Topic: Too Old For Video Games?

According to the ESA, the average video game player is 34 years old. I think you'll be fine.

The day you're too old and feeble to hold a controller anymore (Or move around to play Kinect) is the day you're too old for games. So I assume you're fine at 18.

@Raylax: Gaming is still my main hobby, and it hasn't brought me any trouble yet. Of course, I don't mean "plays every free second ever and would avoid hanging out with friends to play" level main, either...just my #1 thing to do when I'm alone anyway. Or when I'm with online friends, if I'm playing Uncharted 2.

I have friends who think that, and one in particular who says things to that effect when such things come up in conversation fairly often. Frankly, I don't give a darn what he thinks. Nintendo is still awesome, so it still gets my time. Not ALL of it, sure, but I don't think PS3 deserves as high a percentage as he seems to think, either.

Too old for video games? That's like saying driving with a seatbelt on is uncool.

Heh, 18 and too old to play video games? I'm 29 and see no reason to stop now. Most gamers I know are 30+ and raised on D&D, so believe me - you've got plenty of time to game yet.

lol, dude. you're still a youngster, don't trip!

Dude I'm 25 and still play...it's a nice way to relax after a long day of work.

no, youre not too old, its just that you wont be able to play as much due to work and such. like everything, moderation is the key. as long as you dont sit in front of WoW for 48 hours straight, youre okay. so in conclusion, no, 18 isnt too old for games

When life calls, life calls. When it doesn't, do what you want. But don't waste your life away playing games like WoW all day every day.

Incoming over used CS Lewis quote!
"When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up."

Awesome quote.

_{welcome to the site!}

To me, gaming isn't child's play, it's a way of life. Heck, I can see myself still playing games when I'm 70.

I'm 25 and I think I'm getting to the point where I'm becoming too old for video games (as a personal observation about myself). Personally, I've been playing less and less this generation. Games for me just aren't as fun or made as well as they were in the past. Franchises I used to love got worse in my opinion (Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda, Resident Evil) or are just completely ruined (Devil May Cry, Silent Hill, Star Fox, Sonic). Games and series I still love come out sparingly, are simply forgotten, or rarely/never get sequels (Okami, Grandia, Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, many more). I'm also burnt out on the shooter genre that has taken over the industry. I'm past the point of absolutely wanting/needing to play the a new Mario, Metal Gear, Zelda, or Ratchet and Clank game (you know, the big staples of gaming that you think to yourself, "I must play that!"). I tried two MMOs (WoW and EVE Online) for a month and they both bored the hell out of me.

The main reason is that my interest in video games just has been fading in general as I've gotten older. I suspect that I'll be completely done with video games in 5 years time. I play PS1, GameCube, and PS2 games when I do actually play instead of PS3, Wii, or DS games. Maybe some downloadable titles in between but I've been less enticed by big retail releases. Even when I'm interested in a new game and want to buy it, the excitement fades quickly and I don't even bother and instead do something else with my time or purchase a new book or new music. The 3DS has interested me because of the remakes of the old N64 titles but buying the 1st model of a Nintendo handheld is always a wasteful move considering a better version is obviously 1-2 years away. By that time, I'm pretty sure I will have stopped caring about new video games, or just video games altogether.

We'll see in 5 years but until then, I'll keep replaying games I already have and enjoy. Then briefly think about purchasing new ones but rarely ever buy them, lol.

Nobody should be deprived from his/her kind of hobby or entertainment, that includes videogaming. To me, gaming is like watching an entertaining piece of film-work, sitting back and relaxing to unwind in one of life's most unique flavors. However, unlike movies, videogames gives one a sense of objective and goal that he/she needs to accomplish in order to progress. I am sad to see that some people think that gaming is child's play and other people think that only the M rated/macho-type ones are the essential experiences for them to feel respectable. I am nearing my twenties in a couple of years, but I still feel the enthusiasm for playing games in many forms of genres since I was at grade school. Maybe in five to ten years I may end my hobby for gaming, but now, I will still feel happy about this hobby regardless of what others say, and as long as I know where my priorities lie, I'm good to go.

You are never too old to play games. I'm 20 years old and I always play video games when I'm at home. It's definitely not geeky or "only for people who have no life", although I do think you should keep gaming and real life seperated. Aside from my parents and sister, there's no one who knows that I'm a gamer. I'd like to keep it a private matter so I don't talk about games with other people. I don't exactly look like the average gamer type, so the subject never comes up from someone else either. If someone does ask me if I'm into games I guess I would just give an honest answer, though.

I will never be too old for games. I seriously think when and if i hit the retirement home, I will be gaming all day long. I don't really care what people say about my gaming habits at all. My brother in law is nearly 40 now and still plays all the time. He's a Madden junky.

I think your gaming tastes have just matured. I've noticed that happen to me too over the past few years. Too many games are all about hype, flash and mindless action. I'm not so easily satisfied by the low-hanging fruit anymore, so to speak. Nowadays I seek out either games that need a lot of thought or games with good storylines. When there's a real quality game I simply can't get enough of it. I wouldn't put that down to fading interest in gaming, but more specific tastes. Yeah, that means I won't be buying as many games or playing as much as I used to, and I don't get excited about most games like I used to. But it also means that I will be playing the games that really satisfy me. I really would call that maturing tastes.

Everyone's becoming more discerning customers as the potential and variety in games becomes bigger and better. You just need to find those particular sorts of games you're looking for - like you said, Atlus series like SMT and Persona are some of the ones I'm following avidly these days. A lot of niche titles have struck my interest as well.

I also agree about delving into older games - they tend to feel better not just because of nostalgia, but because with lower production values, budgets and business interest they could design and develop them in a manner that allowed them to experiment and achieve the gameplay they were looking for. Games with multimillion budgets often don't have that kind of freedom because too much rests on their success, and they tend to fall back on common gaming formulas as a result. Kind of ironic, really.

Gaming is a form of entertainment.

Exactly like watching TV, going to see a movie, or reading a book. They make some for adults and some for kids. Though if you asked someone, "Aren't you a little old for reading books?", they would look at you crazy.

Good point Jay. lol im going to ask someone that question every time now that they ask me if im too old to play video games.

@JayArr Y'know sometime while I'm playing 3DS I'm going to walk up to someone reading and do that just to see their reaction. XD For added effect I might wear my mario hat too. : P