My rant on the 'hardcore' gamer, and 'hardcore' games.

I don't get how a game can be hardcore, and that justifies a person as being a hardcore gaming. A person on an unmentionable site said something that I agree with

"A hardcore gamer is a person who's interested in the workings of a game, spends time on gaming websites, reads blogs, rumors, and gaming is probably a big part of their life, not just someone that plays Gears, or games with guns in general, that's like claiming you're hardcore for not listening to mainstream music"

I agree, games aren't "hardcore" even though games such as Monster Hunter 3, Fall Out 3, and some others along that line can be considered hardcore for their aspects of grinding, can you really even say a person is a hardcore gamer because they just picked up a certain game? Just because you have a 360 and PS3 in your house doesn't mean your a hardcore gamer, a lot of my friends who play games like CoD, Halo, Gears, Killzone and others, only play those games because they're popular, and have not interest in gaming at all, my more hardcore gamer friends(reads news, spend their times on gaming sites, go to school for game developing) don't even like GTA, CoD, and other stuff considered "Hardcore", even though I play MW2, and other games considered to be hardcore, I'm also a Wii gamer.

So I would say, It's not what you play, but how you play.

Or how much you just into gaming

The definition of a hardcore gamer and hardcore game are subjective, there will never be a universally accepted definition.tagyhag

Yay neutral answers!!!! :P

Wow, I'm surprise I thought for sure this thread was going to be about maturity and depth, of how "colorful psuedo kid games are more mature than the gory action games with supposively no depth" current fad going around. I'm glad it's not.

Hardcore gamer = anyone who does not play nintendo games

Hardcore gamer = anyone who does not play nintendo games

farnham

Dude, you are so wrong. ;)

I don't get how a gamer can be hardcore, and that justifies a person as being a hardcore gaming. A person on an unmentionable site said something that I agree with

"A hardcore gamer is a person who's interested in the workings of a game, spends time on gaming websites, reads blogs, rumors, and gaming is probably a big part of their life, not just someone that plays Gears of games with guns in general, that's like claiming you're hardcore for not listening to mainstream music"

I agree, games aren't "hardcore" even though games such as Monster Hunter 3, Fall Out 3, and some others along that line can be considered hardcore for their aspects of grinding, can you really even say a person is a hardcore gamer because they just picked up a certain game? Just because you have a 360 and PS3 in your house doesn't mean your a hardcore gamer, a lot of my friends who play games like CoD, Halo, Gears, Killzone and others, only play those games because they're popular, and have not interest in gaming at all, my more hardcore gamer friends(reads news, spend their times on gaming sites, go to school for game developing) don't even like GTA, CoD, and other stuff considered "Hardcore", even though I play MW2, and other games considered to be hardcore, I'm also a Wii gamer.

So I would say, It's not what you play, but how you play.

Or how much you just into gaming

Hardcore gamer = anyone who does not play nintendo games

farnham

Hardcore gamer = anyone who does not play nintendo games

farnham

*sarcasam*

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

Hardcore gamers don't have to play popular games. They have to know about games, knowing news about games, loving to play games and of course to spend lot of their time playing games

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

Bigboi500

Wow. Cool. I would be core gamer I think

I don't wanna be a hardcore gamer or play hardcore games.

I just want to do what i want, and play what i want. I honestly couldn't care what system wars thinks about it. If i enjoyed Hannah Montanas wild adventure then id play it regardless of how it's viewed.

Right now I don't feel like putting much detail into what I think hardcore gamers/games are but..

I view "hardcore" gamers to be gamers that play "hardcore" games, "hardcore" games are simply the opposite of casual games. Any game in any genre can be casual, but obivously there are genres that are prominently more "hardcore" than other genres.

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"]

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

ZombieNoob

Wow. Cool. I would be core gamer I think

I don't get how a gamer can be hardcore, and that justifies a person as being a hardcore gaming. A person on an unmentionable site said something that I agree with

"A hardcore gamer is a person who's interested in the workings of a game, spends time on gaming websites, reads blogs, rumors, and gaming is probably a big part of their life, not just someone that plays Gears of games with guns in general, that's like claiming you're hardcore for not listening to mainstream music"

I agree, games aren't "hardcore" even though games such as Monster Hunter 3, Fall Out 3, and some others along that line can be considered hardcore for their aspects of grinding, can you really even say a person is a hardcore gamer because they just picked up a certain game? Just because you have a 360 and PS3 in your house doesn't mean your a hardcore gamer, a lot of my friends who play games like CoD, Halo, Gears, Killzone and others, only play those games because they're popular, and have not interest in gaming at all, my more hardcore gamer friends(reads news, spend their times on gaming sites, go to school for game developing) don't even like GTA, CoD, and other stuff considered "Hardcore", even though I play MW2, and other games considered to be hardcore, I'm also a Wii gamer.

