I wouldn't accuse you of being quiet Jenny!

Hope you can make the next meeting Chrissie - you live closer than some of us who go!

If only we could get someone like AOL to print up a story on how boomers are hooked on Adventure Games!!!! I have absolutely no contacts, or I would do it myself. Perhaps there are those of you who do have these contacts. We need a story of what adventure games are like. There are many boomers that are bored to death, believe me!!! I'll bet there are those of you who have contacts to turn this into a "national" story.

Teddo

I don't really care when people say that I waste my time playing adventures. I'd say that such games are great brain teasers and are a great anti stress therapy

I think the adventure/puzzle genre tends to be viewed as a more 'work intensive' or 'academic' style of game. While this is true in some cases, a lot of the adventure games I've played, and indeed some of my favorites aren't all that difficult in regards to puzzles or mental work.

I think the reason for the lack of appeal to younger audiences is simply that younger audiences are more reactive in terms of playing games.

I -do- see a slow change, or at the least, mingling of typical adventure gaming and typical action gaming. There are subtle changes creeping in to modern action games. There is a renewed emphasis on setting, on story, on exploration. Puzzles (basic ones mostly) are appearing in action games. The "Achievement" reward systems implemented in things like X-Box 360 Live, and Valve's Steam gaming service encourage players to go back to a game and explore and be thorough and to take their time.

I think we're going to see more adventure gaming in the coming years rather than the opposite. I think we'll see more adventure game elements in action and rpg games as well.

Thanks for those thoughts, Smougman.

Peter, I hope to meet up with Chrissie so we can travel part of the way together. I am a very quiet shy retiring person when I am asleep !

Good for you Jenny - have you appeared with Trinny yet by the way?

I too frequently find myself having to explain what an adventure game is, compared to a shoot N kill game, usually after I see a shocked face looking at this gray haired lady announcing that the game I'm buying is indeed for ME to play!

Peter, watch out for the prog S ( yes, I was so quiet they popped me in 2 programmes ) to be aired sometime this autumn.

I would love to join a local adventure gaming club and meet other people who share my interest, but the next best thing is Gameboomers. I do have a very dear friend who drags me to the store as soon as a new Nancy Drew is released. She stays over however many nights it takes us to finish it. We call this our "Nancy Drew sleepovers" and sometimes we get so engrossed, we forget to let the dogs out.

Although some of my friends play computer games, not many of them are into adventure games. Most just don't have the time anymore to play adventure games even though they love old games like Monkey Island or Broken Sword. However, they're not as up-to-date on new adventure games as I am since I seem to be the only one who plays them regularly. So if I want to chat with other people about new or old games, I come to a board like this one.

As for other people's reaction to me playing computer games: There are people who don't understand this at all. In their minds, computer games are a waste of time and they're linked to shooters. While reading books, for example, is an acknowledged hobby, playing computer games is not. Some guy I know even told me he didn't approve of me playing a lot because he thought it was a waste of time - that, by the way, ruined the tiny chance he might have had of becoming more than a friend to me *g* I understand that there are people who don't get the fascination that can come from a computer game and that these people would never play a game simply because they're not interested. But telling me that I'm wasting my time when playing is way too bold because, after all, it's my time and I don't feel like wasting it.

Hello Everyone-
I'm really enjoying this thread- and am amazed at how many of us retired folk are here on GB! And have noone in the real world who shares this interest.

As far as "wasting time" goes- there are lots more things besides CGs that people our age waste time on: mindless TV shows, complaining about doctors and health problems, gossiping,reading supermarket tabloids, ect, ect. So, IMO, what gives others the right to judge what is or is not "wasting" time?

Playing games and checking in with GB helps me feel young. The games are keeping the brain active and engaged-figuring out puzzles and how to progress in the game, instead of passively watching.Also writing a review of a game and reading others' comments on it is involving mind and personality-a great feeling.

As long as we have Gameboomers, us lone gamers will have companions in the gaming world

Hi Jehane, a lot of my friends, family & my work colleagues don't share my interest in AGs but all respect (even if they laugh!) that it is one of my passions. Any one that tells you that that they disapprove of ANY interest of yours because they consider it a waste of time, are either not interested in you & your welfare or they are a control freak who has no respect - whatever, you don't need them!!!

Speaking of mature gamers, I had a friend online who was 73 years old. He preferred node-node movement; Tex Murphy allowed too much freedom of movement! Other than that, he really liked gaming.

Exactly Needless to say, I'm no longer in touch with that guy *g* I don't share all interests of my friends, naturally, but I respect their passions just as they respect my playing games a lot. They might not understand why I keep playing games but they won't go as far as to say they don't approve.

Still, I think most people consider gaming a strange hobby, something suited for kids and juveniles. I must admit that before I started playing myself (rather late, I was 30 years old by then :)) I thought that the majority of gamers might be in their teens or early twenties. I've joined various adventure boards since then and was delighted to find out that there's a vast crowd of "mature" gamers out there, that is to say, gamers that have already left their 30s and 40s, even 50s behind Until I discovered the boards, I didn't know these people existed; I thought gaming was something for teens and students, probably because most adults I know don't play games anymore. Some did when they were still students and had the time; they either lost interest or just don't have the time anymore.