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Carl, 73 years, vampire hunter of the Dawnguard

21 comments

Once you're known as computer-literate to your friends and acquaintances, inevitable questions arise, along with true confessions. Do I know how to clear the browsing history? Someone accidentally opened the wrong sites. What's the age group targeted by the dating service Tinder? Recently, I suddenly became all ears: an ex-colleague, who's been enjoying his retirement for quite some time, was looking for a potent graphics card. What he wanted it for? "I want to play Battlefield." I didn't expect that. And it got even more interesting.

Old age doesn't prevent enthusiasm - thankfully

Not only was Kurt mauling his way through virtual trenches but he was also leading a small Facebook group for players over 70, the Gray Gamers, and kindly invited me to join. Half an hour later, I knew - there's a lot more to this group! Games are being discussed in depth, hardware tips passed around and solutions for technical issues exchanged. The members show no signs of behaving "according to their age" - it's great. Compared to similar groups, this group only differs in two aspects: the disadvantages of old age occasionally show (sometimes the game is too fast, the objects too small) and there's a bit of isolation as very few of their friends play computer games. However, that doesn't take anything away from the enthusiasm I encountered.

Carl knows every corner of the role-playing game Skyrim, he's spent over 600 hours there. Especially ever since his hip "started acting up", he's been exploring every cave and has become somewhat of an expert, providing tips and walkthroughs to other players. As a former building contractor, he's offended by how house building is handled in such a rudimentary way in the game, he clearly sees room for improvement but considers the rest of the game a masterpiece. In 1972, Carl read "The Lord of The Rings" with great enthusiasm and wished he could wander through similar worlds. Once he saw screenshots of Skyrim in a magazine, he was hooked. Two months and roughly €1000 later he took his first careful steps in an artificial world until routine settled in quickly. His friends now admire him for his new skills, marvel at the beauty of the game during their visits but don't feel confident enough to try it out for themselves, shame!

GTA - not suitable for every wife

Enthusiasm doesn't always meet with understanding. Robert doesn't play GTA (Grand Theft Auto) whenever his wife is near. A city filled with violence and vice and a husband that robs banks with a pump gun is just too much for her. That's why only his grandchildren know about his passion, his wife only sees harmless games that are "also really nice". But as soon as she leaves for choir practice, it's once again time for courier runs, robbing drug barons and performing breathtaking stunts. He's already anxiously awaiting the release of GTA 6 and intends to buy it on its release day, no reviews needed. "It's always worth it!" He woefully remarked in our chat that computer games were seldom discussed among fellow senior citizens and that "most can't think beyond Solitaire". So he'll just continue to discuss them with his grandchildren since no-one else is listening.

As soon as you read Edward's posts you'll know - soccer rules. Not only is his profile full of references to Bayern Munich but FIFA is his favorite game. He's been following every edition since 1996, fumed at every modification ("Scissors no longer work!") and got into raptures at the sheer beauty of the game. Even when his real-life team may be struggling at the moment, Edward will iron things out at home. He proudly sent me a picture of his stylish "gaming joint" that features a fan proper scarf, a gigantic display and an impressive collection of heavily worn controllers. To him, gaming is a family thing, up to three generations cram into his attic and lead his team to ever-lasting success.

Gone Home - on the footsteps of a tragic family history Gone Home - on the footsteps of a tragic family history

The group also has a single female member, Elizabeth, Kurt's spouse. She doesn't fancy action that much and prefers to reenact real life situations coupled with a whiff of mystery. Games like Gone Home that has players trace the steps of a fateful existence or Life is Strange that features a student with special powers who has to solve the disappearance of a fellow classmate are right up her alley. Beautiful visuals, a gripping story, little violence, that's what gets her. She doesn't mind that her characters may be US teenagers, "Humans are humans, problems remain, that doesn't change with age." So, until the gardening season begins, she'll probably spend a few hours relaxing over Firewatch, my tip, in which a melancholic park keeper solves puzzles, marvels at the wonderful scenery and learns a few life lessons. Kurt, her husband, would likely die of boredom, yet he still provides his loved one with hardware and gaming tips. Marriage is a lesson in tolerance.

The group's next project is collective online gaming. That's a tough nut, not for a lack of suitable hardware but because they simply can't agree on a game. Among aged sword masters, soccer fanatics since 1950 and space shooter zealots, working towards a consensus is no easy task.

When I left the group (I don't belong there yet!), I was impressed by the devotion and enthusiasm for gaming exhibited by its members. These aren't people that have no life or nothing better to do (an old cliché) but veterans of society that consider gaming a supplement to a life filled with family and hobbies. It's certainly more exciting and engaging than sitting in front of the TV all day long, that's the bottom line! Maybe I will turn into Carl once I retire. You're never too old to have fun, right?

