[Opinion] Hardcore Gamer?!?!?! Are you Serious Bro?

[DeviousOne]

The Term “Hardcore Gamer” What is it to you?
The term hardcore gamer is a term that I feel is thrown around too much and is used by some to insult another gamer. However what does it mean? What makes you a hardcore gamer? Playing FPS shooters on PS3 or Xbox360, playing games like God of war or games with explicit content? If you exclusively play Nintendo Wii you’re a casual gamer or Kiddie gamer? Or if you play any console and don’t play on PC you’re not a hardcore gamer?

So many different options today in our gaming world you have consoles, portables, PC, mobile, and tablets. What makes a person a hardcore gamer? While I cannot speak for the masses I can give my opinion in regards to the term “hardcore gamer.”

Personally I refuse to even use the term hardcore gamer its an ugly term that just separates the gaming community to some I guess it gives them a sense of entitlement which is just ridiculous IMO. No matter what you game on Console, PC, mobile ect… your still gaming right? At the end of the day we are all playing games so happy gaming to all. I think some gamers have their preferences in games I know me I love to play first party Nintendo titles like Mario games however I also love to play God of war also well as gory FPS from time to time. While I cant play as much games as I would like due to my career, family and responsibilities as an adult does that make me a NON hardcore gamer cause I enjoy causal games on my Wii or Wii U does that make me a child? Fuck NO! Back in the good old days EVERYONE was playing on their NES, Atari 2600, or Master System. This separation in regards to kiddie console to mature console started with Sega Genesis claiming to be the mature console while NES and SNES were billed by them as a kiddie console. Great marketing btw lol Now a days you have most teenagers throwing that term around loosely just by the next gen of gamers. Im 30 years old I grow up playing these “kiddie” games Like Mario, Sonic, ect… I guess I just grow up in a time where you were playing video games or you were not. I have 2 cousins that are xbox360 guys and all they play is Halo as well as sport titles they would never own a Wii until they came over to my house and played Wii U and Wii. It really opened their eyes and they saw these “kiddie” or “casual games can be fun.

My Final opinion is there is NO such thing as a hard core gamer because at the end of the day your playing games whether your playing “Hello Kitty Adventure Island” or Halo your still a gamer and at the end of the day that’s what keeps the industry alive and kicking “gamers”

Please share your opinion and feel free to discuss anything I have mentioned I look forward to your opinions and possible debates broski’s!

[Cyn]

I agree with you that the term hardcore gamer is a bit distasteful and probably raises phantom divisions between people who just want to enjoy games. I guess the term was originally used to describe people who were just really, really into games. Spent most of their free time on them and had an enormously large collection. That's how I still view the term I think

But with the rise of the casual gamer, the term is being used more to differentiate them and ordinary gamers more often. I do see a big difference between only casual gamers and people who like a more sophisticated experience and devote more time to it.

[DeviousOne]

So we can say the difference in groups of gamers is dictated by types of games and Time dedicated to gaming?

[Yuuichi]

I feel the same way. All a "hardcore" gamer does is give themselves that title to make themselves feel superior to everyone else. Some label themselves that to justify the countless hours they have sunk into a game(world of warcraft). It is an overused term that has no meaning save for someone to label themselves to feel superior.

[DeviousOne]

Some food for thought….Let’s try to compare gaming to drinking….You have people who are social drinkers and alcoholics.
Obviously alcoholics spend way too much time drinking and drink more than a Social drinker than drinks on occasion @ social events
Could that scenario be comparable in contrast to Hardcore or casual gamer?

[Kuro]

Agree with ya man. I'd like to think of myself as a "gamer" nothing more, nothing less.

[Cyn]

Some food for thought….Let’s try to compare gaming to drinking….You have people who are social drinkers and alcoholics.
Obviously alcoholics spend way too much time drinking and drink more than a Social drinker than drinks on occasion @ social events
Could that scenario be comparable in contrast to Hardcore or casual gamer?

lol that's a funny way to look at it.

