Casual vs. Hardcore Games

[Patrick Alexander]

Originally Posted by Dan

Because being a gamer implies more than just playing videogames - it implies the capacity to understand and participate in videogame culture. In that sense, it's the same as identifying someone as a 'Trekkie' or a 'connoisseur of fine wines'.

True! When I said, "It's quite beyond me," what I meant was, I understand it completely but I think it's silly -- or at least, something you grow out of. I don't know why a grown-up would call himself a gamer (or anything like that) unless he wasn't grown up after all, or he had an axe to grind. "Fellow gamers..." and all that.

Probably I'm being a bit judgmental, but whatever -- it's not important.

The main point I want to make is that for people whose job it is to market and sell games, classifications like 'hardcore gamer' and 'casual gamer' make sense and are useful. But people who just play games hear those terms being used, and we feel like they have to mean something to us. Why? It's daft. I guess it's that same desperate need for an identity that leads people to call themselves 'gamers' in the first place.

And, you know, if someone wants to call himself a gamer, I can imagine him getting all serious about it and calling himself a 'hardcore gamer'. But who on earth would call themselves a 'casual gamer'? It doesn't make any sense. I think people who actually are 'casual gamers' wouldn't call themselves gamers, and probably don't know the term 'casual gamer' even exists.

The long and short of it, I guess, is that the terms 'hardcore gamer' and 'casual gamer' mean different things to marketers than they do to, uh, gamers. Or rather, they mean something to marketers, and gamers aren't sure what they mean but boy howdy can they argue about it, 'cause that's what gamers do. "I AM A GAMER, THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT SOMETHING RELATED TO GAMING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND ALSO THE IGNORANT MASSES IF ONLY THEY KNEW IT!!"

Sorry, being a bit of a wanker aren't I. I'm listening to Violator right now and it's probably affecting my brain. Like, see how I said "Violator" just then, instead of "Violator by Depeche Mode" -- like my attitude is that you should already know what Violator is, and if you don't I guess I'm just not addressing you? What a wanker.

What a great album mind you.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Patrick Alexander

TThe long and short of it, I guess, is that the terms 'hardcore gamer' and 'casual gamer' mean different things to marketers than they do to, uh, gamers. Or rather, they mean something to marketers, and gamers aren't sure what they mean but boy howdy can they argue about it, 'cause that's what gamers do. "I AM A GAMER, THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT SOMETHING RELATED TO GAMING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND ALSO THE IGNORANT MASSES IF ONLY THEY KNEW IT!!"

Sure, but it's not like marketers generate their definitions in a vacuum. If hardcore gamers didn't perceive themselves as part of a distinct sub-culture, then they wouldn't be marketed to as such. It's a two-way street. That's why I think it's sometimes useful to have discussions like this. Granted, it's mostly just semantics, but it's also a part of how gaming culture (if you want to admit it exists) evolves over time.

In any case, even when they're utterly pointless, semantic debates can still be interesting - if only for what they reveal about the people involved.

[Draklor]

"I AM A GAMER, THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT SOMETHING RELATED TO GAMING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND ALSO THE IGNORANT MASSES IF ONLY THEY KNEW IT!!"

Ha - ouch that hurt - but 'tis so true!

I know for me a lot of the relevance and importance of defining gaming is because I can feel "special", superior and knowledgeable about a topic. When it comes to gaming I'm a fucking legend, you are a newb, scrub etc. I can look down on people the same way a wine wanker can look down on the unwashed horde.

In real life I'm (hopefully) not quite derranged and unstable enough to actually believe that, but I get a good feeling from being a "hardcore" gamer. When I beat someone not just because of skill, but because I "know" the game better than them, it's a great feeling.

I believe that gamers themselves are almost 100% responsible for the tag "casual" and "hardcore" - marketing drones picked these terms up to more readily identify with their audience.

You are right when you say most "casual" gamers don't call themselves "casual" - but a "hardcore" gamer most certainly calls themselve "hardcore" and has no hesitation in labelling someone "casual".

Thinking of the difference between hardcore and casual, i'd say that hardcore gamers put a lot more EFFORT into playing, be it through time, stategy or even money.

Again someone has succinctly expressed what I feel. I'll stop because I just feel I'm agreeing with you all and I feel uncomfortable masturbating with you all in this way. Rest assured I will dream of you all tonight however.

PS Thank you for compliments on my name - we need a thread explaining where our handles come from and what makes them special. That way I can pour my heart out more and do less work while feeling good about myself!