What's your definition of a hardcore gamer?

A harcore gamer in my opinion:

• Plays X amount of game/s X times a week/month/year.
• Reads game magazine/s X and visits game site/s X sometimes.
• Maybe knows X amount about the past, present and future of the games industry in general.
• Maybe knows X about older game/s, current game/s and future game/s.
• Is willing to argue about which console/s and game/s they think are the best because a little part of them is a fanboy/girl; even those gamers who actually own all the various consoles and play lots of different games in multiple genres.
• Should have tried at least a few of the most popular and respected videogames just so they can't be called a "casual" gamer.
• Loves games (but not in a gay way).

I would say there are actually 3 definitions that make more sense:

1. Gamers. No, not your mum or great grandad or that girl across the road who once played Tetris or because they have tried Wii Sports recently!

2. People who have played a game or games at some time. A mate who once played Super Mario World for a few minutes because his brother used to own a Super Nintendo. Maybe he even challenges you to a multiplayer game of Halo 2 on occasion.

3. People.

What do you think?

:)

A hardcore gamer in my opinion is one who not only wants the most advanced gameplay experience there is,but one who also plays the most challenging software available.

A person thats sits in a dark room allday drinking nothing but energy drinks and has every console known to man.

and is fat and has a scruffy beard. 

Someone who plays games on his PC :P

or her 

Guys who take it this far, lol. I consider myself fairly hardcore, but when you take it this far, it is just a bit overboard:lol:....Agreed?

Guys who take it this far, lol. I consider myself fairly hardcore, but when you take it this far, it is just a bit overboard:lol:....Agreed?

outcasthero

Agreed.

That may actually be the gay way I was talking about in my intial post! :shock:

Although they probably had a lot of fun that day...

[QUOTE="outcasthero"]

Guys who take it this far, lol. I consider myself fairly hardcore, but when you take it this far, it is just a bit overboard:lol:....Agreed?

freeload

Agreed.

That may actually be the gay way I was talking about in my intial post! :shock:

Although they probably had a lot of fun that day...

Yeah, as you can tell that they are at some sort of convention. Let's just hope that they do not wear those suits around the house or while they are playing WoW, lol.:lol:

Someone who probably plays games and makes it a "Hobby" or perhaps is more aware of the games beyond "Nintendo makes Mario" where a "hardcore" would say "Shigeru Miyamoto made Mario and Koji Kondo made the music, and etc...

To be honest, the label of "hardcore" and "casual" just is ridiculous in many aspects. It differentiates yes, but hey... if they play games and  are a gamer whether it's "Tetris/Wii Play/Wii Sports" or "Zelda, Metal Gear, Halo, etc." it doesn't matter.. a gamer plays games, and that's just it. I think it's stupid to really differentiate yourself, and the "hardcore" people are truly no better than the other, and vice versa. Gamers should just enjoy gaming...

Someone who probably plays games and makes it a "Hobby" or perhaps is more aware of the games beyond "Nintendo makes Mario" where a "hardcore" would say "Shigeru Miyamoto made Mario and Koji Kondo made the music, and etc...

To be honest, the label of "hardcore" and "casual" just is ridiculous in many aspects. It differentiates yes, but hey... if they play games and  are a gamer whether it's "Tetris/Wii Play/Wii Sports" or "Zelda, Metal Gear, Halo, etc." it doesn't matter.. a gamer plays games, and that's just it. I think it's stupid to really differentiate yourself, and the "hardcore" people are truly no better than the other, and vice versa. Gamers should just enjoy gaming...

yoshi_64

Very well put.

Guys who take it this far, lol. I consider myself fairly hardcore, but when you take it this far, it is just a bit overboard:lol:....Agreed?

outcasthero

:lol:  jeez louise

IMO real hard core gamers don't post on this site....they are too busy playing games. creekfan_basic

True and they also play games reguardless of reviews because they know that they are usually inaccurate. 

[QUOTE="creekfan_basic"]IMO real hard core gamers don't post on this site....they are too busy playing games. Dencore

True and they also play games reguardless of reviews because they know that they are usually inaccurate.

But what happens if that bad review turns out to be correct and the game is crap, does that mean they become less hardcore for playing bad games? 

