MMOs catering to people over 40 (or even over 50)

centkin

Video games are something that is usually aimed at the young and twitchy -- people who are at the pinnacle of their hand-eye coordination -- the same crowd most TV shows are aimed at.

MMOs do not have to be set up that way.  Indeed in the old days when pings were much worse, games were set up differently. 

There are a LOT of aging gamers out there and people who weren't gamers but are empty nest, or retiring/retired who have the kind of time and patience needed to excel in an MMO but not the standard current MMO.

I think if some game company came up with something that specifically catered to the older crowd, it would do surprisingly well. 

Kyleran

Stop that! I may be mostly dead, but I'm not dead yet.

Yes, its true, not very good at twitch combat but that's more of a matter of preference rather than lack of ability in most games outside of pure shooters 

You know one of my best friends is a 48 year old female who my wife has often accused as being my "younger woman."

It's all relative....but never date a relative.

  

centkin

Kyleran said:

Stop that! I may be mostly dead, but I'm not dead yet.

Yes, its true, not very good at twitch combat but that's more of a matter of preference rather than lack of ability in most games outside of pure shooters 

You have joined the older crowd -- embrace it. 

Limnic

As long as it popped up a reminder every four hours to take their old-people meds, otherwise it might be dangerous.

Albatroes

I'm a bit confused at what you are trying to get at. MMOs are a general genre? Cause there's plenty of them that cater to any demographic. If you MMORPGs, the sub-genre, those are tailored around pretty much the 'general' populace. I mean, just because someone can't physically do everything well in a game doesn't mean it should be removed just for them. Its like me asking for mmorpgs to go back to being community dependent with less developer handholding. Some people will 'say' they want those days but they were more than likely the same people buying in game currency when it was a big thing during those times. MMOs in general have come to the point they have because the numbers want them to. Its all just supply and demand.

Wizardry

i kind of lost interest in online shooters once 56k ended and dsl was the norm.With 56k it felt like we were ONLINE gaming,with dsl the shooters feel op,like very little thinking and ALL twitch aiming.
Only my7 opinion but i feel ALL games should have a high level of strategy thinking and not just twitch based.I have no problem with fast paced aiming combat but within reason and again i need strategy.
I recently watched my fave shooter growing up "Unreal"the new version and man alive,no way could i get into that.Don't get me wrong the players are VERY skilled,i would have literally zero chance unless i played for a few months everyday.However even as skilled as they are,they play the game like a mad addiction of people with ADD,very fast and just no care for defense,all out whomever kills first wins,toss strategy out the window.

I would argue this has nothing to do with games designed for ANY age in particular,just imo poorly designed games for the reason i stated,here SHOULD be more layers to gaming than just aiming.

However i think age groups do think somewhat similar,i noticed a lot of older people playing Atlas,like i run into about 70-30 older versus younger.So the type of game design will definitely attract a different crowd.Personally i could play anything within reason,just design it really well and i am good to go.

Paleriders

I know a few 50+ to 70+ players and they do play less twitchy games. Wiz101, Pirate 101, LOTRO, other RPGS.  They just accept they will never be in a "raiding" guild/clan in games like LOTRO.

Sovrath

Kyleran said:

Stop that! I may be mostly dead, but I'm not dead yet.

lahnmir

Paleriders said:

I know a few 50+ to 70+ players and they do play less twitchy games. Wiz101, Pirate 101, LOTRO, other RPGS.  They just accept they will never be in a "raiding" guild/clan in games like LOTRO.

I played high level TSW dungeons with a 70+ guildie and these were brutal and twitchy. He rocked them. Another 60+ guildie I played WoW with (god bless her soul) was a high level raiding warlock in TBC and kicked ass. Just saying.

/Cheers,
Lahnmir

centkin

lahnmir said:

Paleriders said:

I know a few 50+ to 70+ players and they do play less twitchy games. Wiz101, Pirate 101, LOTRO, other RPGS.  They just accept they will never be in a "raiding" guild/clan in games like LOTRO.

I played high level TSW dungeons with a 70+ guildie and these were brutal and twitchy. He rocked them. Another 60+ guildie I played WoW with (god bless her soul) was a high level raiding warlock in TBC and kicked ass. Just saying.

/Cheers,
Lahnmir

And yes, the older crowd actually needs to hide their age often in such games or be prejudiced.  There are a lot of guilds out there who really don't want someone who is over 50.  There are more people in the older demographics than one would think.

alkarionlog

sure blame age for you lack of coordenation, I still keep the same movement, if not better then when I was young

deniter

I've always been into more tactical and "smarter" games, even when i was in my twenties. It's not about the age of a gamer as much as it is their preferences and gaming taste.

Action games can be fun and they have lots of fans, but there's room for other kind of games as well. Action gamers get way too much love from gaming companies these days if you ask me.

DAOWAce

I wish I could play Wish online again.

Or more accurately, wish they didn't cancel it in beta.

Longing to play an MMORPG like that again..

That aside, I'm in my early 30's but I'm suffering from arthritis and can't play WASD based games unless I use a gamepad.  A slower paced MMO would be better for me.. but I'm not some spreadsheet type person (hello EVE).  Can't quite stand non-action combat games now though.  Auto-attack stuff is not engaging whatsoever, but conflicts with my situation now.

Really not sure what's a good fit nowadays..

Vermillion_Raventhal

My gaming ability has never been the same since I had a gap in playing around 19 to 23 or so. I used to be able zone in and be intense but I don't care anymore so it doesn't happen as often.

