When you picture a gamer, you’re likely imagining a young adult or teenager sitting in front of a console or gaming PC and playing games into the morning hours.
However, there has been a new trend where the older generations are getting more involved in gaming. Retirees are finally picking up controllers and experiencing what playing video games is all about. But once you’re over 60, how can you get involved without coming across as a total “noob”?
Getting Your Setup Right
The first step in getting started is to create your gaming setup. You can either work with what you have, or you may need to invest in some hardware; it all depends on what types of games you want to play and how engaged you want to be.
There are a couple of options to play games:
- Consoles, like PlayStation and Xbox
- PCs
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Smartphones
- Handheld consoles, like Nintendo Switch
You will also need a strong internet speed to download games or play games online. But, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. For example, if you enjoy going to the casino, there are plenty of online casinos in the UK that you can access from your phone or a basic laptop or a PC. You can instantly log in and play thousands of slots and table games without a hectic setup.
But, if you want to play narrative games with detailed graphics, then you should consider investing in a console or gaming PC with a monitor.
You will also need additional items catered to your comfort, like a gaming chair, desk, and a headset. If you struggle with arthritis in your hands, you can get adaptive controllers that can be customised for your abilities.
Find Your Game
This is the fun part! You can try out different genres and titles in each genre to find a game that appeals to you. You may want to start out with something more casual, like a simulation game. Or you can dive straight into a racing game or first-person shooter if you’re up for it.
Read reviews online and watch free YouTube videos about the gameplay to decide if a game is meant for you or not.
Find Your Community
Many online games are very social. You can either play in a team or solo, but still get to interact with other players who are on their own in-game journeys.
The easiest way to find your community is to join Discord channels for the game you’re playing. Discord is a free chat application designed for building communities and connecting with friends. It is popular among the gaming community, where you can join a “server” for free based on the game you’re playing.
Just remember not to share personal information while talking to others online. You can share your age and experience level with the game, but don’t share your name or address or anything that can be used to identify you.
Also, there are some “trolls” online. These are people who go out of their way to annoy or wind up other players. Just ignore them, they’re mostly harmless.
Why Start Gaming
Gaming is more than a hobby; it offers many benefits for senior players:
- Improves multitasking
- Prevents loneliness
- Decreases the speed of cognitive decline
- Improves focus
Gaming will give you a new sense of purpose once you’ve retired, and is a fun way to make new friends.
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