Wait so being a hardcore gamer is something to be proud of???

So my definition of being a hardcore gamer would be somebody who greatly enjoys playing video games, someone who spends their extra income on games, someone who invests a great deal of time and effort discussing, reading and generally enjoying them. We could go on but I think its an accurate general description. My question is why is their so much pride attached to being a hardcore gamer. Its almost as if because people consider themselves to be Hardcore Gamers their opinions on consoles, games and the gaming industry are more informed and ultimately more intelligent then somebody who doesnt dedicate as much time to gaming.

Let me apply the term hardcore to other hobbies and past times and maybe you will see just how ridiculous this phrase reads to me.

I am a hardcore reader and I have been reading since the first book I read, the publishing industry is dying because of reason X

I am a hardcore goer and have been watching movies since the first film I watched. the film industry is dying because of reason X

I am a hardcore sports fan, I have been watching and playing sports since I had eyes and legs, sports are dying because of reason X

You catch my drift. 

My issue isnt with people who enjoy video games and feel passionately about them. My issue is with people who believe that their love for video games runs so deep they feel they are industry experts, goldmines of knowledge and ultimately can predict the future. Dont get me started on the Kaz avatars.

Games are supposed to be fun, its a hobby, there is nothing hardcore about it. 

Games can't be fun if "teh casuals" are ruining my hobby.

Not bad, not bad, not bad at all - bring on the fun.

I applaud people who are passionate about their hobby.

Hardcore gamer is just a stupid term for which nobody can agree on a definition.

But while the definitions differ, most have the same end goal.  To give yourself a pat on the back like you're a bad ass for having a hobby.

I hang out with hardcore Bingo players and do hardcore knitting at the local retirement home so I would know.  Might even get out for a hardcore game of golf if the weather is good.

I hang out with hardcore Bingo players and do hardcore knitting at the local retirement home so I would know.  Might even get out for a hardcore game of golf if the weather is good.

ConanTheStoner

My respect for you just increased tenfold.

Grade-A Badass.

hardcore gamers play jrpg's and dating sims

[QUOTE="ConanTheStoner"]

I hang out with hardcore Bingo players and do hardcore knitting at the local retirement home so I would know.  Might even get out for a hardcore game of golf if the weather is good.

Sagem28

My respect for you just increased tenfold.

Grade-A Badass.

Like some hardcore boiled Grade-A eggs.  :cool:

I subscribe to the philosophy that nothing I do should be described as hardcore unless I'm

1.  Acting in a porn.

2.  Diving out of something fast with a Mountain Dew.

"Hardcore gamer" is nothing more than a term to differentiate passionate hobbyist from "casual gamers". It doesn't have to be taken literally as if it's "hardcore". And what's wrong with being passionate about a hobby?

I subscribe to the philosophy that nothing I do should be described as hardcore unless I'm

1.  Acting in a porn.

2.  Diving out of something fast with a Mountain Dew.

Wiimotefan

I'm not sure that being a hardcore gamer is something to be proud of. It's not really something to be embarrassed by either. Once you get out of your teens, I really don't see why anyone would care what other people think abotu them.

[QUOTE="Wiimotefan"]

I subscribe to the philosophy that nothing I do should be described as hardcore unless I'm

1.  Acting in a porn.

2.  Diving out of something fast with a Mountain Dew.

cakeorrdeath

Only if the core is VERY hard.  Not like these casual materials that make up our known universe.  :roll:

Theres nothign wrong with the passion but from being on the forums for a fair while it seems to be those that refer to themselves as hardcore are for the most part self entitled a holes. Also those with KAZ as an avatar.

Its almost as if because people consider themselves to be Hardcore Gamers their opinions on consoles, games and the gaming industry are more informed and ultimately more intelligent then somebody who doesnt dedicate as much time to gaming.always_explicit

Games are supposed to be fun, its a hobby, there is nothing hardcore about it.always_explicit

I see both sides to this. The quote you have about being a hardcore bookreader is hilarious and I have to agree that that would seem very silly to say! I also see how a hardcore gamer may feel entitlement when giving opinons though. I mean if i want to buy gym equipment or lets say find a good book to read I go to people who have worked out all there life or have read alot of books because they have experience and know the products. Which i will like better and which I will least prefer. The same goes with games, I dont know how many times that I have been at a gamestop and the 'hardcore' gamers are constantly being ask questioned about systems and about games. So I think that that goes to there head a little bit and they assume that since they have what they think is more info on things that it makes them better then the rest of us. Its kind of a catch 22. People want there help because of there knowlege of gaming, but we dont want them to be stuck up about it either, throwing it up in our faces that they're "hardcore gamers" everytime they try to make a point.

Hardcore and casual are simply names to show how much dedication to the hobby a person has.

lol hardcore gamers

It's a buzzword fed by the industry to make you buy horse armor DLC and feel that it somehow makes you better than "teh casuals."