There is only one thing a true hardcore gamer is not. A fanboy.

There is only one thing a true hardcore gamer is not. A fanboy.

FreedomReign

I digress, A fanboy can be a hardcore gamer. Many hardcore gamers like particular companies, or only like playing particular genres whilst deriding others. 

A hardcore gamer is someone who is dedicated to playing games on a regular basis

[/thread]

The way I see it, both Hardcores and Casuals take great enjoyment in video games, are well informed about the industry, the technology, trends and news of the developers and publishers. Where they differ is in how much value they place on the hobby, both financially and in personal time.

Even though the Casual loves playing games, he doesn't place top priority on it and divides his free time to other interests. Also he won't place high financial importance on gaming so he'll limit his budget to how much he spends on games a year and what he's willing to invest in the tech itself, mainly due to feeling other considerations are more important for his money - movies, fine dining, living expenses, social activities, family matters, etc...

The Hardcore on the other hand devotes as much time to gaming as he can, as that is his primary passion, just as a musician would with his instrument and his band. The Hardcore can justify any cost for what ever hardware because it aids in his persuits. In fact when it comes to gaming, money doesn't matter, just that he gets his hands on what he sees as the best and as many of the thins that satisfy his passions.

A hardcore gamer promotes videogames as the superior medium - offering advantages over both printed literature and film. One of the most important aspects of being "hardcore" is promoting games as art, and understanding *why* certain games are acclaimed. A hardcore gamer is expected to have a firm understanding of gaming history, important figures in gaming, business, art, computer science, engineering, and ideally have played the vast majority of the classics.

A hardcore gamer is generally opposed to casual gamers, or the wastoids, fanboys, and junkies who cling to one company, game, or series blindly. Casual gamers are the enemy, as they encourage games to make compromises in order to garner sales.

My definition of hardcore would only apply to myself and a limited few others, and generally no gamer with less than ten years of consistent day-in day-out gaming would have enough experience with the format to be hardcore. It is also worth remembering that a hardcore gamer *is not* considered hardcore in all genres - it is enough to be a hardcore JRPG fan. One cannot be hardcore without being a purist, however, and is demoted to the status of wastoid.

Certain games define the hardcore gamer - generally games like Mother, Chrono Trigger, Ikaruga, Disgea, Final Fantasy IV and VI are favorites, but there are certain varients found - Contra, Street Fighter 2, Super Mario World, Metal Gear Solid, and newer games such as Okami all have their backings from various core gamers.

There are industry opinions that are also important to the hardcore gamer - for example being opposed to a Final Fantasy VII sequel is a common stance held by hardcore RPG gamers.

Casuals are the enemy of good games and should frankly stay out of discussions. Inexperienced gamers should take care with their statements against hardcore games and gamers as well - anyone who stays with gaming long enough *will* reach a point where they begin to recognize the negative effects of the desire to simply produce whatever has the most mass appeal - as series such as Eternal Darkness lose out to franchise games like Resident Evil 4 repeatedly, or excellent games make compromises in the name of greater sales (Mario 2 US vs. Lost Levels aka Mario 2 Japan).

If you are looking at this thread, chances are you are a hardcore gamer. 

If you are looking at this thread, chances are you are a hardcore gamer.

SemiMaster

:lol: touche :lol: 

[QUOTE="SemiMaster"]

If you are looking at this thread, chances are you are a hardcore gamer.

AdobeArtist

:lol: touche :lol:

I could further expand my definition and say you might not be "Hardcore", but you certainly aren't a casual. That I would defend to the death. If someone cares enough to  visit a video game website, let alone System Wars specifically, they are pretty hardcore. It means you live video games as part of your lifestyle. Some people choose sports, others cars, others wine and food, others art. For most of us, it's games.

That's a more expanded definition, but my original still works fine I think. 

[QUOTE="SemiMaster"]

If you are looking at this thread, chances are you are a hardcore gamer.

AdobeArtist

:lol: touche :lol:

Unless they promote games as art here, they are not hardcore. Hardcore gamers are ultimately a promoter of the format. Take a look at someone like panda here, who's often upset about the failure of developers to take ques from literature in producing a better game - or gamers like myself who will ultimately wind up in long forum discussion about the necessity of improving graphics / hardware to allow unlimited creativity.