"Hi my name's Bob and I'm a gamerholic. I used to think I had it under control, thought I was cool. Even called myself a hardcore gamer. Bah, look at me now"

[Updator]

I really don't like the term 'hardcore gamer'. To me the term implies that it is all you do in your spare time, spending no time with friends etc.

i think of myself as a 'gamer' and always find it funny when someone states that they are an 'hardcore gamer'.

[DeviousOne]

lol that's a funny way to look at it.

"Hi my name's Bob and I'm a gamerholic. I used to think I had it under control, thought I was cool. Even called myself a hardcore gamer. Bah, look at me now"

Lol yea

"I lost my job, family, and friends because I was a HARDCORE gamer" lol I've personal heard of people putting gaming before anything and anyone I think anything in life can become an addiction tho.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

I always equate hardcore with hobbyist/enthusiast. A hardcore gamer is someone who plays games, visits forums, stays up till 2 a.m to watch console reveals and follows games from announcement to launch. I also equate it with the type of gamer who doesn't turn off the console just because there is a learning curve. The hardcore gamer wants advancement, progression, achievement and mastery. They go balls deep into games. I agree though that the term in general is pretty ambiguous. Whatever you call it, it is a demographic though. The word hardcore means intensely loyal. Are we not intensely loyal to our hobby? To gaming? We are a different breed of gamer than the average Joe who just goes to buy games from the store, who plays to pass a bit of time, who would never consider writing reviews and opinion pieces on the subject...and who thinks the Wii U is a Wii accessory.

[Updator]

I always equate hardcore with hobbyist/enthusiast. A hardcore gamer is someone who plays games, visits forums, stays up till 2 a.m to watch console reveals and follows games from announcement to launch. I also equate it with the type of gamer who doesn't turn off the console just because there is a learning curve. The hardcore gamer wants advancement, progression, achievement and mastery. They go balls deep into games. I agree though that the term in general is pretty ambiguous. Whatever you call it, it is a demographic though. The word hardcore means intensely loyal. Are we not intensely loyal to our hobby? To gaming?

I hadn't thought about it like that. That's how I want to see it from now on

[Sir_Scud]

Wow Ghost, well said. I'll state my own views in a bit. For now D, this shit is in the database! I appreciate the work!

[PeanutButterMunky]

A hardcore gamer is someone not old enough yet to understand the reality that you can't play games all day for the rest of your life and moving out of your mom's basement should be an eventual goal.

I'd rather just be a gamer with a life.

I do miss those days when we were too young to have any responsibilities. Stupid life. -waves fist-

I always equate hardcore with hobbyist/enthusiast. A hardcore gamer is someone who plays games, visits forums, stays up till 2 a.m to watch console reveals and follows games from announcement to launch. I also equate it with the type of gamer who doesn't turn off the console just because there is a learning curve. The hardcore gamer wants advancement, progression, achievement and mastery. They go balls deep into games. I agree though that the term in general is pretty ambiguous. Whatever you call it, it is a demographic though. The word hardcore means intensely loyal. Are we not intensely loyal to our hobby? To gaming? We are a different breed of gamer than the average Joe who just goes to buy games from the store, who plays to pass a bit of time, who would never consider writing reviews and opinion pieces on the subject...and who thinks the Wii U is a Wii accessory.

Or this. That seems like a more appropriate summary.

[Blacksite]

I don't mind hardcore gamer being thrown around if it's used to define someone who is passionate about video games, like Ghost-Rhayne described. I find labels like "girl gamer" to be more childish and self-entitled.

[PeanutButterMunky]

I don't mind hardcore gamer being thrown around if it's used to define someone who is passionate about video games, like Ghost-Rhayne described. I find labels like "girl gamer" to be more childish and self-entitled.

You got something against girl gamers??

