]

my special-lady-friend gives me "favours" while I game hehe

[saintlouieb]

I can say I've never had this problem as my dad is nearly 60 and he still plays console games. My mom to, though to a much lesser extent.

My wife calls me a nerd occasionally, but then she will play Klax or Road Rash or Zombies Ate My Neighbors or Twisted Metal 2, so I can't complain.

[SpaceHarrier]

When I was 15 my dad told me, "you need to get back to reality!" I just ignored him and kept playing Doom.

[j_factor]

I don't get told I'm too old, but I have gotten a lot of nagging comments about spending too much money on games. And I can't argue there, because it's totally true.

[retroman]

ha ha..i use to get it all the time...now im 32, and my dad now plays games, so my mom dont say anything..

[c0ldb33r]

I don't get told I'm too old, but I have gotten a lot of nagging comments about spending too much money on games. And I can't argue there, because it's totally true.
from parents? or spouse?

[kafa111]

I'm tiny bit afraid maybe they will sell my games what I have in their home, as I have no room to put them here in Rapla. But I trust my parents enough that they would not do it to me, It would be too mean.... that fear still stays tho...
Has anyone had similar things about parents selling your stuff without telling or I just overreact?

well i always imagine thats how those large game lots appear in thrift stores or garage sale. 1 angry mom + your collection = donations
anyways thats just my thought.

Basically whenever i play games, my parents give me shit, but that was a while ago since i moved

[Nirvana]

My parents don't really care. But I have a friend who's always a tad critical about me entering video game tournaments. She's always like, "You're way too old to be playing video games!" I just ignore it, since all my other friends, male and female, play video games to some extent.

You're never too old to play video games.

[Yoder]

from parents? or spouse?

Yeah, a lot of times you can't tell the difference ;-)

[Emperor Megas]

I'm 36 and none of my family ever had any issue with me gaming. In fact, I don't think I've never met ANYONE who thought that I or anyone else was 'too old for gaming'.

[kedawa]

My parents both died when I was in my early twenties, and I doubt they would ever have said anything critical about my gaming anyway.
My sister-in-law always made snide remarks about me and my nephew playing games too much, though. Of course, she now owns a Wii, so I intend to give her grief about that at every opportunity.

I've never really understood how anyone can see games as a children's hobby. It's been a pastime for teens and young adults since the early days, and the kinds of games I play are much less childish than the mindless shit that the average adult watches on television.

[j_factor]

from parents? or spouse?

Parents/family. No spouse yet. :)

[Mr Smith]

My parents live a good two hours drive away and therefore are no longer in a position to complain, although previously they may have said subtly said something along the lines of "TURN OFF CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER AND GO AND GET A JOB OR WE WILL KICK YOU OUT".

[MrSmiley381]

My parents used to think I played too many video games, but then they noticed that for the longest time I was one of the top students in every class I took, my grammar and spelling outmatched their own, and that I was a generally responsible person. For everyone else that whines I explain the intricacy of game mechanics, the ways video games can tell stories, and how much of an impact games have been on my social life. It's really hard for anyone to argue with me about it.

[jonebone]

No, but sometimes I think to myself that I'm getting too old for them. I'm 27 btw. I just think that getting married / having kids should be the priority now and games will fall to the back burner.

Then after my kids have moved out, I'd finally be able to catch up on some gaming in my retirement. At least that's the plan.

But it's also different for a working man to spend disposable money on his games, and an unemployed guy spending money on games. One of those can afford to, and the other should spend each dollar very wisely. There's nothing wrong with buying a game here and there, but you shouldn't be buying games every week if you don't have enough money to support yourself.

[obesolete]

I have all of my games proudly displayed in the living room for everyone to play when they come over.
Over the Easter weekend my folks came to visit from out of town. They come in the door and my brother and I are sitting(me laying, hungover) on the couches finishing up Wonderboy in Monster World. My dad immediately hits the PS3 section and picks out a few to borrow as we had just given him a somewhat first generation PS3 with no network card because he wouldn't stop, "You know, I really like the PS3..."
My mom on the other hand always looks at the full shelves of carts and shakes her head. She suggested that we had our down payment for a house on those shelves.
Yes, why yes I do, but also so does she, in yarn and fabrics.
She's the only one in the family who doesn't play games and therefore the only one who doesn't understand.


