Any gaming pensioners here?

Daftbrown · 23 Apr 2015 at 18:45

Are there any gamers on these forums of a pensionable age?

Yeah, I know, it probably sounds daft and you may laugh... but hear me out..

I think there's a "how old are you?" thread somewhere about, and I know that some of you are in your 40s and whatnot, but I'm particularly interested to hear if there are gamers here who are retired 60+?

Reason being is that many of us bemoan not having the time to play as often as we might like through commitments such as work and looking after children... all that grown up stuff :rolleyes:

I was thinking about this today (while I should have been working to put money in the pension pot) and realised that if I maintained an interest in gaming until retirement age it could well be blummin' fantastic - I might have all day, any day I fancied to play games (and imagine the tech!). Somehow though I can't help but feel that my interest in gaming will fade over the years.

The incredibly complex mathematics:

My first gaming experience was with a BBC Micro when I was, at a guess, around six years old (I'm 31). Using the BBC Micro and the ZX81 as examples, these were released in 1981. That was 34 years ago, so if you were a 30 something gamer then and still enjoyed the hobby now you would be in your 60s today.

Now, it's a long-shot, and I'm possibly just broadcasting the meanderings of my idle mind but I would truly be interested to know... any 60+s here? Or perhaps some of you have gaming Dads or Grandads you deathmatch with?

Witcher1979 · 23 Apr 2015 at 19:11

Is this some weird dark fetish you have? Plenty of sites where you can find the material you are looking for.

Daftbrown · 23 Apr 2015 at 19:33

Haha. Mostly just brainfart I expect but I thought I'd ask. Even if all I get is creative insults such as yours I'll consider it worthwhile.

No, I'm not into the wrinklies!

The Judge · 23 Apr 2015 at 19:35

Not the oldest here but 49 this year and a gaming grandad lol

Rroff · 23 Apr 2015 at 19:43

Theres a few people from here I used to play quake 3 with that are retired. (Not sure if they are regular visitors here or not any more though).

arknor · 23 Apr 2015 at 19:48

used to play the mmo FFXI and had a leveling buddy I met ingame.

claimed he was 65 or 75 years old and had lost his legs during the Vietnam war so just spent most his time playing video games online.
I'm guessing he enjoyed the social interaction and being treated the same as everyone else.

in 10-30 years it probably will be quite common for pensioners to be hardcore gamers with their own OAP mmo guilds just owning all these young man folk

dholdi · 23 Apr 2015 at 19:48

Another gaming grandad here

Xordium · 23 Apr 2015 at 20:09

Only early 40 here but this may be of interest to you OP on how things have changed for one game;

Capt Doufos · 23 Apr 2015 at 20:20

My friends Mum is in her 60's and Totally addicted to Guild Wars 2. Her first venture into PC gaming was Minecraft, was playing AAA titles on a 360 before that.

wordy · 23 Apr 2015 at 20:55

Witcher1979 said:
Is this some weird dark fetish you have? Plenty of sites where you can find the material you are looking for.

How do you know, speaking from experience eh?

Raumarik · 23 Apr 2015 at 21:02

We've got a few in PAGAN who are in their 50s and I know one who is in his 60s (won't say who though - not an OCUKer). Most of us are in our 30s.

My dad is a gamer, he's over 70 although not physically able to play much now due to illness, he does love minecraft though!

new boy · 23 Apr 2015 at 21:07

arknor said:
in 10-30 years it probably will be quite common for pensioners to be hardcore gamers with their own OAP mmo guilds just owning all these young man folk

That's a good point. I'm 25, and when I was a kid, very few adults played video games. Now, most the people I know my age still play video games (albeit console peasants) and I can't see them having any reason to stop.

arc@css · 23 Apr 2015 at 21:21

Since it's the biggest entertainment industry in the world, it will more than likely keep growing.

maxzuk · 23 Apr 2015 at 23:15

Fill me in Rau as I thought I was the oldest Pagan @ 49.

Raumarik · 23 Apr 2015 at 23:34

Nope you're just a baby compared to a couple of our American members and one of the guys in Hong Kong lol

old gamer · 24 Apr 2015 at 00:28

well im 54 and game everyday and no intention of ever stopping, and for an old boy i can still hold my own in counter strike

pieman109 · 24 Apr 2015 at 00:43

I am! I'm still working, over 60, but drawing a pension as well. Thoroughly enjoy gaming and the tech is nice to look forward to.

arknor · 24 Apr 2015 at 01:46

you OAPS been gaming all your life? do you believe your vision has been affected by staring at the screen?
Genuinely interested to know.

benefits for the mind would likely out-way the above though I'd imagine

UltraDad · 24 Apr 2015 at 06:14

When i get old (45 now) and the kids are looking for a care home i am gonna need a place that i can take my computer with me and good wifi. Not gonna be any of that singing round the piano and ballroom dancing crap for me

Gonna be playing fallout 10 fully modded and take a break for my microwave meals on wheels

Rizz · 24 Apr 2015 at 07:14

im 46 and still game, but when im a pensioner if I make it to that age I will be gaming, with my teeth in a glass and waving my walking stick at the screen everytime I get shot by some whipper snapper.