Will you play video games when you are really old?

[Anthony1]

Ok, let's say that you are 25 years old or something like that. Will you be gaming when you are 40 years old? 50 years old? 60 years old?


The reason I bring this up, is because there used to be this preconcieved notion that you are supposed to stop playing games at a certain age.

I will never forget this time back when Bryant Gumbel was on the Today Show, way back in the early 90's I think. Blockbuster Video was having some kind of Video Game Championships, and he was interviewing the winners of the tournament. They were two teenagers about 17 years old. He asked them what are they going to do when they are like 30 years old. Basically he was insinuating that one can't play video games pass the age of 30 years old. Both of the guys looked at him like WTF. Then they said that they would probably be playing games into their sixties. Then Bryant Gumbel looked at them like they must be crazy, that nobody could play such a childish thing at such an old age.


So anyways, I was thinking about that, and I thought....hmmm....How long am I going to be playing video games?


Right now I'm 34 years old. I would have to say that I will be playing games in my 40's and 50's for sure. I don't know if I will be that good at them, certainly my gameplaying isn't as good as when I was younger, but I'll be trying. If I live to 60 years old, I can imagine that I will still try to play some games. Maybe even with my Grandkids. That would be cool.

I wonder if I'll still be playing SNES and Saturn 30 years from now?

[Jincman]

i'm 38 and I still play . . . and don't feel bad about it at all!!

:rocker:

[Ernster]

I'll hope to be playing my NES (and probably my other Nintendo consoles) till I die. But who really knows? I'll worry about it if and when the time comes.

[retroman]

i am 26 and i will play games till i die

[markpass]

My Aunt Mary Played Games All the Way Up to the End She Was in Her 60s :) She was a Good Player too

[shai hulud]

by then all the games will probably be in pill form and you wont need any dexterity to play, so hell yea i will be playing til i die or am frozen and then revived at a later date to play even cooler games

[Immutable]

Honestly, I think the video game craze is a generation thing. The video game has created a shift in the scope of entertainment, like when books were first introduced. (You can correct me if I'm wrong. Heh.)

[whoisKeel]

I'm 25. i'll play games till i don't feel like playing them anymore. could be 6 months, could be 50 years...dunno.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Well it depends...we have been sitting too close to the TV/Cabinet/Monitor...meta-carpal syndrome is inevitable...some of us may have arthritis in our 60's or 70's

It sounds easy, but you must put the long term effect of what may happen

I will say yes...but that answer will change when my eye sight gets weaker by each decade lol

[Anthony1]

i'm 38 and I still play . . . and don't feel bad about it at all!!

:rocker:


38 isn't very old, so I wouldn't doubt that you would be playing games. Do we have any 60 year olds on these boards?

I would love to hear a 60 year old guys take on this.

[lendelin]

I' would ask: why shouldn't I play when I'm 60 or 70?? :)

There is a good chance that when you start at an early age most gamers will grow out of it. If you watch kids carefully playing games, how they play and what, you can probably tell who sticks with games.

If you start as an adult, like me, there is a slim chance that you stop playing at a certain age. I was 30 when I got seriously into gaming, and when you are fascinated by games at this age, well, you probably game until the grim reaper comes. I'm now 47, and I still love playing games.

To find a good game, to play a good game which draws you into a different world is one of the best relaxing times you can have (together with good food, a good thought and good sex, of course).

BTW, I don't think I got worse over time at playing games, I think I got much better. My reflexes are as good as they ever were, and tonight I looked at Toca Race Driver 2 (in which I did everything), and no com-player in Top Spin stands a cahnce against me. :)...and I'll break every record and I'll get every license-gold medal in GT4 for sure. :)

[ianoid]

I will be certainly. And even if our hands are claimed by arthritis or chippers, in 10 years there will be plenty of voice recognition games. As long as you can move, you can play games.

And I think that it's likely that most of us will be. I agree that it's a generational thing. However, since it seems like the board is overrun by younguns (not that I'm so far from it chronologically), note that many of you will have families and less time to dedicate to yourselves and your hapless game pursuits. I doubt that most of us will put down games forever.

Just like most hobbies or interests, many of us will have phases where we play alot, a little or not at all.

[Anthony1]

Well, I play certain games better now, than I did when I was in my late teens, but when it comes to games like Madden and NBA Live and stuff like that, I used to be in the elite at playing those games.

I was in a Madden tournament back in 1992 and I made it to the final 8 players. The guy that beat me, barely beat me and went on to win the entire tournament. So not to toot my own horn, but I was a top of the line sports game player back then. But now, I've noticed that I'm not quite as good as mastering the sports games as I was.

Part of the reason is that I don't have the time to play the game 24/7 like I did back then, but I also think part of it is that as you get older your super fast reflexes slip to a slight degree.

It's not a drastic reduction in reflexes, but in games like Madden and NBA Live and stuff like that, even a minor slip can cause you to get your ass beat if you are playing a pro type player.

