how do you define hardcore gamer and casual gamer

pc gamers - hardcore

console gamers - casual
anshul89

Last time I checked Final Fantasy Tactics and Ninja Gaiden wern't on the PC platform.

pc gamers - hardcore

console gamers - casual
anshul89

[QUOTE="anshul89"]pc gamers - hardcore

console gamers - casual
WasntAvailable

Last time I checked Final Fantasy Tactics and Ninja Gaiden wern't on the PC platform.

FF Tactics and Ninja Gaiden aren't 'hardcore'...

[QUOTE="WasntAvailable"]

[QUOTE="anshul89"]pc gamers - hardcore

console gamers - casual
67gt500

Last time I checked Final Fantasy Tactics and Ninja Gaiden wern't on the PC platform.

FF Tactics and Ninja Gaiden aren't 'hardcore'...

Ninja Gaiden on the hardest difficulty is pretty much harder than most things you will find on the PC. Do you really think "casual" gamers will waste their time trying to play through games like Ninja Gaiden on the hardest difficulty? Or grind their way through the fairly complicated and consufing FF games like tactics, which basically require you to spend hours repeating the same battles just so they can level up and fight the next boss? Even the first battle in tactics is hard. Unless you sat through the 5 hour long tutorial. These games are not for "casuals" regardless of whether or not you consider them "hardcore".

A friend of mine gave me his definition and I agree with it for the most part.

Casual gamers are those who spend their "gaming time" playing games. They just pick up games, go and play them and then stop playing. Simple.

Hardcore gamers are those who play games as well. In addition to that however(and this is where the distinction comes in) they also REGULARLY spend additional time when not playing games to somehow involve gaming into their lives. Most common examples of this are going on gaming forums to talk about games or going to conventions. Simply hardcore gamers spend extra portions of their time somehow related to gaming even when they're not playing games.

Now I know this isn't a perfect definition as someone might spend 24/7 gaming and not go on forums or visit conventions or anything at all and they would be considered pretty hardcore. In general tho, I think its a simple and relatively accurate representation.

(ARGH "Your HTML is not well-formed - please check for unclosed tags.:evil: )

A friend of mine gave me his definition and I agree with it for the most part.

Casual gamers are those who spend their "gaming time" playing games. They just pick up games, go and play them and then stop playing. Simple.

Hardcore gamers are those who play games as well. In addition to that however(and this is where the distinction comes in) they also REGULARLY spend additional time when not playing games to somehow involve gaming into their lives. Most common examples of this are going on gaming forums to talk about games or going to conventions. Simply hardcore gamers spend extra portions of their time somehow related to gaming even when they're not playing games.

Now I know this isn't a perfect definition as someone might spend 24/7 gaming and not go on forums or visit conventions or anything at all and they would be considered pretty hardcore. In general tho, I think its a simple and relatively accurate representation.

(ARGH "Your HTML is not well-formed - please check for unclosed tags.:evil: )

Inger1

Casual gamer = 1 - 5 hours a week

Somewhere in the middle - 6 - 10 hours a week

Hardcore gamer = 11+ hours a week

Something like that, game choice and system choice have nothing to do with it imo.

The word casual gamer was never used until the Wii came out. I would have to say that the name would have to go to the creator, and that happens to be the Wii. I am not talking about Nintendo, but rather the system itself. When people start to call an object a certain thing, it becomes that thing, like it or not. Just like we humans can agree on what is good or bad, if enough of us agree it becomes the truth. I am not saying that all of the Wiis library is aimed at casual gamers, but enough of it is to give it the title of "causal". This now means that the video game systems themselves determine if an individual is a hardcore gamer or not, number of hours played is ignored.

A friend of mine gave me his definition and I agree with it for the most part.

Casual gamers are those who spend their "gaming time" playing games. They just pick up games, go and play them and then stop playing. Simple.

Hardcore gamers are those who play games as well. In addition to that however(and this is where the distinction comes in) they also REGULARLY spend additional time when not playing games to somehow involve gaming into their lives. Most common examples of this are going on gaming forums to talk about games or going to conventions. Simply hardcore gamers spend extra portions of their time somehow related to gaming even when they're not playing games.

Now I know this isn't a perfect definition as someone might spend 24/7 gaming and not go on forums or visit conventions or anything at all and they would be considered pretty hardcore. In general tho, I think its a simple and relatively accurate representation.

(ARGH "Your HTML is not well-formed - please check for unclosed tags.:evil: )

The word casual gamer was never used until the Wii came out.zaku101

[QUOTE="zaku101"]The word casual gamer was never used until the Wii came out.AirGuitarist87

The term is different, it doesn't label people off their gaming experience or time, but rather the system they play. We are no longer talking about casual gamers or hardcore gamers, but rather something that doesn't have a word.

The word casual gamer was never used until the Wii came out.zaku101

[QUOTE="AirGuitarist87"][QUOTE="zaku101"]The word casual gamer was never used until the Wii came out.zaku101

The term is different, it doesn't label people off their gaming experience or time, but rather the system they play.