So I would say, It's not what you play, but how you play.

Or how much you just into gaming

DazedDarkness

That definition is almost certainly right on the spot, but that analogy to music isn't quite a good one. Don't forget that we only listen to music whereas we actually play games. Now, the manner in which someone wants to play a game is in my opinion, a significant aspect in determining whether someone falls under the hardcore category or not. Basically, hardcore gamers want to get addicted or engrossed into a game. For me, I can't wait for Diablo 3 to come out so that i can take leave from work, and play it from morning till night, for maybe 14 hours....for maybe 5 days straight.

Now, a typical DS owner may be quite different in this respect. The fact that some people chose handheld over desktops or consoles imply that they want to game on the go, ie. play for maybe 10-15 minutes, and can stop in an instant. In other words, gaming is a secondary thing. These people just want to slot gaming in between their free time, whenever they have free time. But for me, I make time for gaming, and even will push my work aside when Diablo 3 comes out.

Now, the DS owner may surf websites looking for what games to play on the DS, but the fact that he/she just wants to on/off the game in an interval between other activities, doesn't quite exhibit hardcoreness in gaming.

I don't get how a gamer can be hardcore, and that justifies a person as being a hardcore gaming. A person on an unmentionable site said something that I agree with

"A hardcore gamer is a person who's interested in the workings of a game, spends time on gaming websites, reads blogs, rumors, and gaming is probably a big part of their life, not just someone that plays Gears of games with guns in general, that's like claiming you're hardcore for not listening to mainstream music"

I agree, games aren't "hardcore" even though games such as Monster Hunter 3, Fall Out 3, and some others along that line can be considered hardcore for their aspects of grinding, can you really even say a person is a hardcore gamer because they just picked up a certain game? Just because you have a 360 and PS3 in your house doesn't mean your a hardcore gamer, a lot of my friends who play games like CoD, Halo, Gears, Killzone and others, only play those games because they're popular, and have not interest in gaming at all, my more hardcore gamer friends(reads news, spend their times on gaming sites, go to school for game developing) don't even like GTA, CoD, and other stuff considered "Hardcore", even though I play MW2, and other games considered to be hardcore, I'm also a Wii gamer.

So I would say, It's not what you play, but how you play.

Or how much you just into gaming

DazedDarkness

I consider a hardcore gamer someone whos main majority of life revolves arond the gaming industry, whether its someone that spends all there days on the mmo scene, or go onto forums day after day for bits of news and pre schedule set events and essentially live by the industry.

that doesnt mean that by my definition hardcore gamers have no life, I have plenty of friends and even had girlfriends in the past, but the main portion of my life s devoted to games.

thats just my take on it though, I think that the whole hardcore games argument is just nonsense though, I used to believe in casual games but then I played a game called we ski which is said to be casual and I put a good 15 hours into it, which is much more then Im sure any casual gamer would put into a game so Ive just completely disregarded my belifs on whether or not games themselves are hardcore or casual.

Hardcore gamer = anyone who does not play nintendo games

farnham

Monster HUnter and Fallout3 are hardcore?:?

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

Bigboi500

Then what do you call a gamer who has a more of a life outside gaming during the 2nd and 3rd quarter of the year when there are no games, and less of an outside life during the hot gaming seasons?

Although i consider myself hardcore, i won't deny that gaming is indeed seasonal. 1st quarter and 4th quarter is where gmaing is at mostly.

Right now I don't feel like putting much detail into what I think hardcore gamers/games are but..

I view "hardcore" gamers to be gamers that play "hardcore" games, "hardcore" games are simply the opposite of casual games. Any game in any genre can be casual, but obivously there are genres that are prominently more "hardcore" than other genres.

Yangire

So anyone who plays popular games is a casual gamer.

I see you're going the same route alot of supposed music fans go by saying anyone who likes mainstream music doesn't like real music.

[QUOTE="Yangire"]

Right now I don't feel like putting much detail into what I think hardcore gamers/games are but..

I view "hardcore" gamers to be gamers that play "hardcore" games, "hardcore" games are simply the opposite of casual games. Any game in any genre can be casual, but obivously there are genres that are prominently more "hardcore" than other genres.

-Snooze-

So anyone who plays popular games is a casual gamer.

I see you're going the same route alot of supposed music fans go by saying anyone who likes mainstream music doesn't like real music.

No, popular games can be hardcore.

Ninja Gaiden (series), Devil May Cry 3, God Hand, Touhou (series), Blazblue (series), Disgaea (series), etc.

There are more examples but those are the first I thought of.

If you don't know who this is

Then you are not a hardcore gamer. :)

A better word for "hardcore games" seems like "mature" games. Games with depth and mature themes.Zoso-8

True. But merely playing hardcore games alone doesn't make you a hardcore gamer. I wouldn't assign the 'hardcore gamer' category to someone who merely games for 2 hours a week just because he/she plays Gears of War.

