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Do we “grow out” of playing video games? According to Statista.com, the answer is no for many of us, as 43 percent of current gamers reside in the age group of 36 years old to over 50 years old. It is not surprising to find that studies also show that the majority of gamers range in age from teens to adults up to 35 years old, and that’s the age group current college students fall under.

Not only are many college aged males playing video games, but another study shows that from 2006 to 2018, there has been a seven percent increase in the number of females playing video games in that age group. The number raised from 38 percent of the gamers being women to 45 percent.

 

This raises the questions of how big of a role do video games play in our daily lives and what makes us stop playing? Video games have also improved over time with all the new graphics and ability to play across different platforms.

Grand View sophomore Carson Stepka said he currently plays his video games for at least four hours a day, but when it comes to the future, he believes that would come to a halt.

“Now I just have so much time on my hands where I can sit and play for a while,” Skepta said. “But once life starts going with work and family, that time I have now won’t be there anymore.”

Stepka said he knows being a working man and starting a family will eventually end his gaming in the future, but enjoys the time he has now to play as much as he wants before he won’t have time. He expects to have at least five more years of gaming time before he is cut short.  

In contrast, sophomore Devon Pressley said he believes that video games will be a part of his life for the subsequent years to come. He said he that games have always been a cornerstone of his day. It is part of his relaxation and his “getaway” from the pressures of school once his homework is all finished.

“I could play the game all day if my schedule allows it,” Devon Pressley said. “Whether it is Fortnite, NBA 2K, Madden NFL or Call of Duty. Playing the game can be the most fun thing to do some days. Nothing beats the excitement of winning a game of Fortnite with your friends.”

Devon Pressley also said his father, Deron Pressley, still plays video games as a 48 year old man with three children and a job. Unlike gamers these days, Deron Pressley says he got his start in video games after he was 18 years old, and even then he didn’t play as much because of work. He explained how video games did not become a big part of life until after he settled down with his job and family , which he says that those duties as a father make it more difficult to find the time to be able to play.

“I’ve always played in moderation, I don’t play when it could affect something else,” Deron Pressley says. “You cannot neglect responsibilities to be able to play, I have to make sure that everything is taken care of before I play all day.”

He also said that video games can be a good outlet for bonding with children, as he played many types of sports games with his children while they were growing up.

Video games could be considered a hampering to the daily life of a student or adult unless done right. With all things considered, you could find video games to be a cultivating experience that can be considered a favorite pass time throughout the day.