Any older gamers out there?

Gooch3008 said:
I disagree sir. Maybe you were too old when you played/were exposed to it?? Please explain.
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I remember when Zelda came out for the NES. A friend of mine had it, and I played it at his house. I didn't find it particularly interesting, and the gameplay was beyond lame to me. It seemed to me that you just go from frame to frame, solving the same problems and doing the same shit ad nauseam. I played some of the sequels, and they were exactly the same. So...meh. Halo has the same issue. I recall reading an interview with someone from Bungie who said in fact that they wanted to make a single awesome 30 seconds of gameplay and repeat it over and over. My opinion is that Zelda was developed with a similar philosphy. I suppose I can see why people like it. I just don't.
 
42 in June. I played pong when it came out. I played the Atari before the 2600 came out.
 
Started with Atari 2600. I can still remember when I thought pac-man was complicated because it had no fire button. I miss the Arcades.... seeing all those machines in one place.... it was like wow, where do I start?
wtf MULE has been re-made for multiplayer? Link? Countless hours on that back in mid 80s on C64.

I remember drawing maps on graph paper for Ultima, Bard's Tale, and Might and Magic. I don't think you could progress without making them. Damn spinner squares.... Not sure why, but I had more fun with those games (overall) than today's games.... completing something like Bard's Tale II was actually a serious achievement that took the good part of a summer vacation.
 
toddw said:
Started with Atari 2600. I can still remember when I thought pac-man was complicated because it had no fire button. I miss the Arcades.... seeing all those machines in one place.... it was like wow, where do I start?
wtf MULE has been re-made for multiplayer? Link? Countless hours on that back in mid 80s on C64.

I remember drawing maps on graph paper for Ultima, Bard's Tale, and Might and Magic. I don't think you could progress without making them. Damn spinner squares.... Not sure why, but I had more fun with those games (overall) than today's games.... completing something like Bard's Tale II was actually a serious achievement that took the good part of a summer vacation.
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I consider this a public service :

Link for Multi-Player M.U.L.E.

These guys did a great job on it.

I probably still have my graph paper maps for bard's tale somewhere too...
 
AdamNesvick said:
Same league? Ultima is probably the best Western RPG series there is (until they jumped the shark with 8 and 9), Space Quest and Wing Commander need no introduction, any proper gamer knows who Roger Wilco is, or who the Kilrathi are.

While Zelda may have sold more, I don't see how it is in the same league as the games I listed, its just lacking in content, even for the time, considering Ultima 1-4 were also on the NES.
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except the gameplay on the ultima titles on NES is atrocious.
 
48 here. You damned kids get off my lawn ;)
Started with text based rpg's on neighbors Apple IIc,
bought a Commodore 64,
then an Amiga 1000 (sold that to buy wifes engagement ring), 286 with EGA card, 386, 486, Pentium 3..... Etc. Upgrade cycle every 2-3 years.
 
phew, I was afraid that at 38, I'd be a crusty old fart here. But thanks for multiple peeps showing me otherwise /duck :)

Sorry, had to do it. Anyway - rock on for all the old timers.

Funny old man story. Was playing an online fighter on my xbox 360. Matched up with an obviously young boy. "my dad is the best dad in the world - he bought me this xbox. Did your dad buy you your xbox too?" Me: "umm no - I bought mine with my own money" Kid: "whoa how old are you?" Me: "36" (at the time) Kid: "OMG you're like as old as my dad!"

Now mind you - he's kicking my arse hardcore - not just a little - but friggin hardcore...

Kid: "for someone who's played video games as long as you have - you're not very good at this game"

/fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu /ragequit

LOL I can still hear that kid's voice taunting me to this day - telling me I'm old and have lost my mojo ;)
 
52 here and my Old Farts Clan (_OFC), has been around since 1995.
Our minimum age is 35.

The first computer game I played was the Star Trek text game, on our high school's mainframe in the mid 70s.

