When Are People Expected To Grow Out Of Games??

A quote to live by

It's not okay in Game, I swear these people are killing my IQ...

gaming rocks! it'll be a sad day if i get bored of it but I doubt that will happen!

I think the deal with people considering gaming to be for children is all in the name. Kids play games. The stuff gamers play however are nothing of the sort they require interaction and a brain. When people start to realise that they are different and that they are in no way childish they will realise gaming is just another hobby like any other and not limited to a certain age group.

I recently set up a PC for a doctor (in his 50s). This man has every combat game (Medal of Honor, Special Ops, etc.) than I could imagine. His wife tells me that if she wakes up at 4 AM, she could swear she hears the phrase, "Advance in 2 by 2 standard formation" coming from his PC".

Grow out of games? It all depends on the person; some will, some won't.

I will be 60 in October and my wife asks the same question -- when am I going to grow out of computer games?

Here's my guess, we don't necessarily grow out of computer games. Instead, we change interests from time-to-time. That can happen at 12 or 62.

In my long life I've had times when all I wanted to do was play golf, or fish, or mess with my ham radio, or play games. It seems to go in cycles. But the core interests - and with me that includes gaming - tend to stick around, they get neglected at times, but the stuff that really makes us happy seems to survive these dormant periods and reappears later.

Truth FTW!!! T.V. just puts me to sleep if I sit down to watch it.


I am 26 years old and married. My wife is also 26 and we both play Guild Wars usually 5 nights a week. We have a 2 year old son that we both adore. I also work full time. In my mind work is just a way to get enough money to live nicely.

I do not ever plan to stop playing games. I did have to play a little less after I got married, and then even less once my son came into this world. I also know that as he gets older I may have less time to play, however, I do plan to involve him in some gaming a few years down the line. I am still able to get in 15-20 hours of Guild Wars a week, I am involved in 4 multiplayer text sim football leagues, and I am a clan leader in a game called Kingdom of Loathing.

People that think you should out grow games are the ones that don't understand them. Most of those same people probably watch hours of T.V. every night instead. Many of them think that us gamers are odd maybe even dangerous people. They are told this by the popular media. For some reason it is deemed ok to watch murders, rape, and death on T.V. or in movies, but it is not ok to play games with bloodless fighting.

Anyways, that is my 2 cents. Don't let people try to tell you that you are less of a person for finding your relaxation and entertainment from video/computer games.

Ha! You don't need large amounts of money to attract a woman. I'm 31, was a dirt poor graduate student that liked to play games (20 years and counting) and was able to get married (to a NON-gamer) and still enjoy playing. Of course as more things in RL happen, the less time there is to devote to gaming, but that's no different than any other hobby. As for living vicariously throguh your kids, not there yet, but I imagine sharing your hobby with your kids must be awesome. If they don't happen to be into it, well now there's no one to hog your gaming machine

I've always wondered if the reason I find TV so dreadfully boring is because I play so many games? With TV you're not part of the action, only watching, and with few exceptions I find that dreadfully dull.

True. That said, I think one must also face the fact that being a grown-up gamer really is quite geeky. It's like being an avid golfer, or stamp collector, or model railway enthusiast - geeky, but fundamentally harmless unless it becomes an obsession.

11 years and counting! I don't think i'll ever grow out of gaming.

Gaming is entertainment, and can continue to be entertainment no matter the age. Just like bingo, gambling, card playing, movies, tv, wrestling, NASCAR, so on and so forth.

Any of the above can lead to dangerous habits and addiction, just as gaming can. It's important with any hobby to seperate yourself and take a step back every once in a while. Gaming is increasing in popularity because the gaming population has aged and more and more younger people are joining in.

For MMOG's, only 25% of gamers are teenagers. 50% work full-time, 36% are married, and 22% have children. MMOG players spend an average of 22 hours a week in the gaming environment and it's not indicative of age. In other words, older players spend the same amount of time playing these games as younger players.

Another caricature of video gamers is that they are solitary hermits, but the data on MMOG players show that 80% of MMOG players play with someone they know in RL (a romantic partner, family member, or friend)on a regular basis. MMOG's are in fact highly social environments where new relationships are forged and existing relationships are reinforced.

All the above data is from the Daedalus Project, but it's clear that gaming still has it's stereotypes. That gaming is something to "grow out of" and that all gamers are teenagers.

I dont really see why people "grow out of it".

This is under the fallacy that Games are for kids.

Thats utter nonesense.

Adults play the hardest games of all. Life, love, relationships, family.

