Video gamers 'older than thought'

The Nintendo Generation Lives!

I don't find it hard to believe that average age of adult video gamer players is 35. How many people on ATS had a Atari 6400 or a Nintendo? Even before personal consoles, arcades were the place to be. I'd be surprised if there individuals that didn't spend at least sometime of their childhood playing video games.

As for the gamers being generally less healthy, fatter, and depressed, I don't find that hard to believe either. However, I would have to say that this group of gamers primarily consists of those in junior high and high school. Although I have seen college students and adults that may fall into this group, they are not as many as those below them.

reply to post by TheMythLives


Here is my setup minus my new 24" monitor. I built this for only two purposes.

1. To blow things up with perfect visual clarity and with room rumbling THX quality surround sound.

2. To chat with you lovely people.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/95886d785393.jpg[/atsimg]

It's a far cry from what people typically think of as an older gamer.
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/788d10727a48.jpg[/atsimg]

[edit on 18-8-2009 by SLAYER69]

I've been "gaming" since the late 1970s (We called ourselves "Video Game Junkies" back then, that term probably is where the negativity towards gaming originates from). When both of my parents where on the Semi-Pro Bowling Circuit, video games were the only thing that allowed me to keep my sanity during the summer months of the Bowling Season. Video Games have been in my blood ever since.

My friends, my roommates, my lovers, and even my child have all been gamers.

All of my High School friends that I would game with in the early 1980's founded their own Game Companies at the age of 14 and became multi-millionaires before age 15.

Even now, the primary game I play online, I play with a bunch of middle-aged Housewives and retired men in their 60s and 70s!

I've only known two gamers that ever fit the stereotype of a house-bound, overweight, junk-food addicted, unbathed and unshaven, 20-something that sits around spending their entire day gaming...and both of them could be forgiven for it since they made more a month in Royalties on their Games than the majority of people in this Nation make in 10 years!

Gamers are just like any other person. We have jobs, families, and responsibilities. So what if we play games as a hobby? Is it any worse than people who Bowl, or watch NASCAR, or play Football, or collect Stamps? You don't see any news articles about "OMG! The average age of Ping-Pong Players is 36!" Gaming has gotten a bad wrap by the media and has become nothing more than a device to garner ratings (case in point, name me a single Sit-Com that doesn't make fun of Gaming! You'd think the movie Grandma's Boy was enough of a slap in the face!).

Gaming is no more a crime than Skateboarding. Get over it.

Originally posted by SLAYER69
Yes there is a certain percentage that fit the typical stereo type EXACTLY.

While the vast majority of us DO NOT!

Even if it is true, it does not refute the conclusions of the data. Suppose we take 100 "gamers" and 100 non-gamers. And let us suppose that

10 of gamers believed in the Easter Bunny
5 of non-gamers believe in the Easter Bunny.

Then BOTH of the following are true:

Gamers are more likely than non-gamers to believe in the Easter Bunny
The average gamer is not likely to believe in the Easter Bunny

So your assertion may be true (but we don't know because there are no data to support it) but even if it is, it still does not refute the conclusions of the original study.


[edit on 18-8-2009 by metamagic]

Originally posted by fraterormus

Gaming is no more a crime than Skateboarding. Get over it.

Get over what exactly? The data? Who said anything about a crime? Are you familiar with the phrase "Shooting the messenger?"

reply to post by metamagic


You're right.

I'm only basing my opinion on my personal experiences and from real life situations.

Originally posted by SLAYER69
reply to post by metamagic

 

You're right.

I'm only basing my opinion on my personal experiences and from real life situations.

I applaud you sir!

A far better and more productive approach than basing opinions on speculation, hearsay and the ranting of so called "pundits". As long as we are open to new experiences and seek them out, there is a self correcting mechanism that experience provides for our opinions.

Oh wait, it's called wisdom.

Originally posted by metamagic

Originally posted by fraterormus

Gaming is no more a crime than Skateboarding. Get over it.

Get over what exactly? The data? Who said anything about a crime? Are you familiar with the phrase "Shooting the messenger?"

Apologies metamagic...that statement wasn't directed towards you but to society as a whole. Sorry that you took it as being directed towards you in particular. That was not the intention.

