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The Aging Gamer

Posted by timothy on from the hey-look-at-that-big-hill dept.

An anonymous reader writes "There is a short article at the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle about the surprising statistic that a large potion of computer gamers are over 35. This actually makes sense, since many of them began gaming in the 70's. A short and semi-interesting read."

49 of 294 comments (clear)

  1. Slashdot: home of the semi-interesting read by wadetemp · · Score: 4, Funny

    Please refrain from from posting semi-interesting comments lest this entire thread become only semi-interesting.

  2. First post!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    woo hoo.... So anyways, don't all the gamers die at age 22 from an 86 hour gaming session?

  3. In another surprising study... by bravehamster · · Score: 5, Funny
    In another surprising study, the same thing was found to be true of Britney Spears fans.

    --
    ---- El diablo esta en mis pantalones! Mire, mire!
    1. Re:In another surprising study... by Fig,+formerly+A.C. · · Score: 3, Funny

      Or at least a "short and semi-interesting" one. :-)

      --
      Murphy was an optimist.
  4. short and semi-interesting by Maddog_Delphi97 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "A short and semi-interesting read."

    That's good, because most of us gamers are also short and semi-interesting as well...

  5. Another interesting statistic.. by He+Was+Gamecubed · · Score: 4, Funny

    Another anonymous reader points out a not-so-suprising statistic: 92.4% of /. editors failed elemtary spelling exams.

    1. Re:Another interesting statistic.. by Jerf · · Score: 5, Funny

      The smallest fraction with integral dividend and divisor that produces .924 is 231/250. (3*7*11 / 5*5*5*2)

      Empirical observation suggests that your implicit claim that there are 19 (250-231) Slashdot editors that can spell is false, unless you can produce 19 such editors. (Difficult, since the entire universe of discourse is what, six people?)

      I suspect something has gone wonky with your math, and suggest you correct it posthaste. Alternatively, you can clarify what you mean by a fractional editor.

      For the humorless, :-)

  6. and how many are single ... by pleclair · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would be more interested in seeing how many of these people are unmarried ... or divorced as a direct result of gaming

    1. Re:and how many are single ... by DoctorPepper · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm currently 43 and on my second marriage. My first marriage ended in divorce, not because of gaming, but becuase of hacking. I would practically lock myself in the room with my computer and write code on the weekends. Boy was I stupid back then! Now I just don't lock the door :-)

      --

      No matter where you go... there you are.
    2. Re:and how many are single ... by Life2Short · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well I'm 39 and single. Got my first Atari at the tender age of 12-13, back when they were Sears' Video Arcades. I can recall one girlfriend that my "hobby" cost me particularly clearly. I met her while I was living in London. I guess I wasn't spending enough time with her, because one night after work she called me over to a crowded pub near our workplace (she'd been there drinking since about 3pm). She proceeded to pick a fight with me and in the middle of this crowded bar she yells, "YOU WOULD RATHER PLAY WITH YOUR STUPID COMPUTER THAN HAVE SEX WITH ME!!!" Things got very quiet in the pub very fast. Actually, it wasn't really fair. What she said was only true PART of the time.

    3. Re:and how many are single ... by aebrain · · Score: 4, Funny
      I'm currently 43 and on my second marriage.
      44 and still on my first - and we've just had our first child, after 20 years of wedded blitz.

      Started programming at age 9 back in 1967, and the first computer game I played was on an IBM-360 back in 72. Star Trek, no less. First game I ever programmed was on an HP-65 programmable calculator a few years later.

      So my advice is - don't think you'll be "old" in 2030. Save up some good stories about how the Net used to be free, how 2 GigaHz was a fast machine, how we only dreamed of having a Petabyte of main memory on our machine - which was on a desk, not wearable/implanted.

      --
      Zoe Brain - Rocket Scientist
    4. Re:and how many are single ... by MyHair · · Score: 2, Funny

      And we had to walk uphill in the snow to flip 8 switches to program our computers. That's right, we programmed in 8-bit machine language, sonny! But damnit, we were GLAD to have those switches! They gave us character. Your generation should try programming with switches, too.

      Slacker.

    5. Re:and how many are single ... by back_pages · · Score: 5, Funny

      My girlfriend always tells me that if my computer and she fell into the ocean, I'd save my computer first. I always tell her that's not true, because the computer would already be screwed by the salt water at that point and a total loss. Even though I'm telling her that I would save her first, she is still mad at me. Women! It's so difficult to understand their proprietary architecture!