Except theres no reset or UAX >.>

I'm 30, I've been gaming since the atari/intellivision days. Have owned or been friends with someone who owned every major and semi-major console released in the U.S.; used to game on Commodore 64 and 128; used to own an original Pong tabletop arcade game. I highly doubt I will ever stop gaming. I still play D&D, although being married with a newborn baby has cut into my gaming time quite a bit.

From http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php

My googlefu is still in top form.

I total agree! There is so much crap on TV thats bad for children: rape, death, MTV beach party wet t-shirt contests ....etc, etc. I see parents that limit the amount of time their children are allowed to play computer games, yet they let them watch whatever they want to on TV

I'm 36 years old and have played games off and on since I was around 9 or 10 (Donkey Kong any one?). I naturally kinda stopped playing games around the age of 16 after I got a car and discovered how to get girls into my car
I had some hard partying years from age 18-24 that included non-stop drinking and other things I dare not mention I got that out of my system and got married at the age of 24 and we now have 2 children, so from age 24-30 what pretty much a growing up period for me on how to be a good father (Diaper changing FTW!) i started to get interested in video games again when Playstation and Nintendo game became more involved with better graphics, and played mostly console games until a friend of mine turned me on to Counterstrike. So I broke down and learned how to build computers to support my new hobby I've played tons of computer games since then, Counterstrike, Day of Defeat, Unreal Tournament, almost every good MOD created for Half life and Half life2, Diablo 2, and then now I almost exclusively play Guild Wars. So, here I am! I don't know where I'll be in another 10 or 20 years, but I hope that I'm happy and healthy.

My attitude towards life has changed over the past decade. When I was in my teens I thought I would live forever and never grow old, but in my mid 20's I started to experience deaths in my family for the first time and I started to become aware of my own mortality. 2 grandfathers, my uncle, my father, and now my grandmother just this year are now passed away

The only constant in life is change. Be happy and do what you enjoy, after all it is your own life and no one elses. As long as your not hurting yourself or others, then theres no harm in it.


It's just to bad for me that I can't identify the other adult gamers in real life that play Guild Wars (The only time I run into other gamers is at the local Gamestop), which are mostly kids and teens. Usually if you pass by another adult in the mall you would never guess that they play Guild Wars also.

Uhhh... you could join my guild and that would be cool, but theres four people in my guild and I am the only one who ever plays anymore, so we're not exactly "active." Im actually thinking of joining a new guild so I can gvg.

My guild used to have like 15 members and we used to gvg, but people stopped playing, and the few active members left for another guild.

And besides, its not like all games are designed for 9 year olds. Would you expect a toddler to appreciate the beauty of a game like XIII or Max Payne?

I am 38 years old and love PC gaming. I usually play at night because I'd rather be intrigued by a PC game, any game really, than sit and watch tv. Unless there is a sporting event on, I find sitting in front of the tv very boring. So after my daughter goes to sleep and after relaxing with my wife, off to my computer I go.

There is a reason tv is called the boob tube. PC games let you use your imagination. So if I'm not doing something with my family or friends, gaming is my choice.

Well, my introduction to computer gaming was in a "maze of twisty, little passages..." on a mainframe.

I'm now 62 and retired and having a blast finally playing games the way I want . I really believe that you've lost something when you no longer have the imagination and fantasy enjoyment to enjoy gaming on the computer.

Larry...with another 10-20 years of RPG's, shooters, and flight sims to go

21 years old here...(as of 06/26/06, yay me!)

First, I somehow get the feeling that the "obsession" the OP is talking about, and finds so funny, is when people get annoyed about immature behavior in games. If that is the case, tough, that's not obsession it's having standards. If that's not the intended meaning then nevermind.

Second, grow out of games? Never. I'm taking online courses to have a career in them. Yay Internet!

I don't think, society as a whole will ever really escape games because, in truth, most games help you do one thing that most people normally can't do in their real lives. Be a hero.

People are always looking for something to be good at. Some way to stand out. (in their own opinions)

Some find it in pure competition (PvP) seeking to litterally "outdo" other people. Others find it in accululation of "wealth" amassing large fortunes of the best items and lots of money. (PvE) And some find their place as a balence between the two. But ultimately the quiet underlying goal is generally the same, we want to be heros.

And truely, there's nothing wrong with that.

For me, I belive gaming will always be a part of my life. I am 28 now. Even though I don't play as much as I used to. However I don't think I could imagine not having a game around to play. It is like asking when we are supposed to outgrow movies....Never is my opinion.

I'm 31 and been playing games since I was 9 (for the math challenged that's 31-9=22 years!)

The average age of a gamer is continually rising as many of those who played wolfenstein/quake/duke nukem and even galaga/pacman/pong are now adults who still play games.

