What Is A "Hardcore Gamer"? In Your Opinion Of Course...

So what makes a hardcore gamer? We hear alot of people complaining about Nintendo's overzealous attempts to cater to the casual market thus leaving all the loyal hardcore gamers out in the cold, yet we dont have a definition of what constitutes a "hardcore gamer" (well, if we do have a definition, I dont know it). So just out of curiousity, what makes person X a hardcore gamer whilst person Y isnt? Is it directly proportional to the number of hours you game each week? Would playing tetris at work everyday when you are supposed to be doing something else make you a hardcore gamer?

Is it how much you know about video games? Are all the fanboys on system wars hardcore gamers because whilst they may be deluded, there is no denying that they know more about video games than the average Joe. Or does it have something to do with how long you have been playing video games? So only people who were here from the PS2 generation and before can be considered hardcore gamers beacuse they have "earned" the title through their loyalty to video games? Or does hardcore gamer just mean that you are the guy who likes to get 100% completion or play games in Super-duper butt spanking mode? Whats the appropriate definition.

After thinking for a while, the definition I came up for hardcore gamer was:

"A hardcore gamer is a person who realizes that no video game is ever too hard, they just arent skiled enough."

When people say "Yeah man, screw flight simulator...its impossible!" They are making their inability to complete a game the fault of the game itself rather than their own short comings. The problem with this chain of thought is that once you have determined the game is at fault and not you, you no longer feel the urge to improve and overcome the challenge because its not you that needs to improve, its the game. Think about all the people that say "Ninja Gaiden is way too hard." I agree that the difficulty settings in Ninja Gaiden are higher than those of games in a similar genre, but its not too hard. You just lack the skill to be good at it. Thats what seperates hard core gamers from casuals. Casuals will return Ninja Gaiden under the pretense that it has a design flaw thus aking it unplayable and buy a new and more accessible game, while hardcore will realize that the flaw lies in their skill and they will try to improve it.

Phew...that was long...anyways, what's your definition of "Hardcore Gamer"?

/Intelligence

Q: What Is A "Hardcore Gamer"?

A: A gamer who is hardcore.

A hardcore gamer is:

• Someone who has a profound respect for the gaming subculture
• Someone who plays video games at least 5+ hours a day
• Will miss out on social activities to play video games
• Does not give two ***** what anyone thinks about his or her passion/obsession
• Loves almost every genre there is in video games
• Is highly opinionated when it comes to video games

A person who devotes a large portion of his time, money, and energy toward video games. Extra hardcore points if he frequents video game Internet forums.

A person who devotes a large portion of his time, money, and energy toward video games. Extra hardcore points if he frequents video game Internet forums.

Storm_Marine

Do Fanboys count as gamers? Because they do all the above except they only like one system and think every other system is a waste of raw materials :P

[QUOTE="Storm_Marine"]

A person who devotes a large portion of his time, money, and energy toward video games. Extra hardcore points if he frequents video game Internet forums.

II_Seraphim_II

Do Fanboys count as gamers? Because they do all the above except they only like one system and think every other system is a waste of raw materials :P

I would assume so. :)

Someone who loves gaming.

Thats it.

I find it kind of ironic that you used Ninja Gaiden as an example because I had a very similar conversation with a friend of mine a few days back. I brought NG Sigma to trade in at my local EBgames and my friend that manages there thought I was crazy. When he asked me why, I told him it was "too hardcore" for me. I recognized the skill needed to play the game but I'm honestly getting too old to have that kind of reflex needed to play that kind of game. Or maybe it just feels that way.

I do not consider myself hardcore for being able to admit my lack of skill. I also don't feel any worse off for it admitting I wasn't able to finish the game. I do however, feel old... LOL.

if there was such a thing, it would be:

a person who loves gaming in general. Gaming is a passion. He or she would be so crazy about gaming that he would try any game. rpg, shooter, Dance, rythem,racer, handgheld, 360, PC, Wii, etc.. even flash games. ANY GAME..

all other definitons are just done by people that want to feel better than others.