    6. Re:and how many are single ... by WeeLad · · Score: 3, Funny

      But your girlfriend might be able to swim. Your poor computer, on the other hand, is probably not as strong of a swimmer. Surely you could reuse the case.

      --
      Seriously, Don't take anything I say seriously.
  7. I'd be an old gamer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    If I were born earlier, but I'm just too young to qualify.

  8. Re:Bad typo by Mike+Schiraldi · · Score: 4, Funny

    Large "POTION"? That's nasty. And a spell check wouldn't pick that up.

    Sure it would:

    It looks like you're trying to mix an invisibility potion, but you used three newt eyes instead of the correct number, four.

    --

    --
    Mod up a post Rob doesn't like and you'll never mod again

  9. Linux Games by billd · · Score: 4, Funny
    I'm getting pretty good at Frozen Bubble & I'm way over 35 (hey, it happens)

    My son however is a better example of an avid gamer. He's been playing Starcraft solidly for the past 2 weeks (school hols) including several overniters.

    Seems a bit excessive to me, but then, I'm not addicted

    ... to gaming that is... Beer on the other hand...

    --

    -----

    For great justice!

    1. Re:Linux Games by palo0019 · · Score: 3, Funny

      If only all parents were smart enough to limit their child to 30 minutes of pirated games a day! What a saint!

  10. An aging gaming population... by Blind+Linux · · Score: 2, Funny

    perhaps if the average age of gamers keeps rising, there will eventually be a bigger gamer "death" rate than "birth" rate?

    I'm scared to think of what would happen. heh.

  11. whew, I'm not the only one ... by Quino · · Score: 5, Funny

    I used to (somewhat apologetically) explain to people that I had spent last friday night playing GTA3 (I'm 28). I used to think I was a loser, but it's nice to know I'm part of a larger demographic! :) Then again, this doesn't necessarily mean I'm not a loser, just not the only one!

    1. Re:whew, I'm not the only one ... by Icefyre · · Score: 2, Funny

      Fight the societal norm! The real losers are the ones who *don't* stay in playing GTA3 on friday nights! (Or at least, the ones who feel the need to make fun of people who do.)

      --
      "I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals. I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants."
  12. Think of gamers beyond retirement.. by lute3 · · Score: 5, Funny
    Currently we have phones with small games in them.

    With the technology available when these 35-year-olds are 70, they'll be able to have fully immersive games embedded in their walkers.

  13. What about Consoles? by Anenga · · Score: 5, Funny

    What popular games were out on the PC platform in the 70's? Perhaps they're talking about Super Mario or Pacman?

    Does this same age group dominate the console market too? If so, then perhaps Nintendo and Playstation should change their target demographics. Stop selling games with "FREE Bike Decals!" and replace it with "FREE Car Insurance Estimate!"

  14. They're still alive? by Capsaicin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unbelievable, they have been playing computer games for over 20 years and it hasn't killed them yet?

    --
    Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident a security. --Edmund Burke
    1. Re:They're still alive? by saskboy · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yeah, that poor wuss who was playing for only 86 hours, in Korea, died just the other day. Makes you wonder where these gamers get their stamina from? Powerups? Did they find secret locations that have eluded the rest of us? Are they just camping?

      --
      Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
    2. Re:They're still alive? by Ozymandias_KoK · · Score: 2, Funny

      Silly person -- you don't die until you stop gaming and head to the bathroom. Don't go!

    3. Re:They're still alive? by zurab · · Score: 3, Funny

      Unbelievable, they have been playing computer games for over 20 years and it hasn't killed them yet?

      It's weird. I thought they should be out on the street killing people or imprisoned for life. Isn't that what happens from computer games?

  15. pfft cramps by waspleg · · Score: 4, Funny

    men use bandaids and soldier onward princess zelda needs our attentions and school can only stay shut down from sheets of ice for so long..

    that's when games focused on playability (read: FUN) rather than flashy (8 bits, mmm) graphics

  16. Large Potion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Where is that last large magic potion container at anyway? An old lady in the town in the woods said I needed it to get something special. Oh wait, this post isn't about old geeks still playing Zelda 2, is it?

  17. Slashdot by Anenga · · Score: 4, Funny

    Semi-News for Nerds. Stuff that semi-Matters.

  18. Thanks.... by fluxrad · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...the surprising statistic that a large potion of computer gamers...

    LAN Party in a bottle?

    --
    "It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once." -David Hume
  19. Re:Hmmmm....the old Commador by penguin_punk · · Score: 1, Funny

    My Commodore came with a spell checker program.

