Definition of a Hardcore Gamer

[Nugog]

[DrSpike]

Thorburne you should post in OG. We need more people and this kind of stuff comes up in between flamefests on console versus PC.

Last time it did Asher argued the correct definition was purely about time spent gaming, and not how you spend that time. I argued otherwise and had the upper hand. But I think there was more discussion to be had, so come and post.

[Elok]

Wait, so there are actual arguments over the criteria for determining who should be labeled a "real" participant in a purely recreational pastime? Dude, compared to that arguing about LOTR crap is a very worthwhile expenditure of time...

[DrSpike]

Well the debate is not around who should be deemed a 'real' participant; that would indeed be pretty pointless.

But there are some interesting issues here. The gaming market has changed considerably over the last couple of years and it's perfectly valid (and I think quite interesting) to discuss what that means for the future of gaming, whether or not it makes sense to distinguish segments of the market, and where the most sensible dividing lines should be.

And no, that does not make any participants even in the ballpark of geekness demonstrated by your LOTR thread.

[Traianvs]

In my book a hardcore gamer has two important traits.

• Time spent equals game knowledge. If you don't spend at least a good portion of your free time on the game, you're by definition a 'casual' gamer because you can't acquire the necessary skills in order to fully master said game. If the game is shallow by nature, like some Wii games in which it revolves more around the social aspect, then you can't be a 'hardcore' gamer.
• Being involved in a community. A hardcore gamer is usually found on a board, forum, mirc chatroom or similar. Often he is part of a clan, modding or in some (perhaps indirect) way affiliated to the 'community'.

You can play Quake 3 as a 'hardcore' player, knowing all the tricks and jumps, being involved in clanplay and what not, but you can also play it casually in the designated 'noob' servers. It caters to two different kinds of gamers.

The average Wii game intended for social purposes only caters to casual gamers.

A few games cater to hardcore gamers only, mostly turn-based strategy games or simulations (tank simulators, flight simulators).


Finally: a hardcore gamer is never hardcore in every game. Some games are suited for a quick fix, like Fifa or PES in my case, while the gamer is thoroughly involved in another particular game. So the 'hardcore gamer' concept is a bit arbitrary. Conclusion is that it depends

[Thorburne]

Originally posted by Elok
Wait, so there are actual arguments over the criteria for determining who should be labeled a "real" participant in a purely recreational pastime? Dude, compared to that arguing about LOTR crap is a very worthwhile expenditure of time...

The argument over who is hardcore is not just about who "really" participates. The problem is that the word is thrown out so loosely, that it is interpreted in many different ways. Unfortunately, some people (the worst of which are gaming media) take their definitions as fact and can severly affect the industry. I feel that their definitions, which comes down to the appeal of a game to the core fans vs. the mass public, as incorrect. A true hardcore gamer would not be put off by a game because it has more mass appeal instead of a focal appeal to a certain group or demographic.

The definition of hardcore from dictionary.com is:

unswervingly committed; uncompromising; dedicated: a hard-core segregationist.

(the second definition given had nothing to do with the case at hand)

Someone who is solely devoted to Halo would be a hardcore Halo fan, but not necessarily a hardcore gamer. Add Call of Duty, Half-Life, and Doom to that list and you have a hardcore shooter fan. Someone who is devoted to a wider assortment of games would be a hardcore gamer.

[Thorburne]

Originally posted by Traianvs
Time spent equals game knowledge. If you don't spend at least a good portion of your free time on the game, you're by definition a 'casual' gamer because you can't acquire the necessary skills in order to fully master said game. If the game is shallow by nature, like some Wii games in which it revolves more around the social aspect, then you can't be a 'hardcore' gamer.

So, by your definition, a person who consistantly scores between 280 and 300 in Wii Bowling is NOT hardcore? That seems to contradict your whole theory of "Time spent equals game knowledge". Yes, time spent and game knowledge does add a lot of points towards "hardcoreness", but just because a game is "shallow" doesn't mean that a degree of skill isn't needed to be good at it... something most casuals (except those solely devoted to a specific game) don't reach.

Being involved in a community. A hardcore gamer is usually found on a board, forum, mirc chatroom or similar. Often he is part of a clan, modding or in some (perhaps indirect) way affiliated to the 'community'.

I would agree with you on this point. Don't forget to add game blogs to that list.

The average Wii game intended for social purposes only caters to casual gamers.

What I get from your statement here is that the hardcore gamer is the epitomy of the stereotype of a person who hides away in their room and never talks to another person (except maybe in a frag match... but wait, that's a social experience).

A few games cater to hardcore gamers only, mostly turn-based strategy games or simulations (tank simulators, flight simulators).