I agree that you are the messenger. I simply choose to disagree with the study that seems to be catering to sensationalism by using loaded memes and stereotypes that have been continuously perpetuated by our popular culture for 30 years and counting now.

Data can be manipulated, and statistics can be cherry-picked. This article, and the study it is reporting, is not only perpetuating a grossly unfair stereotype, but continuing to besmear it.

You see the same thing happen with any sub-culture outside of the Mainstream. If you don't play Rugby and Polo, and go to prestigious University to study Law, then you are an Iconoclast and deserve to be stigmatized by Society. Skateboarders, Goths, Hackers, Punks, Trekkies, Geeks, Emos, et cetera have been stigmatized to the point of being considered criminal terrorists or threats to Society (and thereby reduced to being fodder for punchlines on television). And this is nothing new. Modern Society has been doing this since the 1950s with Bikers, Greasers, Rockers, Mods and Beatniks, and again in the 60s with Hippies, Naturists and Nudists.

Really, is there no end to Society attempting to mold everyone to the same one-size-fits-all uniform model? Heaven forbid that some of us might think for ourselves and pursue our own paths, even if it takes us down a road less traveled!

reply to post by metamagic


SLAYER69,

Very nice setup there!


MM,

Seriously - come on here - you are all but claiming our techonological obsessed society has led many middle aged men down this self destructive path of geekdom.

I would not be surprised if you are a woman - as this is the attitude I have often gleaned from many of my female friends, including - at times - my own wife.

It's funny how you find sexual activity something to be lauded over those activities that challenge both your mind AND your reflexes - when it really is a fairly bizzare and self indulgent activity in itself.

(not that there's anything wrong with that)

I think the problem many of us here find with your original post is that you come off as utterly self righteous and contemptuous of a fairly common and largely inoffensive entertainment.

You can feel free to be a luddite if that is the path you chose - but for those of us who sometimes require a little more stimulation than meditating in a rose garden - your attitude is boorish at best.

Please take your judgemental attitude and replace it with a little tolerance and perhaps even an embrace of diversity.

Personally I have found most older gamers to be some of the best characters to know - both on and offline - in this corrupt and materialistic world of ours - and I will continue to embrace the many intellects that make up such a thriving and dynamic community.

Im a pc gaming fiend..no consoles though,don't like dumbed down consoles.Im in my early 20's though so i guess it's okay.I know gamers in their 30's aswell.I don't see what the big fuss is about in all honesty...its a hobby like anything else.

reply to post by Solomons


They are just trying to stereotype people that are not very sociable, peer pressure to force them to do what people consider normal.

Joke that people cannot just live there own lifes.

I would have to say that many of those characteristics not only apply to gamers but would also apply to many Americans. Especially those that work in the software development world.

But didnt they just recently release a new statistic saying that 27 Million Americans are on anti-depressants these days ?
Thats alot, more than I would've expected ....

Maybe they should try gaming instead ~!


No but in all seriousness,
What about the countless hours Americans spend watching Television ? Not that that is all very healthy either.
At least gamers are thinking.

There are some benefits to gaming and sims.
You are aware that all the pilots practice on Simulators before going out for their "Check Ride" when switching to pilot a new aircraft.
In fact that pilot that safely brought down the 737 in the Hudson river had said the they practice ditchings on the simulators.

I use a motorcycle racing game "Tourist Trophy" to aid in my reaction time and general motorcycle handling skills. A few months ago on my real motorcycle I plowed into a corner way too fast as a result of avoiding a car that was ready to broadside me.

From my racing game experience,where your timing is critical and you're always hitting the corners at high speeds and braking late I was able to readily correct the situation and ride out unscathed.

So all in all that GAME just paid for itself in my book. It saved me from a potential trip to the hospital ER as well as preventing me from dropping my bike and potentially ruining it !

This thread is a load of crap. That study is so biased and unscientific its sickening. The Seattle Tacoma area was chosen to get those results they even admit to it. There isn't any data there at all.

