I just bought my mother her first PC game

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Soldato
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lol she's 53 years old and whilst I've always tried to get her to take an interest in some form of gaming - don't ask why, I don't have an answer - she's always outright refused screaming "I can't! I don't like it!" and then runs away to watch Strictly/I'm a celebellend etc. lol.

However 2 days ago I found out that she plays this browser game on facebook where you build a zoo and gift people animals, and it's basically just a watered down version of theme park world, but with a zoo. She's super addicted to it, checks it every couple hours to buy new animals, raise ticket prices, place kiosks etc. and after some evasive questioning found out that she really liked this system of gaming and thought when I played theme park world on playstation 10 years ago that it was a pretty cool game. She also said she'd play more games like it if there were any. (little does she know)

So, I just bought her Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 + expansion for christmas :D

Oh to see her face when she opens it :p
 
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My mum (mid 50's) has racked up something like 200 hours on Plants vs Zombies, she is up to something silly like 300 flags on endless survival.
When she first started I got "stupid game" and "why waste my time with this rubbish" but now she plays quite often, at least only once a day to water her zen garden.

Hope your mum does like the gift (although I'd say its quite a step up from what I've heard about the FB mini game)... just as long as she has her own system to play it on, unlike mine who borrowed my laptop 6 months ago for a few hours.
 
Fromez said:
My mum (in her 60s) saw me playing Fallout 3, and said she'd like to play it.

Made me laugh inside for a week.
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As someone who is nearly fifty, I have to ask: why did it make you laugh? Are you saying only children should appreciate a game like F3? I'd argue the opposite: some of the subtlety probably requires a fair experience of life. It's also worth noting that another Bethesda game, Morrowind, had a big following amongst both women and older gamers. Again, it was the complexity and subtlety of the gameplay which attracted such gamers.


M
 
NathanT said:
My mum (mid 50's) has racked up something like 200 hours on Plants vs Zombies, she is up to something silly like 300 flags on endless survival.
When she first started I got "stupid game" and "why waste my time with this rubbish" but now she plays quite often, at least only once a day to water her zen garden.

Hope your mum does like the gift (although I'd say its quite a step up from what I've heard about the FB mini game)... just as long as she has her own system to play it on, unlike mine who borrowed my laptop 6 months ago for a few hours.
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lol I hear ya, it started as "cos I'm bored", "to pass the time", and now it's "gona go check my zoo and buy another reptile!" lol

But she'll be getting this system in january when I'll be splashing 800 on a new one for myself.
 
My mum's just turned 53 and she's got a DS, a wii, a web-book, laptop, ipod, uses forums, social networking sites etc, so she's pretty clued up. I remember when she discovered internet messaging about 6/7 years ago and I didn't hear from her for a month. She constantly surprises me by being completely up for anything technology wise. I recently gave her an email address on my webspace and her user name is technomummy :D
 
Got my mum a HTPC, took me the best part of a month to show her how to use Windows Media Player. At first she was literally stunned that the mouse (optical) controlled an arrow on the screen, then whilst I was watching the TV for her doing stuff it stopped moving and she's like "It's not working!", so I turn around and she's waving it around mid-air like a wand. I'm not sure mine is quite ready for any gaming :P
 
My grandad used to play Tekken 2 with me when he was 82 :D


My mum is seriously addicted to 'Farmville' on facebook, and Plants vs Zombies
 
Try her on Zoo Tycoon, she might like that. The original was buggy as hell, but they may have patched that up. If she likes that, next step's Prison Tycoon, then F.E.A.R. She'll be leet in no time.

My mate's mum has always been a fan of the zelda games. She's fit as hell, to. He hates that.
 
Thing is, I see a huge difference between 40 and 50 year olds now. I'm 40, and literally grew up along side the computer gaming industry - so I'm avidly interested in it, as I can trace the whole thing from it's beginnings.

Give it another 20 years and people will look strangely at ANYONE who doesn't play games :D
 
Meridian said:
As someone who is nearly fifty, I have to ask: why did it make you laugh? Are you saying only children should appreciate a game like F3? I'd argue the opposite: some of the subtlety probably requires a fair experience of life. It's also worth noting that another Bethesda game, Morrowind, had a big following amongst both women and older gamers. Again, it was the complexity and subtlety of the gameplay which attracted such gamers.


M
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I agree with your points...it's just you don't know my mum! I'm not laughing at old gamers in general. I'm sure in 20-30 years time I'll still be gaming.

It's just that my mum isn't really the type, has never gamed in her life apart from those handheld games (e.g. control a boat saving survivors from a falling helicopter), and visually looks like Miss Marple. I had to teach her how to properly use a mouse two years ago. I'm encouraging her though, and recently installed The Longest Journey on her netbook as a gentle introduction.
 
Back in the 90's when I was 6 or so playing the megadrive and sonic 2. I used to get my mum to put in the cheat code for me. :p

But as of late... She still doesn't have a mobile phone to her name. :(
 
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