    --
    HURD - Hurd's Under Research & Development
  20. Demographics by oO0OoO0Oo · · Score: 1, Funny

    "FREE Car Insurance Estimate!"

    That's not so bad. I will be scared when it's "Buy Pacman Gold Anniversary Edition and get your free Modern Maturity subscription now!"

    --
    We Are Familiar With Elephants By Virtue Of Their Size.
  21. Large Potion of Computer Gamers by GoogolPlexPlex · · Score: 5, Funny

    When potion is consumed, 12 hit-dice of computer gamers are summoned in the area surrounding the consumer. Half of the summoned computer gamers will attack the enemies of the party of the consumer, half will form an opposing team and attack the other half (and the party itself). They will remain for 6 turns, until unsummoned, or until the supply of Mountain Dew runs out, whichever occurs first.

  22. Gah! by EvilStein · · Score: 4, Funny

    Some of them are still playing the same Nethack game they started in 79!

    The rest are probably wandering through the Zork anthology over and over and over..... hell, I've been lost in the Zork II maze since 1989.

  23. Evolution of the gamer? by phorm · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. One moment mom, I just have to save my game!
    2. I'll be there soon honey, I'm almost done
    3. Damnit Martha where are my spectacles? I can't see the crosshairs and I'm 4 frags behind.

    If I can find a game that's not a repeat-concept when I'm 40 I'll be very happy - phorm

  24. Imagine the old folks home in a few years... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    People won't be complaining about the food, they'll be saying "This internet connection isn't any good"

    I remember when Quake 3 was all the rage.

  25. Wait'll the nurses... by mtec · · Score: 5, Funny

    in our old folks homes get a loada the way we can press that call button!

    --
    Cake or Death? Cake Please!
    1. Re:Wait'll the nurses... by ktakki · · Score: 4, Funny

      Up down up down left right left right start select = unlimited nurses.

      k.

      --
      "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank
  26. in other news by RestiffBard · · Score: 4, Funny

    a surprising number of drivers can be found in all age ranges. not surprising since cars have been around for almost a hundred years.

    --
    - /* dead coders leave no comments */
  27. And in other news by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 3, Funny

    the surprising statistic that a large potion of computer gamers are over 35.

    Interesstingly, a large portion of humans are over 35.

  28. Correlation by taloobie · · Score: 2, Funny

    Could there be a correlation between high average gaming age and the Generation X financial problems refered to in an earlier topic today????

    There is for me. I got a bunch of .com jobs so I could support my addiction to gaming well into my 50s!

  29. Take him camping. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hunting is good. It'll help his CounterStrike game. I can see it now: father and son bunny-hopping through the woods with AWPs.

  30. Quasi-interesting by danish · · Score: 5, Funny

    An open letter to the editors of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle:

    Your articles are only quasi-interesting. Semi-interesting. You're the margarine of interesting. You're the Slashdot of interesting -- only one calorie, not interesting enough!

    Thank you.

  31. Re:Your sig by diaphanous · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ah, but real geeks use base 1009 (for their mathematical needs and

    2k = 2 * 1009 + 20 = 2018 + 20 = 2038

    ~Phillip

  32. WARNING: Argument sketch conjured by billd · · Score: 5, Funny
    Is this the right room for an argument?

    I told you once

    No you didn't

    Yes I did

    When

    Just now

    No you didn't.

    Look if I argure, I must take up a contrary positionI

    yes but that isn't just saying "no it isn't"

    yes it is

    no it isn't

    --

    -----

    For great justice!

  33. Gaming ain't what it used to be... by coupland · · Score: 3, Funny

    Back in my day gamers were all young and we had to use our imaginations! Screens only had four pixels and the only colour we had was black. Then some upstart invented amber and it's been all downhill since then...

  34. Korean's need to build up some stamina by core_blimey · · Score: 2, Funny
    This actually makes sense, since many of them began gaming in the 70's.


    My god! They started playing in the 70's and are still going strong? Makes that Korean chap seem a tad weak that he can't even handle a full week of gaming doesn't it.

    --
    In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism your count votes.
  35. Aging? by grub · · Score: 3, Funny


    Heck, I'll be 37 in December but I don't consider myself "aging".
    When I have the inkling to buy SimAdultDiapers or SimLawnBowling at the software storethen I'll consider myself "aging".

    Until then, I'll still stomp your arse in UT 2003, lad!

    Harumph!

    --
    Trolling is a art,