So.  What is your perception of old age pensioners?  Is it the doddery, silver-haired old lady, sitting in her rocking chair, knitting or clucking over her grandchildren, to whom she is dispensing vast amounts of Werther's Originals?  Well, if that's what you're thinking, then thing again buster, 'cos there's a new breed of us out there now.  Welcome to the world of the Silver Surfers and the Gaming Grannies.

This OAP is more likely to be found playing the Xbox 360 whilst urging Lara to "get your arse up there, you fucking bitch!"  Bit much for you to take?  Shame, because we've reached an age where we can do and say anything we damn well like.

I became hooked proper when, around 2006, I discovered Legend in the Tomb Raider series.  I have since purchased and played every game in the franchise.  I have also played Prince of Persia and various other platformers, but also love Fable II and Oblivion.  I don't like games like GTA IV and such, so I am pretty picky about what I do play.  Obviously, being old, our co-ordination skills are somewhat compromised and our reactions are appreciably slower, but on the plus side, we have endless patience and don't try to rush through the games and 100 miles per hour.

Older people today are often isolated and worry about the future, so gaming and social networking sites have real value in our lives.  Getting lost in a gaming world as a nice bit of relief from real life, provided you don't become single-mindedly obsessed, of course.  (As if!)  It's also nice for me to converse with my son on the subject and have some idea what the hell he's talking about.

In conclusion, we may not be very good gamers (some of us), but we sure as hell enjoy trying and next time you see your nan, don't put a label on her, as she might just whack you with a 360 controller.