Better With Age
Written By: Donald "GTDon" Gaetke
Hello gamers everywhere! My gamer tag is TDR GTDon, (TDR is a Forza2 club that stands for, "Team Dynamic Racing") and I specialize in playing "Forza Motorsports 2." It is my great pleasure to provide you some entertaining, and informative insights into the world of simulation based racing, from the warm confines of my home here in the Great North Woods, of the State of Minnesota, USA.
My "credentials" include a long history of video gaming with a particular attraction to racing games. I've been a "car guy" my entire life, --motor sports of all kinds virtual, or real, appeal to me. Having just turned the "ancient" age of 46, I'm not too far removed from the average gamer, yet.
How old are you? According to several on-line gaming surveys, (and this might come as a surprise to you) you're about 33 years old, and have been playing video games for at least 12 years, if you are an American gamer. The same generally holds true for other gamers in other countries too. Interesting because there once was a time when only kids played video games. Unfortunately, this once true observation has lingered into a stigma of sorts today, and many of the elder generation, mostly "Boomers", continue to have this now outdated view.
Video games are not just for kids anymore. In fact, this multi-million dollar form of entertainment has grown up with today's adults, evolving into ever more complex, sophisticated, and mature genre's. Whether it's the invention of RPGs, FPSs, or simulation racing games, they all cater to a more adult target audience these days.
As we matured into young adults, so did the gaming industry right along with us. Many of us moved closer to the industry as programmers and developers, which aided the business to become more in tune with what we the gaming public wanted.
Faster computers began to revolutionize what could be achieved in video game entertainment, producing whole new companies, and franchises. With this advance in computing power came a price, --a literal dollars and cents price. Soon video game consoles became no minor purchase, and the games to play them on were more money too.
Today's rage is all about on-line gaming, which again means more money for the required high-speed connectivity to play your favorite games on-line in real-time. No problem as long as you are a gainfully employed adult. A lot harder if you're an unemployed teenager going to school, and living at home with unsympathetic non-gaming parents.
The whole point being, this form of entertainment is for young adults more than prepubescent kids these days. In Forza2 it is relatively rare to find someone below the age of 15 who has any skill at the game at all. Blame the 30 something's for this, for it is they who demanded a more realistic driving experience that they could relate to, and vicariously live through.
In the weeks to come I hope to be able to share some interesting tid bits about the Forza world, its workings, news, and personalities. For now and until my next installment, just remember, it's not how old you are, but how young you play. :)
Yours in Forza,
VVV GTDon
Team GM
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CGS Staff
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lol
Shocking read (didnt know the average age went up so much
Last modified on 5/9/2008 at 12:37 pm EST
And as the finishing touch, God created the Dutch.