How old is the oldest gamer?

Have recently got my mother interested in playing adventure games - provided I sit beside her and do all the keyboard and mouse-work, although she's getting pretty quick with the paper and pencil for notetaking! So far, Black Mirror is her favourite, but I have yet to replay Uru, Syberia and Riven with her...
I've shown her this website (and we've just posted for help in JTTCOTE) and she thinks its wonderful how everyone from all over help each other and talk about games.

So... this question is from my mother, who is 85.
Are there others out there of the same age or older who are playing and enjoying games? I think if she gets some positive replies, she'll feel a little less "silly" and less guilty about letting housework go for hours and days at a time.

Wow Mom is 31 years my superior! Good for her. I hope I am around to be gaming at 84.

Said in the voice of Mel Brooks as the Thousand Year Old Man:

The first adventure game was "Find the Rock". Someone would throw a rock and everybody would run to find it. Now this wasn't as easy as it sounds 'cause there were a lot of rocks around back then, so a good game could go on for a couple of days or until someone got hungry...

Hooray and good for her. I just turned 68 and "I'm lovin it" as RM says.......
Love, Betty Lou

Your mom has 17 years on me and I DEFINITELY plan on being around at that age and playing adventure games. This is a great way to keep your mental faculties alert not to mention hand/ eye coordination. Housework???? Who the heck has time for such a mundane past time. Life is too short. You go girl and forget the housework! Nobody notices anyway.

I think its wonderful how you two spend such quality time together!

Hi OAP and Mum,

well we gave my Dad his first puter just before Christmas last year (he's a mere spring chicken at 77 ) and he is loving it!!! My Mum always said No, he can't have one, but she is now all for it as he will go up and play a bit so she can get on with the housework without him being under her feet!!!! Then she gets more time to embroider!!! So far he has played golf and is totally addicted to the windows card games (suprise suprise) as we used to spend hours playing cards, backgammon, chess etc when I was young. I am going to lend him a few adventures, but he hasn't got it hooked up to the net yet as that would be additional cost I don't think they need. I'm giving him Road to India first but maybe I should lend him Black Mirror as he loves spooky stuff!!!

You play your adventures and let the dust bunnies play their own games!!!!

Hugs

tig

OOOPS, I thought the topic said oldest GAME not GAME-R. Thus the reason for my earlier silly post

quick fingers works both ways then

:kiss:

Tig

In April I'll officially be closer to 60 than to 50 (my how the decades fly). I have a backlog of games that should keep me going for at least another 29 years. As for housework, tell your mother that sweeping the room with a glance counts, so she should sit, relax, and have some fun!

TM,
We thought you were talking about your first game.

OAP, tell your mom to go for it. Age does not have a thing to do with it. My mom is around that age and wants to get a laptop because she wanted to know what this Internet thing is all about.


Tig,
I have got to get new glasses...

LadyK,
That was also the first form of remote communication related to email. It was called "rMail" meaning "rock mail" . If you wanted to get some one's attention you threw a rock at them. The upgrade was tying a note to the rock and a high priority mail item was when your threw the rock really hard

Hey Y'all...would you just state your "age" and stop making me do the MATH??? {trying to figure who is older/younger than me} teehee I, btw, am 69 til Aug. after that I start backin-up!
OAP...tell your Mom that compter gaming keeps you from getting "Senile" The housework is just something to keep you from getting bored..games do a better job of that! agree??? Glynn

Trail_ You beat around the "bush" a couple of time, but never gave us your birthdate...how are we going to send "presents"??? C'mon..fess-up! Glynn

I am going to be 40 in July. Just started with adventure games on a computer in 98. I spent many hours playing the first 3 years. I had played every game I could find easily at that time, so I had to spend a lot of time hunting and buying online. Then I had learned enough about computers to be considered the friend / family techie. A couple of years unboxing, setting up their computers, and teaching them all to use them. They all live in different towns, so it takes a lot of time. This all gets in the way of serious game playing. I enjoy doing it and always learn more, but I am ready to settle into some long days of gaming. My oldest son is getting married in six weeks, and when that is done I hope to settle in for hours of gaming.
As for housework I have given, and put lots of stuff away. I just keep simplifying, so I can play more.

Hi OAP and your Mom,

I was 76 my last birthday and I don't intend to stop adventure gaming until I've played every game I have at least once, and that's never going to happen because I buy faster than I play.

I used to feel guilty doing something for "fun" if there was dust on the furniture. Now I just look at it and think, "You'll still be there later so I'll take care of you later - much later!"


LadyK, I just did your version of "sweeping" so my place is good for at least another week.

Jema

"Sweeping the room with a glance", that is hysterical

I must remember that for the next snide remark from my Daughter-in-Law about my Dust Dinosaurs.

71 years old here and still play Adventure Games and surf the Internet a whole lot more than my Kids and Grand Kids.
and still have the games that started me off...
Sam and Max...The Day Of The Tentacle...First Monkey Island and...The Dig.
Oldies Rule Yeh.
"Walter"
Who watched "Casablanca" Video last night for about the umpteen time.