The term is different? As far as I can see that kind of statement only resides within System Wars. It was still used back in the day. I had a PlayStation magazine from 1998 that had an article about hardcore vs casual gamers.

[QUOTE="zaku101"]The word casual gamer was never used until the Wii came out.AlexSays

Don't confuse the two words with the new definition everyone has started using. Normally those two words are used to explain the difference between individuals, we now are no longer labeling games or people by those words, the systems themselves are now the new words. This is why some people now call Wii gamers casual gamers, when most of them aren't.

[QUOTE="zaku101"]

[QUOTE="AirGuitarist87"] Either you've not been a gamer for very long or you're trying to rile people up. Of course casual gamers existed before the Wii.AirGuitarist87

The term is different, it doesn't label people off their gaming experience or time, but rather the system they play.

The term is different? As far as I can see that kind of statement only resides within System Wars. It was still used back in the day. I had a PlayStation magazine from 1998 that had an article about hardcore vs casual gamers.

Yes there is a difference between the two, but they are simply characterized as one form now, the systems themselves. The old term of the words is simply no longer used the same way. The majority of us have started labeling systems as causal and hardcore gamers; this can be seen with the Wii.

we now are no longer labeling games or people by those words, the systems themselves are now the new words.zaku101

If you only own a wii you are a casual gamer. If you own a wii and another system and mostly play the wii, you are a casual gamer. If you bought wii music, carnival games, or one of the hundreds of other wii games designed for girls and people over the age of 50, you are a casual gamer.

I hate the wii and what its doing to the quality of games. Mark my words if this gimmicky fad doesnt end soon, microsoft and sony will follow suit next gen and the only choice for all of us will be to be casual gamers, because all there will be left is casual games.

[QUOTE="zaku101"]we now are no longer labeling games or people by those words, the systems themselves are now the new words.AlexSays

It's not just people on this site, but rather a large majority of individuals and this includes 3rd party developers.

If you only own a wii you are a casual gamer.grimhope

[QUOTE="AlexSays"][QUOTE="zaku101"]The word casual gamer was never used until the Wii came out.zaku101

Don't confuse the two words with the new definition everyone has started using. Normally those two words are used to explain the difference between individuals, we now are no longer labeling games or people by those words, the systems themselves are now the new words. This is why some people now call Wii gamers casual gamers, when most of them aren't.

I agree completly with you. In the past if you played video games AT ALL you were pretty much a hardcore gamer. We used the term "casual" to seperate the hardcore from the extreme hardcore. Now with the wii there really is casual gamers. My mom at age 72 who has despised gaming her whole life likes the wii.

I'll tell you why people love the wii. Its so simple a monkey can use the thing. The controllers and games on the 360 and ps3 intimidate and scare you're average 12 year old girl and woman who havnt played games at all in there life (except maby ddr) they arent good at using the dual joystick or keyboard and mouse, and so they never really gave games a chance. Now with the wii they can swing there arms around like a idiot and laugh and everyone has a good time.............................except those of us who are real "HARDCORE" gamers, who want challenging games that have a high production value and depth. We suffer.............Soon we will we extict .

[QUOTE="AirGuitarist87"][QUOTE="zaku101"]

The term is different, it doesn't label people off their gaming experience or time, but rather the system they play.

zaku101

The term is different? As far as I can see that kind of statement only resides within System Wars. It was still used back in the day. I had a PlayStation magazine from 1998 that had an article about hardcore vs casual gamers.

Yes there is a difference between the two, but they are simply characterized as one form now, the systems themselves. The old term of the words is simply no longer used the same way. The majority of us have started labeling systems as causal and hardcore gamers; this can be seen with the Wii.

I find that to be a load of nonsense. I've never come across anyone outside these forums who defines systems as casual/hardcore. The term has always been there to define the players and individual games, but the two aren't exclusive to each other. I can think of a million reasons why the Wii may be considered hardcore and the 360 isn't, and vice versa.

As I said earlier, by "majority" you are referring to this board only. I could apply the same argument to "the majority of us have started calling gamers by farm animal names".

[QUOTE="grimhope"]If you only own a wii you are a casual gamer.AlexSays

When did I say all consoles are casual?

It's not just people on this site, but rather a large majority of individualszaku101

[QUOTE="AlexSays"][QUOTE="grimhope"]If you only own a wii you are a casual gamer.grimhope

When did I say all consoles are casual?

[QUOTE="zaku101"]It's not just people on this site, but rather a large majority of individualsAlexSays

You are absolutly right. But that person who says "HUH?" is a casual if they play games. Do you seriously not have any 8-40 year old girls in you're family who used to hate or at least not be interested in games, but who now love the wii? If you do look at the games they buy. You will have you're definition of the word casual. I don't hate all the games on the wii, just the gimmick that is the system. I loved Mario galaxy and its the one game i regret not having any more after i sold my wii....along with the house of the dead.

I agree completly with you. In the past if you played video games AT ALL you were pretty much a hardcore gamer.grimhope

[QUOTE="grimhope"]

[QUOTE="AlexSays"] No you're wrong. All consoles are casual so according to your logic there are no hardcore gamers.AlexSays

When did I say all consoles are casual?

