Hardcore redefined

[liveinabin]

The way Nintendo has been, well, singlehandedly changing the face of gaming has got me thinking, mainly about the redundant terminology of gamers.

 

A few years down the line, there'll be lots of people who put a whole load of hours and are quite dedicated what we now term as casual games (which seems to be because they don't readily fit into established genre bases). Will they be 'hardcore gamers' then, or does that term still require firearms?

[Malc74]

The way Nintendo has been, well, singlehandedly changing the face of gaming has got me thinking, mainly about the redundant terminology of gamers.

 

A few years down the line, there'll be lots of people who put a whole load of hours and are quite dedicated what we now term as casual games (which seems to be because they don't readily fit into established genre bases). Will they be 'hardcore gamers' then, or does that term still require firearms?

 

The whole casual/hardcore thing is a load of rubbish anyway. I've really gotten back into 2D shmups lately, which many people class as a "hardcore" genre, but I don't import and have picked up a couple of the cheesier XS Games ports of Japanese shooters (Mobile Light Force 2, for example) which, in the eyes of a "hardcore" shmupper is probably as "casual" as you can get.

My last couple of new game purchases (Raiden III and The Red Star) are probably pretty "hardcore", but I really enjoy a blast on Clubhouse Games on my DS from time to time (as "casual" as can be). My game collection includes such diverse titles as Chaos Field on the Gamecube and Animal Crossing : Wild World on the DS.

 

You can't peg people reliably with this whole "casual" and "hardcore" thing, although anyone who manages to play Cooking Mama for five hours a night is pretty hardcore in my book.

[Jess Ragan]

I've been playing video games longer than most players and I feel that the term is a whole lot of crap. So let me get this straight, "hardcore" gamers... you didn't even pick up a controller until the Playstation was released and you're suddenly the foremost experts on video games? Please. You ain't bad... you ain't nothin'!

 

JR

[warmachine]

"Hardcore" would be referring to the amount of time a person dedicates to playing videogames.

An example of a hardcore gamer would be someone who plays world of warcraft, and not someone

who just wants to "pick up and play"

 

If video games have significantly contributed to you being unemployed, divorced, or not having any friends

or social life what's so ever, then you would be pretty hardcore.

 

I guess this could also be applied to alcoholism. Do you go to a bar once a week, or do you drink a 12 pack

before going to bed each night.

[Atarifever]

I've been playing video games longer than most players and I feel that the term is a whole lot of crap. So let me get this straight, "hardcore" gamers... you didn't even pick up a controller until the Playstation was released and you're suddenly the foremost experts on video games? Please. You ain't bad... you ain't nothin'!

 

JR

I shudder when I hear people refer to the PS1 as a classic system.

 

 

Regarding the hardcore thing, I think it's a pointless distinction. My fiancee would never refer to herself as a hardcore gamer, or even a gamer. It isn't anymnore a part of who she is than, say, being someone who watches TV is. She'd never say having boxed sets of Sopranos and House makes her a "hardcore TV viewer". However, she does play a lot of (Nintendo) games. She got pretty much every coin in New Super Mario Bros. She and her sister play hours of Mario 3 when her sister is in town. This weekend she turned Harvest Moon Magical Melody on on Friday and it has been on an aweful ot since then (she's playing it right this second). I'd say she's put about 14 hours into it since the weekend started, with a whole day left to go. Meanwhile I, the guy with 20 something systems and hundreds of games, who posts on videogame forums daily, and reads magazines and websites about gaming, can't remember the last weekend where I spent 14 hours+ on gaming. When she was into Animal Crossing she would get up in the middle of the night and go play it because she couldn't sleep thinking about tracking down that ghost.

 

Who is the "hardcore gamer" there? And Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing are hardly the standard definition of "hardcore games".

[+LS650]

When I hear the word hardcore, the first thing I think of is porn.

Edited June 3, 2007 by ls650

[moycon]

Casual Gamer = Your Mom

Hardcore Gamer = Person that spends free time posting to a videogame website.

[rockman_x_2002]

I think you could justify them being a hardcore gamer. Although typically, two things define a hardcore gamer. First, they have to enjoy games of all genres (example: a gamer that likes only sports titles is not a hardcore gamer, they are a sports gamer). Second, they have to spend a sizeable amount of time playing games. Not necesseraly neglecting life matters, but spending a large amount of their free time in gaming such that gaming becomes a viable hobby for them.

 

I don't think you're going to see a rift between what defines a "casual" or "hardcore" gamer. They'll either all get lumped into "hardcore gamers", or simply "gamers". Instead, I think what you're going to see that's even more evident are sub-genres that split the current game genres apart, not dependent on the type of game but on the way the game is controlled.

 

Traditional FPSes, sports games, RPGs, and the like that use control pads (or joysticks) could fit into a "traditionally controlled" sub-genre. Games that use something other than traditional controllers (such as Wii Remotes, touch screen, microphone input, webcam input, etc.) could fit into "motion controlled" sub-genre. For games that use a bit of both, which includes many Wii games like Zelda or Red Steel, you might could call that a "traditional with motion control" sub-genre.

