Questions for fellow Generation X gamers.

[Exhuminator]

According to Wikipedia, Generation X commonly encapsulates those born between 1961-1981.*

As such, this topic is geared towards folks aged ~36 years or older (I'm 38 if you're wondering). I'm not looking for opinions from twenty somethings in this thread, no offense guys.

Fellow Gen X'ers; I think that our generation is the last which experienced a wholesale cultural mindset that video games are childish playthings, not something grown adults should be partaking of. This perspective may not have been pushed by our peers so much, but certainly the boomers raising us had this point of view in general. Early Millennials may have encountered some of this flak too, but by and large their generation (and subsequent generations) grew up in a world where video games were increasingly becoming an accepted entertainment medium for adults. In other words, video games will be less taboo for mid-life Millennials to be playing, versus how our own peers (and parents) may view us in our mid-lives playing video games. But don't get me wrong, this thread is not about "should adults be playing video games", don't worry. I have to say though, that as a Gen X'er, most folks I know my age aren't into video games anymore. Or at least, aren't into them in any meaningful way. Sure my common peers might play casual browser or smartphone games, but they're not playing Vitas or emulating SNES games of yore. Maybe some of you other Gen X'ers can relate to this situational observation.

My questions to fellow Gen X'ers are:

Why do you think you've remained interested in gaming even into middle age?

Why do you think most Gen X'ers stopped gaming over time?

What do you value about video games, that you can't find in common adult hobbies such as binging television series, playing golf, watching sports, social media, or fishing/hunting?

Do you ever start to feel guilty about wasting time, when you're playing video games for hours long stretches?

If you have common adult responsibilities like a full time career, taking care of a property (house/yard/automobiles), maintaining a marriage, raising kids, walking dogs, etc. how do you manage your time for playing video games?

If you could go back in time, and show yourself as a kid some sort of gaming media/hardware from today, what would it be?

Do you think you'll still be gaming into retirement age? Or do you see yourself ever losing interest in this hobby?


I'll respond with my own answers later.

*

Computational generational averages include:

Strauss and Howe define Generation X as those born between 1961–1981
Pew Research Center uses 1965–1980
MetLife uses 1965–1976
Australia's McCrindle Research Center uses 1965–1979
Gallup uses 1965–1979
The Longitudinal Study of American Youth uses 1961–1981
National Geographic uses 1961–1981

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_X

[Segata]

I don't care what Wiki says but I will not call myself a millennial. I don't consider myself part of that generation not Gen X but a very tiny period in-between. A transition period. 1983 here. I began gaming on Atari 2600. I played plenty of Pong. Something people forget gaming was not originally thought of as a child's toy. Pong came out and was popular in bars where they often had Pinball. Pac-Man in 1981 eas very popular with businessmen. C64 and other machines were targeted as a family machine because it could do it all. Games, banking whatever. It seems to me gaming became more exclusively attributed to kids with NES. It came with a robot, a plastic laser pistol, and Mario Bros.

NES was a massive hit and sold alongside Teddy Ruxbin originally(There is a story how sales of NES in the US owe itself to Teddy) NES was marketed to kids with cartoony looking games like Mario Bros and Mega Man. Kids of the era may remember NES sleepover parties. SEGA tried to kick gaming out of a just for kids image while targeting teens and college kids. Nintendo tried as well with GameBoy ads that were aimed at businessmen. "Don't stop playing because you get old, but you could get old if you stop playing" with Tetris which is funny as it's not that dissimilar to DS with Brain Age aimed at adults and the entire Touch Generations branding.


I simply just grew up with it. There was that time in my teens and 20's trying to tell people studies show most gamers are adults but eventually stopped because why should I care what others think? I still love it and that's enough. I've never been embarrassed as an adult that I play games. I never felt it was some shameful thing even in my rebel period..in fact, we played Mario Kart 64 while on LSD. We sometimes even shoplifted PC games and GameBoys and SNES's. We were high as hell, rebellious as hell but didn't feel too cool to play some Mario Kart. My mom is pre Baby Boomer. My dad was a Boomer. Neither of them ever shammed me for it. My mom doesn't want to play them but makes no judgments how gaming is a lifestyle for me. I've seen and been around people who tried to shame me for being more into colorful fun games over the latest gritty shooter even tho I did like my share of Wolfenstein in the early 90s. I hit a point about 10 years ago where I'm not only not ashamed of it. I fucking telegraph it to the world. My Earthbound hat I wear daily, SEGA lanyard for my keys. SEGA Dreamcast Watch, NES Wallet and various Gaming shirts I wear daily. I don't do it to show off. I wear it because it's who I am and makes me feel happy.

