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Cajungal
Staff member
I think of it as someone who plays several hours a day, could possibly compete, can run through a game very quickly if they need to... basically someone who knows the ins and outs of games and can judge a well-made one from a poorly-made one (I know a lot of that is subject to opinion, but the more technical stuff I guess)... Or just someone who makes that their primary pastime and knows anything and everything about it.
Actually, those groups have the same kinds of distinctions, but they are called something else. For instance, you'd hardly call someone who hasn't read a work of Shakespeare well-read... nor would you think someone who hasn't seen a Hitchcock film an expert in the horror genre. It's the same shit, just different content.
Cajungal
Staff member
Well we might not use the word "hardcore." But we have terms like movie buff, bookworm, etc... that suggest that they're really big on those things. So really, there are people like that for every form of art or entertainment--people whose opinions can be backed up by the hours and hours they've poured into learning as much as they can about whatever it is.
Fair enough - didn't mean to derail this like that. I would consider myself a hardcore gamer if I had the time to commit. As it is I'm a completionist. If I start a game, I want to finish it, along with all of the side missions and achievements I can tolerate. I have very little time (less than an hour a day - usually less) to dedicate to gaming though, so I imaging I would fall into the casual category.
figmentPez
Staff member
If that includes the 3DO Zelda games, and Mario Teaches Typing for the PC, then it's definitely insane.
Hardcore tends to involve those who sacrifice life over gaming. Those who put in more hours per session than the regular player. Someone who will go through a bad game from beginning to end, because it must be beaten regardless.
Someone who just "games alot" per day would fall more under as "dedicated" or "heavy" gamer.
Someone who just "games alot" per day would fall more under as "dedicated" or "heavy" gamer.
If that includes the 3DO Zelda games, and Mario Teaches Typing for the PC, then it's definitely insane.[/QUOTE]
No to the 3DO games, yes to the PC games (also, Mario is Missing and Mario's Time Machine). The 3DO games go for ridiculous amounts of money for something I'd never want to play.
If that includes the 3DO Zelda games, and Mario Teaches Typing for the PC, then it's definitely insane.[/QUOTE]
No to the 3DO games, yes to the PC games (also, Mario is Missing and Mario's Time Machine). The 3DO games go for ridiculous amounts of money for something I'd never want to play.[/QUOTE]
Those abominations are for CDI, not my beloved 3DO.
<--Hardcore....
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Dusty668
I have actually designed the Mastermind symbol and "signature" of my two favorite characters for a tattoo... what category is that?
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Chibibar
I'm a casual gamer. I might be "heavy" user for a bit until my attention wane. I do try to do the best I can be in the game I play (like L4D2 and Team Fortress 2) but will probably never be the best or even break the top 100 players, but at least I give a good try and have fun.
I personally believe games are meant to be fun. When it becomes work, I stop playing. (like WoW)
I personally believe games are meant to be fun. When it becomes work, I stop playing. (like WoW)
It's why I take regular breaks from WoW. I usually play pretty hard for about two weeks, then walk away for two weeks, then come back, etc., etc. It keeps the endgame grind from becoming too much like work, and after two weeks of not playing, I'm much more in the mood to spend 3 hours in Ulduar or work towards an achievement.
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Oddbot
I'd say between casual and hardcore. LOTRO is the only game I really play anymore regularly. The only next-gen system I have is a Wii and I only really break it out when company is over, or when the rare game worth buying comes out on it once every few months (just bought mario bros wii, next purchase will probably be Galaxy 2). I'm gonna buy a PS3 soon, though I know I won't play it THAT much, but I NEED to have The Last Guardian when it comes out as I'm a huge Ico/SoTC fanboy. God of War 3, Ratchet and Clank, and Uncharted 2 FFXII and Assasin's Creed 2 also look enticing, but I probably won't but most of those, I'll join rejoin gamefly for a while and work my way through them. Also I'm really looking forward to FFXIV (I played FFXI for a long time) but I have doubts that my PC will be able to play it very well, so the PS3 solves that problem too.
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Joe Johnson
(note - this post is a bit disjointed, sorry)
I think "hardcore" gamers would consider Legend of Zelda to be a casual game. The terms are sort of stupid. The modern day definitions seem to be:
Hardcore gamer: one who treats games as a "sport". ie - playing FPS games in a clan that trains to beat other clans, or enters competitions, etc.
Casual gamer: 1. everyone else. 2. noob.
It seems like these terms were created by the so-called hardcore gamers to begin with, as a way to ghettoize the "noobs". Heaven forbid you buy a video game to just goof around with friends, and chill.