Whatever man, you must only own a wii. If you are trying to say there are casual games on all systems then i agree. The problem is that the ratio of casual games on the wii is like 10/1. Where as its about the oppisite on the 360 and ps3 and or pc

[QUOTE="grimhope"]I agree completly with you. In the past if you played video games AT ALL you were pretty much a hardcore gamer.AlexSays

All what casual games? there was no wii music, carnival games, petz, nintendogs etc etc etc back in the day. Are you trying to say that mario is casual? Zelda?

Metroid? IF you want to say that mario is played by casuals I would agree with you, but the hardcore scene loves him also. There are some casual games that are great fun. But that doesnt mean i want 9 out of every 10 games made for the casual fan who cant tell a quality game from wii music.

there was no wii music, carnival games, petz, nintendogsgrimhope

Are you trying to say that mario is casual?grimhope

Whatever man, you must only own a wii. grimhope

If you are trying to say there are casual games on all systems then i agree. The problem is that the ratio of casual games on the wii is like 10/1. Where as its about the oppisite on the 360 and ps3 and or pc grimhope

[QUOTE="anshul89"]pc gamers - hardcore

console gamers - casual
WasntAvailable

Last time I checked Final Fantasy Tactics and Ninja Gaiden wern't on the PC platform.

No you're wrong. All consoles are casual so according to your logic there are no hardcore gamers.AlexSays

When did I say all consoles are casual?

I don't like putting people in categories. If you play games you are a gamer. If you play Wii Fit you are a gamer. If you play Gears 2 you are a gamer. If you play Wii Music you are a gamer. If you play Guitar Hero you are a gamer If you play Call of Duty: WaW you are a gamer. Basically -- if you are a person who plays games you are a gamer or participating in 'gaming' activities. Some participate in the activity longer than others do, but in the end both are gamers.Haziqonfire

[QUOTE="anshul89"]pc gamers - hardcore

console gamers - casual
c1o2d3y

Wrong. Gamerscore, achievements, trophies, whatever you want to call it, it's all casual and made for casual players. Hardcore players are the ones that play to win. I don't play a game 50x to find some secret hidden achievement just so my friends will think I'm cool because I have a high gamerscore. Hardcore gamers are good at games, they play games to be the best, and they don't bother themselves with such stupid things as gamerscore.

All of those things were simply invented to give casual players a sense of achievement. Hardcore players play to have fun and they play to be the best. I don't need a number to gauge either of those.

If you spend a lot of your time playing games, good chance you're a hardcore gamer. If you go on forums to discuss about games, good chance you're a hardcore gamer. If you build the most up to date PC to play games, good chance you're a hardcore gamer. If you argue with others about which system is best, good chance you're a hardcore gamer (and a fan boy).teh_VU

[QUOTE="teh_VU"]If you spend a lot of your time playing games, good chance you're a hardcore gamer. If you go on forums to discuss about games, good chance you're a hardcore gamer. If you build the most up to date PC to play games, good chance you're a hardcore gamer. If you argue with others about which system is best, good chance you're a hardcore gamer (and a fan boy)._rpg_FAN

Hardcore-anyone who is willing to try any type of game reguardless of things like graphics/presention,dosent buy games based soley on names like madden or anything with the word wii in front like more then one or two types of genres of games.

Casual-Will get games with lots of commercial time and is a long running series that appeals to casuals with easy to pick up and play gameplay (guitar hero,anything with the word wii at the begining or end of the title,GTA,FF(series),Halo,COD(especially),and super smash bros) not that any of these games are bad most of these are really fun actually but they fall under one of these catagories so on the list it goes.

pc gamers - hardcore

console gamers - casual
anshul89

Generally, this one.

IMO:

Hardcore gamers - those whose leisure time is largely devoted to playing games, and pride themselves in mastering the game.

Casual gamers - those who spent a good amount of time in games, but don't really bother trying to master them.

Hardcore games - games that have depth and are tough to master which requires skills like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry 3, etc

Mainstream games - games that appeal to the masses, and can be easy to pick up and play such as Halo, Metal Gear Solid, Super Smash Bro, Call of Duty 4, etc

Casual games - games that are more gimick than anything, and are distinguished by their simple rules and gameplay such as Wii Fit, Cooking Mama, etc

i hate both terms but, if you must judge them

"Hardcore" gamers play the games for the sake of playing them, they dont need achevements or other gimmicky things to make them feel accomplished, they usually enjoy more diverse ranges of genres and they have at least 1 'insane' game , by that i mean they are very, very into Total war, or Civ, or something along those lines, that most'casual' gamers find very complex

"Casual" gamers play the games for bragging rights, they go out of their way to get every achievement just so they can have a higher gamerscore and show off to their friends how big their E-Peen is, They are usually the ones talking all the trash on xbox live and are most commonly the griefers on PC games, they tend to be the ones taht will cheat just so they can be better than they really are, and generally have no respect for most gaming communities, They generally stick to 1 genre of games, usually shooters, and play nothing but that and believe anything but their genre of choice is 'kiddy' and a waste of time.

This is just how i see it, but i find these lables as meaningless, you are eather a gamer or not.