Am I getting too old for games?

I couldn't think of an appropriate title for this, but I think that's the only real way I can pose the question. Allow me to explain.

This year I turned 20, and right away you're probably saying "that's young! Of course you're not too old for video games!", but here's the thing. All of my life, games have been a source of inspiration for me, a way of life, but as I grow older I'm starting to notice some things more.

1. I'm really not that good at games. I always have to do everything perfectly, and if I can't then it's not good enough for me - and that's how I am with everything in my life. I screw up and keep starting over, hoping for better results, but it's insanity because I only ever keep reaching about the same spot as I did the last time I played the game, and then I stop because I don't feel 'ready enough' to go any farther in the game yet. And then I put off playing the game for so long, I decide to start another new save file again someday.

2. There really isn't enough time, there just isn't. When I was younger I didn't have the money for all those games I wanted, but now that I'm older I don't have as much free time to spend playing them. With work and my generally worrysome and dependant nature, I usually end up spending more of my free time online than anything, looking for advice and people to talk to. But I still spend all of this money on games, and even now I still have games I want to buy. But I can't stop, because I keep thinking that there is one game that will make me feel fulfilled and happy, but there isn't.

3. There is little to no pay-value for playing games. I'm not talking about money, but rather, reward. Even if I do beat my games and become good at them, it won't mean anything - there is always someone better than you, and anyone can do that if they try. But then at the same time this also goes for anything you can do in real life, anyone can do what I can do in life if they try, which is kind of sad to me.

4. You play alone. Sure there is multiplayer and online play, but when it comes right down to it we can't all agree on what games are good and bad, and what a game can and should be. And when you play a game with someone, games can only get so engaging and interactive - the game will eventually get repetitive and become boring to you, there's really no escaping it. I can't even count the number of adventures I've gone on to save some princess, and the different worlds I've been to, but there's no end to it. There is no 'finished story', because nobody has every answer, and the gaming industry thrives off of our money, so there will always be new content, which is a double-edged sword.

My point is....I take games seriously, but at the same time my life is going nowhere. And, even though things probably wouldn't be any different if I didn't play games, the time I spend playing them could be used to find the things I want to find and learn the things I want to learn in life.

And at the same time....the stories and worlds and characters that are presented to us in games...that is part of me, games are a part of me. It's my main interest. and I really don't see how I could ever exist in a world without them. They are both a help and a hinderance, and I'm not quite sure how much gaming is too much.

So...what are your thoughts? I would like to hear what everyone else has to say

take a deep breath, grab your favorite game, and pop it in the console. do not play another game until you have beaten it. the rest can wait until after.

i can never play multiple games at once and fully enjoy them. i like a game much more when im not constantly stepping into the world of another game. sometimes it can even ruin the game for me. the best advice i can give is just take in one game at a time and try to enjoy THAT one, not a bunch of others as well. for me, its time better spent.

Don't look at games as a chore or something you HAVE to finish or be good at. look at them as what they are, entertainment. Play the games when you can, don't feel compelled to finish every game, or buy every one. Just be entertained by them, or use them as a passtime.

The averge age of gamers is now 28, so if anything your too youngTokeism

Really? I never knew that. I thought average age of gamers are 15-17.

Because here in the country I live, most gamers stop playing games at mid-twenties. So if you're over 20 and still play games, people will say "What?! You still play videogames at your age?!". Hehe.

I'm 21, and most of my friends (who are about the same age as mine) already stopped playing videogames a few years ago because they think they're too old for it. Some of them even stopped as soon as PS1 gen died. Only a few of us continued on PS2 gen and so far only 3 of us has a current gen console.

To the TC, no.

When I was in my early 20's I went through what sounds like the exact same thing. In fact, word for word this sounds like something I wrote lol. I've been gaming since I was about 4 years old, and have played for tons of hours each week for around the last 24 years. When I hit my early 20's, I kind of got burn't out or bored with gaming, I don't know how to explain it.

I eventually put down the controller for about 6-8 months, only playing for a few minutes on occassion and then quitting because I couldn't handle it. Eventually though, my gaming addiction came back stronger then ever. I started working at a call centre in a mall, and they had an EB Games near my work. I started just going in there to "look", and eventually started getting my desire to buy and play a ton of games back. I'm now 28 and gaming more then I use to. Yes for those of you who are going to ask, I do work full-time and have a life (not much of one lol), but gaming is pretty much all I think about.

So my advice is this, if you're feeling burn't out or bored with gaming, take some time away. Put your games and consoles in a box and put them in the closet and then get outside and do something. Stay away from gaming for a few months until you have your desire back to be a gamer, and it will come back. Hope this helps a bit, because you're not alone.

People are never to old to play and enjoy in games.

Games are best way to express your anger,sadness etc.

Hell No! I am 42 and I love games just as much if not more than I did back in my teenage years (1980s I miss Arcades ). I mean between my PC mostly, and my X-BOX, I play games a lot. You are only too old for games when you think you are.Caemyr

This guy speaks the truth. Everybody should listen to him.

There are 70 year old men that still play with electric train sets. So no, a 20 year old kid is not too old to be playing video games. Honestly, it sounds like youre burning out not because your getting too old, but because you take these game way too seriously. The only time someone should take video games as seriously as you do is when they are in the business of games, either through a gaming company or a pro game player.

My suggestion is take some time off. Unplug your consoles, put them in the closet for a couple weeks. See how you feel after that. You could just be starting to burn out, or you could just be outgrowing it. Give yourself some time to figure out which.