In the old boardgame days, we used to call casual games "Beer and Pretzel" games. Basically, you had your Squad Leader/Panzer Blitz/etc games that required a lot of rules reading, time prep, and time allotment. Then you had other games that you could just jump into with a group without having to pore over a giant rulebook with lots of stats just to start. Modern versions of these games are things like Carcassone, Settlers of Cataan, etc.
My big beef with the 360 (the console I use) is that it seems to cater to the perceived "hardcore gamer" crowd. There are lots of shooters involving muscley guys with tight shirts and bad dialogue, and very few with cartoony looks, and zany gameplay (I guess that's what the Wii is for). Don't get me wrong, I LOVE games like Call of Duty, and play those online a lot. But, I have a group of friends that play on Live who are not really big time gamers, they just don't have the time it takes to get good at one of these sorts of games. So, we try to play games that trend toward either the zany, or are easier for a beginner to mix with an expert (Team Fortress 2 seems to be the perfect game, in that regard). It's always hard to find that perfect game for this group.
I think "hardcore" gamers would consider Legend of Zelda to be a casual game. The terms are sort of stupid. The modern day definitions seem to be:
Hardcore gamer: one who treats games as a "sport". ie - playing FPS games in a clan that trains to beat other clans, or enters competitions, etc.
Casual gamer: 1. everyone else. 2. noob.
It seems like these terms were created by the so-called hardcore gamers to begin with, as a way to ghettoize the "noobs". Heaven forbid you buy a video game to just goof around with friends, and chill.
In the old boardgame days, we used to call casual games "Beer and Pretzel" games. Basically, you had your Squad Leader/Panzer Blitz/etc games that required a lot of rules reading, time prep, and time allotment. Then you had other games that you could just jump into with a group without having to pore over a giant rulebook with lots of stats just to start. Modern versions of these games are things like Carcassone, Settlers of Cataan, etc.
My big beef with the 360 (the console I use) is that it seems to cater to the perceived "hardcore gamer" crowd. There are lots of shooters involving muscley guys with tight shirts and bad dialogue, and very few with cartoony looks, and zany gameplay (I guess that's what the Wii is for). Don't get me wrong, I LOVE games like Call of Duty, and play those online a lot. But, I have a group of friends that play on Live who are not really big time gamers, they just don't have the time it takes to get good at one of these sorts of games. So, we try to play games that trend toward either the zany, or are easier for a beginner to mix with an expert (Team Fortress 2 seems to be the perfect game, in that regard). It's always hard to find that perfect game for this group.
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Joe Johnson
That was no indictment on actual hardcore gamers, as I think gaming at the professional level is pretty damn cool. Like I said, we need new definitions. The "so-called hardcore gamer" I referred to actually meant "16 year old, insecure teen boy who thinks he's awesome at games, and laughs at the 'noobs' that deign to play non-FPS games"
fade
Staff member
I hardly play at all anymore. I just haven't found anything unique, challenging, and fun in a very long time. They're all the same game. Stay alive, don't let your lifebar run out, and hit the other guy. Change graphics, lather, rinse, and repeat. When someone interestingly (and I don't mean simulate an instrument) breaks that paradigm, I'll play something.
Sounds like he's describing Spore, and from what I heard, it was somewhat disappointing.
I'm a casual gamer. I like console RPGs but haven't bought a system since 2006 (replacing a worn-out PS2 with a slimline PS2). The only PC games I play are the ones on Armor Games, or the occasional AIF.
I'm a casual gamer. I like console RPGs but haven't bought a system since 2006 (replacing a worn-out PS2 with a slimline PS2). The only PC games I play are the ones on Armor Games, or the occasional AIF.
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Oddbot
That's the problem I've had with games for a while now. I've been just plain sick of the same ol' stuff.
Every once and while a game comes along though that is truly a gem though.
The aforementioned Machinarium is one. I also recently played through two awesome little games on Wii Ware. Lost winds and it's sequel Lost Winds: Winter of the Meloldiaa. If you have a Wii, you owe it to yourself to snatch these up. Also going back to PS2 Ico, and Shadow of the Collosus are two of the most original and artful games I've ever played.
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Methuselah
I'm paying a fee to compete in a TF2 league, and I practice every weeknight with my team, so I guess I'm hardcore, though saying it sounds silly. I'm only putting about 2-3 hours of gaming per day, though.
fade
Staff member
Geez, I'd say that's pretty hardcore.
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Methuselah
Geez, I'd say that's pretty hardcore.[/QUOTE]
If that's hardcore practically everyone I know is a hardcore gamer.