[Tanooki]

Why do you think you've remained interested in gaming even into middle age?
-- Unique medium, it's fun, much like a book to older people can be as it takes imagination especially with the pre-realist modern stuff so it sucks you in. It's a great escape as is many forms of entertainment.

Why do you think most Gen X'ers stopped gaming over time?
-- Probably pressure from older types hype about it being garbage for immature kids but if not that, real life got in the way and the time investment got to be too much.

What do you value about video games, that you can't find in common adult hobbies such as binging television series, playing golf, watching sports, social media, or fishing/hunting?
-- The escape, unique stories and play styles or the stuff you can keep going back to over the years as they're semi-constants (like a Mario game.) Unlike watching or playing a sport you can jump right in and back out at any time without an effort involved in setup/breakdown or going somewhere to do it. Plus maybe someone isn't outdoorsy or maybe has allregies/illness where outside stuff doesn't work either.

Do you ever start to feel guilty about wasting time, when you're playing video games for hours long stretches?
-- No, never have probably never will but I also don't go for really long stretches or if I do I'll do it in the evening when no one should get annoyed by it.

If you have common adult responsibilities like a full time career, taking care of a property (house/yard/automobiles), maintaining a marriage, raising kids, walking dogs, etc. how do you manage your time for playing video games?
-- Again usually evenings, or if it's handheld I can do it in the car since often the wife insists on driving as she hates just sitting there. My problem isn't more time but motivation as I get burned or bored fairly easily due to other stuff but if I can get over that block I'm fine.

If you could go back in time, and show yourself as a kid some sort of gaming media/hardware from today, what would it be?
-- Probably of all things it would be my Nintendo Switch and it's older brother the Nvidia Shield Tablet. Back then 8bit games NES or GB side were just as they were and we had heavy clunky laptops too. No one could have figured you could have a whole computer in a 1/2" thick tablet or also a video game system that fits into that space will full controls that could also be docked in high res visuals on a TV either. For someone used to seeing the NES or a 286/386 era laptop that would be mindblowing.

Do you think you'll still be gaming into retirement age? Or do you see yourself ever losing interest in this hobby?
-- I see no reason why not. I have perhaps lost some interest, but I can't really say as I think it's more of a motivation problem around limited time than lack of caring. There are so many worlds in these games going back to the 80s still unvisited or yet to re-run again it seems foreign not to care.

[noiseredux]

I don't care what Wiki says but I will not call myself a millennial. I don't consider myself part of that generation not Gen X but a very tiny period in-between. A transition period. 1983 here.

I was born in 1981, and feel the same way. As do many in our small age group.

Ironically, the sort of transition between Gen X and Millennials is sometimes referred to as the Oregon Trail Generation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail_Generation

(Sorry to derail)

[bmoc]

Why do you think you've remained interested in gaming even into middle age?
-Video games have always been my #1 hobby as long as I have had a console. I cut my teeth on an Atari 5200 which is not the best by any means so you know I really love video games.

Why do you think most Gen X'ers stopped gaming over time?
-They are more interested in more traditional adult hobbies for a variety of reasons. I thing the big one is that there is still a stigma from older generations that video games are kids toys or a nerd thing. I find myself typing up something gaming related on Facebook a lot only to discard the post because so few from my generation care about those things anymore.

What do you value about video games, that you can't find in common adult hobbies such as binging television series, playing golf, watching sports, social media, or fishing/hunting?
-I still binge watch stuff from time to time. My wife plays very few video games so it is something we can do together. Golf is expensive so I only play when someone else is paying for it. I became disillusioned with pro sports after the 1994 baseball strike. I regularly use Facebook to keep up with old friends as I don't have time as a parent to interact with most of them. I have a Twitter account that I never use. I used to hunt and fish with my dad as an adolescent/teenager. When I went to college, I had a very limited budget so I did not keep up with it. I'm better off financially now so I could get back into it if I really wanted to but again you just have so little free time as a parent. I don't know if I could give it enough time to make it worth it.

