Current Events > Fellow 30+ year old gamers, let us discuss gaming at our age.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Any things you like about it now that you didn't when younger? Any habits that are different now? Different tastes?

I'm 31 myself. I buy maybe 2-3 new full price games a year now. Everything else I wait until it's around $20. Sometimes $30 if I'm really interested. My backlog is fucking massive. Like, 20+ games. Yet I just keep replaying games I love and the occasional hot new game I want. I've stopped buying games on sale though because my backlog just keeps growing.
I find myself enjoying certain mobile games more than I thought I would, though I don't spend money on them.

I had a switch, but when I saw how fucking into Mario kart and breath of the wild my 7 year old nephew got, I just gave it to him. He plays it after his homework every day. His friend got one too and they play together all the time. Best $300 I ever spent tbqh.
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I don't buy any games, now. I just rack up "free" ones.
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I don't watch TV at all, so I actually haven't slowed down gaming much if at all. More single player/easily paused stuff is all.

i'm not 30, old man
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Went from liking shooters and story driven open world games to platformers and couch coop games
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I'm 29.5 lol. I love my switch. Have like 6 games in line to be played on it. Then Pokemon will be added to the list in November, and will also be put as top priority because Pokemon is one of my crack games.
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R_Jackal posted...

I don't watch TV at all, so I actually haven't slowed down gaming much if at all. More single player/easily paused stuff is all.

I never watch TV alone. Ever. Only YouTube on my phone and games on my TV. But I'm very rarely alone except like, the few hours after work before bed in the mornings. I also love suspend resume features lol. Can just pause and put the system to sleep and go do what I need to.

King Rial posted...

I don't buy any games, now. I just rack up "free" ones.

Most of my gaming consists of gacha shit and warframe, these days.
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I wish I loved playing games for 8 hours straight like I used to. Now it's just like 3 hours max, and that's rare.
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SoundNetwork posted...

Went from liking shooters and story driven open world games to platformers and couch coop games

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited for red dead 2, but I'm also worried because of the 8 ton gorilla in the room that is take 2 and GTA onlines influence.
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Oh and I'm back into Pokemon go hardcore. I play almost every day. But I suppose that isn't too bad since it does get me some exercise.
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nicklebro posted...

I wish I loved playing games for 8 hours straight like I used to. Now it's just like 3 hours max, and that's rare.

Same here. I'm lucky to hit 2 hours most nights these days. Probably why I've taken to warframe so much since two hours can get a lot done in that.

And gacha games can all be played on my breaks at work, so they fit.
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I'm 32. Gaming was my life until mid/late 20's. Preferred Nintendo/Sega. Everything is just gun crap now. I only own a Dreamcast and PC now. Played RuneScape for 17 years on and off. I'm retiring when they close Classic next month. Trying to sell my tower now. I love POGO, though. Honestly, I think I have carpal tunnel.

My tastes for games have changed to what I can find time for. As much as I'd love to play all the balls deep RPGs, honestly a round of two of mario kart works out better most of the time. I get too much guilt now if I spend 4 hours on a saturday getting sunk into a JRPG.

The unexpected bonus is that because I'm so fucking behind on my backlog and barely find time to play games, I'm still absolutely blown away by games or mechanics that are basically 10 years old at this point. So I can pick up games for cheap and absolutely adore them even though they're already really old news.
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I'm turning 35 in two weeks, and gaming has shifted a lot for me in the last few years. I found myself often buying games I wanted to share with others, but my friends all moved away. I'd have all these multiplayer games and nobody to play with. I've stuck with Nintendo since I was a kid. With a lack of funds and other hobbies I find myself only buying games occasionally. I still have games for my Wii and Wii U I haven't even opened. I find myself using my Wii U more for Netflix at the moment than I do games. Not that I don't want to play them, I just don't feel like I have the time. I'm considering getting a Switch, but I have no idea when that will be. A current favorite of mine is Shovel Knight. I'm also a fan of Resident Evil 7, yet I've never played it, only watched it.

Within the last few years I've met a few people here and many over Twitch. Along with some of my friends from the city we're all one big community over Twitch and Discord. I got into using Steam and we play along with a variety of games. My favorite being Terraria. I also stream occasionally and while I plan to play a variety I tend to stick around the classic MegaMan titles.
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I pretty much only play fps these days even though i try to force myself to play other games. Hellblade was the last single player game that held my attention long enough for me to beat it.

