I am retro!

Iturned 50 not so long ago, which more or less coincided with the news that I’m going to become a grandfather early next year. Coupled to that, pretty much the day I slammed into that half-century mark, I developed arthritis in my hands. As signifiers that I’m no longer young go… it’s a perfect storm. I myself am now firmly, and forever more shall be, retro.

It has been quite the ride. The proverbial rollercoaster. Highs and lows. Wisdom acquired and innocence lost. Nevertheless, I don’t feel my interests have changed enormously over the past 50 years. I still like Star Wars. I still like theme parks. I still play videogames, even if I somehow don’t seem to have as much time to play them as I once did. I am, quite literally, a retro gamer. But then this morning I went onto social media, and saw a thread kicked off by some young whippersnapper asking whether he’s too old to be playing videogames at 47. Yes: 47! I wish I was still 47! Can you imagine?!

Thing is, it has never even flitted through my mind that there was a cut-off point for gaming. Admittedly, my parents don’t play games, but only because they never grew up with them. My dad never grew out of football, or cowboy films. He didn’t hit 47 and decide they were childish pursuits, and it was time to grow up. How sad would that have been? Similarly, my heart aches for those who judge themselves for playing games at a certain age. If you like an activity, why stop? Unless, y’know, that thing you like is murder or throwing hens at walls.

Heck, I’ve been looking forward to the day I can retire and have loads more time to play games. I’m quite happy to spend the last 20 or so years of my life doing nothing else. All those games I never got round to, or were simply too huge to finish… heck, maybe I’ll revisit some of the classics. Finally complete The Hobbit, or master the moves in Mortal Kombat. That seems like an excellent use of my twilight years.

Except… apparently old people maybe shouldn’t play games, for some unspecified reason, according to some. What guff. Haven’t we moved beyond the idea that games are just for kids? We’re the first generation to grow up with them. Cut us and we bleed Chuckie Eggs. We should be setting an example to the young’uns. Heck, when my knees finally give out, I fully intend to get my walks in virtually. I shall live vicariously through Miner Willy’s athletic bounding.

Whatever age you are, whatever you enjoy doing, don’t feel you have to stop it just because you’ve internalised society’s prejudices. I fully intend to still be playing games on my deathbed, by which point I expect them to come in pill form. Imagine that; Doctor Mario administered by a real doctor in the form of a tablet. That’s some meta shizzle right there.

Haven’t we moved beyond the idea that games are just for kids?