More and more people over 50 are playing video games. How you can learn to play like your grandkids

Video games are more popular than ever – in fact, revenue for video game makers soared 27% last year to $56.9 billion, according to research firm NPD Group.


“Historically, game companies only targeted a narrowly defined audience,” says Joost van Dreunen, adjunct assistant professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business and author of “One Up: Creativity, Competition, and the Global Business of Video Games.” . But, he notes, “the digitization of games and the popularization of the smartphone has led to a much larger and more diverse audience interested in interactive entertainment experiences.”


This audience includes older adults. “The age of gamers has gotten older over the past decade,” reports David S. Heineman, associate professor of communication studies at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania and author of “Thinking About Videogames: Interviews with Experts.”


“People who are now 50 were children when the first Atari


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the systems came out and they also played arcade games, so there’s a childhood nostalgia associated with video games,” Heineman says. Additionally, there has been an evolution in game graphics and a shift towards a wider range of stories that appeal to a wider audience than teenagers. “


Beyond shooting games, racing games and stealing cars, video games now offer puzzles, task games, mysteries and even love stories.


An AARP survey found the number of adults over 50 who play video games rose to 50.6 million in 2019 from 40.2 million in 2016 – and more women play than men .


I recently dabbled in video games during the pandemic to connect with my 30-year-old nephew, Jared. He loves video games and talks about them constantly, and I had a hard time understanding why. We had always gone to the movies together and to dinner, but with the COVID-19 restrictions we rarely saw each other.


Jared was more than happy to lend me his Play Station (PS) 4 when he scored a coveted PS 5 last Christmas. Once I set it up, I signed up for a one year subscription for $60 and we connected through the PS system with headphones.


We started with a multiplayer game called ‘Borderlands’, the purpose of which eluded me – beyond killing monsters and marauders who rush at you. I often found myself trapped staring at a wall, sky, or ground while Jared killed everything around me. Occasionally I fired shots rushing the enemy, but it usually led to me dying. Of course, in video games you have another chance, so it was all good.


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My nephew was patient and informative, so I gradually took control of the controller (so many buttons!) and what I was supposed to do. I even branched out and tried solo games.


You might already be a gamer and don’t even know it if you play games on your smartphone. “Words with Friends,” “Angry Birds,” “Bejeweled,” and “Candy Crush” are all considered video games, and many are free to play.


If you want to upgrade to what we consider “real” video games, van Dreunen and Heineman recommend the Nintendo


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Switch to the Sony


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Play Station or Xbox as a good starting console for older adults.


“Nintendo Switch has a wide range of beginner-friendly games like ‘Animal Crossing’ and ‘Mario Kart’ that you can play with your family,” says Heineman. You can also download classic arcade games such as ‘Galaga’ and ‘Pac-Man’.


See also: 7 smarter ways to play the video game and esports boom than buying GameStop


Van Dreunen, who plays video games for three hours a day with his son and his friends, adds that after playing on the Nintendo Switch, “you can figure out if you want to go online with other people and try something. like ‘Fortnite’, or explore a huge role-playing world like ‘World of Warcraft’. »


The console, which you connect to a TV, usually comes with a controller; you’ll need to buy a second if you want to play with another person and a headset if you want to play from separate houses or online. You’ll also have to pay for a game service – a Nintendo subscription, for example, costs $19.99 for a year.


Here are some tips if you’re new to gaming:


Is 50 too old to play video games?


Est-ce que 50 ans sont trop vieux pour jouer aux jeux vidéo?

1. Now you have thousands of titles to choose from and you can download them to your console or buy hard copies from stores like Walmart.


Why are all video games boring?


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How many seniors play video games?


Combien de personnes âgées jouent aux jeux vidéo?

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Are video games good for older people?


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Is it normal for adults to play video games?


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Why do video games get boring as you get older?


Prices vary widely, from around $9.99 to $79.99. Some platforms offer free games. Carefully review the stories behind all games to make sure the content interests you and you can handle it.


Do players have a higher IQ?


I made the mistake of buying a popular single player game called “The Last of Us” which was billed as an epic journey across the United States. It turned out to be a zombie horror story where I was constantly being attacked by different types of creepy zombies. It sometimes made my heart race and gave me nightmares, so I gave up the game.


Why do I miss everything?


2. Make sure the game is compatible with your platform. Some games are only released on certain systems.


Why are new games so boring?


3. Expect a learning curve. Older people don’t intuitively understand how these games work or what we’re supposed to do. If you don’t have an experienced gamer like me by your side, search your phone for tips and walkthroughs as you play. Players have posted in-depth videos and articles to help you solve puzzles or complete missions.


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