YvoCaro Plays: Gaming over 60

Welcome to another YvoCaro Plays!

As always, these blurbs are mainly about the video games I’m currently playing. Unedited thoughts spring up in my mind, mostly game-related, sometimes not. Or a random train of thoughts starting with the game and ending somewhere completely different!

If you like these bits of gaming thoughts, you can find the previous ones here.

Gaming is For Young and Old

Nowadays it doesn’t matter how old you are, playing video games is for everyone. No matter if you play games on a console or PC or on your mobile device. And whether you like the more casual experience or want to dig in deep with a grand adventure. It’s all good!

I’m glad things have changed in that regard, when I started playing video games at the age of 42 it wasn’t something a lot of women my age did. I must say I never let myself be deterred by that, it was something I found that I loved and why shouldn’t I pursue it then? 

Almost 20 years later I’m still going strong, gaming where the mood takes me on my Nintendo Switch, my Steam Deck and occasionally my iPad. It isn’t my hobby that has changed, but I have. Playing video games when you are over 60 comes with its own set of challenges. If you are on the lucky side of 40, you can just skip this article. If you’re not, you might find something recognisable! 

Texts in Games Are So much Smaller

The first thing I noticed getting older was that game developers made their texts much smaller than before. Or could it be my need for reading glasses? Nowadays I can’t read any label in the supermarket anymore, nor what’s on my computer in front of me without my extra pair of eyes. Pretty annoying. So what does it tell you when you’re trying to play a handheld game but you have to ask the members of your family what text is on the screen?

To be able to read I’ve been known lately to take my glasses off and hold the Switch or Steam Deck very close to my eyes. Totally aware that I must look a bit idiotic with the gaming device pressed to my nose. But, what can you do if you want to play your favourites? 

Falling Asleep over My Game

Even as interesting as the game is to me, not even the best of games can prevent me from missing valuable gaming time. You see, I have such a lot of things to do during the day. Trying to combine my job with the fun here on the site and being a mom and wife as well. And lately, there’s this thing of moving house: selling our current one and getting ready for our new one, which is pretty intense too. By the time I turn in, I tend to play whatever game I’m currently playing. But the thing is: as soon as my head hits my pillow, I get sleepy. So sleepy, that I’ve been known to doze off with my Switch still in hand!

Extra Heat from Gaming

Maybe something the older generation doesn’t talk about but here it is: hot flushes. 10 years I’ve been enduring them now, and really, they are the pits. Imagine sitting in a business meeting and feeling the heat creep up. Trying to stay focused while being embarrassed that sweat beads are forming on your cheeks. I’ve solved this by whipping out a mini fan, no matter where I am. People might look at me strangely, but why should I be uncomfortable?

Even in playing video games, this isn’t very pleasant when I’m playing them on the Steam Deck. The fan of that device gets so hot with some games running, that it adds extra to my hot flushes making it uncomfortable to play! 

Holding a Handheld or Controller

The last addition to the joys of gaming while over 60 is the most worrying for me. I have osteoarthritis, playing havoc with my knees and other joints. My wrists and fingers are in trouble too, which sometimes makes holding a handheld device or even a controller painful. Especially the Steam Deck, which feels much more clunky and heavy than the Switch, gives me trouble. This is such a shame, as there are so many of my favourite games on there! 

So there you have it, the joys of playing video games over 60!

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