Redacted

[edit on 18-8-2009 by zorgon]

reply to post by TruthMagnet


No, I'm a male. I've been playing online games since 1997. I've been gaming in general since the late 80's. I stopped online gaming 2 years ago, still play the ocasional game offline though. I'm not a stranger to the reality of gaming, and yes, there's a lot of good bits. Ever heard of EVE? I had a couple of characters and was worth over 12 billion isk as an independent player.

But that dosen't change the overall reality of the situation in my mind. I do believe part of the sad state of our current affairs is because a lot of the generation that should be taking charge around now is so caught up in entertainment. I'm sorry to discourage you, but gaming won't make anyone a genius, won't make the world a much better place and, apart from a few pro gamers, won't make you a living. And yes, it's bad for relationships, the serious ones where partners support each other. No woman wants to live with a child. Mea culpa for having been caught up in that trap.

Remember they're just games. And all this without even going into the memetic content of the games, which a lot of the time is not that healthy either. EVE for example is a dystopian universe full of conflict and capitalistic selfishness that sucks the positivity right out of you... nice spaceships though, lovely sandbox universe. But it's just a nice coat of pain over what in reality is a sandbox hell.

I understand your post, people always defend the things they love... but I stand by my assessment. Peace.

Originally posted by metamagic
Kind of a sad comment on the state of our technological society. I wonder if they also asked about their frequency of their sexual activity -- probably negligible. With other people that is.

[edit on 18-8-2009 by metamagic]

You know that people that have to make an outrageous statement on others, especially others that they dont know, are usually the ones hiding an underlying problem.

Say hello to Mrs Palmer for me

I'm male, late twenties and play 'video games' as they are still stupidly labelled.

Not that it is any of your business but i have a rather smashing love life, I also have many circles of friends, dozens of outside interests both creative and occupational and I amongst others refuse to fit the stereotype that the OP has thrown at us.

I have a few games i'm addicted to, but still find time to work hard and study hard aswell as socialise with my buddies.

Sorry Op your info is wrong.

Originally posted by TruthMagnet
reply to post by metamagic

 

MM,

Seriously - come on here - you are all but claiming our techonological obsessed society has led many middle aged men down this self destructive path of geekdom.

(sigh) I see you are not responding to what I actually said but to some strange set of ideas you plucked out of your subconscious instead... so let's walk through this logically.

At no point in any of my posts did I make a claim that the technologically obsessed society led anyone anywhere. Nor did I characterize it as self destructive, and being a geek myself, certainly not as geekdom. I did comment at one point that the gaming obsession might be a symptom of social isolation, not the cause.

Seriously TruthMagnet, if you want to attack what I claim, make sure first that I've actually claimed it at some point.

I would not be surprised if you are a woman - as this is the attitude I have often gleaned from many of my female friends, including - at times - my own wife.

This particular illogical jump is called stereotyping. "Since I have female friends who have this attitude, and you have this attitude, you must be female." Please TruthMagnet! Let's use that same logic in this argument. Since the best basketball players I know are black, and Steve Nash is one of the best basketball players in the NBA, he must be black.

Oh and for the record, I'm very male.

Strike One.

It's funny how you find sexual activity something to be lauded over those activities that challenge both your mind AND your reflexes - when it really is a fairly bizzare and self indulgent activity in itself.

(not that there's anything wrong with that)

Let's see.

1. First of all, I have found that the best sex often does challenge the mind and reflexes, and often requires some minor first aid afterwards. If you don't think it is challenging then treat yourself and start to do some investigating (with your wife of course).

2. Sex is a fairly bizarre and self indulgent activity. Thank god.

3. While I participate in many activities that that are physically and mentally challenging and I do enjoy them tremendously, I don't think I have ever or would ever pass up sex for .. say, a five mile run. Are you implying that you would rather play a video game than have sex?

I think the problem many of us here find with your original post is that you come off as utterly self righteous and contemptuous of a fairly common and largely inoffensive entertainment.

Really? By citing a new article with a one line attempt a humour? What in my original post is self righteous? Quote me the statements in my original post I made about myself. Quote me the statements I made that are contemptuous of gaming. You can't since I didn't make any. What you are doing at this point is just making stuff up so that you have something to rant against. To berate me for attitudes you think I might have had without any statement on my part of those attitudes is called the Strawman Logical Fallacy.

