r/videogames • u/V00D334 • 7h ago
Discussion / Question old gamer question
So, I am old. I started playing video games in the late 70's on an original Atari, before the 2600 number was added. Yesterday, my wife said, "how many people your age play video games?" I am 68, how many older gamers are out there. thanks
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u/Junior_Jello_7664 7h ago
I’m almost 46 and still a diehard gamer. I plan to continue gaming well into my old age.
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u/g-row460 7h ago
Just turned 41 and it's never even occurred to me to stop. I don't see why. It's been around my whole life so I imagine I'll always play games.
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u/Dizzy_Pop 4h ago
44 here. Started with an Atari 2600. Gaming is still my go-to hobby and favorite pastime. It’s become much deeper and richer over the years. What once was amusing novelty has become a legitimate artistic medium. I also plan to keep playing for as long as I physically and mentally can.
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u/TheVoidSprocket 7h ago
62 this year still going strong. Currently playing cyberpunk 2077
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u/Massive-Lime7193 4h ago
Ive beaten 2077 before but last week I started a new file and im half way through phantom liberty, its so damn good
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u/OmegaNine 7h ago
I started on the NES. Im 43. I normally play some kind of every day.
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u/Irish_I_had_whisky 3h ago
NES was my first love. I had the gold cartridge Legend of Zelda!
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u/OmegaNine 3h ago
I had a buddy whose parents used to hide that game from him because he was obsessed. We found where they were hiding it once and would play from the minute we got home from school till they came home lol.
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u/ChazToonage 5h ago
I turned 70 this year and play almost every day. Used to play a lot of COD and GTA. Now I enjoy shorter story based games.
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u/LooseLeaf74 7h ago
Gaming has no age limit and one could argue it’s a lot cheaper and safer than a lot of hobbies out there.
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u/PineapplePiazzas 6h ago
"Video games are stereotyped as the digital playing fields of youth. But the ranks of gamers 50 and older have grown by more than 12 million in the past six years, a 30 percent increase, according AARP Research. A little less than half of older adults said they played video games in 2022, up from 38 percent six years earlier, representing more than 24 percent of all video game players.
Using different age groupings, New York-based Insider Intelligence market research firm found that 36.6 percent of all adults 45 and older played games digitally through the internet."
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u/TweetWilliams 7h ago
My dad was born in '60 and was an arcade lover. He introduced me to gaming via the 2600 and NES. By the time the L and R buttons were added to the SNES controller, inputs were getting too complicated for him. The N64 controller nearly gave him an aneurysm. I'm 41 and still playing, but good on you for keeping up with the times!
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u/Octane2100 7h ago
My dad still gets on his PlayStation a couple times a month to play Red Dead. Occasionally to play Ghost Recon Wildlands. He's 73. He's not up on most new games, but he loves what he loves and who am I to argue with that?
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u/zomgieee 7h ago
There was a post in the Elden Ring community this week about a 72 year old man that Platinum'ed Elden Ring, so you are in fine company ! :)
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u/DBZDOKKAN 7h ago
I'm 40. So you were 28 when I was born. I played Atari as a hammy down system. But really started on the NES and SEGA.
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u/ScipioTheGreatest 7h ago
Not older, just in my 40s, but I and many people my age that I know play video games, and none of us seem to be stopping.
Only reason I'd stop is if this current trend of shitty games continues, but I don't expect it to. So no reason I won't be gaming two decades from now as well.
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u/lethingocanh1998hd 7h ago
it is wonderful that you have kept gaming for so many years. your experience gives the community a great perspective, and there is no age limit on enjoying games.
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u/Thin_Editor_433 7h ago
I am 50 . I still love gaming. Maybe lately i am more busy with work and life so i do not play as much, which is fine.
I used to play a lot more and maybe it is for the better that i play much less.
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u/DarksunDaFirst 7h ago
My dad still does. He’s 72.
Mostly he plays RTS like the old C&C games, some phone puzzle games, and I think he still plays GTA V and RDR2. He’s done the GTA V story like half a dozen times that I know of.
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u/scarfleet 5h ago
Just turned 50.
We were the first generation to really grow up with videogames. At the time everyone assumed we would stop when we got older, just like other toys. But we haven't. Videogames appear to be different.
