I was a better super hero when i was young too O those were the days when i got older i troll on the computer most of the days fighting villians in the internet crime rate going up in the real world and i'm to busy throwing a flame or two in the forums.

I could beat games then that I can't beat now but that's because I didn't have a job, a family, and I didn't jerk off nearly as much.  I'm much smarter now than I was as a kid, though.  So, I guess I can beat lots of games now that I couldn't beat then, too. 

I think, if I put in the time, overlooked design flaws, and quit jerking off, I could beat pretty much any game I played as a kid--but what's the fun in replaying the same impossible level over and over again until my reflexes are superhuman, I memorize enemy patterns, and I don't get to jerk off?  Yeah, I could beat The Adventures of Bayou Billy in 1989.  It didn't really make me feel like my life was more full or anything.

about 10 years ago I was a far worse gamer, but I was much more 'hardcore' in the sense that I knew everything (and I often mean everything' about the games I was playing.  I could memorise the entire pokedex in numerical order and recite the entire tech tree for the first two age of empire games.  Maybe because I've got more things on my mind now (Exams, girlfriend, etc) I can't do that now.

Tell me about it, i used to be able to fly through any Mario game....now i'm struggling through NSMB :(

I agree.

But it isn't you or me that has changed, it is gaming.

Games feel so generic these days, you know what to expect around every corner. That is why when a game comes along which is unique and does things completely differently from the rest, you tend to enjoy it more. Games not being as scary or exciting and you not being as imaginitive as you were when a child is expected, you change with age. But that doesn't mean you can't appreciate some games.

Back in the PS1 days, I loved almost every game, because it was fresh and different. Fast forward to the PS3 and a lot of games are just prettier versions of the same game we played a decade ago, for the most part, the core gameplay mechanic doesn't change.

I miss being a kid, when I had more time for gaming and it was far more immersive. But that doesn't stop me from playing games I haven't touched in years, they are so nostalgic and still fun. Not to mention there are plenty of games being released in 2011 / 2012 that are going to be masterpeices, which are probably still going to be as fun as the games I played when I was a kid.

I know when I was little, I played SNES all the time... Mario Kart and Mortal Kombat. With Mortal Kombat, there wasn't a moves list, and we didn't have internet yet, so it was all about discovering all the cool stuff you could do. Now, when I play MK9, I've already learned most of the combos over the years and it's just muscle memory. It's just as fun, but it's a different fun. So yeah, I guess I'm in the same boat.

I don't know if I was better, but I was definetly more patient with games when I was younger.

I feel like I was a better gamer when I was younger because the games didn't give you a choice. They were unforgiving, had barebones save systems, and you didn't really have an alternative type of game to 'go back to' when you get frustrated; you'll just get more frustrated. That, and you were just a lot more willing to spend more time on it, even if it means doing something over and over.

In terms of what you were saying though, which is almost in a euphoric sense, I would agree as well. It was more of letting yourself be mystified as opposed to seeing to much 'reality' and criticisms. Hardly a feeling I get anymore, guess it's because we're all adults now.

When it comes to the Genesis Sonic games, I've found that I've become a little bit better compared to when I originally played them as a kid (Hey, I finally got past Carnival Night Zone, so that says something). But I still suck at the Special Stages, especially the Sonic 3/Knuckles version! Curses!

But as for being more cynical... I'd like to think that I haven't changed that much. I still love exploring gaming worlds and really getting into the game. I mean, a game like Epic Mickey has flaws such as the camera, but the world of Wasteland is so wonderful to explore that I just don't care. Other games like Castlevania: LoS really caught my attention too becaues of the world around you as you explore.

I dunno... I guess I just love exploring worlds such as these... there's a simple wonder to it all...

i totally agree with the OP, when i used to play both Vice City and San Andreas i never even finished 1 mission on either game, i used to just go round having fun and exploring but now when i play games like assassins creed brotherhood and red dead it just seems like ive lost the imagination for it, i just do the missions and thats it

but if u were talking about gaming skill then i think ive got alot better since i was younger just now i get alot more rage when i fail