[dojosky]

My Goal/Dream is to play video games my whole life just like that grandpa in that old Equinox ads ;) (it was a funny/sad ad) a boy who played equinox when he was in high school then he graduated from school and still played that game even when he became a dad then he became a grandpa but passed away the ads are in the video game magazines in 1992-1994 era ...

[mosesshirai]

SHooooT:

I am 30 and my wife is just hoping I will grow out of my game phase. We're about to have a baby and I look forward to educating the child in the way of the game. First he gets NES then SNES and then GENesis. Then I will move him up to other systems. I will probably stop around Psone and Dreamcast and let him decide what he wants next. Ohhhh yeah my child will be mocked for his 8-bit video game system, bricklike gameboy and parachute pants. He will probably hate the daddy for all the time he spends in the basement playing TG-16.

YeahI think I will be playing games for a long time. So will he and sooooo willl allll of youu. BWAHHAHAHAHAAH

@_@ @_@ @_@

[Promophile]

Holy Cow you guys aren't aiming very high! Only 60? Thats well below the average life expectancy. I'm pretty lucky, my grandparents are in their 70s-80s and they are still doing REALLY well.

[max 330 mega]

something i think about sometimes is what i would do if i became old, and my video game collection had grown to a very large size, and became blind, or got arthritis so bad i couldnt play anymore.. i know this is something that is a VERY long while from now, but it makes me sick to my stomach to think about still wanting to go pick up metal slug or strikers 1945, and not being able to play them anymore, and having to think about whether i should sell my collection, or where it all would go after i died... :( that will be a sad time in my life. *think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts!*

[Ed Oscuro]

When I am very old I will definitely take some time to play video games now and then...just so long as it's not Mischief Makers, might break a joint playing that one LOL

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Will you be gaming when you are 40 years old? 50 years old? 60 years old?
Yes. Yes, if only to carry the torch of the classic, pre-NES stuff forward as far as I can, to get others interested in it almost as a historical study.


The reason I bring this up, is because there used to be this preconcieved notion that you are supposed to stop playing games at a certain age.
Nah. Lemme tell ya a little story. My dad is a big fan of going out on his boat, taking folks skiing, having a beer or two, riding around on his four-wheeler, and running around with his dog. If there's a party, he is THERE. (Some of you guys would probably find him to be a lot more fun to hang around with than me. LOL ) Now, he and I are about as different as two people can be - when I was in high school, I was a homebody, trying to get through all my classes and holding down a job with weird hours and not having much of a life. And there he was, whooping it up maybe a little bit too much and going out a lot. :P My sister-in-law used to say that there was a Freaky Friday thing going on because he was acting like I should have been at that age. And it's still kinda that way, though he's slowed down a bit - but only a bit.

My dad just turned 80.

Perhaps not in the exact same way, but I wanna grow up to be just like my dad. I intend to be around to challenge my nieces (and any prospective nephews that may still be yet to come) to video game battles well into my old age.

[jdc]

Age has nothing to do with anything......as long as you are physically able to do it.

I'm 45. To me, video games are far better than watching tv or a stupid movie (how boring can you get?). Interacting is more healthy. They are an alternative entertainment form, so of course I'll be playing them in my senior years.....it ain't that far away any more. It's like asking whether you'll still be reading books or watching tv.

I help run a bike shop. At 45, I ride trials bikes (up n over picnic tables and rocks), freeride (downhill) bikes, street bmx, road race and cross country mountain bikes. I'm into extreme sports stuff. Our 19 yr old son is sentient compared to me.

When I'm out on the bikes I sometimes think to myself "holy shit....I'm 45 already". My mind still thinks that I'm 20....but my joints send me subtle reminders that I'm not.

There are seniors that behave like the walking dead, overweight, gasping, wheezing, listless.....stick a fork in 'em, they're done. Then there are seniors that are bright eyed and full of energy. Their secret always seems to be that they've kept the brain active as well as the body. Video games will only help.

Grand Theft Auto 24, played at age 80. I can see it now. LOL LOL LOL

[punkoffgirl]

Why wouldn't you continue playing if you still enjoyed it?
Do you plan on not reading the comics in the newspaper anymore?
Not eating cookies anymore?

[Aussie2B]

I sure hope so because I gotta play through all these games someday. o_O

[digitalpress]

Pretty much ALL I'll be doing in my old age is playing videogames. I'm so far behind on the stuff I have now, I can't even imagine the warehouse of games I'll need to play by the time I retire.

Ah, retirement... a lifetime of nothing but gaming. Yeah, I'll take that.

[imanerd0011]

Hell Yeah !!! I'll be playing my NES until I am old as the hills. By that time the NES and systems of this era will be considering antiques, so I will have to introduce my grandkids and their friends to the greatness known as 8 bit gaming.
On a side note... my mom is 49 years old (50 in march) and she is a SERIOUS GAMER! She was the reason I got into the NES when I was so young, because got addicted to all the games. Right now she plays mostly Adventure games on the PS2 and Gamecube such as Rachett & Clank 1,2 , Jak & Daxter 1,2 , LOZ : WW, Tak , Rayman 3. But her favorite game is Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. She's played through it over 5 times, and does so when she doesn't have a new game to beat.
So I hope when I am 50 that I will be gaming just like her ! :)

[Rogmeister]

I may be one of the older guys here...I'm 52...and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon.