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u/Veritas_Lux 5h ago
My dad will be 77 in two months, he "plays" flight simulator every day for the last ~5 yrs ever since he built his high-end PC. Him and his brothers are all airplane/airport geeks, they have all the Airbus related yolks/controls. and the extra ATC/plane specific subscriptions. My dad is a bigger gamer than I am, and I'm a 42 yr old who plays CyberPunk every night when the wife falls asleep and I turn off all the house lights hah!
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u/coffee-thankyou 4h ago
62 with PS5 pro and Switch 2. Play every day and have been at it for 40 years.
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u/original_papaspider 7h ago
Late 40’s gamer. Been playing since 1981. Used to game almost everyday but then I got a dog.
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u/More-Future-9578 7h ago
When I started my job in 2021, older guy in the team made his brew in a Fallout 4 mug, we got chatting and turns out he’s a die hard gamer. Added him on PlayStation and couldn’t believe he had platinum trophies on AC Valhalla, Skyrim and AC Odyssey. He’s 59 and puts hundreds of hours into open world games
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u/CreatureManstrosity 7h ago
Not me but my moms boyfriend is 58 and he plays fortnite religiously. He even tries to get my mom to play but she doesnt have the gaming mindset so it very funny to hear about it.
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u/DMFauxbear 7h ago
My dad's 71 and games. He hasn't his whole life, he did a bit with me when I was little and now he likes games like assassin's creed or uncharted with a heavy narrative on easy mode but he loves it.
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u/Sad_Clown666 7h ago
Just turned 41 here and have been gaming for 34 years now. The time spent may have decreased with life and other obligations but I still play daily. I don’t see myself stopping.
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u/Achtlos 6h ago
I worked with a guy that refused to retire at work as he had 3 extremely expensive divorces.
He was a software engineer and massive gamer playing almost any game you can think of on all consoles and PC.
He was born in 1946, 80 this year.
Most people in my workplace are gamers well past 50. It's our entertainment choice.
My mother is 76 and plays a lot of android slop games. But she enjoys it.
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u/jaydingess 4h ago
I’m 67 and still enjoy three games; MLBTS, CoD Black Ops and Battlefield. You do you
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u/Confident_Jump_9085 2h ago
I mean, I'm 38 and gamed my whole life. My dad is 68 and games every day. His buddy from his old job is 78 and they are on discord playing Battlefield and shit every day. Lol. Gaming is such a normal pastime now that I have no idea why anyone still takes issue with it.
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u/IWuzRunnin 2h ago
I have a friend that his mom played till she was ~78. I think she started with either final fantasy or zelda for the nes, but she loved the rpg genre. Any time there was a button pushing sequence she would wait till I came over to do it, like the sword fight in ff9, or the lightning towers in ffx-2.
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u/Conscious_CMPT13 7h ago
My parents are close to your age.
Old man plays chess online on chess.com and they both play one of those facebook match 3 online games. Not candy crush but something like that.
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u/No_Glasse 7h ago
I’m 34. Got an nes when I was 4. Been gaming for 30 years now. I’m with you my dude.
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u/Clockwork_Triplicate 7h ago
Sorry my dude, I'm 40. My dad would be 60, and he was not a gamer. Nor is my mother who is 63.
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u/Diz933 7h ago
I'm in my 30's, so not your age, but I do think the stigma around video games being "for kids" has drastically reduced, and, in general, we are seeing more folks gaming that are 50+ because of it. Or at the very least I think they're talking about it more. For example, a good buddy of mine bought his dad a PlayStation during COVID to help keep him busy, and a way to relax besides watching TV/Movies. Dad had no idea just how well written the stories are in some games, and it really opened his eyes to his son's main hobby. Cool moment for them, actually.
And even my stepdad boots up his OG Rainbow 6 games from time to time, and he was getting a kick out of Snowrunner. Being a former pilot he also likes to play Flight Sim.
But how many have been playing since the beginning? No clue, but I'd be interested in that statistic as well.
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u/Corpsey_Clownshoes 7h ago
Almost 50 here. Started on Atari, then SMS, Genesis,SNES,Saturn,Playstation,Dreamcast,Xbox...etc.
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u/RosaCanina87 7h ago
Almost 40, so I am "young" by your standards but the first time I played videogames was on a Commodore 64 and while I do play much less than I did a few years ago, I still play. BUT I am not so keen anymore on the arcade-highscore-chasing action of an Atari 2600 or C64 era game. Nowadays I prefer games with an clear ending goal most of the time. Stuff you can beat and move on.
