GREY HAIRS - HIGH SCORES Those who grew up in the days before computers and video game systems in every house must sometime hide their gaming passions
They hunch over keyboards and consoles in the dark of night, sacrificing sleep to pursue their hobby while the rest of the household slumbers.
Many co-workers and friends don’t know about their pastime because they keep it quiet for fear of mockery, and spouses tolerate their interest rather than celebrating it.
They are the “grey-haired gaming generation” - anyone over 35 who grew up in the days before there were computers and video game systems in every house - and a new study examines how they indulge a passion that’s often viewed as “inappropriate for their age.”
“It’s more in secret,” said co-author Jeffrey Wimmer, a research fellow at Germany’s University of Bremen. “Usually, people don’t walk around saying, ’I’m a heavy gamer’ or ’I’ve achieved level 60 right now in World of Warcraft.’ It’s totally different from other hobbies.”
Lingering stereotypes link gaming with teenage male culture and prevent many older gamers from publicly embracing their interest, he says, leaving them to find like-minded communities online instead of in their everyday lives. Work, family and other responsibilities force many older gamers to play late at night, says Wimmer, and he was surprised to find previous research suggesting they play longer hours than their younger counterparts.
“Game designers and publishers are really seeing the broader market for games,” said Nicole Helsberg, director of public relations for the Entertainment Software Association of Canada. “Games aren’t just for 18-year-old males, they’re for all demographics, including women, seniors, people in their 30s and 40s.”
The German study included 21 gamers ranging from age 35 to 73, but the researchers found only two female participants, aged 68 and 73. Most worked full-time and had above-average education, while all but five lived with a partner and 11 were married with at least one child.
Many of their spouses were less than enthusiastic, but offspring tended to view their gaming as “unusual and cool,” Wimmer and his co-authors write, and it provides a way to bond with children and grandchildren.
“The new generation of games are easy to use and that’s why it’s a breeding ground for intergenerational gaming,” he said, mentioning Nintendo’s Wii as a good example. “This was a very positive example of what games can do. It’s not always about isolation and leisure, it can also have positive social effects.”
Gaming became a family affair in Nicholas Muehlen’s Toronto home after he and his wife bought a Nintendo 64 gaming system a dozen years ago when they were dating and became jointly hooked, he says.
“I loved it. I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread - it was so much fun,” the 50-year-old sous-chef said, adding that some acquaintances didn’t see the charm. “At the time, a lot of people were like, ’It’s a video game, it’s for kids. It’s a waste of time.’”
Now, the couple has one Xbox in the living room and another in the bedroom, allowing them to play together with a close-knit group of friends they met online. When Muehlen’s grown son and daughter visit, they often join him for a game, and he considers himself lucky to have a spouse who shares his passion.
“Karen being a gamer is very cool because I don’t feel guilty about saying I want to play video games because she’ll be like, ’Okay!’” said Muehlen, who lists the Halo, Gears of War and Call of Duty series as his favourites. “I don’t feel like I’m stealing time from her.”
Half of Canadians over 18 have played a video computer game in the last month, according to figures from the Entertainment Software Association of Canada, and 57 per cent of parents play with their children. The average age of adult gamers is 40 and the gender split is nearly even, with men accounting for 51 per cent of grown-up gamers.
“It’s not just for the young. It’s a good way to entertain yourself and not just a waste of time,” Muehlen said. “It’s fun - it’s as entertaining as any movie, plus you get to interact online with real people. It keeps the brain working a little bit, rather than sitting on the couch.”