...and then we sent to several open houses in the area and laughed at asking prices. Just for funsies.

[Yashichi]

All the time.

But I always used to tell 'em that if not for gaming I might have gotten into drugs or hardcore partying and stuff like that.

Then they usually shut up....for about 2 months until it starts all over again.

[Mr.Platypus]

Very few people tell me that I'm too old for video games, but I'm beginning to come to that conclusion myself. I'm 33, live alone, completing a degree in philosophy, and working part time.

As a child, I was hooked, and I was hooked bad. I played video games really heavily right into my late twenties. But something has changed for me.

I've been thinking a lot about life and death, and the kinds of things I want to get done here on earth. Already I feel a certain amount of regret that I wasted my youth on video games. It was fun for sure, but I can't help thinking that I would be a better person now if I had used that time differently. I could have been learning new things, cultivating knowledge, building relationships with good people, or just pondering life.

I feel like much of the world has passed by me while I was pushing buttons on a machine. I'm feeling some regret. The other day I really wanted to play some crappy 3DO games and hook up my Sega CD, but then I thought about all the awesome and real things I could do instead. I could learn some songs on guitar or piano, read some philosophy, hang out with friends and flirt with women. I could do all kinds of things that really would improve my life. Video games always made me happy, but I have to ask myself honestly: Do they ever make my life better?

Everything in moderation. I hardly ever play games anymore. Only when something really good comes out do I bother putting the time in to video games. But again... always this lingering guilt about the use of my time. I mean, we're only on this planet for a short while... Can I really say this is the best thing I could be doing? Almost always the answer is no.

I struggle with this all the time.

[Berserker]

Not that I can remember. And I'm pretty sure I would remember, as it would seem extremely hypocritical to me. They had me fairly late, in their late 30s, so I'm still younger now than they were then. And right around that time, within a stretch of five or six years, they bought several consoles - and they bought them for themselves! I just sort of joined in and picked up on this as it was happening around me.

My mom played arcade games while she was pregnant with me, and she was still buying consoles and playing (mainly N64) games right up until she passed away in her late 50s. My dad is now in his mid 60s. He bought a PSP recently - before I did, in fact - and also does some online gaming. So no, luckily it was never anything that was looked down upon as something that was just "for kids".

[littaum]

Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life...

But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got ... video games?

... or something like that. In the end it is pretty impossible to go through life without a regret or two. You are probably now getting to an age where you start to appreciate and take on the initiative to try other things that otherwise your parents might have forced on you as a child (like piano lessons, a lot of kids don't necessarily develop a life long appreciation for something if they've had it forced on them as a child).

As for me, my parents never told me that I'm too old for video games. My early gaming exposure gave me a lifelong appreciation for computers and all things electronics, which I've turned into an engineering career.

[MachineGex]

As long as your "HOBBY" isn't interfering with real life issues like getting(or keeping) a job and getting(and keeping) a good spouse, then gaming isn't a problem. When it becomes your "end-all, be-all" then you gotta problem. If you spend every free moment gaming, then it may be time to grow up. Video Games are like any other hobby....moderation is the key to happiness!

[Baloo]

Very few people tell me that I'm too old for video games, but I'm beginning to come to that conclusion myself. I'm 33, live alone, completing a degree in philosophy, and working part time.

As a child, I was hooked, and I was hooked bad. I played video games really heavily right into my late twenties. But something has changed for me.

I've been thinking a lot about life and death, and the kinds of things I want to get done here on earth. Already I feel a certain amount of regret that I wasted my youth on video games. It was fun for sure, but I can't help thinking that I would be a better person now if I had used that time differently. I could have been learning new things, cultivating knowledge, building relationships with good people, or just pondering life.