So people who think only PC games are hardcore.. no they are just hardcore PC gamers at best.. not hardcore GAMERS...

So people who think only PC games are hardcore.. no they are just hardcore PC gamers at best.. not hardcore GAMERS...

Always-Honest

They fall under the category of gamer.

Any fanboy can be hardcore.

Someone who loves gaming, that isn't going to dismiss a title because it's from a elctronic mega-corp that he isn' t a fan of. Fanboys aren't hardcore imo.

A good example would be someone, who is going to be taking some time off of Ninja Gaiden II, to pop in MGS 4 on June 12, and then later that night will play some Mario Kart when his friends come over. Like I see myself doing.

Hardcore gamers tend to play more for the competitive challenge. Including me. While casuals play games for fun. Both Fun and Competitive gameplay can bring satisfaction to the gamer. The only difference is that hardcore crowd is more skilled.

[QUOTE="Always-Honest"]

So people who think only PC games are hardcore.. no they are just hardcore PC gamers at best.. not hardcore GAMERS...

skrat_01

They fall under the category of gamer.

Any fanboy can be hardcore.

they can be a hardcore fighting gamer, or a harcore fps gamer.. but that doesn't make them a hardcore gamer in general.

It should be more specified..

Hardcore gamers tend to play more for the competitive challenge. Including me. While casuals play games for fun. Both Fun and Competitive gameplay can bring satisfaction to the gamer. The only difference is that hardcore crowd is more skilled.

PullTheTricker

I like this one. Its very true. My parents and sister play the Wii just for some fun after coming home from work but my little brother and I play for braggin rights. We are far more competetive about it. Thats not to say we dont like to have fun, heck no. Every once in a while we will get a LAN party of Halo3 on just for laughs or a Warhawk LAN party and we play some great Super Smash Bros Melee games (dont have brawl yet :( ), but in general we are more competetive. Sumthing else I have noticed is that I love play with sumone who is leaps and bounds above me in the game. I like starting from the bottom and working my way up. To be honest if it wasnt for my Starcraft obsessed friend who was amazing, I would never have become a hardcore starcraft fan. I learned to play and enjoy starcraft all because I wanted to some day defeat him and eventually I did beat him. Ever since that day he has been unable to beat me and thus stopp playing with me :P

I dunno, I like playing people that are far better than me, and sum people like playing people that are alot easier. If i win 5 games in a row, i get bored unless they are very close. I like the challenge far more than the victory.

You are a hardcore gamer if....

1)You beat Ninja Gaiden on the XBOX on Master Ninja

2)You have to get ALL the stars in the 3D mario games.

3)You've owned ten or more consoles in your lifetime.

4)You remember a time before Microsoft and Sony made consoles.

5)You've ever played Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter in an arcade.

6)If you REMEMBER arcades.

7)If you remember how important it was that an arcade port look as close to the original when it hit the Genesis and Super Nintendo.

8)You know that Mai Sharanui was the original bouncy girl of video games.

9) You ever accidently called your girl PEACH during sex.

10) You owned a Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Light, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy SP and Nintendo DS.

10) You owned a Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Light, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy SP and Nintendo DS.

Bread_or_Decide

you forgot Virtual Boy. Anyone remember The Jaguar and the 3D0? lol...classic :P

Oh I got another one.

You are a hardcore gamer if playing Guitar Hero on anything but Expert is considered too easy.

Oh I got another one.

You are a hardcore gamer if playing Guitar Hero on anything but Expert is considered too easy.

Bread_or_Decide

that would be a hardcore Guitar Hero player. not a Hardcore gamer in general.

[QUOTE="Bread_or_Decide"]

10) You owned a Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Light, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy SP and Nintendo DS.

II_Seraphim_II

you forgot Virtual Boy. Anyone remember The Jaguar and the 3D0? lol...classic :P

Don't forget the CDi, Sega CD, and 32X.