[Chronodriftersx]

NINTENDO had a ad on tv for the N64 once where two real old geezers were playing, other than that I don't remember the rest of it, too bad LOL

Oh yeah my Gramps is heading in on 90 yeas old I think, anyway he saw while I was playing tetris on an original B&W gameboy pocket and he was like wtf is that? @_@

[Porkchop]

Well it depends...we have been sitting too close to the TV/Cabinet/Monitor...meta-carpal syndrome is inevitable...some of us may have arthritis in our 60's or 70's

It sounds easy, but you must put the long term effect of what may happen

I will say yes...but that answer will change when my eye sight gets weaker by each decade lol

Playing games may help arthritis. My brother teaches art classes to lots of 60-70 year old ladies. They say that it helps their arthritis. Moving there armes and hands helps.

So 20 years form now will there be a XBOX Liver Silver? LOL As your reflexes slow down you don't want to compete with 15 year olds.

[Porkchop]

I may be one of the older guys here...I'm 52...and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon.

Cool. I thought I was the oldest guy here. :D I'm 49 and play old and new games. Currently playing Halo 2 and Silent Hill 3.

[Nesmaster]

i'll be gaming until the day my heart stops ticking or my hands stop working :D

[Rogmeister]

The only way I'd stop playing games is if I had to choose between my games and my cats...and you rarely see apartments or houses for rent with the warning...Video Games Not Allowed... :D

[mr_jiggles_13]

i started PLAYING games on DOS at around 3(cosmos adventure and kommander keen, as well as doom :evil: ) i would play all the time. then started majorly collecting at 10. im 15 now and have come along way. i still stick to MY roots and dont play many new games as most dont appeal to me. ill be playing the classics for as long as they last and dont turn to dust.

[Sibs]

Probably not as much as I do now, but I'll be playing games for a long time.

[Barbarianoutkast85]

My Pap (another saying for grandfather) retired and still plays videogames. He just bought a PC also. So he is living it large and in charge. No work just videogames and tv

[mezrabad]

I will continue playing video/computer games until I am dead and cold. (I'm 37 going on 38 . . . wait, jesus christ, how old am I? I'm 36, I'll be turning 37. That's really scary, for the past few months I've been thinking I'll be turning 38 . . . weird. I actually had to do the math to confirm to myself how old I actually am.) I'll be playing video games until my brain finishes rotting (sooner than I think).

[astronautcowboy3]

My grandpa played The Adventures of Lolo (1, 2, and 3) well into his 50s and 60s. He is inspiration for us all!

[Rogmeister]

What frightens me is how many people think 40 (or even 35) is old... O_O

[ghostangelofcky]

My dad is 54 and he still plays video games, he still sits in the den with his PS2 and sits cussing at the evil nazi's in return 2 wolfenstein.

As for me I will be playing until I am 75 and my wife allows me a hot dribble nurse, then she will play for me!

[robotriot]

My grandpa is 77 and still occasionally plays a round of MS Flight Simulator or Solitaire on his PC, so I wouldn't worry about that :D

[NESaholic]

Mmm i'm 26 at the moment and can't think of not playing my nes,i'll try to play it as long as i can for sure!

[EnemyZero]

remember that n64 commercial...the game escapes me...maybe michief makers? where the 2 old guys dressed all punk and pink and blue hair....that will be me lol

[dirt]

You don't get much older than me, and I play video games all the time. Just finished a game of Dig Dug in fact. So there.

[Pantechnicon]

I'm 34 now and not old. Not by half. But let me put it this way: If I knew when my last day on earth was going to be then I would make sure I scheduled an hour or so to play Atari 2600 Missile Command and Asteroids one last time.

Game on.

[Spartacus]

I'm 49 and don't see myself stopping anytime soon. I've alreay raised a family, so I have more free time to play than I ever had before. And I've never enjoyed as much financial freedom as I have now to buy games or systems that strike my fancy. It's true that I mostly buy retro stuff, but that's just because I'm catching up on all the things I had put aside to take care of my family first. They're just nice to have to see what I'd been missing for so long. But the game I'm playing today is GTA:SA and the games I really look forward to playing are the ones on the horizon. I think games are just getting better and better and I'm really looking forward to what I'll be able to play someday.

[Porkchop]

You don't get much older than me, and I play video games all the time. Just finished a game of Dig Dug in fact. So there.

No one is older than dirt. I get it LOL LOL

[ECWSandmanECW]

Probably

[izret101]

I lend my grandmother SNES, Gameboy(i lent her my Super Gameboy) and PS games.
I have borrowed some stuff from her too.
She is in her 60's i think. She closely gaurds her true age but i think she is in her early 60's maybe mid.

My grandfather is 67 and he plays this handheld pinball game with me still. We played it all the time as when i was alot younger. I doubt i can beat him still. LOL

My other grandparents don't really but i have gotten my grandmother to play a game with me before.

I plan on playing until i die... maybe even after if my plans work :evil: