Your Definition: Gamer

I've been thinking a bit lately, as I've been from place to place in my town. Be it the mall, a cafe, or whatever. I often hear people refer to themselves as a 'gamer.' Which is something I refer to myself as. I have a huge passion for games. I try 'em all, I read into what blockbusters are coming up. I get excited when the next part of a series is going to be released soon. Hell I'm one of the ones that camped out for the PS3 so I could play it, not sell it on Ebay.

Anyway, back to my point. Sometime's I'll strike up a conversation with the person or group that talks about a game or gaming. Usually I ask them what games they play or what consoles they have. I usually get one of a few answers, 'I only play Halo 2 other games can die in a fire,' 'There are other games then World of Warcraft?' 'Final Fantasy is the only game I'll ever play, ever, ever.' Whatever. I don't consider you a 'gamer' I consider you a Halo-player, or a WoW-player. Now I think it's great that more and more people are getting into the gaming industry, this means more money in games, and better games coming out- which is awesome. However I dunno, I've always viewed being a 'gamer' as something more.

Ever since I was a little kid, watching the older kids play Tekken in the local arcade or whatever, I've always thought gamers played 'em all, tried everything. I mean, to say you'll never play a game/console because you heart yourXboxis just narrow-minded. I've got all three of the new consoles and I rent and play all types of games, because I like to take them in and experience everything. Even if I do sometimes dislike to play a certain type of game (for me it's racers, don't care for them personally.) I won't say 'ZOMG liek Gran Turismo sux lol,' I can appreciate it for the fans it's created.

What really got to me was earlier today, walking down the street there was this kid who was wearing a '1337 GAMER'shirt. I stopped him and asked him what games he was into playing and he said, 'I just play FPS, every other game type are for losers.' I kinda looked at him, 'Do you even know what Leet means?' 'What's leet?' When he was wearing a shirt with 1337 on it. I guess more and more kids who just play one game refer to themselves as a 'gamer' and I'm just going to have to live with it. I would have never thought that one day people would think gaming as something that was 'cool' it used to be the geeky thing to do, amIright? I kinda liked being part of that group that went to the arcade after school and wasted our month's allowance playing Time Crisis while all the other kids went out and did the hip stuff.

Oh, I rambled, if you didn't read it all, just answer this: What do you define a 'Gamer' as?

Gamer
-noun
One who partakes in the various activities related to the subculture of video games.

Someone who plays Halo and only Halo is a gamer, just as someone who plays basketball and only basketball is an athlete. Being a gamer is being knowledgeable about your hobby. I don't see why that can't just be for one game -- or for many.

--Dave

My definition of a gamer? Someone who plays games. What the hell kind of a question is that?Bluestorm-Kalas

Though I have to agree with DaveGray, just because someone only plays one game doesn't exclude them from being known as agamer. I liked the athlete analogy, too.

[QUOTE="Bluestorm-Kalas"]My definition of a gamer? Someone who plays games. What the hell kind of a question is that?Rouge_Hunter

Though I have to agree with DaveGray, just because someone only plays one game doesn't exclude them from being known as agamer. I liked the athlete analogy, too.

It's not that I didn't know what he meant, I just think that he is overthinking of what a gamer is. Just because you don't like every genre doesn't mean you're not a gamer.Bluestorm-Kalas

Apparently you didn't know what he was asking considering he never stated that you had to like every genre to be a gamer. Anyways, Dave pretty much summed it up. Granted, not all people who play sports are athletes, just like not all people that play games are gamers.

Definately an interesting perspective on the subject. I've never really thought to ask anyone about it. But I tend to agree with your opinion of what a gamer is and is not. I think people would be bewildered if they said, "I love sports!" and then you asked them which ones and their answer was, "Basketball is the ****, everything else is for losers."

I'd define a gamer as a person who enjoys playing games, and even if they don't like a particular genre, they respect the role it plays in allowing others to play games. Therefore, anyone who only plays FPS and says the rest suck is not really a gamer.

My definition of a gamer? Someone who plays games. What the hell kind of a question is that?Bluestorm-Kalas

Sports, I don't play videogames for the sports of it all but more for immersion, interaction amusement and the substance

Gamer: One who makes gaming a sincere (not necessarily primary, but sincere) portion of their identity.DarkCatalyst

What he said.

Gamer: One who makes gaming a sincere (not necessarily primary, but sincere) portion of their identity.DarkCatalyst

LOL that's too much. ...A gamer is a person who plays videogames wether he or she are casuals or hardcores which are terms the market use to make people buy more and become hardcore.. Anyways gamer is a person who plays and enjoys videogames:)

Compared to me, you are all casuals, or maybe even non-gamers. I am the most hardcore of the core. Back when you were figuring out how to get Mario down the pipe in your diapers I was beatingDeep Blueat Pong, blindfolded! I pwn up the noobs in all games because I'm uber1337! I'm the principal of the school of pwnage, and I'll give you a D- just so you can graduate and get pwned by me lol lol.

Basically, this is what I imagine people mean when they say things like "hardcore" and stuff. Please, video games are not meant to be taken that seriously!

Compared to me, you are all casuals, or maybe even non-gamers. I am the most hardcore of the core. Back when you were figuring out how to get Mario down the pipe in your diapers I was beatingDeep Blueat Pong, blindfolded! I pwn up the noobs in all games because I'm uber1337! I'm the principal of the school of pwnage, and I'll give you a D- just so you can graduate and get pwned by me lol lol.

Basically, this is what I imagine people mean when they say things like "hardcore" and stuff. Please, video games are not meant to be taken that seriously!

AtomicTangerine

:lol:

I have to agree with DarkCatalyst. I think it has to do with identity. If someone refers to him- or herself as a gamer, that person obviously (to me) feels that games are a significant enough part of his or her life that gaming should be a defining attribute. This also implies--at least I think so--that gaming is one's primary hobby or something very close.

Though it makes sense, in a way, to classify anyone who plays games as a gamer, my grandmother played Nintendogs for a few minutes. Otherwise, she has never touched a video game. Is she or was she a gamer? I don't think so. I'd call her a "wordfinder".I also wouldn't call someone who is addicted to solitaire on the computer a gamer. And I would call people who game for money "professional gamers"--gaming is part of who they are, and they do it for money, hence "professional".

Gamer

-term coined by marketing people to differentiate one consumer demographic from another. Do you really want to call yourself that?

Gamer

-term coined by marketing people to differentiate one consumer demographic from another. Do you really want to call yourself that?

toment

I don't have a problem with it.

[QUOTE="toment"]

Gamer

-term coined by marketing people to differentiate one consumer demographic from another. Do you really want to call yourself that?

Angry_Beaver

I don't have a problem with it.

[spoiler] you know, Gene Simmons holds the patend for the word OJ (orange juice) [/spoiler]

Anyone with enough experience to diverentiate what makes a game deep as opposed to all flash and no content.

Just look at GoW, dont get me wrong its a fun game but the game is as shallow asmy kitchen sink as far as gameplay goes.
Afcours this is always a tricky subject as it handles on personal opinions wich are never completely wrong (or right imo).

Afcours some games manage toinhibit crappy mechanics while sustaining a breathtaking atmosphere and design wich they emphasise by how the story is told, ICO is a very good example for this.

Anyone with enough experience to have a well formedopinion.
A gamer should be able to gradea company by intent rather than score diverentiate between individual studios by experience.