 

Sounds a bit fuzzy, but it's just a base to work from, and it could be something useful if refined so all gamers understand what the terminology means.

 

I shudder when I hear people refer to the PS1 as a classic system.

 

So do I, because it makes me feel old. But then too, the PS1 is well over a decade old so that means "classic" in my book.

Edited June 3, 2007 by rockman_x_2002

[Shawn]

So softcore means only boobs and bumage right? No dongs or punes cause thats harcore?

Edited June 3, 2007 by Shawn Sr.

[AtariJr]

I've been playing video games longer than most players and I feel that the term is a whole lot of crap. So let me get this straight, "hardcore" gamers... you didn't even pick up a controller until the Playstation was released and you're suddenly the foremost experts on video games? Please. You ain't bad... you ain't nothin'!

 

JR

 

 

so true. its sad to think that now we are even getting "hardcore" players who's first system was a PS2. it still makes me feel weird going into used game stores hearing 13 year olds refer to the n64 as "classic". considering how vivid my memories are of the NES, i woudlnt even call that classic .

Edited June 4, 2007 by AtariJr

[moycon]

Hardcore gamer has nothing to do with how long you've been alive.

People who grew up playing video games on an almost daily bases...regardless what console was released when they were growing up.

People who read books and magazines and web sites about video games checking out the latest reviews and previews, reading about their favorite developers and game producers.

People who don't choose one video game console over another.

These are all signs of someone who is a hardcore gamer.

 

People who will occasionally pick up a game and play are not considered hardcore gamers.

 

That's the way I look at it anyways.

[bones]

The term "hardcore gamer" is a load of crap. It reeks of the elitist mentality that some gamers playing habits are more refined, or better than others. These are video games, not cigars, wine, or golf. I'd rather be an open-minded gamer, and play Mario alongside Doom, than be "hardcore."

[moycon]

The term "hardcore gamer" is a load of crap. It reeks of the elitist mentality that some gamers playing habits are more refined, or better than others. These are video games, not cigars, wine, or golf. I'd rather be an open-minded gamer, and play Mario alongside Doom, than be "hardcore."

 

Here's the thing...I never said you had to be good at the games....all you have to do is enjoy playing them. Really what you just says has nothing to do with a hardcore video game player.

When we were kids, almost all our friends played video games daily. Many of them/us now have wives, kids, other hobbies, and/or jobs to occupy their/our time.

We (and here's the thing, the numbers are few) that still to this day, get excited when a new console is getting released even wait in line to be the first to get one. Who salivate at the latest chapter of their favorite series. Who still play console games weekly...sometimes daily. They/we are the hard core gamers. Doesn't matter if you began playing on the 2600 or the PS2. Doesn't matter if you can beat everyone you know, it's not a complex where you think you are better.

 

Some people collect wines, they read about them, they get together wth their friends and sit around sipping them...some people hobbies are to smoke cigars, Its the same thing, some folks play video games. Wine Connoisseurs, Cigar Aficionado , Hardcore Gamer...Make sense??

 

If you don't get it...You not one. Simple.

 

The only reason the term is coming up a lot lately is many many non hardcore gamers (if you don't know many people I can tell you first hand, people like 50-60 year old parents, and party going rednecks that normally have no interest in video games) are drawn to and would purchase the Wii. The "hardcore gamers" in that sentence being my definition of hardcore gamer. Someone that has made videogames a part of their normal weekly schedule. Not a person that plays one game 18 hours a day and can beat everyone else in the world at that game at any given time.

 

I think it's safe to say, that everyone has their own definition of "hardcore gamer" and the definitions differ drastically. I doubt there will ever be an official definition so it's probably something that will be disscussed for eons and eons. Anyone here work for Websters?

Edited June 4, 2007 by moycon

[bones]

The term "hardcore gamer" is a load of crap. It reeks of the elitist mentality that some gamers playing habits are more refined, or better than others. These are video games, not cigars, wine, or golf. I'd rather be an open-minded gamer, and play Mario alongside Doom, than be "hardcore."

Here's the thing...I never said you had to be good at the games....all you have to do is enjoy playing them.

...and I never said anything like that either...enjoying video games makes us all gamers

 

If you don't get it...You not one. Simple..

There really isn't much to get IMO. Anything as mainstream as video games doesn't need a label like "hardcore."...unless as someone mentioned we're talking about porn :!:. Video games have been outgrossing Hollywood for what, 20 years? I've heard of movie buffs, enthusiasts and the like, but never in the same breath as "hardcore." If something can be purchased at any big box retailer out there it shouldn't qualify as hard core. Personally I think the concept of being a gamer vs. a collector is a more interesting one. That topic produces some lively discussion in the Neo-Geo community; AES vs MVS, complete in box vs. loose, to ROM or not to ROM and all that

 

I think it's safe to say, that everyone has their own definition of "hardcore gamer" and the definitions differ drastically. I doubt there will ever be an official definition so it's probably something that will be disscussed for eons and eons. Anyone here work for Websters?