I would have to argue that just because somebody plays a flight simulator, does not mean they are hardcore. Does that mean that pilots (who use flight simulators to train) are hardcore gamers? These days, many of them may have started that way, but not necessarily. I also have know quite a few people who play simulation games and would fall more towards the "Casual" category.

Finally: a hardcore gamer is never hardcore in every game. Some games are suited for a quick fix, like Fifa or PES in my case, while the gamer is thoroughly involved in another particular game. So the 'hardcore gamer' concept is a bit arbitrary. Conclusion is that it depends

I will wholeheartedly agree with your final point.

Thanks for your response

[SlowwHand]

If a person plays NES Zelda and gets the infamous controller thumb calluses, that's hard core.

[Thorburne]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
If a person plays NES Zelda and gets the infamous controller thumb calluses, that's hard core.

Excellent Point!

[Traianvs]

dp

[Traianvs]

About the points you disagree with me:

Originally posted by Thorburne


So, by your definition, a person who consistantly scores between 280 and 300 in Wii Bowling is NOT hardcore? That seems to contradict your whole theory of "Time spent equals game knowledge". Yes, time spent and game knowledge does add a lot of points towards "hardcoreness", but just because a game is "shallow" doesn't mean that a degree of skill isn't needed to be good at it... something most casuals (except those solely devoted to a specific game) don't reach.

I see where you're getting at, but a Wii bowling is most likely a game you just won't play as much. Do you know many people playing these games for a few straight hours? Will people continue to play these games for years onwards? I'm playing SoF1 for 9 years now, and I've been clanleader for 8,5 years (I'm a geek in that respect ) . Are Wii bowlers committed like that?

So I'm sure you need a bit of skill to get the hang of it, but once you're good at it, there's not much room for improvement, whereas in games that cater to hardcore players, there's usually some way or another to get better, to explore new strats etcetera.

What I get from your statement here is that the hardcore gamer is the epitomy of the stereotype of a person who hides away in their room and never talks to another person (except maybe in a frag match... but wait, that's a social experience).

With a social experience I mean getting together with some friends to play a game. Online gaming is a social experience in some way, but it takes a lot of time and effort to build up a friends base and really fully interacting with them in a way that transcends the gameplay itself. A hardcore gamer isn't necessarily a nerd. Otherwise I'd be calling myself one right now

I would have to argue that just because somebody plays a flight simulator, does not mean they are hardcore. Does that mean that pilots (who use flight simulators to train) are hardcore gamers? These days, many of them may have started that way, but not necessarily. I also have know quite a few people who play simulation games and would fall more towards the "Casual" category.

It's possible, but most simulator people put lots of time and effort in the game because these kinds of games often require a lot of training in order to really appreciate them. I know of some tank simulators that require me having read a 500 page manual to get the hang of it. That's petty hardcore for me. It's not 'casual' in the sense of "I'm going to kill some tanks because I have 15 minutes of free time".




Hope I clarified myself a bit.

[Dis]

I'd say hardcore is someone who plays a game more than once. Take a rpg for example. Harcdcore is to repeatedly play attempting to get better or faster or other artificial goals. Or someone who micromanages their character build for optimum performance.

In the case of mmo's there is not real finish. So it's harder to define. But you could define it in terms of hours played. If you log in 5+ days a week you most likely are hardcore.

[Blaupanzer]

Time spent with games per week might be a good superficial measure of whether or not a person is hardcore. Time spent per week on a specific game over a long period of time is definitely a measure that can be used for sorting. As to the latter, suggest 8 hours on average per week on one specific game for more than four years. As to the former, more than 12 hours per week minimum week after week, for a year or more.

For the most part, hardcore gamers feel little need to label casual gamers. Hardcore types feel some sense of superiority to the non-hard-core. By the definitions I postulated, I've not met many hard core gamers who are not also nerds.

[Nostromo]

He who has no life.

[Dis]

I suppose I am a nerd. But so be it. But I'm hardly smart enough to be a nerd, but people insist on labelling me as such.

What happened to this country when hard work is considered nerdy? I have a very strong work ethic, and my bosses at my job love me. Why do a job half assed when you can do it well? If you can be the best, why not be it? So yes I do strive for optimum performance in games.

I know hard work isn't attractive. I'll never have a girlfriend (mainly because I don't want one for myself lol). My life revolves around work and games. I want nothing else in it. But people insist on making fun of me and saying I have no life. Life is more than being a slave to your hormones and chasing after stupid women. I'll take a computer game over a woman any day.

to summarize that rant. I work hard, and play hard. I don't want distractions from women and the like. Being the best is what drives me.