From what I read (only read about half of your post) you need to ask yourself one question, do you still enjoy passing the time playing video games? If the answer is yes then continue playing, if the answer is no then you know what to do.

Thanks for the responces everyone, I read each of them and appreciate your advice.

I've decided I'm going to take some of your advice and take a little hiatus from gaming, I'll try spending more time watching TV shows I like and focus on getting my license and planning out my future, heck I've even been thinking about buying onna them IPod things and downloading shows and music I like, but I'm not so sure about that yet. I'm definately going to buy seasons of shows I like on DVD, and spend more time watching them, since I always walk away feeling more enlightened and stronger whenever I watch them, plus they are usually funny and/or well-written to boot. Maybe I will buy myself a nice new TV and stand for my bedroom, and a DVD player, so I feel more comfortable enjoying my TV-watching experience than I do looking up at my small, older TV screen.

Maybe if I can feel more at peace, and not constantly stressed out, I can make some progress in my life, and subsequently, in my games.

Thanks for posting you guys, it's good to know that other gamers are a generally caring and helpful lot.

I'm about 5 years older than you, and believe me, free time gets only scarcer as you get older. Find some balance in your life. Nobody what anyone tries to tell you, games are just entertainment, a way of escaping from reality. If you're buying more games in a year than you can count on one hand, you're overdoing it. Find maybe 4 or 5 games per year that you just really, really want to play and then leave it at that. Spend the rest of your time finding other productive things to do.

Hey mate, don´t worry about thoughts that are dancing somewhere inside your mind!

Take it easy, and take what makes you feel better. If you want to play, just play. If you don´t feel pretty inspired for playing, just don´t play, don´t do it only for the reason of "doing something".

Search for more goals in your life. Life is huge, and so is everyone of us. If you don´t have any goals or, better said, more interests that make you feel great just search it. Don´t continue playing until you find them. There´s surely something for you in this world.

And when you find those other hobbies just alternate them with videogames, there always will be a satisfying way of spending your free time.

Just don´t worry, life is easy but just if you want!

I am 47 and still love gaming. I will continue to love it as long as I can hold a controller and see the display. I've been gaming for a lot of years (long before consoles made their apperance) and they have not lost thier excitement and probably wont.

I'll have to post back when I reach 90 to let you know how things are going. )

I felt the same for a while, and that is why I prefer single player games, but sometimes it's because the games are all shooters, which arent that good imo.

Eventually for me, it wasn't about winning, it was about using my own style to defeat enemies, and why I like that style, thus furthering my interest in every video game with diverse player choices.

I am only 17, and I can understand some of your concerns. I have now restarted BioShock roughly 3-4 times, always getting close to Arcadia or Fort Frolic before starting over in a fit of exasperated boredom (bear in mind that I have beaten the game several times already). I rarely consider multiplayer games a long-term or productive way to spend my free time, and with so much time devoted to the singular experience, it can lead to fits of confusion.

I do not have the answer, but understand that you are not alone. Maybe we are all just taking this too seriously (considering the manner in which we have even reached this discussion, this is probably the "answer").

I am only 17, and I can understand some of your concerns. I have now restarted BioShock roughly 3-4 times, always getting close to Arcadia or Fort Frolic before starting over in a fit of exasperated boredom (bear in mind that I have beaten the game several times already). I rarely consider multiplayer games a long-term or productive way to spend my free time, and with so much time devoted to the singular experience, it can lead to fits of confusion.

I do not have the answer, but understand that you are not alone. Maybe we are all just taking this too seriously (considering the manner in which we have even reached this discussion, this is probably the "answer").

Duckyhunter

Kinda ot but not really but I was expecting Bioshock to be so much more than a shooter. It had essence of condemned on it too. I think that might be why you are bored with it.

I've asked myself similar. I'm 23 and between work and social life I don't game a huge amount anymore. I like to game sometimes when I get a free moment. In my teens i would buy every second game that came out (ok maybe not that many) now I buy well recived games and frinchises I liked when I was younger.

I but consoles based on features so entertainment features are always a plus (why I love my ps3).

Basically it comes down to the person. You think you shouldn't be gaming? Don't do it. Simple

Being to old to play video games has nothing to do with age. Its all a state of mind.

There seems to be a common mentality in younger gamers that they have to beat the game as quickly and easily as possible. It is leading to an unhealthly level of pressure on younger gamers. You're so hell bent on being the best you've forgotten how to simply enjoy the game.

Ever hear that old saying about stopping and smelling the roses? Do it. Its about slowing down and enjoying the journey. Put the strategy guides away and log off the cheat sites. Find your own path through the game. So what if you don't level up to 70 in World of Warcraft as fast as eveyone else. I'm willing to bet you had a lot more fun taking your time than the person who spent hundreds of hours mindlessly grinding. Stop taking these things so seriously. Its rare that an acomplishment in a video game will have any value in real life.

It might help if you find some other hobbies you enjoy. I read for both enjoyment and learning. I also like to draw, work with some the game editors, Photoshop, and Maya. I've also been thinking about taking some class that have nothing to do with computers or games. I'm sure you have other interests besides games. No matter what they are there are ways to explore and expand on them. Go for it.

Good luck.

everyone goes through the "am i outgrowing gaming?" phase. just play when you feel compelled, and when you dont, dont. you wont be abandoning gaming or something like that. it sounds like you need a break. take it. you can always come back.OneWingedAngeI

Nice said and fully agreed.

Fact is that there are more important things in life then gaming,Sometimes you need to focus on your real-life to get your motivation back,and it´s not like that´s bad for your social life...