What about the M2 oh man...if you remember that then you are really hardcore.

You are a hardcore gamer if....

1)You beat Ninja Gaiden on the XBOX on Master Ninja

2)You have to get ALL the stars in the 3D mario games.

3)You've owned ten or more consoles in your lifetime.

4)You remember a time before Microsoft and Sony made consoles.

5)You've ever played Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter in an arcade.

6)If you REMEMBER arcades.

7)If you remember how important it was that an arcade port look as close to the original when it hit the Genesis and Super Nintendo.

8)You know that Mai Sharanui was the original bouncy girl of video games.

9) You ever accidently called your girl PEACH during sex.

10) You owned a Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Light, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy SP and Nintendo DS.

Bread_or_Decide

Do you need to answer yes to all of them or is one enough?

If 1 is enough: I'm a hardcore Master Ninja :P

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"][QUOTE="Bread_or_Decide"]

10) You owned a Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Light, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy SP and Nintendo DS.

Bread_or_Decide

you forgot Virtual Boy. Anyone remember The Jaguar and the 3D0? lol...classic :P

Don't forget the CDi, Sega CD, and 32X.

What about the M2 oh man...if you remember that then you are really hardcore.

lol, Everytime i think of Jaguar i think of Sex Panther from Anchorman :P and as for the M2...are we talking about the Panasonic M2? was that thing even released?

[QUOTE="Bread_or_Decide"]

You are a hardcore gamer if....

1)You beat Ninja Gaiden on the XBOX on Master Ninja

2)You have to get ALL the stars in the 3D mario games.

3)You've owned ten or more consoles in your lifetime.

4)You remember a time before Microsoft and Sony made consoles.

5)You've ever played Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter in an arcade.

6)If you REMEMBER arcades.

7)If you remember how important it was that an arcade port look as close to the original when it hit the Genesis and Super Nintendo.

8)You know that Mai Sharanui was the original bouncy girl of video games.

9) You ever accidently called your girl PEACH during sex.

10) You owned a Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Light, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy SP and Nintendo DS.

50u1r34v3r

Do you need to answer yes to all of them or is one enough?

If 1 is enough: I'm a hardcore Master Ninja :P

Any one can do haha.

[QUOTE="Bread_or_Decide"][QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"][QUOTE="Bread_or_Decide"]

10) You owned a Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Light, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy SP and Nintendo DS.

II_Seraphim_II

you forgot Virtual Boy. Anyone remember The Jaguar and the 3D0? lol...classic :P

Don't forget the CDi, Sega CD, and 32X.

What about the M2 oh man...if you remember that then you are really hardcore.

lol, Everytime i think of Jaguar i think of Sex Panther from Anchorman :P and as for the M2...are we talking about the Panasonic M2? was that thing even released?

Yes sir. Man that thing was hyped but never released. Haha. You sir are TEH HARDCOREZ! Congratulations.

You get a free Kirby Tattoo.

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"][QUOTE="Bread_or_Decide"][QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"][QUOTE="Bread_or_Decide"]

10) You owned a Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Light, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy SP and Nintendo DS.

Bread_or_Decide

you forgot Virtual Boy. Anyone remember The Jaguar and the 3D0? lol...classic :P

Don't forget the CDi, Sega CD, and 32X.

What about the M2 oh man...if you remember that then you are really hardcore.

lol, Everytime i think of Jaguar i think of Sex Panther from Anchorman :P and as for the M2...are we talking about the Panasonic M2? was that thing even released?

Yes sir. Man that thing was hyped but never released. Haha. You sir are TEH HARDCOREZ! Congratulations.

You get a free Kirby Tattoo.

WOOT!!! Kirby Tatoo!!! Those things are sexier than this bad boy!
(Read the comments to understand)

[QUOTE="skrat_01"][QUOTE="Always-Honest"]

So people who think only PC games are hardcore.. no they are just hardcore PC gamers at best.. not hardcore GAMERS...

Always-Honest

They fall under the category of gamer.