I still do very good in NBA games because I have a basketball mind.  I do good in fighting games because I am good at counter.  Not as good as I was but yeah.  FPS I mostly suck.  Had a stretch when I was was awesomely good but long past now. Sometimes I will stream and other times I just die.  MMORPG I am ok but get more confused with attacks and buttons.

I will be 40 Friday.

FlyByKnight

Elaland

I love seeing threads about [us] older players.  I think there is something to be said about some general preferences in different age groups, but of course there is a lot of variation depending on individual tastes.  A lot of people my age saw their first mouse, keyboard, or gaming pad as adults and so did not develop that inate familiarity that is oriented towards twitch type games or FPS.  I still only casually play console games to this day because I have to work too hard to master quick, precise movements with a game controller (and I remember buying the very first Playstation console followed by others)  Computers on the other hand I started with in college (my first computer programs were written not on a computer screen but on punch cards, with the results later provided as hard copies from a line printer).   It was literally years after that before the IBM PC was born and I loved how that opened up the gaming world, but it does orient me towards the more traditional successful MMO's out there even though I'm not above trying a few other things once in awhile.

kitarad

I am 62+ I am playing Anarchy Online and loving it.

I lie and say I am 60 most days, I wonder why I bother.  I should say I am even younger to make a real difference.

Sovrath

alkarionlog said:

sure blame age for you lack of coordenation, I still keep the same movement, if not better then when I was young

If they are 60+ then I buy the "old" moniker.

Too often I've seen people in their 40's and 50's say they're "old."

*insert "really?" emoji here*

Vermillion_Raventhal

Sovrath said:

alkarionlog said:

sure blame age for you lack of coordenation, I still keep the same movement, if not better then when I was young

If they are 60+ then I buy the "old" moniker.

Too often I've seen people in their 40's and 50's say they're "old."

*insert "really?" emoji here*

Depends on what you are talking about.  Games and sports you generally are old once you get out your 30s.  Even your 30s can be greatly diminished. Reflexes are nowhere near what they used to be.

kitarad

Vermillion_Raventhal said:

My gaming ability has never been the same since I had a gap in playing around 19 to 23 or so. I used to be able zone in and be intense but I don't care anymore so it doesn't happen as often.

I still do very good in NBA games because I have a basketball mind.  I do good in fighting games because I am good at counter.  Not as good as I was but yeah.  FPS I mostly suck.  Had a stretch when I was was awesomely good but long past now. Sometimes I will stream and other times I just die.  MMORPG I am ok but get more confused with attacks and buttons.

I will be 40 Friday.

My god how I wish I was 40 lol.

Mendel

Vermillion_Raventhal said:

Sovrath said:

alkarionlog said:

sure blame age for you lack of coordenation, I still keep the same movement, if not better then when I was young

If they are 60+ then I buy the "old" moniker.

Too often I've seen people in their 40's and 50's say they're "old."

*insert "really?" emoji here*

Depends on what you are talking about.  Games and sports you generally are old once you get out your 30s.  Even your 30s can be greatly diminished. Reflexes are nowhere near what they used to be.

Look at Olympic level gymnastics.  You're considered over the hill before you hit legal drinking age.

GregorMcgregor

If I'm honest, I don't feel that there is any. Only one I looked upon as "mature" and not full of the "Loot NOW!" & "Faster, faster!" crowd of younglings was Dark Age of Camelot, alas it is a dead Duck in the UK/EU.
I miss Excalibur & Prydwyn servers.
Oh, and I'm 49, my brain thinks it's 29 though.

Sovrath

Vermillion_Raventhal said:

Sovrath said:

alkarionlog said:

sure blame age for you lack of coordenation, I still keep the same movement, if not better then when I was young

If they are 60+ then I buy the "old" moniker.

Too often I've seen people in their 40's and 50's say they're "old."

*insert "really?" emoji here*

Depends on what you are talking about.  Games and sports you generally are old once you get out your 30s.  Even your 30s can be greatly diminished. Reflexes are nowhere near what they used to be.

I think when people are saying they are "old" they are saying that "they are old."

I think most people on this site aren't competitive "professional gamers."

Since apparently that's a thing.

eddieg50

Breathe deep the gathering gloom
Watch lights fade from every room
Bedsitter people Look back and lament
Another day's useless Energy spent
Impassioned lovers wrestle as one
Lonely man cries for love and has none
New mother picks up and suckles her son
Senior citizens wish they were young
Cold hearted orb that rules the night
Removes the colours from our sight
Red is grey and yellow white
But we decide which is right
And which is an Illusion?      

you do not really need to be a twitch master to play mmo's

Vermillion_Raventhal

Mendel said:

Vermillion_Raventhal said:

Sovrath said:

alkarionlog said:

sure blame age for you lack of coordenation, I still keep the same movement, if not better then when I was young

If they are 60+ then I buy the "old" moniker.

Too often I've seen people in their 40's and 50's say they're "old."

*insert "really?" emoji here*

Depends on what you are talking about.  Games and sports you generally are old once you get out your 30s.  Even your 30s can be greatly diminished. Reflexes are nowhere near what they used to be.

Look at Olympic level gymnastics.  You're considered over the hill before you hit legal drinking age.

Yep.  When they talk about sports stars being over the hill and they 5 or 6 years younger than me. *sad face* 

I can't even see the screen anymore like I used.  Literally woke up one day couldn't read text on the screen anymore.  Have to sit closer to the screen now lol.