You can't even play Zelda for just 30 minutes (well you could, but it'd be silly), and even a game of Mario Party can take a few hours. Are those Wii'ers hardcore too?[/QUOTE]
Exactly. It's so easy to put in 4 or 5 hours of gaming throughout a day. Plenty of people on my friends list play TF2 more than 60 hours a week.
figmentPez
Staff member
Hmm, I guess my standards for innovation aren't as high. I've thought Trine, Braid and World of Goo, among others, were charming deviations from what I normally expect, even though they're still very similar in some ways. Sure, Trine and Braid were just platformers, and World of Goo was a lot like Bridge Builder, but the details matter.
Then there's Left 4 Dead, which on the surface is just like any other FPS, but the cooperative gameplay feels so different from anything else I've played.
Of course, I don't just play games for newness. I just plain enjoy controlling a smooth playing game. Trine did that while being new but having very familiar platforming. New Super Mario Bros. did that while being completely old school. Pretty much the only new thing in Zelda Phantom Hourglass was the stylus control scheme, but I loved that a lot just because it was fun to control. In a well done control scheme it can be a thrill just moving your character around the map. If you don't feel that thrill too, then I understand why gaming doesn't hold your interest.
Of course, some games I play for the story/art/comedy. Zeno Clash or Tales of Monkey Island, for example. To me complaining that games are "Stay alive, don't let your lifebar run out, and hit the other guy." is like complaining that movies are "introduce your characters, set up your conflict, bring it to a climax and resolve". Not all games are that way, not all movies are that way, but even those that are can be radically different while still holding to such a general formula.
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RealBigNuke
Strong agreement here with Figment's entire post. Except Zeno Clash. Sincerely wish I didn't spend $2.50 on that game.
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Er, anyway, I'm not sure how I'd define hardcore, and everyone seems to have a different one in this thread.
So I'll just say I play around 1-4 hours most of the days of the week, with the occasional day of 0 or 6 hours. About half what I spend in photoshop. I don't take games especially seriously and prefer to play without competition in mind in most games - except every three or four years I'll find a new competitive game like WoW or UT2kxx and play it with a guild for a while. I'll leave the definition to individual perception.
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Er, anyway, I'm not sure how I'd define hardcore, and everyone seems to have a different one in this thread.
So I'll just say I play around 1-4 hours most of the days of the week, with the occasional day of 0 or 6 hours. About half what I spend in photoshop. I don't take games especially seriously and prefer to play without competition in mind in most games - except every three or four years I'll find a new competitive game like WoW or UT2kxx and play it with a guild for a while. I'll leave the definition to individual perception.
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RealBigNuke
I think I walked into that one with the wrong thing in mind. As a first person fighting game, it's certainly the best attempt I've ever seen. The shooter elements were painfully awkward, though. As was the entire story.
I was expecting something trippy with an in-depth story, but all I got was something trippy. I thought the writing was extremely weak, and the 'big reveal' had me going,
'What the hell? That was the big secret that has been the only plot point in this entire game? I had assumed that from the very start! I didn't even know that was a secret! Can the sequel be about leaving the village to find a basic biology teacher?!'
It sort of left me with the feeling that I'd just done a cannonball into a puddle. I wouldn't mind seeing the playstyle being developed, but oh man, five hours of game and one basic plot point hurt me in the attention span. I did like the 'I feel like we're just going in a straight line, like Andromiter' line, but that was all I got out of it
Well, that and the hunter character. He was pretty badass. I'd like to see more of him.
Necronic
Staff member
For me the term hardcore or casual isn't specific to a title, but how you play it. Zelda could be played hardcore if you put together min max sheets and civ 4 could be casual if you set your cities to be run by governors and don't painstakingly manage your city placements. I play DoW casually, I don't play online. I play gal civ hardcore, 1 turn could take me 2 hours. If you keep playing a game for personal goals after you don't easily enjoy it, that may be hardcore, or just an addiction.
Generally though I don't think they are appropriate categories. More appropriate would be if you are a hater or not. And I think I am a hater. Just slightly.
Generally though I don't think they are appropriate categories. More appropriate would be if you are a hater or not. And I think I am a hater. Just slightly.
Machinarium is an awesome game.Loved every braintwisting,handdrawn minute of it.
What in Zelda would you min-max?
What in Zelda would you min-max?[/QUOTE]
No clue. I did draw maps of Zelda I though.[/QUOTE]
To this day, I still draw maps for games and put notes in a binder. Some things just never go out of style.
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