Video games allow me to stay at home and help with the kids. It also gives us something that we can do together. My 7 year old has played way more Mario Odyssey that I have. Sometimes I even as him were certain things are.

Do you ever start to feel guilty about wasting time, when you're playing video games for hours long stretches?
-No. This sums up my feelings about it.

If you have common adult responsibilities like a full time career, taking care of a property (house/yard/automobiles), maintaining a marriage, raising kids, walking dogs, etc. how do you manage your time for playing video games?
-A lot of my gaming happens at night after the kids are in bed. I've been at my company almost 15 years now so I get a lot of vacation days. I frequently take time off just to stay at home to play a video game.

If you could go back in time, and show yourself as a kid some sort of gaming media/hardware from today, what would it be?
-My 55" HDTV and my Nintendo Switch. Kid me would be blown away by the size of my TV. I did most of my gaming as a youth on a 13" TV. I would also marvel at this magical console that could also function as a handheld.

Do you think you'll still be gaming into retirement age? Or do you see yourself ever losing interest in this hobby?
-I sure hope so. Otherwise I may never get through my backlog. Seriously though, I have never stuck with anything as long as I have video games. As long as my vision holds out and my hands still work, I'll be gaming.

[Markies]

According to Wikipedia, Generation X commonly encapsulates those born between 1961-1981.*

Considering I was born in January of 1982, I will call myself a Gen X'er any day of the week. I do like 'The Oregon Trail' generation as that fits perfectly. But, my friends and I agree that the Millennial generation really did not start until the Internet became readily available for everybody. My friends and I remember growing up without the Internet; the Millennial generation does not.

But, I will gladly answer some questions as my answers are rather unique.

My questions to fellow Gen X'ers are:

Why do you think you've remained interested in gaming even into middle age?

It's my only hobby. I don't have a wife or girlfriend and my active social life is very small. I enjoy spending time with myself and gaming fits well into that. I also like the feeling of accomplishment when I beat a game and the progress of taking another step towards beating one as well.

Why do you think most Gen X'ers stopped gaming over time?

Children and Wives. They just don't have the time to do it anymore as they are busy doing other things. My brother in law would game all the time, but he has a wife and three kids.

What do you value about video games, that you can't find in common adult hobbies such as binging television series, playing golf, watching sports, social media, or fishing/hunting?

The sense of accomplishment in beating a video game. Binging a TV series makes me feel like I wasted my life. I don't like the outside all too much and sports can get very boring. Video Games are the only media that lock you out of content because of your skill level. So, to be able to beat a difficult game and see everything, brings a sense of accomplishment that is just not found in any other form.

Do you ever start to feel guilty about wasting time, when you're playing video games for hours long stretches?

It's actually the opposite. I won't game for a few days and I start to feel guilty about not gaming. I never was addicted and I've always played my games in moderation, so I never feel like I've chosen gaming over something important. I usually play games after I've done everything I have needed to do.

If you have common adult responsibilities like a full time career, taking care of a property (house/yard/automobiles), maintaining a marriage, raising kids, walking dogs, etc. how do you manage your time for playing video games?

I mostly play games after I have done all those adult responsibilities. I have a full time job and I also live alone in an apartment, so those come first. But, when everything is done and I have nothing else to do, then I can sit down and play some games.

If you could go back in time, and show yourself as a kid some sort of gaming media/hardware from today, what would it be?

Probably a NES. This is going to sound weird considering myself as a kid had a NES and there are larger leaps in technology. However, I think it would blow the child's mind to think that a NES bought in 1987 is still working. And that the games are still fun. Hopefully, it would show that kid that NES games hold their worth and that level of enjoyment never dies.

Do you think you'll still be gaming into retirement age? Or do you see yourself ever losing interest in this hobby?

Oh, without a doubt, I will be gaming until the day I die. Marriage/Relationships/Children are not for me. I'm not that type of person. But, games are always with me and I will be playing them for as long as I can. I have way too large of a backlog to stop now. As long as I am finding new Retro games to play, then I will be playing games.

[Exhuminator]

I was born in 1981, and feel the same way.