Kind of an overwatch/cod/fighting game bro these days
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I play all types of games including free indie games, just never AAA. AAA gaming is cancer
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i'm 27, so i can't be part of the old man club yet, but i've definitely noticed my interest waning. still love games but very few of them hook me and even when they do, i can't pour hours at a time into them

pres_madagascar posted...

I never watch TV alone. Ever. Only YouTube on my phone and games on my TV. But I'm very rarely alone except like, the few hours after work before bed in the mornings. I also love suspend resume features lol. Can just pause and put the system to sleep and go do what I need to.

Yeah, I legitimately don't watch TV though, even with other people I'll just halfass pay attention and likely be using Steam Link on my phone or playing on my switch. All the modern craze TV shows I just can't get in to at all, and I've never been a sports guy. Not even the Advent of Netflix/Hulu/etc had done much to make me care about shows.

I don't play competitive MP games anymore, no time to hone my skills. Co-op MP games like Helldivers & Deep Rock Galactic are my main games now. Still have a shitload of SP games in my library which I plan to go through when I reach retirement age.

I never buy games if they're not on sale.
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My tastes haven't changed much. I still play RPG, FPS and action/adventure single player games almost exclusively. I've completely given up on difficult platformers, though. My reaction times sure aren't what they used to be. Otherwise I find myself pushing the boundaries of game mechanics out of idle curiosity more than I remember, I guess.

Depression sure as fuck doesn't help. I'll play sometimes out of stubbornness, because it's something I want to want to do, but I can't really get into it (or anything else, to be fair). Don't watch TV, not sure I'm using Netflix enough to justify monthly payments. I still read a lot, but I can't lose hours in a book the way I used to.

I guess part of that is due to raising my niece, too, as well as having an incurable autoimmune disease. Tired all the time, everything hurts, adulting is dull.
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I buy way more games now than I did when I was younger. Tastes have changed, but only slightly. I prefer games with unique or interesting gameplay, and appreciate slower paced games a lot more.
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digital gaming ruined one of my top 3 series. yakuza 5 never got an english physical release.

incomplete games and dlc double dipping these days kills gaming completely.
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R_Jackal posted...

I don't watch TV at all, so I actually haven't slowed down gaming much if at all. More single player/easily paused stuff is all.

I watch shit-tons of TV, and game very little.
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King Rial posted...

R_Jackal posted...

I don't watch TV at all, so I actually haven't slowed down gaming much if at all. More single player/easily paused stuff is all.

I watch shit-tons of TV, and game very little.

Yeah, it seems to be the case for most around 30. Dunno, I've just never been interested in TV outside of when I was a younger kids with cartoons and the like. It's just never changed for me.

If I'm going to see a cliche story reiterated for the millionth time, I'd rather interact with it than watch it.

pres_madagascar posted...

My backlog is fucking massive. Like, 20+ games.

thats not a massive backlog lol. and no i am not being sarcastic.

kayoticdreamz posted...

pres_madagascar posted...

My backlog is fucking massive. Like, 20+ games.

thats not a massive backlog lol. and no i am not being sarcastic.

No kidding. I think my PS3/PS4/Vita backlog is at 300 something and Steam is an astronomical number.
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I used to be easy to please until about 2015... then everything increasingly sucked. I can't enjoy most games now and miss two and three gens ago a lot.
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R_Jackal posted...

Yeah, it seems to be the case for most around 30. Dunno, I've just never been interested in TV outside of when I was a younger kids with cartoons and the like. It's just never changed for me.

If I'm going to see a cliche story reiterated for the millionth time, I'd rather interact with it than watch it.

I've been hard into TV all my life, it never really dropped off for me. And right now is some of the very best television we've ever had. That's why so may stars are going to it, something you didn't see often back in the day. There is a lot of TV without cliche stories.
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Never really got into them first person or third person action games. Just doesn't have that energy level. There are some exceptions though, like GTA where I complete just the single player mode.

Not much multiplayer either, online or offline.

My ideal gaming experience is really just me laying on my bed, playing a story heavy, action light game like Danganronpa, Ghost Trick, Layton or Ace Attorney.

do_ob_tpkillr posted...