I think it's more fair to say that a 'hardcore game' is a game which was developed with the intention to suck as many hours from the player as possible.

Monster HUnter and Fallout3 are hardcore?:?

kozzy1234

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

Bigboi500

I considered myself a core gamer until I read the bolded part.

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"]

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

jhcho2

Then what do you call a gamer who has a more of a life outside gaming during the 2nd and 3rd quarter of the year when there are no games, and less of an outside life during the hot gaming seasons?

Although i consider myself hardcore, i won't deny that gaming is indeed seasonal. 1st quarter and 4th quarter is where gmaing is at mostly.

Hardcore gamer = anyone who does not play nintendo games

farnham

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

Bigboi500

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"]

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

Brawl578

I considered myself a core gamer until I read the bolded part.

[QUOTE="Yangire"]

Right now I don't feel like putting much detail into what I think hardcore gamers/games are but..

I view "hardcore" gamers to be gamers that play "hardcore" games, "hardcore" games are simply the opposite of casual games. Any game in any genre can be casual, but obivously there are genres that are prominently more "hardcore" than other genres.

-Snooze-

So anyone who plays popular games is a casual gamer.

I see you're going the same route alot of supposed music fans go by saying anyone who likes mainstream music doesn't like real music.

Casual /=/ popular Hardcore /=/ you're so underground in gaming, and grandmas and kids are the skurge I'm just saying Halo GTA games CoD and a lot of popular games are played because their popular, by a lot of people I would consider casual not so into games. Or occasional gamers, Nintendo didn't bring in casual fixated on play popular games, Sony did that with PS1. Nintendo brought the Non Gamers in.

I've never liked how the marketing teams try to use these terms since they really have nothing to do w/ the market.

Here's what I generally see.

Casual gamer - doesn't own a console, but still plays video games

gamer - owns console

hardcore gamer - player 40+ hours per week

I'd like to see it broken down ecconomically

casual gamer - plays games doesn't buy hardware, or software.

gamer - owns a system buys a small amount of games (spends less than $150 per year).

core gamer - buys and plays only specific games almost religiously (COD, WOW, Halo)

hardcore collector - buys multiple hardware systems, and several release games per year.

cheap ass gamer - like the hardcore, but only buys games when the price drops, or rents them.

I think the definition provided in the OP is spot on. I've always thought of a hardcore gamer as a person who involves gaming into their lives, on a regular basis, outside of just playing the games. Examples of this include frequently posting on game forums, routinely visiting gaming websites or reading gaming publications, visiting gaming conventions, or collecting game memorabilia/figurines.

I have always disagreed with labeling hardcore gamers according to the type of games they play, or the brand, console, etc. I think an argument can be made for time spent gaming but otherwise I really do think that hardcore gamers are those who regularly involve gaming into their lives even when they're not playing games.

A hardcore gamer:

1. Has a full Profile on GS (blogs, videos, images).

2. Backs up his posting with a Game Collection (too many "complainers" have no collection).

3. Writes decent game reviews.

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

Bigboi500

Normally I would have a long winded speech but eh, it doesn't matter. what the annoying fanbase and pubs call people doesn't matter to 90% of the buying base anyway.

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"]

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

xTpux

Hardcore gamer though goes beyond hobbyiest to down right obsession.. I don't think any one would want to be labeled as hardcore with that definition.

[QUOTE="xTpux"][QUOTE="Bigboi500"]

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

sSubZerOo

Hardcore gamer though goes beyond hobbyiest to down right obsession.. I don't think any one would want to be labeled as hardcore with that definition.

There are some people who play games casually, and tere are some people who take gaming seriously. We can do away with terminology all we want, but this remains the same.

There are also simplistic games and there are complex games with depth.

P.S. The term "hardcore gamer" makes you seem stupid imo; have you ever heard of a "hardcore reader?" A "hardcore movie watcher?"

[QUOTE="xTpux"][QUOTE="Bigboi500"]

The way I see it, there are four types of gamers:

Non-gamer: A person who only plays games at parties, does not own any console or game system, doesn't know the difference between Zelda and Forza etc.

Casual gamer: Someone who owns one system, plays maybe three or four hours or less a week, has very limited knowledge about things game related.

Core gamer: Owns multiple systems, knows quite a bit about the industry, plays many genres, but still has an outside life and real friends.

Hardcore gamer: Owns everything, spends almost all free time gaming, lives and breathes everything about the industry, rarely does anything but game.

I consider myself a core gamer, and I think most people on this forum are as well.

sSubZerOo

Hardcore gamer though goes beyond hobbyiest to down right obsession.. I don't think any one would want to be labeled as hardcore with that definition.

I guess it all boils down to what individuals decide is the most important to them. I think the average gamers tries to balance both worlds.