kxmode wrote on May 21, 2010, 17:31:

Ant wrote on May 18, 2010, 13:58:

kxmode wrote on May 18, 2010, 13:40:

Ant wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:53:

wtf_man wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:49:
I'm in my mid 40's and I can't game (much) because most of the games are SHIT (consolized garbage ports) and riddled with DRM (rootkit drivers) that fucks with my system. (Which I refuse to buy)

I bet there are more than 30 million "old farts" like me that want good PC games not riddled with crapware... but then again... we're just accused of being pirates in the first place (instead of customers), and told to "get used" to using console controllers.

I agree!! I'd rather replay old games!

Get off my lawn, kids!

Operation: OPANT!

I don't get your joke.

Well I'm glad my memory is still good, at least. joke is from here.

Oh yeah. See, I am old and losing memory!

Ant wrote on May 18, 2010, 13:58:

kxmode wrote on May 18, 2010, 13:40:

Ant wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:53:

wtf_man wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:49:
I'm in my mid 40's and I can't game (much) because most of the games are SHIT (consolized garbage ports) and riddled with DRM (rootkit drivers) that fucks with my system. (Which I refuse to buy)

I bet there are more than 30 million "old farts" like me that want good PC games not riddled with crapware... but then again... we're just accused of being pirates in the first place (instead of customers), and told to "get used" to using console controllers.

I agree!! I'd rather replay old games!

Get off my lawn, kids!

Operation: OPANT!

I don't get your joke.

Well I'm glad my memory is still good, at least. joke is from here.

SirKnight wrote on May 17, 2010, 23:12:
"The gaming industry is set to lose $3 billion in potential revenue along with more than 30 million customers as Americans who play video games continue to age and become disabled."


What a load of crap. As one older person goes out of gaming, a new young one (kid) comes in. Probably more than one. Loss my arse.

They're not talking about the evolution of gamers, they're talking about the loss of gamers. Whether a gamer becomes disabled or not, there will always be a new gamer. That's not the point. The point is even with the growing market, there's still loss for several reasons, and one being older gamers becoming disabled.

Get off my lawn....ch pad!

kxmode wrote on May 18, 2010, 13:40:

Ant wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:53:

wtf_man wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:49:
I'm in my mid 40's and I can't game (much) because most of the games are SHIT (consolized garbage ports) and riddled with DRM (rootkit drivers) that fucks with my system. (Which I refuse to buy)

I bet there are more than 30 million "old farts" like me that want good PC games not riddled with crapware... but then again... we're just accused of being pirates in the first place (instead of customers), and told to "get used" to using console controllers.

I agree!! I'd rather replay old games!

Get off my lawn, kids!

Operation: OPANT!

I don't get your joke.

Ant wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:53:

wtf_man wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:49:
I'm in my mid 40's and I can't game (much) because most of the games are SHIT (consolized garbage ports) and riddled with DRM (rootkit drivers) that fucks with my system. (Which I refuse to buy)

I bet there are more than 30 million "old farts" like me that want good PC games not riddled with crapware... but then again... we're just accused of being pirates in the first place (instead of customers), and told to "get used" to using console controllers.

I agree!! I'd rather replay old games!

Get off my lawn, kids!

Operation: OPANT!

I'm an older gamer (gaming since Pong). My eyes work great, reflexes are still pretty good, and I can still find an occasional decent game to hold my interest.

My hands are starting to hurt (especially my right hand which I use for the mouse). I don't know if I'd go so far as to say I've got CTS yet but it might be on the way. I use computers all day at work as well which I'm sure doesn't help the problem.

Part of what I'm beginning to realize is that my mouse and my PS3 controllers are just a bit too small which makes me keep my hand in an uncomfortable position. It kind of makes sense, especially with the console controllers because they need to fit well for kids too. I just wish there was more than one size controller...one size DOES NOT fit all...

Wowbagger_TIP wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:19:

and remember, disabled can mean anything from choosing other fun things to do or other retirement options, not just diseases and disabilities.

Disabled means choosing other fun things to do? Since when? Why wasn't I notified?!

Special Ed always looks like he is having a fun time

Blackhawk wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:43:
A lot of people seem to be have the wrong idea here. Accessibility doesn't necessarily mean 'simple'. It isn't a reference to the gameplay. Accessibility means things like colorblind modes, subtitles, and the ability to adjust font/interface sizes. This isn't Dragon Age versus Bejeweled. This is Dragon Age with subtitles versus Dragon Age that people with hearing problems can't play.