What I would like to know: are there any gamers among the older generations of our readers or did I just happen to find a bunch of lovable "misfits"?

Important: all names in this blog were altered, including the name of the Facebook group. After all, these people don't like being bothered by trolls or TV channels hunting for new material.

Picture 3: Gone Home, The Fullbright Company

21 comments
  • K

    sounds interesting for all of us over 70 (just 75) myself!

  • K

    I am a young 78 and spend part of my day helping others who can not afford to pay for computer repair or just plain computer knowledge. I also fix and suggest equipment purchase for small companies who can not afford to pay for computer services. I do it all for free, expect nothing in return other than thank you. I don't play games as I don't have the time. but I sure do keep my mind active as I get all types of questions on all types of computers and computer systems. Thank you for this article and keep them coming.

  • B

    Hi Sven. Interesting. As others have indicated, being in the advanced youth (very advanced) age bracket doesn't mean the mind should vegetate. At 75, I shed games years ago as I need to do things that have a product (no criticism of gamers intended there - it's about keeping the mind active, for all of us). Being involved in music all my life, I recently discoved the world of DAWS (Digital Audio Workstations) where I can not only compose music, using music notation software, but orchestrate it realistically.

    So as well as composing and arranging music for my church, I can give more extensive treatment to that music. This allows me to write music scores for videos I make, using semi-pro video editing software. Then there's pro desktop publishing software for producing a polished parish magazine; and image processing software for images that go in the magazine.

    This usually means I'm doing three or four things at a time. And I just have to push the aging body to try and keep up with a mind that hasn't left its early thirties. Many people writing comments will readily identify with that!

    I suspect most, if not all of us, keep our minds going because it's in our makeup - we don't think, "Oh, I'm getting older, I must do something to stop my mind vegetating"; rather, we have a mental framework that wants to keep doing things, and the youthfully active mind is a consequence.

    A point of view that could raise discussion on causality.

  • D

    I'm only 50 (a bit of a young nipper to some of you guys) But I like to play MMO games. Currently going through Elder scrolls online..

    These games keep my mind working and flexible. Being medically retired means that I don't have a lot of contact with people face to face. But it helps that I am part of a guild in eso and can use voice chat during the game and discuss thing with other members all over the world.

  • S

    Being 69 years on ...I WATCH programs ...I do not simply view them and become immersed with the characters like I did when i was a child watching a black and white TV film for the first time it was Sanders of The River with Paul Robeson the black American singer.

    What's ..in a game...or entertainment itself come to that... Entertainment used to mean stealing from someone especially their cattle or possessions.

    Just as is described in the Irish Legend/Book on the exploits of King Cuchulain and King Conchobar called The Tain ...which means to ...to attain to achieve ..to possess the desired ...human condition. The Romans built ampitheatres to brutalise their own and subject peoples .maybe it caused their decline and fall.

    We are the sum total of all our accumulated life experiences and the gentle caring but so ...hungry hungry hungry... bankrupted world i was born into .. in 1947 has withered away and calcified as we became ...more grossly self satisfied securitised and insular. Is this gaming harmless ...whenever I walk into the TV room and my wife is watching a program it doesn't seem to take two minutes before some character on TV is getting shot strangled or their slit or poked somewhere sensitive by a shiv - or robbed blackmailed ,... invariably abused in some twisted way .. "entertainment indeed.

    So far my wife has been generally a kind and loving person but who knows ...she has not found my life insurance yet... How much entertainment can we humans absorb from generation to generation and remain human ...who knows?

  • N

    Wow, how cool. I'm only 82, but I love my games like Crysis3 and the Call of duty series. I only like FPS games as I can't be bothered trying to work out the moves to shoot the baddies.

    The only problem I find is the price we have to pay for our games in Australia, not easy on my lousy pension.

    But when I save up a bit I can buy that really fast graphics card, if I'm allowed to.

    As Graham pointed I also play alone for the same reason,

    and I agree with Michael that gaming keeps us young.

  • B

    A link to the grey gamers Facebook site would be nice. I've tried to google it without success.

  • R

    I'm 73 and switch on my computer prior to switching on my kettle in the mornings. I don't play games as I don't have the time.

    I have had computers since 1983. For much of my working life I was a photographer and that fanaticism still outweighs computing - but not by much.

    I am currently researching the history of the area where I live: pre-World War II it was farmland and had been since the Iron Age - but there are still many interesting stories to tell. I also write a weekly illustrated newsletter of around 1500 words to friends and family around the world. It is formatted to be read on a widescreen format to allow for interesting page layouts.

    I live in a retirement home where few know the world that computers and the Internet can open up for them.

  • M

    I'm like David Penrose who posted earlier about photography & Photoshop although I am a relative youngster at 66!