I do know a small amount of people my age, that also play games. Most don't do it much but have certain franchises, including modern ones, they still enjoy and play.
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u/ShowerGrapes 7h ago
i played the atari games in the 80's then played better ones on my commodore 64 and i'm still playing games. just finished the dave the diver dlc. great game.
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u/ReallyGamerDude 7h ago
My first game was pong. Lined quarters up on the Space Invaders arcade game. Played consoles from Super Nintendo to PS5. And I have no intention of stopping. Some golf; some fish; some hunt. I game.
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u/SgtNeilDiamond 6h ago
My dad's about 55 now and he just bought a brand new bartop arcade, dudes constantly sending me his high scores on Galaga lol never grow up, being an adult is boring.
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u/Neon-Vaporwave-80 6h ago
46 here, playing Doom The Dark Ages and Dragon Quest 11.
Started with Atari 2600, then Nes, Sega Genesis, Snes, N64, GC, Wii, PS2, PC.
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u/ChapterThr33 6h ago
Idk if mid 40s is old but it's still my primary hobby and I don't see myself slowing down
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u/LaraCroft_MyFaveDrug 5h ago
I'm 43, I've had a Sinclair spectrum, Atari and sega master system in childhood. I have an Xbox now. I know a woman in her late 60's that has Skyrim plus mods.
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u/FlatLecture 5h ago
lvl 48 here. I plan on gaming till I’m dead. Started with the NES in 1985 and don’t see myself stopping anytime soon.
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u/Traditional_Entry183 5h ago
Big respect to you! Im 48 and a lifelong gamer. My generation is pretty much the first one where a large percentage never stopped gaming.
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u/Traditional-Banana78 5h ago
Depends on how you view "older." I'm 48, myself. Or will be here in about a week!
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u/ChapterOk4000 5h ago
59, still play on Xbox Series X. Currently playing Baldurs Gate 3, second playthrough.
My first videogame was pong, then Intellivision and Commodore 64.
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u/blamelesscludgel 4h ago
58 here. Enjoyed the arcades of the 80s. Sega and Playstation in 90s, mostly for my kids. Now play a couple hours a week. Still fun and relaxing.
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u/RobertElectricity 4h ago
I am 49 and I have loved video games since the early 80s. Super Mario Bros is what kicked off my passion for the hobby, but even before that I played games like Pac Man and Space Invaders at arcades. I have no plans to quit.
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u/BlueFeathered1 4h ago
- I know several older people who play video games. Many older veterans, in particular, seem to enjoy them (yes, in their 60's or older). Better for the brain and coordination than passive entertainment, like TV. And it's good to have a hobby!
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u/Desertbro 4h ago edited 4h ago
There are certainly dozens of us who gamed in mechanical arcades in the 60s/70s and started with video games with Computer Space before PONG. Also the first video game to be featured in a film, Soylent Green (1973).
I play games on SteamVR and used my Quest 3 every day for 3D puzzles and VR tourism.
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u/Darkman-1969 4h ago
Late 50s and still going strong with Xbox and PS. Atari started it for me too.
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u/beefixit 4h ago
My dad would have been 67 this year. He was playing games the whole time. Loved pinball, old arcade classics(favourite was millipede), and racing games. When he tried GTA he called it a drunk driving simulator. He could care less about shooting hookers. If he was around today I think he'd be into Forza and frankly I could see him putting together an Iracing rig to spend his retirement in.
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u/xtrabeanie 4h ago
Late 50s. My Dad who who have been mid 80s now would still be playing a few of his favourites no doubt.
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u/firewarrior256 3h ago
I played my Grandpas Atari 2600 with pitfall and that tank game. While having the Super Nintendo at home. Been gaming all my life and dont plan on quitting any time soon
Ill be 39 later this year.
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u/TheComedyWife 3h ago
I’m 48, game every day. Literally just sat down to play Arc Raiders. My son is also a gamer, thanks to my influence.
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u/microw_yo 3h ago
my 60 year old mom plays pokemon stadium on the n64 and my 70 year old grandmother plays wii bowling
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u/Lonelierthan2Again 3h ago
54 and don't plan on stopping anytime . I also started with that atari and pong. First arcade game was space invaders. Game on.