A Hardcore gamer is basically someone who plays games, focuses, and invests time to finish that game 100%

someone who loves games not because its on this certain console, who plays game because its good not because its on that console or its multiplatform, someone who is open to every console and is open to new games , someone who doesnt even break a sweat while playing whith his buds. and can easily learn playing a new game in under 5 mins or so. (ex: a game with new control,gameplay etc...)

someone who goes for the win, but still is a sport if he looses. and strives to do better and continue to reach that goal of being number 1

and just because your a hardcore gamer doesnt mean you dont have a life, i look up to those gamers who are very good at games and spend allot of time on playing game but still are succesfull , has a girlfriend/married and so, basically has a life.

[QUOTE="Dencore"]

[QUOTE="creekfan_basic"]IMO real hard core gamers don't post on this site....they are too busy playing games. Hoobinator

True and they also play games reguardless of reviews because they know that they are usually inaccurate.

But what happens if that bad review turns out to be correct and the game is crap, does that mean they become less hardcore for playing bad games?

No a hardcore gamer knows that reviews always knock down niche titles because they aren't appealing.

Why do you think Street Fighter III, Guilty Gear, Raiden III, Capcom vs. SNK, Izuna, and Legend of the Dragoon didn't get AAA, AA, or some even A. It's because they appeal stricly to the niche.

A person thats sits in a dark room allday drinking nothing but energy drinks and has every console known to man.

 

and is fat and has a scruffy beard.

hypertqsport

[QUOTE="Hoobinator"][QUOTE="Dencore"]

[QUOTE="creekfan_basic"]IMO real hard core gamers don't post on this site....they are too busy playing games. Dencore

True and they also play games reguardless of reviews because they know that they are usually inaccurate.

But what happens if that bad review turns out to be correct and the game is crap, does that mean they become less hardcore for playing bad games?

No a hardcore gamer knows that reviews always knock down niche titles because they aren't appealing.

Why do you think Street Fighter III, Guilty Gear, Raiden III, Capcom vs. SNK, Izuna, and Legend of the Dragoon didn't get AAA, AA, or even A. It's because they appeal stricly to the niche.

For example - Halo 3 will face problems for being an evolution of Halo 2 multiplayer, rather than a revolution - part of the reason the "equipment" is being added to the game is to really change the dynamic of the multiplayer. The Final Fantasy XIII spin-offs will be dissapointing - ultimately Square is spread too thin and this will cause problems. Crystal Chronicles on the Wii will be overly simplistic, frustrating gamers.

Or we could even get into other things. For example, US reviewers are second guessing themselves right now on where Blue Dragon will fall. Warhawk will ultimately never be a AAA game, Ratchet & Clank on the PS3 will set a graphical standard for the system. Super Mario Galaxy will walk the fine line between AA and AAA, ultimately hurt by problems with pacing and sound.

Or the ultimate mark of the hardcore - the number one area of presentation that a game fails is not in graphics but in - yes - sound. The hallmark of modern games has been huge improvements in sound thanks to better compression techniques and more disc space (CDs and DVDs). 

A person who does drivebyes in a 64 Impala with a Zapper light gun.8)

A person who does drivebyes in a 64 Impala with a Zapper light gun.8)

LINKloco

Loves games (but not in a gay way).freeload

[QUOTE="freeload"]Loves games (but not in a gay way).kodex1717

LMAO...:lol:

A person thats sits in a dark room allday drinking nothing but energy drinks and has every console known to man.

 

and is fat and has a scruffy beard.

hypertqsport

I'm sure you're not that fat:) 

I'm 60% HARD-CORE gamer I still a little bit soft:?

A hardcore gamer is a person who love gaming and live for gaming, like every console including PC and play games from E-A, if the person think that E= teh kiddy, n0obs!! and M or A= teh hardcore he is not a hard-core gamer, he spend at least 12 hours playing, on a gaming forum or reading rumors and news about games he is a hardcore gamer, he know all the damn story of video games since the firts console Magnavox Odyssey in 1972, the crash of the '83 until Apr 21, 2007 and most of the things that everyone had said here.