Gamer... for life? - c_law23's Blog

c_law23's Blog

Gamer... for life?

Posted on July 15, 2013 at 06:29 PM.

(3)

I consider myself as a full-fledged member of the "video game" generation. On the tail end of the ones who really started it, at the beginning of the ones who maybe took it a little too far.
I was born in 1983. I was playing Frogger and Pong with my older brother (He was 10 years my senior and didn't really care for games outside of a trip to the arcade once in a great while.) I was 4 when my dad bought me the Mecca, the NES. I played sports and was outside a LOT in the summer. Often from the time I woke up (let's be generous and call it ~10am) until the street lights came on, I could be found within shouting distance with a group of neighborhood friends playing (insert outdoor sport here). But once dinner was over, my NES on a 13" tv in my bedroom called the shots into the wee hours. I remember having to shove the sleevefrom my sweet carrying case into my system to get Excitebike or Bayou Billy or whatever of the plethora of wonderful games that my dad had gifted me to work.
I was never much for handheld gaming outside of those Tiger games. Mainly, because my dad really would only support my habit if I chose between a console or handheld. He didn't see the point in buying Mario for console and handheld. I'm sure I put up a fight but I didn't have much to complain about, I was a spoiled kid. I definitely worked for what I was given, but I was given a lot.
I used to cherish going to arcades. NBA Jam or Royal Rumble in the old arcades were special. I remember playing the old GTAs, running around London from above wreaking havoc.
My favorite games have always been sports games. I loved creating myself and friends, playing out our childhood fantasies. I've been buying Madden most every year since '94, NCAA since it was Bill Walsh College Football '95 (religiously), Joe Montana Football (ironically enough I am a hardcore Steve Young fan), and this doesn't even mention the Tecmo Bowls and other shorter lived football games (NFL 2k1 on Dreamcast blew my mind.)
By now, you get the picture. There are bigger gamers than me, more intense football gamers than me, but games have had a huge part in my life. But now, something is happening. I always knew I would grow up and have had this conversation with my lifelong gaming companions.
I'm not excited. I have to make myself turn on my console sometimes. NCAA just came out and I barely care. I've enjoyed running the option, and for the past several years the online dynasty with my friends have been a huge part of my free time. Right now the only thing that excites me in my gaming life is GTA V (which, to be fair, might make me more excited than any game in the history of gaming, before that it was Red Dead Redemption and Skyrim[which I have still yet to finish].) But NCAA has always been the constant. I will admit that their sometimes lackadaisical approach to this game has annoyed me in years past, but when July crept around I was always excited. I found myself buying it this year just to not let my friends who I play OD with down. Madden is also not anticipated by me and hasn't been in a few years. I do enjoy the career modes on NBA 2k and The Show.
The question for me is beginning to come to the surface, am I outgrowing gaming? I never thought that I would. I recently did not turn on my ps3 for over 2 months. I am a father, a husband, and a soon-to-be 30 year old. I work at a large engineering firm and hours can be long and demanding. I am a motorcycle enthusiast and spend a lot of my little free time on my bike. I never thought I'd say this but I think I have gone from a "gamer" to a grownup that plays games once in a great while. I find myself hoping it's a phase. I know it's not over for my love affair with games, I have every intention of forking over the money to grab a next-gen console as soon as it drops. But I wonder if I'm just doing that out of habit. I know priorities change, but I always just figured I would want to play games but just wouldn't have the time. It seems as though when I do have a little time, I want to spend it doing something else most of the time. Such an odd transformation in my life.

Comments

# 1 Jimbo614 @ Jul 15

Dear C_Law23;I'm 57 years old. Your story sounds a lot like my own.
But reading your blog, it doesn't sound to me like you're outgrowing your games, but simply your tastes have changed.
Look, last year's football games left a bad taste in my mouth too. Here's what I suggest... Play whatever you're into. If you don't feel like playing Madden right now, don't.
But I think that at some point this fall, you're going to be sitting there watching a live football game, and you're going to get the urge. It'll all come back.
But you have to pace yourself, choose your priorities;
Remember that Family and Work comes first.
After that it's just a question of what you want to do at that moment. It's a free country. You can do whatever you want. You sound lucky enough to actually have choices. That's not a bad thing. Embrace it.

# 2 c_law23 @ Jul 15

It may sound that way, but I am not meaning to complain. Just contemplating. Thanks for the input, sir.

# 3 c_law23 @ Sep 3

Update: I did buy a ps4 when it came out. I'm still pretty much the same way. NBA and The Show peaked my interest but my ps4 is off for a month at a time on the regular. No doubt motorcycling is to blame now that it is warm. I am anxious to see how this changes come winter.