I have been gaming for as long as I can remember. And given that I’m approaching 50, that’s a long time. As you might expect, my gaming habits have changed over the course of the several decades that I’ve been gaming. And in some rather surprising ways too.
My family originally owned an Atari 800 (released in 1979), and I spent many happy hours playing Pong on it. I’ve then gamed on PCs, and at least one console from each generation that followed. And while I’m currently still using a PS4, I’m actively considering making the jump to PS5.
This gives me an insight into how gaming has changed over the last few decades, and how my habits have changed as the industry has evolved.
1 I No Longer Enjoy a Challenge
As a younger gamer, I loved nothing more than playing a difficult game. I would spend hours honing my skills to be able to beat the game, regardless of what genre it belonged to. As far as I was concerned, it was me versus the developer, and I could not let their infuriating level design beat me.
Now, as a mature gamer, I have zero interest in even playing difficult games, let alone beavering away until I beat them. This meant that I didn’t go anywhere near Soulslike games like Bloodborne, or frustrating platformers such as Cuphead, choosing instead to play sports games on Easy. Essentially, I now play video games to relax, which means I steer clear of games which are likely to frustrate me due to their difficulty level.
2 I Game as a Treat (but Have Other Hobbies)
As a teenager, gaming was my main hobby, and I spent many hours doing it every week. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve discovered new hobbies, and these now also vie for my attention. From reading books and watching films, to going out for a nice meal and some drinks with friends.
There’s also the fact that, as an adult, more responsibilities kick in. Work obviously takes up a huge amount of time, as does family, friends, and the day-to-day chores associated with maintaining a home. All of which means gaming has been relegated to an occasional treat. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it, but it is now a smaller part of my life overall.
3 I Game Online Occasionally (and Enjoy It)
I probably gamed online before most people reading this article did. From Quake II on PC to Chu Chu Rocket on Dreamcast, I enjoyed those early forays into online gaming. But then, when online gaming really took off, and everyone was determined to win by any means necessary, I lost interest—especially when kids from the other side of the world started throwing obscenities in my direction.
Now, I do venture online occasionally, and I enjoy it when I do so. But I’m careful about the types of games I choose to play, and log off as soon as I get any grief from the aforementioned trolls. I’m much more likely to play the campaign mode of a game by myself, but if I do venture into the online multiplayer, I want to enjoy rather than endure it.
4 I Care Less About Visuals Than Ever Before
When I was gaming every day in the 90s and 00s, video games were evolving at an incredible pace. And when you purchased a next-gen console, the difference in the quality of graphics noticeably leaped forward. We went from controlling an angular and pixelated Lara Croft to a realistic-looking Nathan Drake within a matter of years.
Now, the visual improvements across generations are less obvious to the point that I’ve stopped caring. So, if a game is good, the visuals are of little importance. Sure, we all love seeing the sun filtering through the trees in Red Dead Redemption 2, but I’m equally happy playing an indie game with a distinctly retro vibe.
This is why the PS5 Pro is so underwhelming, as the supposed improvement in visuals isn’t all that impressive.
5 I Never Buy Games at Full-Price
For 10–15 years, I would be perfectly happy to pay full price for a game on the first day it was released. I would head off to the shops (because online shopping wasn’t really a thing yet), hand over my cash, and go home excited to play the game I had just spent my hard-earned money on.
Now, with new AAA games costing an arm and a leg to buy new, I simply don’t bother with them. I’ll buy pre-owned games a few months after release or wait for digital sales to kick in. Essentially, other things are more of a priority than a $70 game that I may only play for a few hours every weekend.
6 I View Video Games as a Legit Art Form
Early video games were viewed as a frivolity; something to keep children occupied for a few hours. And I had the same basic view on them, even as a gamer myself. Video games could not compete with arty films, dramatic TV shows, and epic novels, and they were not considered an art form.
However, that is no longer the case, with some games elevating this hobby to a legitimate art form. The likes of Journey, Firewatch, The Stanley Parable, and Shadow of the Colossus are more than the sum of their parts, with a deeper meaning that defines them as art.
7 I No Longer Need to Finish a Game
As a teenager and beyond, I simply had to finish the game I was playing. Whether that meant completing every level, collecting every collectible, or simply getting to the end of the main story. The idea of giving up halfway through never even crossed my mind unless the game was terrible.
Now, I play video games for fun. And that means dipping in and out as I want, and not worrying at all about completing everything the game has to offer. I’ll still strive to reach the end of a story-based game, but even then, I’m never chasing a 100% completion.
While my gaming habits have evolved over the years, my love for this hobby has never wavered.
Gaming is an immersive art form that can challenge you in lots of different ways. Playing games is more immersive than watching films, but requires less brainpower than reading books. So, while my attitudes to gaming and ways of partaking in this particular hobby have changed, video games are still a great choice that you should recommend to everyone.