It will take a generation or two for the general public to realise that playing games is a perfectly acceptable passtime for an adult.

I watch very little TV and instead use my TV time to play games.
Should adults stop watching TV? -no. Is it socially acceptable for everyone to watch TV? - yes.
The same will happen with gaming as populations mature especially as games become more socialable (sp?).

I am more interested in games now than ever and can't see my infatuation ending any time soon. It's my hobby - it's not just for kids.

As for the OP's comments regarding addictiveness and life consuming - if you have enough self control it shouldn't be a problem espeically as GW isn't a pay to play game (you don't feel that you need to be "on" the whole time to get your money's worth - a bit factor for me).

Many of my younger family members have gone through their "gaming phase" and no longer play - I don't know if I'm the exception or they are....

Real life may well tear you away. If you really like the game, however, chances are you'll find a balance that works for you... maybe even an hour or two a week. When my guild played Mechwarrior online, I'd say our average age was in the mid to late thirties. We've recruited a bunch with GW so we're young again, lol.

I am unsure of you defination of "Growing Out".

When you are young, you tend to have more time to spend on gaming, and it become a life style choice (however, unable to differenciating between reality and game is a very serious problem) As you become older, the society become more expect of you, and press more and more responsiblity on to you, as well as there tend to be new interest, like girlfriend and friend and other entertainment medias, that will cut into part of time. So yes, you are expect to grow out of gaming, though you can still keep it as a hobbie, like any sport, and live a very normal and good life.

However, the society tend to not look kindly on those those who are beyond college age, jobless, live with their parents, and do nothing but play game all day long.

So expect your gaming habbit to be change as you mature, but as they say, once you are a gamer, you will always be a gamer.

to thread poster:

there was never a set age for games -didnt you know? the ratings are just minimum age limits. never seen a rating with Age 65 and under (lol)

and the best games imo are the ones you can get sucked into, its not exactly obsession right off, its an escape from reality - something most of us need from time to time cause lets face it. life does suck one way or another. thats my take on it.

a real reason why you would see people older now playing games is because they're the ones who first started playing pong and pacman etc. so really this is all just beginning. heard of the nintendo Wii? well the goal of that is to get your parents, your grandparents, and other people who never played a video game to start. wouldn't that be fun?

do what you want, but theres no such thing as growing out of games.

I think everyone should have fun in life, if games is your fun then play as long as you want

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I'm 32 and I don't know that I'll ever outgrow games.

I went from Atari to DOS to NES/SMS to Genny/SNES and straight on through to now.

I can't play as much as I did when I was 20, but my oldest child now enjoys games too, so I get to play with her.
Anyone who says games are just for kids hasn't played Donkey Konga with the wife, a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old!
Since they are kids, we don't play anything violent (although my daughter has "caught" me playing GW on numerous occasions). But she loves Mario games, Guitar Hero, just about anything on the N64 and lots more.


Video games have become a family experience for me. We also enjoy board games and, you know, actually going outside, but games are an important part of our lives.

The correct answer is never.

Games are the new emerging art form. Saying that there's an age where you outgrow games is just as ludicrous as saying that you can outgrow music or movies.

Well, I'm 28 my husband is 32, my brothers 31 and my dads 56 and we all still "got game". LOL You should see my dad pwn. Mr business professional gets mighty pissy though when he loses, lemme tell you. I grew up with games..we had atari like the day it came out....then we were the first we knew to have a home computer...same goes for the sega thingie and then all the various incarnations of nintendo... Anyone know or/remember a puter game called digger? Damn I'm old. But my parents used to "fight" over who got to play. Hehehe.. My brother currently plays his 360 with his kids..who are 2 and 1 (the non-violent games of course..and well, they aren't really playing...but you should hear them squeel with delight as they mash on the controller). My mother has always assumed the role of the "co-pilot" she loves watching my dad play and tell him he's going the wrong way/going around in circles etc. Great back seat driver. hehehe
Guess what I'm saying is that games are somewhat of a family experience (and no that's not the only thing we did as a family) but I do have fond memories of those times..and we still play games together when we are able.

I have been playing games for a while (approx 20 years I think) and I don't see myself "growing out" of gaming, although I don't play as much as I used to play. My oldest child is now a little over 2 and I can hardly wait until she is old enough to play games with me (donky konga sounds cool!).

Unfortunately video games are addictive, just the same as heroin, crack, meth(well not to those with ADHD), tobacco, alcohol, ex, sex, porn, running, and anything else is addictive. It is my opinion that if it starts taking over your life (addiction), you should think very seriously about making some changes and get help if needed.

