There comes a point in every gamer’s life when the activity no longer satisfies like it used to.
I’m not exactly sure why this happens. It could just be part of getting older. Perhaps the crush of responsibilities or a growing awareness of our own mortality suffocates the simple joy of playing a game. Or maybe we develop a tolerance after years of moving digital avatars in what amounts to an expensive version of make-belief; what was once novel becomes mundane.
Whatever the reason, gaming in your 40s is an experience in diminishing returns. John Cougar Mellencamp — who apparently has been going by John Mellencamp since 1991, which I maybe would’ve known if I listened to any of his music since 1991 — famously sang about life going on long after the thrill is gone. It’s a depressing sentiment, but not too far off from my experience as a gamer. I want to be excited about gaming, but often my indulgence in pre-launch hype is as good as it gets.