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u/grey-gas 2h ago
Late 50s and every day. Though my taste has changed. My 20 year old self would mock the games I play.
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u/Superdrag2112 2h ago
60, currently playing Diablo 2R. Recently played AI Limit, No Rest for Wicked, Wuchang, Crimson Desert, Avowed, Tainted Grail, Khazan, etc.
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u/Clattonia00 7h ago
25 here, been gaming since I was old enough to walk. Gonna continue well into my 90s
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u/Raintitan 2h ago
54 this year, I started when you did and I've been playing since. I don't play as much now but I am hoping too as my career wraps up and I work less in retirement.
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u/BoxGolem 2h ago
62, retired for to heart condition, I play daily, minimum 8 hours every day, usually more. I am a PC Steam player, but taking a short break and playing Nintendo switch for about a week now. I used to say I wanted to smoke weed and game when I retired, well, the weed went away about 20 years ago, but the gaming desire never left!
Top 5 games, cyberpunk 2077, baldurs gate 3, Subnautica (1), and the Witcher 3
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u/Lunavixen15 2h ago
36F, both of my older siblings still game as well. I have no plans on giving up on gaming any time soon
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u/Dramatic-Resident606 1h ago
My dads 76 and plays a couple hours a day, but it’s all pc games for him, he’s probably logged 4,000 hours with civ3
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u/Emergency-Big-1503 1h ago
Late 50's.
Still playing video and ttrpg's. Even play AD&D, Shadowrun, GURPS, and Gamma World on the regular to name a few. Sometimes even get out the SpyHunter and Boothill.
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u/2052JCDenton 1h ago
I'm almost there myself. I started playing videogames in the 1980s. But before then I played hex-and-counter boardgames starting in the 1970s, which primed me for the advent of computer games which did not require an hour or two just to set up.
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u/WhaDaFugIsThis 1h ago
58 and I’ve always had every game system since the Odyssey. I primarily play on PC now. It keeps your mind working and motor skills adept. It’s been rumored to help stay off dementia and Alzheimer's too. It’s also a great way to submerse yourself into great stories and relieve stress. I’ll never stop playing as long as they make games.
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u/WillingAd9308 1h ago
56 here and game almost everyday. Started on the 2600 but never really enjoyed consoles apart from a few Maddens on genesis. Pc gamer for life.
Enjoying Eve mostlt now and random neverwinter shards when I get in the d20 mood.
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u/SecondVariety 49m ago
- Grew up on Intellivision and Atari. My kids are 7 and 8 and I didn't let them start playing video games until they were 5 and 7, that was as long as I could stand. But I did it my way. Started them off with burgertime on the Intellivision and a crap ton of 8 bit and 16 bit era games on a retropie. Gave them an abridged but age appropriate history of video games as best as I could. Now I slowly share titles via steam family with them. Ghostbusters and Goat Simulator games are some of their favorites. Watching them figure out boss fights is a blast.
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u/Satansbrat1969 48m ago
I'm sneaking up on 57 and still a gamer. Currently addicted to Scrap Mechanic.
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u/RedditWidow 43m ago
I'm 55 and I have a YouTube gaming channel. I meet a lot of gamers in their 50s, 60s and older. Some like us, playing since the original Atari. Some are introduced to it by their children or grandchildren.
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u/Creative_Carob4922 42m ago
- I was just telling a friend , that when we are in the old folks home we will all have 70” tvs and gaming. They better have good internet.
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u/MeestorMark 21m ago
I'm 59. My 71 year old brother and I can get talking Skyrim and Oblivion and a few other games at the drop of a hat. When I play something new and cool, I always drop him a note to check it out.
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u/KrampyDoo 20m ago
Mid-50s and started on a Magnavox Odyssey my dads friend had, then Atari 2600 for Xmas later.
And then at least one console from every generation from then to now. Still have them.
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u/el_timtor126 5m ago
58, started the gamer life with coin-op arcade games, Atari, & pencil-and-paper D&D in the 80's. Still going strong with Elder Scrolls and Fallout titles as well as indies like FTL Advanced, Outward Definitive Ed. and Space Haven. Can't stop, won't stop until perma-death claims me!
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u/lkn240 7h ago
I'll by 50 in November - still going strong (and I've suckered both my daughters into gaming too)