I prefer first person shooters but find I don't tend to play the same game several hours a week anymore.
This really hurts my scores but I have more fun playing a larger variety of games.
 
I've gone from breaking controllers with an Atari 2600 to thrashing a G5 mouse. Oh yeah, I'm 50.
 
49 here, first online game, if thats what you could call it, was Empire running on an Xerox Alto.
 
30

Still looking for that RPG on atari 2600. you went through doors to go up through the levels like A-Z. I think you needed to find keys while avoiding monsters. Anybody?


Mark_Warner said:
I remember when Zelda came out for the NES. A friend of mine had it, and I played it at his house. I didn't find it particularly interesting, and the gameplay was beyond lame to me. It seemed to me that you just go from frame to frame, solving the same problems and doing the same shit ad nauseam. I played some of the sequels, and they were exactly the same. So...meh. Halo has the same issue. I recall reading an interview with someone from Bungie who said in fact that they wanted to make a single awesome 30 seconds of gameplay and repeat it over and over. My opinion is that Zelda was developed with a similar philosphy. I suppose I can see why people like it. I just don't.
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I enjoyed Zelda - A link to the past. Good stories good variety of gameplay. There were always things to do. Haven't enjoyed any zelda title before or after. Never really enjoyed Ocana or whatever the N64 one was because the controller for the N64 was completely unusable for me.
 
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piscian18 said:
30

Still looking for that RPG on atari 2600. you went through doors to go up through the levels like A-Z. I think you needed to find keys while avoiding monsters. Anybody?
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Hmm, the first game that comes to mind is none other than the grand-daddy of the modern RPG apply named :

Adventure

Played that one to the ground too! Had keys and dragons, not sure about the A-Z thing though.
 
dang... just call me grandpa Ill be 61 in july.... started gaming in 86 still going strong.. might not be as fast as I use to be but still having as much fun as I can
 
31 and I've been a gamer since I was 4 (first system Atari 5200). Love it. Although in recent years I've slowed down a bit I still try to stay on top of the holiday gaming rush every year at least.

This year I'm hoping to attend E3 again but we'll see.
 
Yakk said:
Hmm, the first game that comes to mind is none other than the grand-daddy of the modern RPG apply named :

Adventure

Played that one to the ground too! Had keys and dragons, not sure about the A-Z thing though.
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naw not it thanks though.
 
Cretin said:
48 here. You damned kids get off my lawn ;)
Started with text based rpg's on neighbors Apple IIc,
bought a Commodore 64,
then an Amiga 1000 (sold that to buy wifes engagement ring), 286 with EGA card, 386, 486, Pentium 3..... Etc. Upgrade cycle every 2-3 years.
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I forgot about those Apple IIc. I remember a wonderful green "vector" like maze which you wandered around and now and again walked where you shouldn't and got burned by whatever bad creature you encountered.

I really would want to play those again but I suspect they'd be rubbish now :)
 
Most young punks here I see....53 and I play several hours each day... :D

My first console game was the original PONG :eek:
 
33 here. Started on the atari 2600 and the Apple IIc. Still big into pc gaming, tried getting into modern consoles; it's just not my thing.
 
Though not old per se at 27, I have been gaming less and less as the years go on. In college I used to game for hours on end; HalfLife, MorrowWind, etc... Now I've recently diversified into PS3 (only other console that I own or have ever owned it NES). But I can only play for 30min or so, before I've got other stuff to do; grad school work, work-work, diapers, house work, or other work. Ha ;) But I do still very much enjoy playing games and probably will for a long time, just to a lesser degree. With so much responsibility and other things I'd prefer to be doing, getting "lost" in a game just really isn't an option, but casually playing every now and then is just fine. :)
 
piscian18 said:
I enjoyed Zelda - A link to the past. Good stories good variety of gameplay. There were always things to do. Haven't enjoyed any zelda title before or after. Never really enjoyed Ocana or whatever the N64 one was because the controller for the N64 was completely unusable for me.
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I was really only bitching about the first two Zelda games. A link to the past is really the game that got me to want an SNES. Took forever to try the game because of how much I disliked 1 and 2, but my friend Alex told me I had to try this new one, and lo and behold, it didn't suck!