Not much multiplayer either, online or offline.

I love multiplayer, but local, not online. I used to game with my brothers and my sister. I miss that. I played a game online for the very first time last week. Virtua Fighter 5 Showdown. It was actually fairly fun. Better than playing against the computer. And the person I played the most matches with was super nice. He messaged me afterward and we had a polite exchange.
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King Rial posted...

R_Jackal posted...

Yeah, it seems to be the case for most around 30. Dunno, I've just never been interested in TV outside of when I was a younger kids with cartoons and the like. It's just never changed for me.

If I'm going to see a cliche story reiterated for the millionth time, I'd rather interact with it than watch it.

I've been hard into TV all my life, it never really dropped off for me. And right now is some of the very best television we've ever had. That's why so may stars are going to it, something you didn't see often back in the day. There is a lot of TV without cliche stories.

Yeah, but the book based shit I've already read by and large, I'm not particularly interested in reboots, and comic based stuff never stacks up to the actual comics. I've always been more in to reading and gaming than TV though.

I look at what's on TV now as I half watch with friends/family and see little fundamentally different than a decade ago.

I'm 43. Very sad to say that my gaming habits, enthusiasm, and perspectives have changed, but I'm also glad to report that I do at least still maintain my gaming hobby.

For me, I think as I've gotten older, gaming has proportionately become less impressive, less exciting, and less compelling. I've been playing since I was about 6. My first console was a brand new Intelevision when I was 8 back in the early 80s.

I've told myself that I do not want to stop though. I feel like I need to keep the torch lit, that if I gave in and gave up that I'd be leaving something important about myself behind.

So, I still play. BUT, the time I spend playing and the number of games I get (or get into) is tapering off. I often have to force myself to play. It's ironic a little because now that I'm an adult I can have a big collection, different consoles, and play as much as I want. But the want-to is fading rapidly as I get older.
It just isn't like the old days anymore, but there is a light and it never goes out.

Turned 30 this year and I don't think I've lost interest in games at all since I was a kid. The only thing that's really changed is on days off I won't immediately jump out of bed and continue what I was playing the night before like I used to.

I really should figure out a way to make money out of this somehow.
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The main thing that's changed is I try not to replay games, whereas when I was younger I basically had to because I didn't have as many. The urge to play my favorites again is strong but in general I try to find new experiences. You only have so much time for games.

My backlog is mostly from past gens because I want to play non-hype actually good games. I don't even think about how old or new a game is. I still play games to get away from real life, so I have no interest in online play because to me it breaks immersion and introduces the unwanted element.
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R_Jackal posted...

Yeah, but the book based shit I've already read by and large, I'm not particularly interested in reboots, and comic based stuff never stacks up to the actual comics. I've always been more in to reading and gaming than TV though.

I'm not talking about comic, reboot, or book based stuff at all. None of that stuff is great television. That's all mindless television. And that's fine to watch, if that's what one likes. But I'm talking about stuff like The Americans, Billions, Mr. Robot, Atlanta, Fargo, Narcos, Animal Kingdom, etc. Even somewhat recently cancelled shows like American Crime and Aquarius, or comedies like The Good Place, and You're The Worse, are really great. Much better than ever before. Even overly manufactured, emotional masturbatory shows like This Is Us have a higher bar for writing and acting than some good shows 20 years ago.
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I don't have to be as picky buying games as I used to because I actually have money now. Because of this I end up slogging through more mediocre games and wondering if I'm getting sick of gaming. Then once in awhile something will resonate and I'll remember what I like about it.

Time wise I actually have more time to devote because my interest in tv has gone down over the years and I work fewer hours than in my 20s. I've taken up other hobbies as I've aged though so that somewhat bridges the gap.
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Im getting close to 30 and have been gaming less. Only play PUBG with the homies and Garden warfare 2 with my wife.

Most games dont interest me at all.
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King Rial posted...

R_Jackal posted...

Yeah, but the book based shit I've already read by and large, I'm not particularly interested in reboots, and comic based stuff never stacks up to the actual comics. I've always been more in to reading and gaming than TV though.