Do they even exist? :0


kidding

[DeviousOne]

I always equate hardcore with hobbyist/enthusiast. A hardcore gamer is someone who plays games, visits forums, stays up till 2 a.m to watch console reveals and follows games from announcement to launch. I also equate it with the type of gamer who doesn't turn off the console just because there is a learning curve. The hardcore gamer wants advancement, progression, achievement and mastery. They go balls deep into games. I agree though that the term in general is pretty ambiguous. Whatever you call it, it is a demographic though. The word hardcore means intensely loyal. Are we not intensely loyal to our hobby? To gaming? We are a different breed of gamer than the average Joe who just goes to buy games from the store, who plays to pass a bit of time, who would never consider writing reviews and opinion pieces on the subject...and who thinks the Wii U is a Wii accessory.

Good point of view sir however I don't feel hardcore needs to be in the term. Gamer fits the bill. Cause a non gamer isn't going to know that a Wii U isn't an add on to the Wii

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Good point of view sir however I don't feel hardcore needs to be in the term. Gamer fits the bill. Cause a non gamer isn't going to know that a Wii U isn't an add on to the Wii

Dedicated gamer?

There is a division, we are different kinds of video game consumers--we are more skilled, more knowledgeable and we are much more deeply invested into gaming culture as a whole. How many hours do we spend a week on this forum reporting stories, discussing etc etc...casuals don't give a fuck about doing half the shit we get up to at PSU, they do other stuff with their time after a few rounds of Dance Central or CoD etc. Here we are discussing, writing articles, making sigs, guilding up...I think hardcore gamers pretty accurately sums up the likes of our community.

[DeviousOne]

Question....

If I only play Nintendo console but I keep up with all there news I spend 15 hours a day playing Nintendo am I a hardcore gamer???

[YoungMullah88]

i may not be a hardcore gamer per say but i am a hardcore socrack fiend, dont need to go into details but i know what damages that game (franchise) has done lol

[Blacksite]

Question....

If I only play Nintendo console but I keep up with all there news I spend 15 hours a day playing Nintendo am I a hardcore gamer???

Most definitely, sir!

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Question....

If I only play Nintendo console but I keep up with all there news I spend 15 hours a day playing Nintendo am I a hardcore gamer???

Yeah, by my definition you are. The device is irrelevant for the most part. The genre of game doesn't qualify a hardcore or casual gamer either imo, it's how into and dedicated they are to the games they play. If I was here as a Wii gamer who loved to play all the dancing, sport and whatever else casual Wii mote or Wii accessory games there are, if I was discussing these games in threads with other like minded gamers and engaging the industry and community like we do here, I would still think of myself as a hardcore gamer. We all have different tastes in how we get our gaming fix so why should a gamer geek be labelled as a casual gamer just because he prefers to get high scores by dancing or working his ass off instead of running around in a bro shooter? I have always said in these kind of discussions that I define hardcore gamers as hobbyist gamers or enthusiasts. The gamer who just plays the yearly CoDs and FIFAs can also easily fall under what I define as a casual gamer.

[DeviousOne]

I do agree device is relevant as well. I don't agree with anyone that says well you play a certain device your not a real gamer.

Never seen it on PSU but I have on other forums.

I think Passion defines if you a hardcore gamer some people just don't have the time they would like to devote to gaming

[BoyBettaKnow]

Question....

If I only play Nintendo console but I keep up with all there news I spend 15 hours a day playing Nintendo am I a hardcore gamer???

Yes. Doesn't matter what console you play.

[admartian]

To me, the term is someone who enjoys more than just a Gears, Halo ,COD, Madden Sports games and maybe plays a game like Journey from time to time.


EDIT:
Scratch that, Ghost-Rayne's post above sums it up perfectly imo.

[Sufi]

My personal opinion is that a hardcore gamer is who likes challenge. The games are getting less and less challenging by the day and everything is spoon-fed to you, to the point where people like myself loose interest.

I want games where I can experience as much realism as possible. It doesn't have to be realism but it has to portray it in some way. It has to give you that feeling.

So games being difficult or where you have to figure things out on you own completely, is what I consider hardcore. Like Demon's Souls i.e.