  • P

    I wish game developers would make some games for older people. I can't maintain the pace of action games at all. I die immediately, every time. Complicated controls are too frustrating to learn. Perhaps game developers don't have to create new games but just provide options for current or older games, options that allow for slower reflexes and weakened eyesight, for instance. The options would be adaptable for each customer. Perhaps I could just move a slider to slower reaction times, simpler controls. Instead of the enemy shooting me immediately, he hesitates, confused, doesn't see me at first, and gives me, the player, time to respond. As a player, when I got better at the game, I could go back to the slider controls and increase the pace a little. I am envious of those who can play some of these games. I don't like the gore in many games nowadays and that may be another option provided by the developer.

  • G

    You better believe it. The so called OLDER generation are enjoying the computer age as much as anyone. I know of a number of retired enthusiastic guys that play their choice of fun computer games, and regularly invite newbies to join them online. I - myself enjoy playing a number of action games - Mad Max - Deus Ex - Metro 2033 - Left for Dead - Dead Island and the like, but my choice is to play alone, I have a draw back - I don't want to hinder another players progress and screw up their action so stick to my own role playing, and progress at my own speed. the thing that made me choose this path of solitude was my computer - it would lock up or just shut itself off randomly, so if I was playing online with others it would screw up their game, that just aint fair.

  • D

    I'm 72 and enjoy a good dose of mindless violence as in the likes of Doom, Wolfenstein, Borderlands etc. It's pure escapism and helps take my mind of the loss of some close family members. I think my grandkids are amused by my game preferences!

    "Good dose of violence" :) That was the funniest thing I've heard today.

  • M

    I agree very strongly with the above. At 85 years young I think that the stimulation from gaming slows down the process of getting old.

  • D

    I just turned 79 yesterday and I game in some form or other nearly everyday. As for action type games I like Torchlight the best. I also play a lot of "pick three" games. From Candy Crush to the Playrix games like Fishdom, Around the World in 80 Days, etc.

    Don't share with family because they are all pretty much gone, and don't really like playing online games. I like to set my own pace. My volunteer job doesn't mind my playing games when things are slow.

  • S

    At 72 I don't play a lot of video games but I have spent the last year or so learning Microsoft Access and VBA (coding language). I have been able to develop and distribute applications to several local volunteer fire departments (at no charge) which allows them to automate several necessary administrative tasks and digitizes all the related records. I enjoy the challenge and find it gratifying that I can use my limited skills to help out worthy organizations.

  • a

    nice to see I have a future home in ten or so years

  • D

    At 74 I am definitely one of the older generation of your readers. However, I don't play computer games of any kind. Not because I have a derogatory attitude towards them, but because I just don't have time!

    However, I do spend many hours on my computer, because I'm a photography nut. So, when I'm not out taking photographs, I'm at my screen editing or manipulating them in Photoshop.

    Oh, and yes, I do still have a family life!

  • A

    I'm 51, so it depends on what your definition of "older" is. I still play the more action-oriented games, e.g., I'm currently playing through "Alan Wake," but as has always been true for me, I prefer the adventure games, i.e., the story-based puzzle games.

    In fact, I recently played through "Life is Strange" and it replaced the almost-20-year-old "The Longest Journey" as my all-time favorite, though I wouldn't say it doesn't have much violence—someone gets killed by a gun in the first few minutes of the game. I guess you could say you as the protagonist never resort to violence, except possibly to a door. ;-)

    "The Longest Journey" was awesome! And 51 is not that old as I´m almost 44. :)

  • L

    I and my wife are over fifties and retired. We enjoy playing different games, like hidden objects, enigma, The Treasures of Montezuma I and III, mahjong, chess, sudoku, three peaks, solitaire etc. Gaming is an important activity for us, because it maintains our brains active, and we have a lot of fun too. Along with other hobbies, they confer us a continuing good and active live, so we love them.

    I believe, the value of staying mentally active is often underestimated. Having to react, make decisions and solve logic puzzles challenges your brain in a positive way.

  • D

    I enjoy role playing a Gorean Physician in Second Life , even though I'm a retited electronics technician with only a certificate in Firest Aid in my background. One of my7 sons also roleplayes (being a vampire at some times and a Gorean warrior at others)

  • A

    At almost 80 and a retired farmer ( among other things!) I avoid games of violence and destruction but spend considerable time - not cash - playing Farmville - without the fantasy elements that keep cropping up too frequently.

    It's actually 'back to nature' when life was much simpler.

    Thanks for your blogs.

    The older I get, the less violent my games become, I noticed that about myself. “Farmville” is a logical choice. :) Many go for games that are related to their former jobs. Truck simulators, housebuilding etc.

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