Also, if you want to enjoy Ocarina of Time, get the Zelda collection, and you can play it on your Gamecube/Wii with a proper controller, not the three pronged dildo.
 
Not the oldest here at 44, but I remember playing on my original Pong and Bowling consoles that plugged right into my TV. Then it was the standard C64, PET and our Atari 400 computer! Not having to pump quarters at an arcade to be able to play Joust, Pacman, DigDug, etc... was a blast.
The funny thing is, I still have a bit of an edge when gaming with/against you youngsters in FPS's... I'm nowhere near the best, but I hold my own :)
 
DoubleTap said:
I'm 41 and I actually started on green screen games at my dads office in the 1970s and then some CPM machines and the 2600 > C64 > Amiga.
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Mmm, I remember the Star Trek game from mom's office. She also pointed out a supersized VCR-looking thing and was proud to announce that the tapes held 1Mb. IIRC she said the device cost $10k.
 
Negative Decibel said:
33 here. Started on the atari 2600 and the Apple IIc. Still big into pc gaming, tried getting into modern consoles; it's just not my thing.
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Oh yeah i guess the Apple was my first videogame system as well at school. Playing Oregon trail, word/number munchers, that game where youre a fish that eats fish...Not sure what I was supposed to learn from that. Loved the sound of that drive when you put a 5.25 in. ERRR BEEP. GAME ON!
 
28 in July

I started off gaming at friends' houses before my parents realized that I enjoyed gaming when it was the mid 90s. Started off with an NES (Zelda & Mario), then a Sega Genesis (Desert Strike/Jungle Strike/Urban Strike/Starflight), Apple IIc (Oregon Trail), Mac (MechWarrior 2), PC (Pentium 100/Windows 95 with MechWarrior 2 at home - bought from my uncle & Alone in the Dark at a cousin's house), & many more PCs & consoles in the mix. It's sad that that I started out learning about Windows 3.1 & gaming from friends & relatives rather than in my own home. I'm envious of everyone who started out with technology & gaming early.

After all of my experiences with consoles, I'm most fond of my time learning to play MechWarrior 2. :) It really sucked living with restrictive parents since I only had time to either learn about technology or game for 1 hr a day (sometimes more on the weekends). Now they realize that my career is all about technology & my main hobby is gaming. :D I'm glad my wife doesn't have issue with my gaming hobby but I try not to interfere during the "us" time.

Nice to see the older generation having a blast with gaming, too. I think I'll grow old & still game. :)
 
40, and I still game 20+ hrs/wk.

Pong, Atari 2600, C64, and things finally got serious in about 1993 when the office I was at got a PC for me. Played games after hours late into the night. Not ever been into consoles, but they can be fun for 2 hours per year at a friends house - but no more than that.
 
Still gaming and having a great time at 50. Started with Doom back in the 90's playing at a school lab that had 486's. Got tired of studying around 1AM and would deathmatch with other engineering students until 4. Started working in corporate America and met some friends that got me hooked on COD, MoH, and the BF series. Currently play BF3 as WarlockSix. Some habits are hard to break! :)
 
huxley said:
Its just a matter of audience. A lot more people played consoles than PC games. Hell, I am and have been an avid pc gamer for about 15 years now but there just arent as many people in the same boat. If I go somewhere and ask about Baldurs Gate, I will get mostly blank stares. If I then mention the speed scooter level of Battletoads, some people are going to know what I'm talking about.
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Depends on where you are from, in Europe “PC’s” were a lot more common than consoles, actually thinking about it, I did not know one person that owned a console. I am 33, my PC days started with ZX Spectrum (48K ram), followed by Commodore 64, Commodore 128, Amiga 500+ (+ meant it had 1 meg of ram vs 512kb standard), Amiga 1200 (AGA version). After Amiga went under in early 90’s I was forced to switch to PC’s still remember getting math coprocessor for my 486 (dx66) and being amazed how smoother Doom ran on it.. Funny thing in Europe is that everyone that was into gaming or media / graphics design absolutely hated PC’s. Actually the whole thing reminds me of consoles vs. PC now, we never understood why would someone game on 386 or 286 and not use something like Amiga which was in every imaginable way superior… Good memories, oh well back to work now..
 