I feel like much of the world has passed by me while I was pushing buttons on a machine. I'm feeling some regret. The other day I really wanted to play some crappy 3DO games and hook up my Sega CD, but then I thought about all the awesome and real things I could do instead. I could learn some songs on guitar or piano, read some philosophy, hang out with friends and flirt with women. I could do all kinds of things that really would improve my life. Video games always made me happy, but I have to ask myself honestly: Do they ever make my life better?

Everything in moderation. I hardly ever play games anymore. Only when something really good comes out do I bother putting the time in to video games. But again... always this lingering guilt about the use of my time. I mean, we're only on this planet for a short while... Can I really say this is the best thing I could be doing? Almost always the answer is no.

I struggle with this all the time.

Everything in moderation my friend, everything in moderation. Nothing wrong with playing video games, but don't let them rule your life! Get out there and live life a little, make time to do other things you enjoy!

No one's ever told me that I'm too old for video games, they've just told me that the video games I'm playing are too old.

[FxMercenary]

My parents are(were) the same way. One day they came to my house and gave me crap about growing up(im 29) and to stop wasting time and money on "kids toys". Luckily I am well educated and very well at debating.

I quickly replied "if you are so un-distracted by such trivial things, how come you let your generation run the entire country into the ground, take away freedoms, and indebt my generation and many more that will follow?"

"Sorry, but I choose not to watch, but to interact. I dont watch racing, I play it. I dont watch football, I play it. I dont sit back and oblige, I object"

The conversation ended right there.

Baby Boomers. They're the most self-centered, self-seeking, self-
interested, self-absorbed, self-indulgent, self-aggrandizing generation in
American history. As they enter late middle age, the Boomers still can't grow
up. Guys who once dropped acid are now downing Viagra; women who once eschewed
lipstick are now getting liposuction.

[Leo_A]

I could learn some songs on guitar or piano, read some philosophy, hang out with friends and flirt with women. I could do all kinds of things that really would improve my life. Video games always made me happy, but I have to ask myself honestly: Do they ever make my life better?

How exactly do those make your life any better? Something like learning some songs on the guitar is entertainment just like sitting down in front of a television playing videogames is. It isn't making you any better of a person.

[heybtbm]

My Dad is 65 and plays his Xbox 360, PS2, and N64 almost daily. If the N64 version of Command and Conquer kept track of hours played, his cartridge would surely be over 2000 hours. I've mentioned the umpteen superior sequels on PC and he just waves his hands and shakes his head dismissively. N64 version or nothing.

He's also a huge Resident Evil 4 fan. Just got him RE5 last Christmas.

[Leo_A]

Off topic, but I know how your father feels. I loved the original Command & Conquer and enjoyed Red Alert. But the subsequent sequels never pulled me in. I like a rather basic RTS game and they simply just got too complex and difficult for casual play as they tried to cater to the diehard fans instead of the average gamer that they originally were after.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Choose Life... [mighty snip]

All i heard in my head while reading this was Iggy Pop.

[OldSkoolBrian]

I am 30 years old and still play games (tons) from Odyssey to Xbox 360 and everything inbetween. My parents are 49 and 50. My mother plays wii and NES at my house and my father play Modern Warfare 2 for the 360. They have no problem with games. On the other hand I am married and my wife also loves games. But, her father thinks that kids should be playing ping pong and running around in circles all day. He is completely against video games. Everyone is different just do what you love.

[LaughingMAN.S9]

my parents died in a plane crash before i was born, they cant tell me anything








....also im not born, but thats a whole nother question

[Zing]

How exactly do those make your life any better? Something like learning some songs on the guitar is entertainment just like sitting down in front of a television playing videogames is. It isn't making you any better of a person.

It is interesting how the definition of "productive" changes over time. In ancient times, the ability to play an instrument and sing songs, passing on your local history, was a highly regarded skill. Two hundred years ago, reading anything and everything was the most respected leisure activity. Two hundred years from now, people may not read at all or even need to know how to read. Who can imagine what "productive" will mean then.