Actually being born in 1981 puts you squarely into the final year of the commonly accepted Gen X birth range. I know there's supposed to be this "in between" generation from Gen X / Millennial, and I think Markies drew a better line in the sand:

My friends and I remember growing up without the Internet; the Millennial generation does not.

This is a good distinction. At any rate, I'm interested in what late-30s+ members have to say, regardless of internet accessibility in youth.

Probably pressure from older types hype about it being garbage for immature kids

I do agree there's still that lingering onus hovering over our generation. As evidenced by this quote:

I thing the big one is that there is still a stigma from older generations that video games are kids toys or a nerd thing.

Bmoc is correct about said stigma.

Some very thought provoking answers thus far guys, I really appreciate the participation and responses.

I should have time later today to respond with my own thoughts to the OP questions.

[Ack]

Just to toss in my own two cents about the Internet divide, I was born in 1985 and remember the world pre-Internet, so I am not sure if it makes a great distinction. I also remember the last years of the Cold War, but coming from a military family, we were more focused on this than most.

I do also know that I don't feel the connection to social media and the like that millennials are so often labelled with. And if you call me a snowflake, I'll gut you with the knife I carry.

[Exhuminator]

Why do you think you've remained interested in gaming even into middle age?

Partially due to gaming having been such an integral part of my childhood, and young adult years. Old habits die hard. There's also the fact that I'm not very social, and gaming works great as a loner hobby. Plus video gaming is challenging, not just reflexively, but cerebral (depending on the game). In those regards, I appreciate the challenge. Lastly, beating a video game produces a distinct dopamine rush. A feeling of accomplishing something. Even though the accomplishment is negligible at best, not exactly the same thing as say finishing a painting, or building a gazebo. But still, more a sense of accomplishment than finishing a TV series or reading a book produces (personally speaking here mind).

Why do you think most Gen X'ers stopped gaming over time?

Partially due to the "stigma" carried from baby boomer influence that video games aren't an acceptable "adult" hobby. Also because playing video games takes greater energy, versus what leisurely passive entertainment does. Meaning, when an adult is tired after a long day of adulting, playing Demon's Souls is considerably more demanding than binging Stranger Things. Another aspect is some Gen X'ers haven't kept up with gaming, and don't realize the current diversity available.

What do you value about video games, that you can't find in common adult hobbies such as binging television series, playing golf, watching sports, social media, or fishing/hunting?

The combination of escapism/immersion/interactivity/challenge that video games offer is unique. Other mediums offer various aspects of this formula, but not the whole set.

Binging Television series: I like to watch my shows on average one episode a day. There's no way I could stand watching TV episodes back to back to back, my brain would start feeling like mush.

Playing golf: I get why people like Golf. Especially why businessmen like golf. But it's just not something I care to do in real life. Except for mini-golf. I love mini-golf.

Watching sports: I've never been into it. Not my thing at all. Other than boxing, I'll watch boxing if it's on.

Social media: Racketboy is the closest thing I do to that. I have no use/need/desire for social validation.

Fishing/hunting: I find the concept of sport hunting to be unethical.

Do you ever start to feel guilty about wasting time, when you're playing video games for hours long stretches?

If I'm trying to play video games for hours at a time, during the middle of the day, yes. I will start to feel like I should be using my free time more constructively. However, if I am gaming late at night (as I nearly always do), I don't feel that way. By that time, the "responsible adult" portion of the day is long over with. My gaming window tends to fall within 10pm - 2am.

If you have common adult responsibilities like a full time career, taking care of a property (house/yard/automobiles), maintaining a marriage, raising kids, walking dogs, etc. how do you manage your time for playing video games?

I have a full time job averaging 45 hours a week, a large yard/house, cars, a wife, a daughter who lives with me, and a lot of pets. All of this responsibility means my days are usually busy. That's why I game late at night. I would say I sacrifice proper sleep in order to play video games as a middle aged adult. That, and I'm not about hanging out with people all the time (other than my wife and family).

If you could go back in time, and show yourself as a kid some sort of gaming media/hardware from today, what would it be?

My android smartphone. Besides making phone calls, texting, watching videos, and getting on the internet; I mean the gaming. Games I can play with just a touchscreen, which are downloaded from the ether. VR games I can play using a simple headset and the phone itself. Best of all, tons of emulated retro systems all on one small device. I can swipe from playing a SNES game, to a PS1 game, to a TGCD game instantaneously. All of this single device functionality would have properly blown my mind as a kid. Hell, it kind of blows my mind as an adult honestly.

