$2,730,000,000

$2,730,000,000. That's 26% of 10.5 billion. Why am I telling you this? The video game industry is a $10.5 billion dollar a year industry. 26% of gamers are 50 years old or OLDER. That means we older gamers contribute $2,730,000,000 a year into gaming.

And let me clarify. I am not talking about buying games for our kids or grand kids. I am not talking about looking for old Atari games on eBay. I am talking about current, AAA title (and lesser) games. Xbox, Playstation, Wii, Computer. We play them all.

What age do you think a person stops gaming? 30? 45? 60? During the beta testing phase of World of
Tanks, I came across a man and his daughter arguing in a local Target about the cost of games. As you may have already figured out, the man was the gamer. After all, I am writing this about older gamers. What you may not have been able to guess is the age of the man involved.

The man was (or rather, hopefully IS, since I'm hoping he's still alive) a veteran. Specifically, a Korean War vet. The man was 70 years old (as his daughter yelled at him several times), and was enjoying (and supposedly kicking butt) in the World of Tanks beta.I also know that he wasn't the only vet in his age group. I was also playing the beta, and came across several gentlemen that were "reliving" their glory days with the game. World War II vets, Korean, Vietnam, and the wars and actions that followed.

These men had started off gaming, much like myself, in the early days of gaming. And like so many people, they kept up with their hobbies as they grew older. When I was a kid, there was a running joke about model trains. Dads never actually bought them for their kids. They bought them just so they'd have a reason to play with them, without looking silly.

Of course, model trains have become a hobby that is often associated with older guys now. Probably
because the railroad industry isn't as "glorious" as it used to be. Few people travel on trains for leisure now. I don't even know if they still have sleeper cars for trips that take several days. But fans of Lionel trains have them in their collections.

And just as some older guys (and gals) have a caboose or two on a train board in their basement, there are many, many grandparents, even great grandparents, out there kicking butt on and off line, using their Xbox, Playstation, Wii, or PC/Mac. The butt they kick may even be yours. So the next time you get pwn'd, take a moment and try to figure out if that person was your age, younger, or older. Perhaps much older.

Oh, and by the way. Umeji Narisawa has played Bomberman EVERY day for the last 26 years. She's now 99. And the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the most perfect Wii Sports Bowling games, John Bates, is 85. 

Suddenly, I feel so much younger. Maybe I'll scrape the rust off of my old skate board. Or better yet, just play some Tony Hawk. Who happens to be 46, and still a brand name for video games.

https://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/meet-99-old-video-game-master-161546515.htmle