I'm not talking about comic, reboot, or book based stuff at all. None of that stuff is great television. That's all mindless television. And that's fine to watch, if that's what one likes. But I'm talking about stuff like The Americans, Billions, Mr. Robot, Atlanta, Fargo, Narcos, Animal Kingdom, etc. Even somewhat recently cancelled shows like American Crime and Aquarius, or comedies like The Good Place, and You're The Worse, are really great. Much better than ever before. Even overly manufactured, emotional masturbatory shows like This Is Us have a higher bar for writing and acting than some good shows 20 years ago.

I've seen most of that and it didn't really work for me. Didn't check the comedies though, about the only thing I really watch on TV when I get the itch. I've always hated TV dramas and crime stories though.

I hardly play video games anymore. I think the only game I really play on my Ps4 is Battlefield. Not even sure how many games I own, not many...I share them all with my brother.

I can't get into single player games at all. I can't get as immersed in games or their stories like I used to when I was younger.

My attention span at this age is only good for online FPS I feel. I need games I can pick up and play for a short amount of time and be satisfied.
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I didn't watch TV for about a decade before I finally caved and subscribed to Netflix. I mostly use it when my girlfriend is over and mostly only then while we eat, but I do still find myself watching stuff on it randomly just to get my money's worth.

I don't really blame anyone for shunning TV, but a lot of anti-TV people are the same type that watch stuff on youtube all day, so it's not like they've really stopped watching, it just shifted to something else.
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pres_madagascar posted...

Most of my gaming consists of gacha shit and warframe, these days.

lol same here...although the NMS update is coming out today, so i'll probably check that out.
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I'm 29 and GM in Overwatch (Such an accomplishment I know), so my gaming skills haven't dulled any. My attention span/care though? Holy fuck yes that's pretty much gone.

One major thing that's changed with me and videogame plots though...Rule of cool does not impress me anymore, I care more about character development, I care WAY more about dialog/writing (which is why JRPG's are quickly becoming my least favorite genre since the dialog/writing is always so fucking atrocious).
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Ill play the occasional single player if its stellar (witcher 3,etc), but for the most part its online MP anytime i game. Depends on what the boys are playing but honestly after HS, college, Med school, now residency theres always someone online playing something. Recently have been shifting between SMITE, fortnite, rocket league, BF1, and Enter the Gungeon (next door neighbor comes over for beer and games).
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I'm 41, haven't played FPSs seriously since I quit Destiny post-ROI. That game was easily sucking up 80%+ of my gaming time.

Nowadays, I find I'm more willing to give indie titles a chance, when even 5 or 6 years ago I might not have bothered. The five most recent games I've played were (in alphabetical order) Fable Anniversery, Forgotton Anne, LEGO Marvel's Avengers, Little Nightmares and Mass Effect: Andromeda.
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I'm 33 and even though I still really enjoy gaming most of my other hobbies are just more interesting and other things in my life take priority. I might get 5 hours a week in on average. I do try to dedicate one night a week to just playing a game though

I actually bought a Switch the other day and that's pretty much going to be my only gaming platform from now on (still haven't hooked it up though). Single player games like Breath of the Wild and quick sessions of Mario Kart are all I pretty much need these days

Maybe in the future I'll get back into it more, but I'm fine with only playing a few games a year
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Oh, 31 here btw. Has anyone else just just become disinterested in competitive games? I have trouble keeping up with FPS's nowadays and I just can't put up with the bullshit of toxic/trash talking players. The line "I don't have time for this shit" crosses my mind these days when it comes to that kind of stuff. My gaming time is limited and I want to have fun, not spend 40 minutes in a DOTA match where i'm getting an onslaught of abuse from other players because my response time/innate knowledge of the mechanics/meta isn't on par with some young sponge who soaked all that up easily.
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This topic made me go play some Team Fortress Classic.

38 here. Honestly, I don't feel my tastes evolved all that much. I still find myself getting into platformers, JRPGs, puzzle games, etc.

As for frequency, it's still my main hobby, combined with my continued guide writing. My tastes for writing guides have slid around a bit. I started out in Star Wars games and a lot of different Nintendo stuff, then I hit LEGO games hard once they started getting popular. Not long ago I hit the Yakuza series like a ton of bricks. Currently working on my fifth Yakuza guide.

I still don't really play a lot of games with other people. While I can certainly have fun with FPS shooters and other team-based stuff, I never remain with them. Longest stretch I had was with Left 4 Dead 2 when we had a dedicated CE group.
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