If not that, then I'd take back some Sega games produced for Nintendo consoles. Seeing a game starring Sonic and Mario together would have put kid-Ex in a state of shock.

Do you think you'll still be gaming into retirement age?

I do see myself continuing to play, as long as I'm physically able. I do not know if I will still continue to play with the same fervor I currently do, however. By that I mean the frequency at which I game, not the "hardcore"-ness of what I play.

Or do you see yourself ever losing interest in this hobby?

Sometimes I wonder. Much of where modern gaming is going, is in directions I'm not interested in. Genres I don't care for, online functionality I'm not excited about, social multiplayer aspects which mean nothing to me, loot boxes, lack of single player campaigns, stuff like that. But at this time, there's still a trickle of new games I find myself looking forward to.

Looking backward however, there are legions of retro/classic games that I am interested in exploring. The older I get, the more I find myself intrigued by what was accomplished in the past. A lot of stuff I dismissed in my youth, I now find enticing as an adult. I was just too young for it at the time of its creation. Thankfully I don't mind archaic graphics.

[Sarge]

Why do you think you've remained interested in gaming even into middle age?

Not entirely sure. I enjoy it, and I think I finally overcame the stigma that grown guys can't play video games. I enjoy the challenge, or the new things I can see in games. I also love plumbing the depths of stuff that I never got to experience as a kid.

Why do you think most Gen X'ers stopped gaming over time?

A mixture of things. I know some that never quit (outside of here!), but by and large life, responsibilities, and entertainment priorities shifted. There was probably also that stigma that hung around gaming as nothing but kid's stuff. Yeah, go play the uber-violent stuff out there and tell me gaming is just for kids. Of course, that wasn't entirely the case when we were growing up; most games were aimed at kids and teens.

What do you value about video games, that you can't find in common adult hobbies such as binging television series, playing golf, watching sports, social media, or fishing/hunting?

I suspect I just enjoy the interactivity. There are very few TV-related pastimes that really give you that sort of challenge and fun. You often have to keep your brain engaged to play effectively. Conversely, that's also its weakness; I go through periods where I just don't feel like playing anything.

I still enjoy binging on the occasional TV series for my passive entertainment. I used to shoot basketball a ton. Social media is just something to do when you've got nothing else to do; it's often as braindead as watching TV. And I never really liked hunting and fishing all that much; it always felt a little boring. I might appreciate more as I age, though. I can never really predict what I might start to enjoy that I didn't before. Heck, I used to hate singing, and now I'm in choir and love it.

Do you ever start to feel guilty about wasting time, when you're playing video games for hours long stretches?

Sometimes, yes. There are a lot of elements to that, both faith-related and personal development-related. But as long as I don't let it get too out of hand (which it might be!), I just take it as one of the things that helps me stay sane.

If you have common adult responsibilities like a full time career, taking care of a property (house/yard/automobiles), maintaining a marriage, raising kids, walking dogs, etc. how do you manage your time for playing video games?

Well, no family, sadly, but I do my work and meet my responsibilities, then slip in all my gaming time at night when I get a chance. Assuming I'm not just cruising the web in one of my non-gaming funks. (But hey, that's when I'm prolific on here!)

If you could go back in time, and show yourself as a kid some sort of gaming media/hardware from today, what would it be?

Oh, geez. Pretty much everything today would have blown my mind back then. I always envisioned games as a sort of cartoon you could play, so something like Cuphead would be a great choice. But I think the more impressive thing would be to bring back my smartphone, with all the emulators of the systems I was playing currently, and just show the sheer power of a device I can hold in my hands. It's absolutely nuts how much computing power we tote around these days.

Do you think you'll still be gaming into retirement age? Or do you see yourself ever losing interest in this hobby?

If anything causes me to drop out of the hobby, it will be other commitments that wouldn't allow me to play much. Like if I felt I were called into full-time mission work in an underdeveloped country, or if staying employed required almost all of my time. Or health issues. As it is, I can imagine myself still going at it if I'm blessed to make it to 80 or so. Doubt I'll be making any epic Contra runs by then, though.

EDIT: I just read your response to the "showing a device as a kid" question, Exhuminator. Great minds think alike.