I agree. I give applauses to Valve for adding subtitles/closed captions in their Half-Life 2 games out of the box/downloads! I am also mostly deaf.

wtf_man wrote on May 18, 2010, 09:49:
I'm in my mid 40's and I can't game (much) because most of the games are SHIT (consolized garbage ports) and riddled with DRM (rootkit drivers) that fucks with my system. (Which I refuse to buy)

I bet there are more than 30 million "old farts" like me that want good PC games not riddled with crapware... but then again... we're just accused of being pirates in the first place (instead of customers), and told to "get used" to using console controllers.

I agree!! I'd rather replay old games!

Get off my lawn, kids!

I'm in my mid 40's and I can't game (much) because most of the games are SHIT (consolized garbage ports) and riddled with DRM (rootkit drivers) that fucks with my system. (Which I refuse to buy)

I bet there are more than 30 million "old farts" like me that want good PC games not riddled with crapware... but then again... we're just accused of being pirates in the first place (instead of customers), and told to "get used" to using console controllers.

A lot of people seem to be have the wrong idea here. Accessibility doesn't necessarily mean 'simple'. It isn't a reference to the gameplay. Accessibility means things like colorblind modes, subtitles, and the ability to adjust font/interface sizes. This isn't Dragon Age versus Bejeweled. This is Dragon Age with subtitles versus Dragon Age that people with hearing problems can't play.

and remember, disabled can mean anything from choosing other fun things to do or other retirement options, not just diseases and disabilities.

Disabled means choosing other fun things to do? Since when? Why wasn't I notified?!

I was born disabled and love computer/video games! However, I haven't had time to play them the last few years.

I did a research project for my Master's last quarter where I found that there are 76 million baby boomers in the workforce in the US. Since they are heading to retirement in the next 10 years, there are 46 million Gen. X'ers behind with an additional 76 million Gen Y'ers starting to enter the workforce, so I can see the where they are getting the larger numbers. and remember, disabled can mean anything from choosing other fun things to do or other retirement options, not just diseases and disabilities.

And the numbers lost could include the effect of piracy from the younger generations. Just because there's a 1:1 with the boomers vs. the Y'ers, doesn't mean it's equal in terms of technology.

Weird never heard of becoming disabled because of reaching 50, maybe a new disease sweeping the world?

along with more than 30 million customers as Americans who play video games continue to age and become disabled."

I'll play with my tongue!

Dr. D. Schreber wrote on May 18, 2010, 03:33:
The larger challenge for any part of the entertainment industry is convincing the younger demographics to put serious time and energy into their product.

No. The younger demographics will ALWAYS put serious time and energy into any product the industry throws at them.

You have to offer the OLDER demographics products, which convince them to spend "quality time" with them. Usually, you do this with QUALITY products, not the shovelware the major publishers release nowadays. I myself being an "old gamer", i am bored to hell from nearly all the games the industry throws at me. Mostly, they are just a nice looking, but empty shell. Or they suffer from interface problems, because the devs dont let me play the game in the way i prefer. As someone in this thread already says, games need to be more customizable. For example, i want save anywhere and anywhen i like. I want to configure all game settings to my likings.

If you want to stop gamers from giving up their games as they get older and have more to do in the real world, you need to convince them it's a hobby instead of a time-waster.

Easy. Design games the older gamer wants (!) to spend time with, because they are NOT stupid and boring. I know a lot of older gamers, who just download games, play them a few hours, delete them afterwards, hoping for at least ONE game, which can hold their interests long enough. Some of them just stopped playing video games because of this. Once loyal customers, now lost customers. And as an old industry saying goes, loosing a customers is easy and cost you nothing. Winning this customer back, is very expensive and can take years!

The larger challenge for any part of the entertainment industry is convincing the younger demographics to put serious time and energy into their product. Not that personal responsibility should just be thrown aside, but society encourages a culture of workaholism to the point where people are guilt-tripped for having free time, enjoying it, looking forward to it, etc. If you want to stop gamers from giving up their games as they get older and have more to do in the real world, you need to convince them it's a hobby instead of a time-waster.

SirKnight wrote on May 17, 2010, 23:12:
"The gaming industry is set to lose $3 billion in potential revenue along with more than 30 million customers as Americans who play video games continue to age and become disabled."


What a load of crap. As one older person goes out of gaming, a new young one (kid) comes in. Probably more than one. Loss my arse.

It says $3 billion in potential revenue, which is what they're claiming would be lost if older gamers stop gaming. It's not saying that it would drop by $3 billion, it's the $3 billion they could make on top of the new gamers if they can keep the old gamers buying games too.

I see things just fracturing more into a lot more niche markets. Some will be indie-served, others will be casual (e.g. PopCap), and of course the mainstream companies will continue. if there's a market there, someone will figure out how to tap it.