A Gamer Looks at 25...

In almost no way is a 25 year old meant to feel too aged to do much of anything, but for me it feels like lately I am told on an almost daily basis I am getting too old for something. Games are a part of my life, and have been for as long as I can remember. Some of my strongest memories of childhood revolve around the games I played alone or with friends, at my home or in the arcades, which during the late 80's and early 90's which made up my formative years, seemed to be everywhere. Now, gaming has gained momentum in ways unimagined in my youth, and yet it is still seen as a lesser hobby, even by those whose evenings frequently consist of reality television, arguably the most vapid pastime ever invented. In many ways I accept that gaming is a rejection of mature pursuits, but I reject as false the assertion that it is not as worthy a pursuit as most.
That being said, I have changed as a gamer. I don't know when exactly it happened, but I no longer will suffer through a tedious or frustrating experience just to beat a game. My "Shame Pile" of unbeaten games has grown from a pile to a mountain, which will never be summited. I spend as much time reading about games or listening to podcasts about them while at work, as I do playing them. But I don't see myself ever "growing out of it". Maybe I'll wane for a while, and there are times where I am sure to indulge a bit too deeply, at the cost of more important endeavors, but this isn't a phase.
I hope to someday be able to share my passion of gaming, both video and traditional, with my children and their children. To pass along sage advice about the way things were in what will be known to me as the golden era of gaming, when I was a child, discovering all that the games of what will be then a bygone era had to offer. I look to the future, to redefine what the limits of this medium will bring. Games like Heavy Rain, and the continuation of the Mass Effect storyline excite me with all the same wonderment and joy I felt as a child, as I unboxed my NES, complete with my very own NES Zapper, with it's light metallic "ping" which registered my every fired shot, whether it be at ducks, clay pigeons, or redneck assassins in the backwaters of Louisiana. Seriously, Bayou Billy, what the fuck?

In almost no way is a 25 year old meant to feel too aged to do much of anything, but for me it feels like lately I am told on an almost daily basis I am getting too old for something. Games are a part of my life, and have been for as long as I can remember. Some of my strongest memories of childhood revolve around the games I played alone or with friends, at my home or in the arcades, which during the late 80's and early 90's which made up my formative years, seemed to be everywhere. Now, gaming has gained momentum in ways unimagined in my youth, and yet it is still seen as a lesser hobby, even by those whose evenings frequently consist of reality television, arguably the most vapid pastime ever invented. In many ways I accept that gaming is a rejection of mature pursuits, but I reject as false the assertion that it is not as worthy a pursuit as most.
That being said, I have changed as a gamer. I don't know when exactly it happened, but I no longer will suffer through a tedious or frustrating experience just to beat a game. My "Shame Pile" of unbeaten games has grown from a pile to a mountain, which will never be summited. I spend as much time reading about games or listening to podcasts about them while at work, as I do playing them. But I don't see myself ever "growing out of it". Maybe I'll wane for a while, and there are times where I am sure to indulge a bit too deeply, at the cost of more important endeavors, but this isn't a phase.
I hope to someday be able to share my passion of gaming, both video and traditional, with my children and their children. To pass along sage advice about the way things were in what will be known to me as the golden era of gaming, when I was a child, discovering all that the games of what will be then a bygone era had to offer. I look to the future, to redefine what the limits of this medium will bring. Games like Heavy Rain, and the continuation of the Mass Effect storyline excite me with all the same wonderment and joy I felt as a child, as I unboxed my NES, complete with my very own NES Zapper, with it's light metallic "ping" which registered my every fired shot, whether it be at ducks, clay pigeons, or redneck assassins in the backwaters of Louisiana. Seriously, Bayou Billy, what the fuck?

Good first blog. Welcome to the bomb.

Thanks, I am a big fan of the Bombcast, and have been following the Endurance Run for a while as I try to beat Persona 4, after a decade of swearing off JRPG's. This is an amazing site, and I hope to contribute in some small way.

" Good first blog. Welcome to the bomb. "

Yeah, I started to feel the same way around the time I got my A.A. and started my bachlors. But I try not to let it get to me, I mean I feel like this will always be a hobby and when ever I get into the mood and the world is stressing me out. I can always pop in some CS, own some face and forget about it.