Any fanboy can be hardcore.

they can be a hardcore fighting gamer, or a harcore fps gamer.. but that doesn't make them a hardcore gamer in general.

It should be more specified..

Anyone can fall under that too.

[QUOTE="Always-Honest"][QUOTE="skrat_01"][QUOTE="Always-Honest"]

So people who think only PC games are hardcore.. no they are just hardcore PC gamers at best.. not hardcore GAMERS...

skrat_01

They fall under the category of gamer.

Any fanboy can be hardcore.

they can be a hardcore fighting gamer, or a harcore fps gamer.. but that doesn't make them a hardcore gamer in general.

It should be more specified..

I think that's more accurate.

[QUOTE="Always-Honest"][QUOTE="skrat_01"][QUOTE="Always-Honest"]

So people who think only PC games are hardcore.. no they are just hardcore PC gamers at best.. not hardcore GAMERS...

skrat_01

They fall under the category of gamer.

Any fanboy can be hardcore.

they can be a hardcore fighting gamer, or a harcore fps gamer.. but that doesn't make them a hardcore gamer in general.

It should be more specified..

Anyone can fall under that too.

yes, but you don't understand. a gamer is someone who plays games.. but what is the definition of a hardcore gamer?

[QUOTE="skrat_01"][QUOTE="Always-Honest"][QUOTE="skrat_01"][QUOTE="Always-Honest"]

So people who think only PC games are hardcore.. no they are just hardcore PC gamers at best.. not hardcore GAMERS...

Always-Honest

They fall under the category of gamer.

Any fanboy can be hardcore.

they can be a hardcore fighting gamer, or a harcore fps gamer.. but that doesn't make them a hardcore gamer in general.

It should be more specified..

Anyone can fall under that too.

yes, but you don't understand. a gamer is someone who plays games.. but what is the definition of a hardcore gamer?

IMO. Someone who devotes a large portion of his time, money, and energy toward gaming. And is passionate about his hobby.

WOOT!!! Kirby Tatoo!!! Those things are sexier than this bad boy!
(Read the comments to understand)

II_Seraphim_II

Wow those commens are so funny. thanks for the laugh haha.

[QUOTE="Storm_Marine"]

A person who devotes a large portion of his time, money, and energy toward video games. Extra hardcore points if he frequents video game Internet forums.

II_Seraphim_II

Do Fanboys count as gamers? Because they do all the above except they only like one system and think every other system is a waste of raw materials :P

I wouldnt think you could say they arent. Misplaced, maybe, but not gamers. And you cannot say that someone that has only one console isnt hardcore, either. I dont know HOW you would define a hardcore gamer, but I am pretty sure I would fall in that category.

IMO. Someone who devotes a large portion of his time, money, and energy toward gaming. And is passionate about his hobby.

Storm_Marine

okay. i'd call that an addict :P

seriously though, what i'm trying to adress here is that there are various definitions of hardcore gamere here and they differ depending on what people play themselves.. some say games have to be hard, some say games have to be on pc, etc.

There is only one definition of a hardcore gamer i can live with, and it's largely the one you describe. I would add the interest to play all kinds of games, cause he's a gamer first, not a genre gamer first. IMO

But they're all gamers, that's correct

Anyone person who considers gaming to be their primary form of entertainment.jethrovegas

I think that is a good way to sum it up. A bit loosely defined, but it works for me.

yes, but you don't understand. a gamer is someone who plays games.. but what is the definition of a hardcore gamer?

Always-Honest

Otherwise almost everyone is a 'gamer'

A gamer i'd say is classified as someone with a passion for gaming, and could be thus deemed a hardcore gamer. Or perhaps hardcore is the next level.

