Forthcoming · CRC Press
Games for Grownups
Why older players are the future of games, and how to make better games for them
The book
Games for Grownups is a guide to who older players are, why they play, what gets in their way, and how the industry can make games worth their time. Adults over fifty are already a large and growing part of who plays, and much of the medium has yet to catch up to them.
Grownup gaming stories
Tetris
My fascination with games came with my son. He had a Nintendo with a cartridge. I still have it. It's my second one even by now and I always…
The Legend of Zelda (any)
I started by watching as my son played console games. Those were mainly RPGs. I liked the story and trying to follow it a bit. That was Zeld…
Microsoft Flight Simulator
I used to play a lot of Flight Simulator. As long as you're learning to take off and land, it's fun, but after a while... 26-hour transatlan…
We all know how important it is to play games as we are growing up.
It is just as important to play them as we are growing old.
The author
Bob De Schutter
Bob De Schutter (MFA, PhD) is an award-winning game designer, researcher, educator, and advocate for meaningful play in later life. As a Professor of Game Design, he leads Northeastern University's Games for Life initiative, the Designed for Aging Gamers Studio (DAGS), and its graduate program in Game Science and Design.
His own games include Brukel, built from his grandmother's account of the Second World War, Blast From The Past and the upcoming Restless.
The foreword
Celia Pearce
Celia Pearce (PhD) is an award-winning game designer, author, researcher, teacher, curator, and artist, specializing in multiplayer, online worlds, independent art, and alternative game genres.
Her recent work focuses on live action roleplaying and "playable theatre." She is also the co-founder of IndieCade, and is considered a leader in games and diversity.