Of course it is! I make sure I mention how much of a hardcore gamer I am in all my resumes.

Still waiting to hear back from the companies...

"Hardcore" has always been a term that should be bestowed upon you rather than something you describe yourself as. It's like calling yourself a badass, somehow it doesn't have the same impact. My gaming habits could probably be descibed as hardcore by some but I would never label myself as such, it just comes of as kind of lame.

Hardcore has different connotations for different people. I personally no longer consider myself one but the worry people clearly have is that simplistic less involved games are getting more and more popular and that is reducing the industries focus on making great games targeted at the more core audience. cakeorrdeath

I think the label of being a "hardcore gamer" is stupid. I'm not saying that some people definitely enjoy gaming or are more exploratory than others (my GF loves Pokemon but hasn't even heard of at least 75% of the games I play ebfore she met me) but the fact that people are "proud" to be "hardcore" is just stupid and in many ways limiting. Too many people define hardcore as playing tons of M rated games, when, really, it's the opposite. It's someone who plays all kinds of games, from the pinkest of Kirbys to the brownest of Gears (just using those series as examples, not commenting on the quality of either. you get my point).  But even then, the diea of being "hardcore" is just silly.  You enjoy a certain hobby more than other people. Great.

I, myself, would simply define myself as a gamer. Someone who loves and plays games of all kinds and ratings.

What do you call someone who thinks its a great idea to let a game play itself ? Oh and on a totaly unrelated topic whos planning on buying Forza 5 ? *crickets chirping*Lulekani

Where'd this come from?

[QUOTE="Lulekani"]What do you call someone who thinks its a great idea to let a game play itself ? Oh and on a totaly unrelated topic whos planning on buying Forza 5 ? *crickets chirping*turtlethetaffer

Where'd this come from?

other hobbies and past times and maybe you will see just how ridiculous this phrase reads to me.

I am a hardcore reader and I have been reading since the first book I read, the publishing industry is dying because of reason X

I am a hardcorching and playieo games and feel passionately about them. My issue is with people who believe that their love for video games runs so deep they feel they are industry experts, goldmines of knowledge and ultimately can predict the future. Dont get me started on the Kaz avatars.

Games are supposed to be fun, its a hobby, there is nothing hardcore about it. 

always_explicit

tl;dr

[QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

[QUOTE="Lulekani"]What do you call someone who thinks its a great idea to let a game play itself ? Oh and on a totaly unrelated topic whos planning on buying Forza 5 ? *crickets chirping*Lulekani

Where'd this come from?

Weird I read that a few hours ago.

That's just how people are. There are "hardcore" sports fans, readers, film fanatics, etc.

It's a buzzword fed by the industry to make you buy horse armor DLC and feel that it somehow makes you better than "teh casuals."

LordQuorthon

Funny, only casuals bought horse armor DLC

hardcore gamers play everything and don't look down on games just because they're not blockbuster titles with huge budgets.

So my definition of being a hardcore gamer would be somebody who greatly enjoys playing video games, someone who spends their extra income on games, someone who invests a great deal of time and effort discussing, reading and generally enjoying them.

Nailed it!

My question is why is their so much pride attached to being a hardcore gamer.

You answered your own question (see above)

Its almost as if because people consider themselves to be Hardcore Gamers their opinions on consoles, games and the gaming industry are more informed and ultimately more intelligent then somebody who doesnt dedicate as much time to gaming.

Hardcore = Enthusiast

Games are supposed to be fun, its a hobby, there is nothing hardcore about it.

It's much deeper then just saying "we all play games" which in theory is correct - but I have played and invested in 1,000 more games then you (for example). Obviously I'm MORE of an enthusiast then you.... (I'm not a fan of the word hardcore).

Another example - I have invested over 25k in modifying my car compared to someone who just spent a couple thousand on basic bolt-ons. I would be considered MORE of an enthusiast.

But yes, it's all a hobby, it's supposed to be fun, but there IS a difference of pride for all the same reasons you mentioned above. :)

always_explicit

I applaud people who are passionate about their hobby.

Sagem28

Uh self ownage?
Someone who is passionate about the writing industry and books would definitely have a more accurate view and more insightful opinion on what is going right and wrong in the writing industry.

No gaming should never be something ur proud of, its a hobby, you can be proud of a hobby.

Nope, but accepting who you are is. ;)

[QUOTE="Lulekani"][QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

Where'd this come from?

turtlethetaffer

Weird I read that a few hours ago.

Games can't be fun if "teh casuals" are ruining my hobby.

Michael0134567

Uh self ownage?
Someone who is passionate about the writing industry and books would definitely have a more accurate view and more insightful opinion on what is going right and wrong in the writing industry.

KungfuKitten