As fars as whether work will change you? Most likely, but that doesn't mean that you have to give up anything that you find enjoyable (anything healthy that is).

Here are a couple examples of "older" gamers

I have a friend (age 24) whose wife "forced" him to give up gaming when they got married. One day they were at her mother's house and found his wife's old NES. Now she kicks his butt at Tetris, Castlevania, and other great games.

My uncle (age 63) bought a PS2 a few years ago. He had never owned a console in his life but wanted something that he could do for fun. It was a retirement gift to himself. As a bonus he can now play video games with his grandkids.

Seriously though, you SHOULD make some changes if it is consuming your life and causing physical, psycological, or social harm. You may not need to give them up entirely unless it becomes a cycle in which case, abstinence would be the best course.



Sorry, I went off a little about addiction, but I think it's still relevant.

Maybe think gaming as a casual sport, like Golf or Bowling.


Actually, it make me wonder about what are the genre trend in relation to age. Seem like younger people like shooter and platform more, while the older crowd like RPG and strategy more. Of couse, that could be completly wrong too. Interesting to see a poll or stastic on it.

59 here, and gaming since Chutes and Ladders at age 5 (yeah, it really does go back that far). Son 34, and daughters 32 and 19 are gamers, along with grandkids 6 to 16. Only the wife and one daughter pass on it.

Heh, my neighbor's mom is 80 with a PS2.

Im 29, been gaming for a good 20 years of that. I have owned various systems over the past two decades.. vic 20s, Ataris, Colecovision, Commdore 64, nintendo, playstation...etc etc.

The OP asked when is the proper time to "give up" gaming.. My answer is really quite simple. When you find that you no longer enjoy it, then thats the time you quit.

Ask anyone who plays a game of any sort as a hobby (card games & board games are still games) when they think they should stop. You'll probably get the same answer as most people have given here; when it's no longer fun.

A game is a game, and while my games of choice are on the PC they're no more time consuming than the games my Grandparents played. Actually, now that I think of it, my Grandma spent more time in a week playing Pinochle and Euchre than I ever have playing GW.

You're never too old to have fun, and that's all there is to it.

I'm approaching age 40, and my husband is in his mid-40's, and we play GW several times a week and have been gaming together since we met more than ten years ago. I don't know how much he used to game when he was a kid, but I played Pong and then all kinds of games on my family's Atari 800 computer. I can even remember buying PC magazines which, at that time, printed the code for simple games (think downhill skiing and bats flying through caves) and then spending a Friday night typing the code so that I could play all weekend long.
I didn't play much during college, but after school, I bought a PC and started playing MYST, and since then I've played all kinds of games ---->shooters, strategy and rpgs mostly. I can't imagine a life without PC games, and I don't foresee quitting.
All of that said, it's important to me to keep my gaming in perspective. It is a hobby - one of several - that I must consciously make time for in my day to day life.
To the OP --->Clearly I don't believe that society should be my guide here. I will stop gaming only if I want to. And I don't believe that most people feel particularly pressured to quit because of societal forces; however, if you find your close friends and family pressuring you to quit because you're ignoring them in favor of gaming, you might want to think about your situation. I believe in internet and gaming addictions, and I believe such addictions can wreak havoc on lives. Play in a healthy way.

The first leader of my very first guild was a proud 50 something woman who enjoyed roleplaying here. EQ has people in their 70s that I level grinded with regularly before moving on.

If there is an age limit for gamers, I have yet to find it. The average for most video gamers today are in their late 20s, like me.

It's an escape like a good book, a cool movie/television show, etc.

Growing up means accepting responsibility. It doesn't mean you have to give up ALL your toys.

People don't grow out of games. People never have. Just because it uses a computer instead of a golf club doesn't mean anything.

Hear, hear!

I'm not worried at all that games will incite violence in our youth. I'm worried that they'll destroy communication skills.

Well, it does mean less fresh air and a fatter posterior.

Or did you just mean in terms of fun? If so, I agree with you.

43 here, and a firm believer that you are born a gamer and die a gamer.

It's not something you grow into or out of.

It's what you are.

if its becomes your first priority after work, and if you know you spend an aweful lot of time on games >24yrs of age, you know its unhealthy for you and should cut down... thats when you should start settling down.

the only exception is if your a games developer or associated roles.

Some people grow out of it some don't it depends on whats happening in their life, if something great comes along you'll spend less time on games than you would if you didn't have anything great, and eventually grow out of it, you'll find yourself pulling away from games.

It's not "at this age you should be doing this and that" it's more like how you - yourself have grown and in what environment that affects your role as a gamer.