I'm almost 44. Started with ZX Spectrum, then Amiga, then a Mac (not for gaming actually, I needed that for my job but I loved Myst and Journeyman Project) and then turned to PC. I do have an Xbox 360 but I'm not using it much. I feel much more at home playing games behind my desk and I love the way PC games can be modded.
 
27 here. Started on an NES, but then got a computer and never turned back. First a 486 IBM hodgepodged out of the computers Prudential was tossing. My first new computer was a Gateway 2000 P5-100 with a 1GB hdd, 16 megs of ram and Windows 95. Got my first 3D accelerator for that system, a Quantum 3D Raven (3DFX Voodoo Banshee). Great fun.

Now I repair PCs for a living, and game as a hobby. Have a Xbox 360, but its side seat to my rig.
 
EA games used to come in sleeves, looked like old vynil LPs.

Infocom. Zork was all the rage... Infidel, etc.

The box for Ultima III was considered extreme. A demon on the cover? Today that would be getting HUGE media attention.... nobody did anything like that in 1983.
 
42 and too busy with school to seriously game right now, back to it in December, I hope!

Played PONG at a buddies house, dad had an Atari 2600 when we went to visit him, played some castle siege game on the TRaSh-80's at school in 5th grade or so, got a C64 in 84 or so, I was hooked. Used to sneak down and play games after everyone was asleep. Play with my kids now, when I have time. Don't ever plan on 'growing out of it'. The amount of time I'll spend, even without school, is a lot less now, though. Got too much other stuff to spend time on...at least when the weather's good. ;)
 
Wow, look at all the ol' farts! :p
I'm 32, and have yet to tire of gaming.
 
I had a few games for my Atari 400 that came on cassette. It was pretty challenging loading the games, you had to hold down the Start key, power up the 400, listen for a beep from the computer,and then press play on the tape player. If things went well it would take a few minutes to load the game. Once in a while the load would fail and I'd have to rewind the sucker and try again.

One of the cassette format games I owned was the Frogger game published by Sierra On-Line. :cool:

Any of you Atari 400/800 players remember a game named Ghost Hunter?
 
32 here. Never owned a console in my life and most likely never will. PC4LYFE!

Quick rundown of my comptuers
Commodore Vic-20 when i was 3
Commodore 64
Commodore 128
Commodore Amiga
Then we (as a family of course!) transitioned to the DOS era with a 386sx
486
By now i was a teenager, i got my first PC that was my own, a Pentium 90 with 32MB of ram and 1MB Trident 64 PCI video card. Everything just got worse from there. I've been playing games on average 10-15 hours a week ever since.

Current favorite game: Civilization V with over 190 hours put into it.
 
I'll be 37 in October and I've been gaming since Pong. My fav as a youngster was Night Driver on the 2600 with the paddle controller. It's funny to see the pc vs console argument still going strong after all these years. I remember catching shit from my friends when I would dismiss their Sega Master systems and NES systems due to their inferiority to the PC/Amiga platforms. I had all of the systems but the PC was the shit. I mean, come on, I was playing Golden Axe at home in 256 colors and the shitty speech effects were included! Okay, so I had a $3500 pc at my disposal to do it, but it was still better! LOL

It's funny I have the money and the toys, but time is scarce after my job and family have drained me. I still try to get an hour and a half of media time in whether it be games, movies or music. Right now, Mass Effect 3 has my attention and I'm enjoying every minute of it and when that's done, I'll get back to Alan Wake, another fun and engrossing game. On the PC of course! Long live the HTPC!
 
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