But then again, you also seemed to be pretty sure that I was a woman too.

Strike Two

You can feel free to be a luddite if that is the path you chose - but for those of us who sometimes require a little more stimulation than meditating in a rose garden - your attitude is boorish at best.

Again, you are railing against your own imagination. I am as far from a luddite as one can be. I'm one of the people that created this technology and still work today in advanced technological development. You know not of what you speak.

Strike Three

As for stimulation, meditation is pretty good by the way, but I've never really found the vicarious experience as stimulating as the real thing. I've tried video games, but I found it boring and two dimensional. So I don't play a fighting game, instead I go to the dojo or gym and fight. I've tried cybersex.. sorry I prefer the real thing. My personal choice is that I want to be a participant, not an observer. Just as the choice of others is to play video games.

And as for my alleged boorish attitude. I have not personally attacked you or speculated on your reasons, motives and attitudes, I've only responded to your statements. You have called me boorish, self-righteous and contemptuous without a single statement of mine to back up these accusations.

Please take your judgemental attitude and replace it with a little tolerance and perhaps even an embrace of diversity.

I would love to provided you cite me the specific judgements I passed on anyone -- by the way pointing out flaws i someone's arguments is not judgemental, instead you have to make a comment about the person like "..your attitude is boorish at best." Now THAT is judgemental.

But your diversity comment doesn't make any sense. Cite me the intolerance and of who and the exclusive or exclusionary comments (opposite of diversity) that I have made in my original post. You can't because I didn't make any.

Personally I have found most older gamers to be some of the best characters to know - both on and offline - in this corrupt and materialistic world of ours - and I will continue to embrace the many intellects that make up such a thriving and dynamic community.

A lovely and heartfelt sentiment. If you had started your post this way and elaborated on this theme in the same manner, I would have been impressed.



[edit on 18-8-2009 by metamagic]

Originally posted by fraterormus


Apologies metamagic...that statement wasn't directed towards you but to society as a whole. Sorry that you took it as being directed towards you in particular. That was not the intention.

Understood and no worries.

Your rather lengthy comment that followed touched on a number of points that I think are something many of the other posters should read and consider before shooting off their mouths. Nice to see someone asking the question about what this all means. Thank you.

I did mention at one point in one post that this study shows a trend that is disturbing.. and the trend is not that video games cause anything or are bad or that gamers are losers, but rather that video games have become associated with social isolation, just as many other escapist activities have in the past and still do today, and increasingly are used to facilitate withdrawal from social interaction.

The part I thought was a bit unexpected was that this form of escapism is not, as we sort of assume or at least I did, the purview of young men but of older middle aged men. The overweight, lack of health and depression issues are probably not caused by gaming but are also symptomatic of social isolation and withdrawal from human contact. The gaming is just a mechanism to facilitate that process.

I personally find it disturbing since it suggests to me that gaming, along with pseudo social contact through technology like Facebook, may make it easier for those who are social isolated to increase their isolation to their own detriment. In other words, our increasingly technological society may make it easier for some of us to slip through the cracks.

The problem is social isolation, not gaming, but this study does show us something about the patterns and trends of social isolation in a technological society.

I honestly didn't think I would have to point that out.

Originally posted by mr-lizard
I'm male, late twenties and play 'video games' as they are still stupidly labelled.

Not that it is any of your business but i have a rather smashing love life, I also have many circles of friends, dozens of outside interests both creative and occupational and I amongst others refuse to fit the stereotype that the OP has thrown at us.

Please quote me statements in which I have stereotyped you. Since I didn't make any such statements, I'm wondering why you are so concerned with being stereotyped. Methinks thou doest protest too much.

I have a few games i'm addicted to, but still find time to work hard and study hard aswell as socialise with my buddies.

Sorry Op your info is wrong.

MY info? Sorry the it's the CDC's info. And if it is wrong, then please back up that statement with some sort of facts. And one anecdotal case does not invalidate a statistical trend. For example, you would not argue that the finding that the average age of a gamer is 35 is wrong because you are in your twenties... so just saying that you are not within a standard deviation of the mean does not imply the data are wrong.

Please Mr-lizard, you have to do better than that.