" @Jayge said:

" Good first blog. Welcome to the bomb. "

Good, but it could be better. That said, does every gamer have some variant of the Shame Pile? I sort of have one, too, but I'm not sure if me and this guy are the only ones :P. "

" @Video_Game_King said:

" @Jayge said:

" Good first blog. Welcome to the bomb. "

Good, but it could be better. That said, does every gamer have some variant of the Shame Pile? I sort of have one, too, but I'm not sure if me and this guy are the only ones :P. "

I have a shame pile that I'm not ashamed of. "

Welcome! I'm in the same boat, but I'm only 22. Once I graduated from college, I found myself playing significantly less than I ever had. I guess it is just a need to balance everything. 

games are for all ages nowadays, its as simple as that,  do what makes you happy man.  as for my games shame pile, i don't really have one if i like a game i will try and complete all i can.  if not it just doesn't get done, no way is going to a shame pile.

cool beans dude. 

Wait until you're 44 years old and then go... What the fuck? I'm still playing games? I would not change a thing.

Welcome.

Now that you're comfortable, grow a pair and live your life like you want to.

"Welcome.Now that you're comfortable, grow a pair and live your life like you want to."

"I spend as much time reading about games or listening to podcasts about them while at work"

If you worked for me I would be pretty pissed off about that. I mean if I'm paying somebody to do a job, and while on the clock they go off and do their own thing, then that's kinda like stealing money out of my pocket. If I ever start a company I'm going to have to figure out a way to keep people from doing that kind of stuff when they're at work.

On another subject, I wouldn't exactly call it a "shame" to not finish a game. Some games just aren't that good and you loose interest. I've got Kameo around here somewhere, but I got bored with it and even tho I've been meaning to go back and mine some more points out of the game, I doubt I ever will.

Welcome to Giantbomb, Gin_Orphan.

 I am almost 27 and absolutely love gaming. I recently have been having an early midlife crisis of sorts due to my current situation (Immigrant to the US amongst other things) so I've been thinking a lot about things and this seems to be something that comes up a lot in my mind.

However, I am fortunate enough to have kids who love games, and I can see the joy that playing the games bring. For example, my four year old is psyched to play Monkey Island and learn about "that ghost pirate", and we like to talk about games. We played the demo of Trine together tonight and she was into that--She hates the skeletons, but loves the main characters.

I know that my tastes in games has definitely changed since I was younger though. I find myself much more in it for the story and characters, but with games really coming of age we get the best of both worlds.

You'll have to forgive me if I am a little incoherent. It's about 6:07 am and I haven't slept yet. Been busy messing around with the computer and other matters ;-) So I will just say "welcome" again before I fall asleep on the keyboard.

@DrewInJapan:
@Jambones:
It is refreshing to hear from men who have children who still find time for their passion for gaming.

Drew, did you end up in Japan as part of the JET program by any chance? One of my good university friends is there right now, and has been putting a small amount of pressure on me to try the ex-patriot experience out.

Jambones, your children sound precocious, instilling an early fear of LeChuck and animated skeletons is important in any child's development.

This is my first night active on the forums here, and I am staying up waaaaay past my bedtime, but am having a hard time sleeping. Good luck finding your way to the bedroom, mate.

37 years old and still enjoy gaming as much now as i did when i had my Spectrum 48K.  It was harder a few years ago when the kids were a little younger and less time was spent playing games.  Now they are older, they seem to be out a lot more and I work 3 days a week so plenty of time to play a few games (not that i'm any good still :-) ).  Also, it's great being able to play video games with the kids and make them the excuse that the reason you bought singstar was for them ;-)

I myself am 25 (turned that 3 weeks ago), and gaming has been a passion since my first donkey kong, when the game was 'console' itself. A new game, well, was buying a new machine (small though) basically.
When I'm 60 I'll probably love gaming just as much as now. Maybe my attention will have shifted from playing games to reading and hearing about them, as I love that just as much. Games with attention to the artstyle, story, like Grim Fandango are awesome in my eyes. But gameplay s equally important.
I've followed Jeff, Ryan, Brad and so when they still were on Gamespot, and have made a schoolarticle about Jeff being fired, starting up the giantblog and turning it into a community as giantbomb. Seeing how the gaming community followed Jeff to his Blog and start up something new, shows how much respect he gained over the years. My article was about how internetcommunities can be translated to real life situations, conflicts and History in general. Giantbomb has proven that people who work hard on something and stay true to their beliefs, gain followers & respect from all over the globe, age-class aside.
Giantbomb basically takes the excisting gamingsite-concepts and lets users of the site see them as a person, not just as articles about games.

