Our golden years.

[Specineff]

I just turned 30 this past August.

And that got me thinking about how life is for our generation. And how it might be when we all become seniors. I cannot see myself becoming a golf-playing, bird-feeding old fart. I think that unless my ability doesn't allow it anymore, I'll be playing games way after my 50's.

A whole lot of interesting things can happen in the next 20 years. There's a lot of books, programs, music, and entertainment options we haven't tried yet.

What do you think it's going to be like? I imagine it'll be an interesting time when we all become seniors. We might be a very active, dynamic generation of old gentlemen. It's going to be the freaking first half of the 21st century and we'll sure see a lot of interesting things happening.

Opinions?

[sethsez]

We might be a very active, dynamic generation of old gentlemen.

We're a generation that spends more of our free time sitting on our asses than any previous generation. Somehow I don't see us getting more active as we age.

[mice]

Somehow I don't see us getting more active as we age.

Sad, but true.
Turning 35 this year, and I can already feel my back aching.

But if you mean active in front of the TV with the latest consoles and gadgets, then yeah, our generation will kick a**e!

[Rob]

A whole lot of interesting things can happen in the next 20 years.

Yeah, I wonder how the oil thing we've got going pans out.

A semi-frightening personal thought: I'll be 30 in 2012. 2012 is also supposed to be a critical year in our history.

[Bloodreign]

As a 30 year old myself (turned 30 in September), I can't see myself slowing down my gaming, anything else on the other hand..., but I'll take my time if possible to becoming a senior, worrying about it will make your hair turn gray and you'll see the years fly faster.

[howmuchkeefe]

I plan to remain active. I like freedom, and I'd feel a lot more free if I were able to run and jump and fence than I would feel if I couldn't.

...I turned 30 last December. So far, so good!

[sffan]

I just turned 40 this month and I still feel like a kid. I'm taking a C++ programming course and I'm looking forward to getting deeper into that. Maybe I want to be a programmer when I grow up.

[FRO]

I turn 29 next month, & my wife turns 30 in December. I'm not sure how the next 20 years will affect me, but hopefully it will be a wild ride filled with children, gaming, more money (i.e. better salary), & lots of fun. I have no desire to become a "stuffy old person" in any way. I'd rather keep playing games & enjoying the things that I like. I don't see any reason we can't keep doing that.

[BulletMagnet]

I'm already grouchy and senile, so I'm pretty much all set.

[it290]

C'mon, golf is awesome. But yeah, I've often thought about myself aging. One of my hobbies that I connect to that more than games, though, is my love of techno music. I've often pictured myself sitting around with my grandkids, playing them all my old 12 inch records, while they ask me what the hell this crap music is. Heh.

In all seriousness, though, despite the number of people I know who have a job that involves a lot of sitting around, I think most of us will probably be somewhat healthier than people in their 70's/80's are now, just because of improved medical technology. Still, it's a funny thought, but I've often wished I was born a bit later in history (neural interface :rock:), or earlier (Victorian era, aww jeah).

[professor ganson]

As a 36 year old, I'm only getting better at shmups. But I got a late start and only got really into them in the last couple years.

I figure that as my responses begin to slow down, I'll turn to more memory-based shmups. Lately I've been really loving the R-Type series, so I don't think that future time should be so bad. Fortunately, I can enjoy games that I'm pretty terrible at; I'm not sure how true this is of the rest of you. Will you still want to play even if you really suck?

[captain ahar]

Will you still want to play even if you really suck?

going strong for more than 2 years.

edit: actually it has probably been closer to 4... not old yet...

[Dave_K.]

I'm 37 now, and am sure down the road I'll be known as the crazy grandfather who locks himself in the basement, swearing like a truck driver while playing on his Robotron cab.

[raiden]

I'm 37 now, and am sure down the road I'll be known as the crazy grandfather who locks himself in the basement, swearing like a truck driver while playing on his Robotron cab.

lol, great answer!

[FatCobra]

We are on the edge of a breakthrough, or disaster. It all depends on what happens.

But I think we'll be old enough to read the headline on a newspaper in 2050: "Last drop of oil pumped out of Earth!"

We may see the death of gas-powered cars. In fact, my prediction in car design 20 years from now is that we'll be driving small, hybrid, 4wd hatchbacks.

Who knows what videogames will like in the future?

[Vexorg]

I think Scott Adams predicted it best in his book The Dilbert Future:

In the future, everyone will have 80 years of complaint-free living to look forward to. Unfortunately, they'll all live to be 160.

[jp]

I turned 22 like, 2 days ago.


Damn, you guys are old.

[Rob]

But I think we'll be old enough to read the headline on a newspaper in 2050: "Last drop of oil pumped out of Earth!"

heehaw

[Twiddle]

I can't wait until the world becomes a steampunk nightmare with the transition to coal.

[sven666]

I can't wait until the world becomes a steampunk nightmare with the transition to coal.

law of the djungle and all that.. yeah that would be awesome!

umm yeah im 23 so im still in my "wasted youth" years i guess.. ill get back to ya in a decennia

[J-Manic]

I think that unless my ability doesn't allow it anymore, I'll be playing games way after my 50's.

I feel the same way. I'll probably be playing games until I go blind or die. I'm only 24 years old, but I already know this. I predict a future where damn near everybody and their grandma will be playing videogames. And that means we'll probably be seeing a more lazy and less active next generation of people.

[it290]

Yeah, but the question is -- will shmups freaks like us still be playing oldschool arcade games? Or will we get addicted to some crazy future online VR experience? I know this forum has lost a few members to WoW already.

[ptoing]

I would still play games even if i had fucking parkinson!
Alzheimer would suck for memorizer shmups

[Nemo]

Yeah, I wonder how the oil thing we've got going pans out.

Why is it the people without cars worry about oil? jklol

[howmuchkeefe]

Alzheimer would suck for memorizer shmups

But hey, think of the money you'd save on games! You'd just need one, and each time you played it would be like the first time...

[Rob]

You're very silly, Nemo. Here are some fun facts about our friend oil.

[BulletMagnet]

Why is it the people without cars worry about oil? jklol

'Cuz if any of us who more "directly" depend on it ever thought about it too much, we'd probably end up unable to get up in the morning, heh heh.

[Rob]

'Cuz if any of us who more "directly" depend on it...

i.e. everyone who gets their food from a grocery store.

[howmuchkeefe]

So, Rob, I gather now's a good time to invest in firearms and ammunition?

I reckon I'll need to buy a few more leather pants, too.

[Rob]

Never too early to stockpile firearms.* Don't forget the astronaut ice cream.

*"invest," I mean