I don't know, I'm pushing 25, so I'm getting up there with you guys/gals. hehe

Turned, the big 65 last year and everything is falling apart. Nothing works right, anymore. LOU

Bought my first computer in 2001 at age 60-OK you figure it out! At any rate, was entranced from the beginning and got hooked on card games, scrabble, ect. Then ...tried Myst in 2002-and discovered the WTs and discussion boards for answers to all my questions.
Have now settled into GBers and have been BAAGing away ever since At this rate, I'll never run out of games to play!
Great to see so many others of retirement age playing adv. games, as noone I know my age has even heard of such a thing(they think it's only for the kids and all violence and shooting)
Hope I'm still interested in new things at age 85-that's the only thing that keeps you "young at heart"

Well Glynn, I'm actually a young whipper snapper. As I believe I mentioned in one of my earlier posts I will be celebrating my 23rd annual 18th birthday this upcoming April meaning I'm turning 40. Unfortunately, nature has ahem..."blessed" me with certain genetic anomalies that make me feel a fair bit older. Thus my silly signature line about "Current Pains" If you can't laugh at your weaknesses how will you ever know your strengths! You can quote me on that

Everyone in our house likes adventure games from my 9 yr old son to my Mom. And why not? Theirrrr gggrreeaaatt!!!

wow,at 62 this all makes me look like a kid.

I will be 59 in December. I stared gaming at 53.

~Dee

40 and planning to keep playing adventure games until my fingers don't work the mouse and my eyes can't see the monitor and can't sit for long periods of time, Heck until I die, and I am taking my games and computer with me to my after life.

Tell mom not to feel silly, it keeps your mind sharp and entertaining and games are for any age, young or old...

Liz

We got a bunch of "Spring Chickens" here! and a few "Roosters" Glynn

I remember playing a text adventure called Y2 in 1976 in the comupter science class lab's main frame. This later turned out to be The Adventure of the Colassal Caves ... released in 1981.

I stopped playing in 1987, why? children, work, pressure, I don't know......

I restarted in ernest around 1999 and the move here to Texas....

with Riven...and the rest is history......

Inferno

So that you dont have to do the math I am 66 years old(sorry, young) and I am happy to say that I think that I enjoy playing adventure games as much as anyone.I am extremly pleased with the way that the people on this site react with others, and the help that is given.Enjoyment does not recognize boundaries in age,so whatever your age I say "go for it".

Buuuck, buuuck, buuuck! Is that a chicken joke, Glynn?

One of the nice things about being a ghost is that ghosts don't age...

TM and I might need to discuss our respective avatars. I am 50+, I do have a grey beard, although more along the lines of Papa Hemingway than anyone else.

But I do wear the black hat when I give management seminars.

Tim

Naw....It was a "Rooster" joke.. I figured it would get me in trouble, but can't get a rise out of these guys! LOL Glynn

I'll be 70 this summer, bought my 1st 'puter Apr. 98, got Myst, Riven & Shivers, retired in Sept.98, found Adv. sites, then in 99 found Gameboomers. I can truthfully say that was when my life became complete.
LONG LIVE GAMEBOOMERS!!

Well - we definitely have some sage and seasoned members here.

Just the other day I was chatting with the world's oldest man about when he and I used to play adventure games with sticks and rocks.

Along came a GB member who snorted and said "Pshaw, That's nothin, when I started playing adventure games, all we had was dirt.!!"

Tomorrow I will be 81, and my 55 year old beard is definitely white. I started with Win 3.1, and I think my oldest game is one called C.H.A.O.S. Continuum.

Soren A

Illegitimi non carborundum

Soren! Keep playing adventure games! Good for the soul! Glynn

Guess I'll sign in on this one, I am 77 & and
a half,started playing in 98 with Myst and Shivers as you did Glynn. Playing takes up most of my days unless I have found a super good book. I wonder how many of us started with Myst? I live in a senior building and have tried in vain to enlist some friends to try adventure games, but thank goodness for Gameboomers I have all of you to share the fun with!
Dawn

Don't worry rtrooney, I'm in the process of making a new avatar for myself. Like LorLor I feel odd sharing one. As for the beard, don't let the age fool you. My beard started to go gray when I was thirty. Now at 40 it is the "Beard of many colors".

Hi Dawn, I play early in the morning and late at night..Hubby is a disabled Vet..so most of the day I spend taking care of him..but still manage to buy/play every thing I can get my hands on!! I am looking forward to Syberia 2, have preordered it and a couple of others so that should keep me busy for a while..I love Gameboomers..it's my "home away from home" If I didn't have games & Boomers..would probably go nuts!! Glynn

Well I"ll be 67 in June. Been playing adventure games since 97. Myst was the first game and obviously we were hooked. We got deeply involved real quick by alpha and beta testing Zork Grand Inquisitor and the rest is history. We were more than hooked, we were seriously addicted. Haven't found a cure yet, but not really looking for one.

Maybe we can start harvesting dust bunnies. Anyone have a good recipe for them.

Cheers,

Bill and Lela

Mr Bill...we can always use them for "fill dirt" in the back yard! Put a sign on the coffee table "you can write in my dust, just don't date it" that works for me! Oh My...ZGI was such a fun game! My grandkids got tired of hearing "I AM the boss of you" teehee Glynn

Maybe grandma is 85, but lets someone else do the finger work. I'm 73 and do it all. I really prefer mouse driven games, not keyboard. I'm pretty slow with the keyboard games. My husband is 77 and he does it all himself (although he just plays fishing games and card games). How do I qualify as an old gamer?