Definitely, something like this will never have consensus. Methinks it's also safe to say that all of here are passionate about video games, and that's what matters most, no?

[moycon]

Definitely, something like this will never have consensus. Methinks it's also safe to say that all of here are passionate about video games, and that's what matters most, no?

 

I agree.

 

I think it's safe to say when most folks refer to "hardcore gamers" they aren't refering to the hard core in a movie, it's just a term that based on the posts on videogame forums lately, is used to differenciate between someone who will pick up a video game and play and a person that goes out of their way to play a video game.

A person that while at work can't wait to get home and play a video game and surfs IGN is hardcore about gaming.

A person that while at work thinks about picking up some flowers for his wife or what time to put the ribs on (kinda like most folks think about) is not.

Has nothing to do with being better.

Has nothing to do with dongs and prunes.

 

Granted this is just the way I see it, reading through posts that others have posted I get the feeling that's the definition.

 

Bottom line is Passionate Gamer sounds gay, and all the other good adjectives are taken.

[bones]

Bottom line is Passionate Gamer sounds gay, and all the other good adjectives are taken.

How about video game enthusiasts? That term works for a lot of hobbies.

[moycon]

Bottom line is Passionate Gamer sounds gay, and all the other good adjectives are taken.

How about video game enthusiasts? That term works for a lot of hobbies.

 

No, That's too soft and fluffy.

 

Are we not men?

 

Edited June 4, 2007 by moycon

[Jess Ragan]

We're not cool enough to be Devo.

 

I had a term for gamers whose enthusiasm extends well beyond "hardcore." Those gamers with discriminating tastes, that demand only the finest from their experience, and will spend hours on Ebay collecting obscurities and import titles that 99.9% of gamers wouldn't recognize. I call 'em "gamonds," because like gourmands, they have very refined and specific tastes. Also, like gourmands, they have a nasty habit of letting their waistlines expand out of control...

 

JR

[AtticGamer]

While playing classic games contributes to being an hardcore gamer because of the dedication, to me it means playing alternative titles for a long time.

Someone who only plays FIFA, PES, Need for Speed, GTA or The Sims is a casual gamer.

A hardcore gamer is one who plays Jet Pac, Resident Evil, Riviera: The Promised Land, Super Mario Bros., Golden Sun, Quake and Doom, Space Invaders, Mappy, Asteroids, Missile Command, The Legend Of Zelda, etc. Just about any old game or hard game or unpopular game .

Edited June 4, 2007 by Atari_kid

[Jess Ragan]

Like I said, gamonds.

 

JR

[Atarifever]

A person that while at work can't wait to get home and play a video game and surfs IGN is hardcore about gaming.

Wait. Hardcore gamers surf IGN? Take me off the list then, as hardcore apparently has something to do with being at least mildly retarded.

[moycon]

A person that while at work can't wait to get home and play a video game and surfs IGN is hardcore about gaming.

Wait. Hardcore gamers surf IGN? Take me off the list then, as hardcore apparently has something to do with being at least mildly retarded.

 

Substitute your favorite gaming news site or magazine for IGN.

 

Remember however, regardless what site or magazine you pick, someone will say you are retarded because fortunately not everyone thinks alike or has the same opinion but fact of life is, often when someone doesn't agree with your opinion the first thought is to insult.

[Atarifever]

A person that while at work can't wait to get home and play a video game and surfs IGN is hardcore about gaming.

Wait. Hardcore gamers surf IGN? Take me off the list then, as hardcore apparently has something to do with being at least mildly retarded.

 

Substitute your favorite gaming news site or magazine for IGN.

 

Remember however, regardless what site or magazine you pick, someone will say you are retarded because fortunately not everyone thinks alike or has the same opinion but fact of life is, often when someone doesn't agree with your opinion the first thought is to insult.

Hey, sorry about that. I'd actually given the post some thought since writing it, and was afraid it was more of an insult than a criticsm of IGN (The Entertainment Tonight for gaming). Please add these to my initial comment

 

 

EDIT: Hmm the emeoticons don't actually help that much. Okay, just ignore my original post and use the Entertainment Tonight thing instead.

Edited June 4, 2007 by Atarifever

[Gabriel]

I find IGN useful for two things:

 

1) Looking at pretty pictures and videos.

 

2) Their easily accessible release date lists.

 

3) Entertainment. There's always going to be a review or article on IGN which will make me wonder what the writers were smoking.

 

No. I can't count.

Edited June 4, 2007 by Gabriel

[Atarifever]

3) Entertainment. There's always going to be a review or article on IGN which will make me wonder what the writers were smoking.

It doesn't matter what system you like either. Everyone finds their reviews crazy somehow. It seems like they just suck overall. You're also right about them having pretty pictures. Also, they get bonus points for still having an N-Gage tab on the left side (along with an N64, PS1, and Dreamcast one).