An Old Folk’s Home
by Torcher, HSM guest contributor
I hope any youngish creatures reading this realize that no one owes you a job. Or anything for that matter. You have been given the most powerful gift on this planet: Life. What you make of it is entirely up to you, no matter what. Everyone has a sad story, you decide whether to wallow in it and make it your excuse, or to grow from it and make it your strength. If you want life to get better, get smart & creative and make it better. Don’t just cry about it and stamp around thinking you’re doing something important. Get to work and do something practical, personal and profound.
- Aaron Paquette, Canadian First Nations artist
When you are my age, it seems unreal that only yesterday Pong and Asteroids were the best we knew of video games. Pac-Man seemed like light years away. I jumped into the new generation of video games with only “Myst” as the last exposure to 3-D games. At first I only played Monopoly and quiz games. I never even tried Home, and didn’t even realize it was there at all until a friend showed me how to log on. My first experience was a bit overwhelming. I found myself lost and unsure what to do.
I was disappointed at first and frustrated second when I attempted to socialize. Using the virtual keyboard was a slow and arduous process. I went to the trouble of purchasing a USB keyboard. Technology made it easier, but social skills made it almost impossible. Not my own mind you, but the limited social skills of the antagonistic, and antisocial gamers I encountered frequently.
I was ready to call it quits and just give up on my short lived attempt at social gaming. Then I was helped again by a friend whom introduced me to the clubs. Again, I found frustration when most of the clubs I attempted to join were unresponsive and seemed completely inactive. I finally found a club that was active and was welcomed by many of its members who introduced me around and were kind enough to give me the tour of Home.
I still felt overwhelmed by the virtual reality of Home. Socializing was still hit or miss and often frustrating, until I began to interact with other older users. I found something about the experience rather odd, and yet equally satisfactory.
The concept of living vicariously through an avatar was something new but it’s something that immediately seemed appealing. It is a strange phenomenon I found other users experience. It is not a substitution of reality per se, but rather an addition to our reality. I enjoyed the concept of buying luxurious spaces to decorate and host parties for friends. I became a bit self-conscious at first at the prospect of feeding those fantasies, but the idea of having many spaces that have their own aesthetic appeal and a semblance of luxury that is unattainable in real life is an appealing one.
I suppose that is what video games afford us though – the submersion into fantasy without any of the hazards of reality. I haven’t suspended my grasp on realism by any means, but I enjoy the fantasy of Home. I have enjoyed the interaction with other adults, but there is still a level of frustration from the animosity of other users when they find out my age.
I don’t try to befriend children, and I refuse to lie about my age. I make it a point to ask someone’s age. Usually through conversation it doesn’t take much time to figure out someone is younger than they claim by the coherence – or lack thereof – in the manner in which they communicate. When running the program though, I have yet to run into a statement about maximum age limit, and I don’t feel I am too old to play a game that allows me to interact socially with others.
Interactions in the game can range from polite, to friendly, to utterly hostile. It has been a rather unfortunate backlash of being an older user, as there is an attitude or assumption that your intentions for using the game are anything but recreational and innocent. I have stuck to a close group of friends, but during promotional events that tend to be popular, I often engage others in conversation to learn more about the mini games and what rewards if any are available.
I would like to think that anyone can be welcome in Home. At least they should be as long as they maintain proper decorum when engaging others. I am not rude, I have read the guidelines for social gaming etiquette, and try my best to be as polite as possible. Yet, unfortunately, I have often encountered unwarranted hostility. I have had experiences ranging from someone whom claimed to be a parent reprimand me for speaking to their child, to being reported for standing too close while waiting for a space to load, or saying hello to someone and complimenting them on an outfit.
It isn’t always a bad experience, as I have met many good people who have been very friendly and social. It is the few occurrences that can mar an experience for the older generations, but have not as of yet deterred me from enjoying the game. After reading review after review of the game, I have learned the mixed reception that it has received from the gaming community. I have determined that the majority of the jeers have been from “hardcore” gamers.
I cannot claim to be a gamer in the traditional sense. Most of my games tend to be board games or quiz and trivia. Considering I purchased the PlayStation 3 solely for a media streaming hub, and for its Blu-ray player, I am grateful for a prepackaged game that has brought me countless hours of entertainment, allowed me to meet interesting people from all over the world, and has – even if on a limited scale – allowed me to live a fantasy through a virtual reality.
I don’t always agree with the pricing of some of the items in the stores. A lot of them seem very unnecessary and expensive for virtual goods. Regardless of my opinions, we are adults and we each make a determination of how we spend out disposable income. For those whom are not adults, I suppose it is up to the parents to curb the spending of their children. If a child is on an allowance, I suppose it is a good way for them to learn the value of money and how you spend it. Things change dramatically when the money is no longer virtual.
I cannot claim to be hardcore gamer – I am as casual as they come – and Home is perfectly paced and undemanding for someone that just wishes to interact with others without being overwhelmed by unnecessary tasks or a constant barrage of enemies descending on you as you try to survive. It is also arrogant for other gamers to try to dictate what games people should play. We are not all going to agree on the game that will entertain us. We all have to make that choice for ourselves, and I have made my choice with Home.
October 10th, 2011 by Torcher | 4 comments
Being an older gamer myself I can sympathize with you on some of your points. This is one of the reasons that I formed the Grey Gamers club, to provide older gamers I met with an outlet to meet others of like kind, and we have been growing every week since. You would be surprised how many older gamers there are in Home. Feel free to contact me Torcher if you would like to meet a few of them. Good article.
Home compared to its competitors is an incredibly easy to use application where people can meet and the personaility comes first, as long as your not naive to the fact that there are major pitfalls out there. the one thing I did do though to make sure that there is no mistaking who I am is call my account Gary ( cant get my sex wrong ) 16 09 74 ( year of my birth im EU based ) Home will never be used by a hardcore gamer too many issues, hardcore gamers its how quick can i get to my chosen game and play.
Well I am something of a “Hardcore” gamer and I can honestly say that I don’t come to Home for the games.Sure I play some of them but am I spending $120 on them like I did for blk-ops with the downloadable maps?Not likely.I haven’t added it up but I’m pretty sure I’ve spent far less on games in Home than I have for disc-based games.I’m also pretty sure I’ve spent way more on clothes and personal spaces than games in Home.I go to Home to socialize and go to disc-based games for my “hardcore” gaming fix.When it comes to how ppl treat you when 1st approaching them,well all I can say is that as in real life there are some ppl that you just won’t get along with.Best to forget all about them and concentrate on those that you do get along with.
I just walk around Home (for the most part) watching the virtual world go by. A people watcher if you will and a sight seer, a tourist and a resident both in this holodeck sci-fi fantasy world..
I remember Pong and Donkey Kong and and some of the others and have played games for years although in recent times I only dabble in them, mostly sports. Romance of the Three Kingdoms used to be a fun exciting game as was Joe Montana Football. Hey!!! A talking game!!!
Nowadays I just decorate apartments waiting for the next big thing. I’m particularly looking forward to this years Central Plaza (if that’s what it’s called) big snowball fight. I know it’s only a rumor but you can help me spread it.