Couple vying for title of 65+ Gamer of the Year
LONDON: Boomers are starting to emerge as significant players in the interests of younger generations.
Garry and Ann Hartney are ready to enter South Australia’s first online video gaming challenge for those aged 66 and up.
The last time Garry Hartney played Pac-Man, he was a young man vying for a free round of beers at the pub.
Many decades later, the 71-year-old grandfather has re-entered the video gaming world, this time with a Nintendo Switch in his hands and his wife Ann by his side.
But the pair won’t be battling each other for a pint. They want the title of “SA 65+ Gamer of the Year”.
“I always win against him anyway,” says Mrs Hartney, 68.
“Of course you do – you cheat!” Mr Hartney adds.
The couple have registered to play in South Australia’s first online video gaming challenge for those aged 66 and over, being run by aged care provider ACH Group.
While prizes are up for grabs for the best gaming journey, it’s the wellbeing benefits of video gaming that the Hartneys are looking forward to most.
The pair have been encouraging residents at their ACH retirement village, in Adelaide’s northeast, to join the challenge.
“We’ve become quite the ringleaders,” says Mr Hartney, who enjoys playing word games and is keen to build up his skills to play Super Mario Kart.
Mrs Hartney says: “We had a 90-year-old resident get involved last week and she loved it – she kept wanting to play tennis on the Wii.”
Than Rattanakosit, owner of Adelaide nostalgic video game-themed bar Power Up, says gaming gets old and young alike together and who doesn’t like a challenge?
Challengers are being encouraged to play with friends and family in the real world or virtual, and post their results online for four awards: SA’s Gamer of the Year, Intergenerational Gaming, Physical Fitness Through Gaming and Friendship and Connection Through Gaming.
Challengers can meet, set up games and compare notes at an online portal and face-to-face “Arcade” workshops are being set up across metro Adelaide.
