I'm 32 now, and I have a brother who is 3 years older than me. We've been gaming since the Atari 2600. I got a SNES for my birthday the year it came out. I've been gaming since I was a wee lass, and it's something I've always enjoyed. I think that even if I hadn't had an older bro who was into gaming, I would have stumbled into it by myself at some point. Vidya isn't for everyone, and I know plenty of dudes who just aren't into it. I think maybe a lot of the older systems were seen as geared more for kids (LOL -blam!-IN' NINTENDO HARD SHIT THO), and now there are soooo many more "grown-up" games. And possibly because it's just become more socially acceptable, even though the whole "basement dweller" stigma still lingers. And maybe the women gamer things just became immediately and suddenly apparent when online play and voice chat became available. I've always been a gamer, but it used to just be with my friends at home, ya dig?