[QUOTE="jethrovegas"]Anyone person who considers gaming to be their primary form of entertainment.JediRiff

I think that is a good way to sum it up. A bit loosely defined, but it works for me.

yeah, a bit loosely to be considered a definition... :P..it could be someone who plays solitairy all day

[QUOTE="JediRiff"]

[QUOTE="jethrovegas"]Anyone person who considers gaming to be their primary form of entertainment.Always-Honest

I think that is a good way to sum it up. A bit loosely defined, but it works for me.

yeah, a bit loosely to be considered a definition... :P..it could be someone who plays solitairy all day

Hey, I would have to call them hardcore simply for being able to play solitaire that long and not fry their brain. :D

So what makes a hardcore gamer? We hear alot of people complaining about Nintendo's overzealous attempts to cater to the casual market thus leaving all the loyal hardcore gamers out in the cold, yet we dont have a definition of what constitutes a "hardcore gamer" (well, if we do have a definition, I dont know it). So just out of curiousity, what makes person X a hardcore gamer whilst person Y isnt? Is it directly proportional to the number of hours you game each week? Would playing tetris at work everyday when you are supposed to be doing something else make you a hardcore gamer?

Is it how much you know about video games? Are all the fanboys on system wars hardcore gamers because whilst they may be deluded, there is no denying that they know more about video games than the average Joe. Or does it have something to do with how long you have been playing video games? So only people who were here from the PS2 generation and before can be considered hardcore gamers beacuse they have "earned" the title through their loyalty to video games? Or does hardcore gamer just mean that you are the guy who likes to get 100% completion or play games in Super-duper butt spanking mode? Whats the appropriate definition.

After thinking for a while, the definition I came up for hardcore gamer was:

"A hardcore gamer is a person who realizes that no video game is ever too hard, they just arent skiled enough."

When people say "Yeah man, screw flight simulator...its impossible!" They are making their inability to complete a game the fault of the game itself rather than their own short comings. The problem with this chain of thought is that once you have determined the game is at fault and not you, you no longer feel the urge to improve and overcome the challenge because its not you that needs to improve, its the game. Think about all the people that say "Ninja Gaiden is way too hard." I agree that the difficulty settings in Ninja Gaiden are higher than those of games in a similar genre, but its not too hard. You just lack the skill to be good at it. Thats what seperates hard core gamers from casuals. Casuals will return Ninja Gaiden under the pretense that it has a design flaw thus aking it unplayable and buy a new and more accessible game, while hardcore will realize that the flaw lies in their skill and they will try to improve it.

Phew...that was long...anyways, what's your definition of "Hardcore Gamer"?

/Intelligence

II_Seraphim_II

I would probably separate the market into the core and the casual, then classify hardcore gamers as a radical sect of core gamers.

What category you fall into is largely determined by the type of games you play, much like how we classify a hardcore film buff from the average joe bloggs who just watches films for fun every now and then.

I worked with a guy once that used to go home in the evening afterwork and go directly to bed. He would then get up at 12am and start playing Everquest with his american friends (he was in UK) until he had to go to work.

His day job was testing games.

Thats pretty hardocre in my opinion.

Someone who follows, researches, reads about and plays videogames on a regular basis...but never utters the word "hardcore".

Ever.

I have been gaming many many (many) years. Never in my life have I seen so many people so desperate to define themselves, and inflate their false sense of self-esteem via their hobby. At first, the term "hardcore gamer" was popping up more and more frequently. Now I am seeing "hardcore game" rising in popularity. And 99% of the time it is BS. Total and complete BS.

It is becoming clear that the more likely someone is to label themselves or their games "hardcore", the less likely they are what they claim. Instead they simply protest too much and care more about their image..more about what people on the net that they don't know and have never met think about them...than the games, and most importantly the industry.

I worked with a guy once that used to go home in the evening afterwork and go directly to bed. He would then get up at 12am and start playing Everquest with his american friends (he was in UK) until he had to go to work.

His day job was testing games.

Thats pretty hardocre in my opinion.

tenaka2

Dear God, I might have been one of those friends for all I know. Three years of my life sapped away by that game, lol...

From my perspective:

1) Someone who plays, and treasures, games more than the average user.