Older gamers

[Molniya]

In 1982, I took my first computer course in college. At that time I was finishing up an AS degree at a junior college, and the budget was limited. The course taught programming principles using BASIC and pascal. The computers were TRS-80s. Over the next few years as I worked on degrees in computer science and music composition (yeah, I know... but they really do have a great deal in common), I learned my way around such gems as DEC and VAX systems, and COBOL, Fortran, and assembly language. The first computer (PC) I bought myself was an Apple ][-c and I added a CPM card to it so I could do some real C programming.

I looked up the specs on the Z-80 chip just now... 2.5 to 8 MHz clock speed. 8-bit. Smokin'.

In college, when we could get time, we played Hack. It wasn't really multi-player, but you could communicate via the Unix mail system and would occasionally run across someone's gravestone and were able to read how they died and their stats at their time of death. For those who don't know, Hack was a rogue like game. When you died you died, you found out what all the mystery stuff you were carrying was, and you started over. Usually after at least whimpering in frustration. Sometimes screaming and waking up the TA.

Slightly later, I found myself standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door. From that day to this, I've been gaming. I'm 57 years old, and the only thing I feel separates gamers of my age from 20-something gamers is 30-something years. I have met people my age that really do think that gaming is for "kids," but those people are typically leading stoic and boring little surface lives, and have their own "secrets" they keep from everyone else. In other words, people are just people, and really don't change a great deal as they age. They just learn to hide their habits better.

So whatever your age, keep on doing what makes you happy.

--Lightning Bunny

[BiffWellington]

I played Everquest II for a while. A friend of mine got me into his guild, where the leader was a 62-year-old woman. She'd be in her 70s now; I wonder if she's still playing?

One time, the three of us were out questing together. The leader and I were both playing ratonga, which are these little rat-people. Mine was male and hers was female, so we were greatly amusing ourselves by tossing /flirt emotes back and forth constantly. The spoken lines were pretty funny! And, hey, how often would we get to hear them otherwise? My friend (who is gay) was laughing, too, but also rolling his eyes and sighing the whole time.

[HappyHaunt]

Gaming in your 30s is just weird overall I feel. I mean, I'm not going to stop, but it's still weird.

The thing is I don't feel any different about gaming now than I did when I was younger; if you enjoy gaming I don't think people should tell you not to keep playing just because you're getting older.

I’m actually a loner in game though, so I wish I had more people to chat with as well.

I'm usually a solo player in MMOs until I get too lonely then look for a guild. Sometimes this can be years though.

Very sorry to hear about the person in your FC though; that must have been very sad.

Um, I'm turning 48 this year. And there's one other member of our FC that I'm pretty sure is older than me.

Outside of gaming I don't see anyone younger than 80 to be very old personally. Its just when video games are concerned people tend to think you'll stop playing them when getting to a certain age... which is... strange.

So whatever your age, keep on doing what makes you happy.

I agree, thanks for the advice!

I played Everquest II for a while.

Never played it; heard a lot about it being good though.

Also I didn't expect this thread to get so much attention.

[BiffWellington]

Everquest II is a fun game, but it's extremely group-focused. By the time you level past the 20s, you'll pretty much start needing a group to do anything.

[Luluna]

This has been one of the nicest threads on here! I am so pleased to see older male and female gamers. I have often had the odd look because I game but its a passion for me and always will be.I am lucky because my hubby plays games also in between us having work and real lives...also nice because our grown daughter works as a character and environment artist for a games company haha I guess it rubbed off. I will say enjoy your life as you choose you only get one sadly and nobody can you give a phoenix down lol.

[Anienai]

Back in my day we had to walk to Jueno!!! You rotten millennials and Gen Z'ers get off my lawn!!

jk

God I feel old.

[Luluna]

LOl the walk to Jeuno wow haha took us ages and the fear of the monsters was real!

[Cyreil]

I'm 32 here, turning 33 this summer.

My first PC was a Packard Bell tower with a big tube monitor. Had a few CD games I could play on it that required putting the thing into dos mode and then putting in a disk with a mishmash of games on it from Apogee.

Raptor

Blake Stone

Wolfenstein 3D

Biomenace

Mega Race (Lance gave me nightmares)

And of course... Dialup. I think I was a late bloomer.

[Pixiehawk]

Old is a frame of mind. I know people years younger than me who act and feel old. I also know people older than me who will never "grow up". You just have to figure out the whole "mature without being old" thing.

And, how to ignore your knees. Or back.

[Ilan]

I have no idea if I'm considered 'old' in FFXIV, being 32 (but hey I grew up with FF games, at least played all of the main games except 13). But I often find myself somewhat lonely on this game; I was wondering if there are other older folks who would want to add me as a friend? Just for chatting or random duties etc. I feel pretty pathetic that I hardly have any friends on the game. XD But yeah... only adults please!

I'm on at random times, and main astro... trying to level everything else though right now. Character is who I'm posting as.

Also looking for a mature laid back FC too; but obviously need to be on the right server, I'm not planning on changing any time soon.

Of course there are players your age and way older than you, but the age doesn't really matter when it comes to playing together. The important part is that you get along.