So welcome to the site, enjoy!

You've hit the big 2 - 5, all downhill from there. Start thinking about getting married and kids and shit.

"

@DrewInJapan:
@Jambones:
It is refreshing to hear from men who have children who still find time for their passion for gaming.

Drew, did you end up in Japan as part of the JET program by any chance? One of my good university friends is there right now, and has been putting a small amount of pressure on me to try the ex-patriot experience out.

"

" Wait until you're 44 years old and then go... What the fuck? I'm still playing games? I would not change a thing. "

well, I'm liking your core actuality thinking paterns ^^

I've been playing video games since I was 5, back when the people who played games were primarily kids and teens.  My generation has grown up around games so it's no surprise that I and many people my age still play them.

And for the record, I'm 27.  Don't be ashamed... games aren't just for kids anymore.  Just ask your grandma who plays Wii Sports.

Welcome to Giant Bomb! I'll be hitting the big 2-5 in a few months, and like you I have been thinking. I've been gaming for as long as I can remember, and in a few years I'll be hitting the 20th anniversary of when I got my SNES, which is my favorite gaming system of all time. Like everyone else here, I game, have kept gaming and will keep gaming, because I enjoy gaming. Gaming makes me happy. Many of my fondest memories are tied to it and I can't imagine a life without it. I share your frustration with the stigma that comes with being gamer. I think it's pretty stupid, especially when the people criticizing you for a being a gamer are often gamers themselves. They just don't see it that way for whatever reason. My advice with the female situation is that if you bring a girl back to your place and she is worth your time, money, and effort then you shouldn't have to explain your rig, or gaming set up, or library to her while she groans and has "oh my gawd" running through her head in the background. She should understand that different people have different hobbies and just be cool with it. Also, if you become a collector show her some ebay auctions, or online listings for old games like Persona 2, Suikoden 2, Valkyrie Profile, or the original release of Chrono Trigger, or some other rare games you have. Once she sees how much money you could get for them she should be more than ok with your hobby. Okay I'll stop rambling now. Welcome to Giant Bomb!!!

Well when you think the average male gamer in the US is 27 years old (number may be plus or minus one, this number is from a presentation I did last year), your 25 years is actually young for gaming :)

" @Alex_Murphy said:

" If I ever start a company I'm going to have to figure out a way to keep people from doing that kind of stuff when they're at work."

Only if you want your employees to be unhappy, resentful, unproductive assholes. Otherwise, you let them surf. "

I understand what it seems like on paper, but part of fostering productive employees revolves around providing them a work environment that they don't absolutely *hate* being in. If someone is getting depressed, or extremely bored, or just plain disinterested in working for you then you'll get people who sit there all day pretending to do things while doing nothing productive.

If you let them have a little bit of pleasure and/or freedom, they're much more likely to be happier, more energetic and more productive as a result of that. It's fine to restrict things like AIM or monitor e-mails or shit like Facebook which would easily lessen productivity hugely; but if someone is making spreadsheets for 3 hours, gets bored, watches a funny youtube video or two, feels a bit more refreshed, takes a 10 minute water break, and comes back ready to get right to the grind again, where's the harm?

Edit: Sorry to derail your blog/thread hugely, Gin.

"

Occasionally, when I sit at home wearing nothing but a robe, on my laptop roaming around Giantbomb, I feel like "What am doing with my life?" 

Then I shrug it off.

" Occasionally, when I sit at home wearing nothing but a robe, on my laptop roaming around Giantbomb, I feel like "What am doing with my life?"  Then I shrug it off. "

" @Jayge said:

" Good first blog. Welcome to the bomb. "

Good, but it could be better.  "

totally agree dude, do what makes u happy...it aint aginst the law, not yet at least

Welcome!

I'm 19 and personally, I never want to have children.

Being my own kid totally rules. I play whenever I want!