Gaming Reflexes: How Age Influences Reaction Time and Why It’s Not a Game Over Article

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Gaming Reflexes: How Age Influences Reaction Time and Why It’s Not a Game Over

Aug 21, 2024 | 1 Votes

by jose 10 rate It is a common belief that as a gamer grows older, performance will start to suffer. While this is an inevitable fact of life, many old-time gamers have found ways and means to compensate for these age-based deficiencies. Let's discuss a few points from the viewpoint of an aging gamer and author writing this article for you. WWGDB - Gaming Reflexes: How Age Influences Reaction Time and Why It’s Not a Game Over

WWGDB - Gaming Reflexes: How Age Influences Reaction Time and Why It’s Not a Game Over

While it is true that as we age, our body eventually weakens, it doesn't mean that we can no longer engage in many of the activities of our youth. Yes, reaction times may be slower, and performance may be somewhat lacking. Despite this, many "Boomer" gamers who have continually been playing video games and, in particular, video games for guys, have their own varied ways to counteract the aches and groans age seniority has brought on them.

The sad and inevitable dilapidation of the human body, however, should not be a hindrance to activities that a person loves to do (like in the case of playing games). There are many instances of older people, both in the GenX and Boomer age categories, that continue to excel with their gameplay and with just any other tabletop activity, whether playing poker, mahjong, chess, or living life to the fullest with physical sports.

What is essential is the ability to practice and excel in what one does best, regardless of any physical limitations one may have.

Natural deterioration

Being human on this Earth means going from start to finish and deteriorating along the way. You grow up, you grow old, and eventually, you get to meet your maker (so to speak). The cells in your body deteriorate with time, and this will, of course, cause your body to weaken. Based on studies, for a gamer, this starts at the age of 24. From that point on, it's a slow downhill roll for most of us. Like it or not, the cells of your muscles, your internal organs, and especially your brain start to show wear and tear as the years go by.

Your brain connections (synapses) will grow old and rusty, and this will result in your natural reflexes considerably slowing down. It may not be that obvious at times, but when scientifically measured to be the same as that of a 15-year-old engaging in the same activity, the kid will beat you at every turn. This is natural, and honestly, what can one do as age becomes apparent, as well as the silver in your hair? Teens will also age in time, so nobody at this point is exempted from this rule. It's just a matter of acceptance and natural progression. If it helps, it's best to think of your age like wine, and the older it gets, the more exquisite the scent and taste it gives.

Health Issues

As mentioned above, one's body physically deteriorates. Thus, one becomes more susceptible to the never-ending list of ways one's health can go wrong. Again, it may not be apparent, as some elders (or Boomers) seem to be in the best of shape besides their age. However, one always hears about this old guy or lady who seems to be very healthy and strong being rushed to the hospital after suddenly collapsing, and so forth.

Sooner or later, the "Pain Gang" will somehow catch up with you, whether it may be minor as one's daily arthritis all the way to hypertension, diabetes, coronary thrombosis, cataracts, kidney and liver malfunction, whatever disease and illness that plagues the human race, it will definitely affect you, another sure and real factor that aged (usually) Boomer gamers have to contend with aside from their slowing reflexes.

The Joy of Gaming

Despite all the reasons (like the ones mentioned) that plague elder gamers worldwide, if one loves to play games, one will always find a way and a reason to play one's favorite video game. Whether sitting in front of a PC or a TV, standing in line, or waiting for a bus with a phone or tablet at hand, gamers will always be around and glued to their screens. As we know, the game market is huge, with dozens of niches and game genres, and no matter in which age bracket one finds oneself, there will always be a game that will be meant for you.

The joy of gaming is never discriminatory when it comes to age, and older gamers will always have go-to game sites like video games for boomers with a varied selection of games to choose from. After all, the joy of gaming is what's important.

Staying Competitive

If you're the kind of gamer who's quite well past your years (boomer, so to speak), fret not, my friend. There are 101 ways to skin the cat (again, so to speak). Staying competitive is possible, probable, and achievable. Lacking the reflexes that the younger ones have can be remedied by simply practicing, putting your heart to it, and drawing in on a lifetime of experience. There's this old story from the 90s when BattleTech was such a fad.

A team of young top players went against an elder team composed of boomer veteran pilots (of the time) with real combat experience. Mind you, these guys were old. The young mech warriors proved no match to the oldies as they had already perfected teamwork and had experience on their side. Staying competitive has nothing to do with age, provided one continues to maintain good health (as much as one can) and achieve the kind of focus brought by years of experience. Just think about this, "Miyagi San" was a grandpa. So when he says wash in, you say wash out.

The Babusya Gamers

"Babusya" means grandma in Ukrainian, and rare is the person who doesn't love one's grandma. However, it is a fact that several of the best and most popular gamers in the world are babusyas. Never underestimate the little old lady playing on her phone or PC because despite her age, she can and will beat you. This gamer grandmas have amazing game reflexes coupled with good strategic and tactical minds that playing competitive games come natural to them.

Not only that, but they break the misconception that elders can no longer be good at games. Here are 3 more examples of gaming grandmas who have taken the gaming world by storm.

Finally, when it comes to gaming, boomer gamers, especially those that have been playing games since the 70s when video gaming as an activity and an industry had just begun, have a wealth of gaming experience no younger gamer (no matter how good they are) will ever have. These people have spent countless hours at the coin-op arcade playing video games many can't even remember or have heard of. They've done that, been there, and it's pretty impressive that they can, and are, still playing games and being good at it.