Define "Real Gamer"

[jamesworkshop]

In my view a 'gamer' is someone who plays games. That's all you need to be a gamer, gaming as a hobby. It doesn't have to be a game YOU approve of for them to be a gamer, why is this the only one of my hobbies that pulls this shit? Personally I'm a supporter of LordNue's 'treefort' theory but it's still aggravating that I'm expected to have tu justify my gaming status because for long periods of time I'll frankly have better things to do with my time.

A 'harcore gamer' is a prick. A 'hardcore gamer' feels the need to promote their hobby as a sacred calling or a unique skill and try to stop others from being seen to be as devout as they are. It's holier than thou bullshit. You wouldn't claim to be a hardcore film viewer, a hardcore cook, a hardcore tennis player or a hardcore brewer. Gaming is a useless time sink and quit trying to legitimise yourself, if you think it's ok then it is because it's fun...

...But if you're having doubts then you shouldn't be gaming that much! Don't try and assuage your doubts by claiming it's a sacred profession, it's a hobby and if you feel unfulfilled doing it then yes, you are wasting your life.

Actually you are wrong

Movie buff
Audiophile
Bookworm

none of them are attemps to legimise anything they are only used to denote an extremly strong personal interest, avid book readers call themselves bookworms not because they think book reading makes them better readers than anyone else but because they spend lots of money and time reading books than they do anything else

 

[jamesworkshop]

In my view a 'gamer' is someone who plays games. That's all you need to be a gamer, gaming as a hobby. It doesn't have to be a game YOU approve of for them to be a gamer, why is this the only one of my hobbies that pulls this shit? Personally I'm a supporter of LordNue's 'treefort' theory but it's still aggravating that I'm expected to have tu justify my gaming status because for long periods of time I'll frankly have better things to do with my time.

A 'harcore gamer' is a prick. A 'hardcore gamer' feels the need to promote their hobby as a sacred calling or a unique skill and try to stop others from being seen to be as devout as they are. It's holier than thou bullshit. You wouldn't claim to be a hardcore film viewer, a hardcore cook, a hardcore tennis player or a hardcore brewer. Gaming is a useless time sink and quit trying to legitimise yourself, if you think it's ok then it is because it's fun...

...But if you're having doubts then you shouldn't be gaming that much! Don't try and assuage your doubts by claiming it's a sacred profession, it's a hobby and if you feel unfulfilled doing it then yes, you are wasting your life.

Actually you are wrong

Movie buff
Audiophile
Bookworm

none of them are attemps to legimise anything they are only used to denote an extremly strong personal interest, avid book readers call themselves bookworms not because they think book reading makes them better readers than anyone else but because they spend lots of money and time reading books than they do anything else

Nah, those are those hobbies' equivalent of 'gamer'. Do bookworms take the piss out of the casual readers or say how casual books are ruining literature? A few do sure, but they're derided in a way that 'hardcore gamers' just aren't.

'Hardcore gamer' isn't a phrase that tells you that person likes games, that's what gamer is for. 'Hardcore gamer' exists specifically to tell you that they like games more than you.

No the gamer part is to tell you they like games enought to use it to self identify, the addition of hardcore or casual or social or roleplay or larp'ing or tabletop etc. are there to denote a subset of gamer interest
Effectivly they are genres

 

[mikecoulter]

Real Gamer = Anyone who purposely goes out of their way to play something for the sake of playing it.

 

[IShouldBeWorking]

I'd say a serious gamer is someone who;

Has a broad understanding of the established genres and typical modes of address/narrative employed in games.

Broad knowledge of the history of games both culturaly and technologicaly.

Has played a large catalogue of games spanning a variety of genres.

Is comfortable playing on a variety of platforms, old and new ("I'd win if I had a mouse and keyboard" is not a valid complaint, kids).

Rabid and pathological intolerance of a anyone less knowledgable or skilled as yourself, and an unquenchable loathing for anyone more knowledgable or skilled than yourself.

The last one's a joke, but it does seem to come with the territory in any area of special interest unfortunately...

 

[jamesworkshop]

No the gamer part is to tell you they like games enought to use it to self identify, the addition of hardcore or casual or social or roleplay or larp'ing or tabletop etc. are there to denote a subset of gamer interest
Effectivly they are genres

Well what is a hardcore game? Surely if you wanted to be precise you'd be an electronic gamer? I play tabletop and pen and paper as well as computer and I've only ever heard computer gamers describe themselves as hardcore. Literally, I've had a 40k player inform me that he was a fairly serious player but that's courtesy to let me know he was practising for a tournament and not to expect a characterful game. I've never, ever heard of someone described as a hardcore D&D player.

Hardcore game often refers to a few things that often coincide
Big budget with lots of different mechanics that cover a fully realised narative.

It's kind of the opposite of casual games which are basically Arcade games that have been rebranded since arcades are basically dead but typically have a single mechanic and no branching narative and offer enjoyment even in small doses.

Tetris would be a perfect example it's fun even if you only have ten minutes spare, you have the single mechanic of rotating blocks to learn (its impossible to forget how to play tetris) and is abstract in that their is no storyline to progess through it never requires a massive time investment.

Dragon age: origins would be a perfect example of a hardcore game, it has many different mechanics to learn like controling each character or setting up the automated tactics screen, understanding combat roles to effectivly equip party members with advantageous gear.

It's storyline really needs to be played quite frequently and for extended periods to digest it, as for time you could spend 15 minutes doing nothing but switching gear or buying new gear which on its own is not really enjoyable if you were to try and play the entire game in byte sized chunks.
If I was going out in 15mins dragon age origins is not the kind of game I would go to.

Hardcore can be shortly summed up as being in depth and generally not suitable for a quick dip unlike casual that have a more disconnected challenges style of design

 

[Crystal Cuckoo]

A gamer, paradoxically, is not someone who thinks they are a "real gamer" for only playing games like Bejewled or Peggle.

I'm not saying they're bad games (in fact, quite the opposite) but you are not an elite gamer for mastering a game from only one particular genre (and one that requires no obvious skill or practice).

 

[Cowabungaa]

I'd say someone who actually cares about videogames as a genre. You've got bored housewives playing FarmVille or my little sister playing NintenDogs on her DS, but in my eyes that doesn't make them gamers.

In my eyes, caring about the genre means being excited for new releases, following the developments in the industry (even if just a bit), checking up on news and of course playing games.

It doesn't matter how long you play, what you play or how good you are in any game, as long as you actually care about the medium that's called videogames you're a gamer.

 

[zhemis]

lol no one can be considered a real gamer if they play one game. We could all just play solitaire and be 'real gamers'. I think there's levels though. A gamer would be someone who enjoys playing a video game(s) but doesn't ever take is seriously and generally may never actually finish a game. Then you've got a hardcore gamer, I think these are pretty close to fanboys, imo. They fall in love with their game or game genre and belive it's all that matters in life. Hardcore gamers generally have one or two titles that they are very good at but they are limited by genre/game love.

A real gamer plays all genres and isn't restricted by genre/series love. I think a little bit has to do with skill level, as well, but not practiced skill level. Real gamers can pick up any title from any genre and very quickly and easily figure out controls/concept/etc. Not saying real gamers are all badasses, just that they understand the fundamentals without exercise. They may just ever achieve mediocre in some areas.

I don't see that bankroll and collection size has anything to do with whether you're casual or real or hardcore. High end system owners can still be solitaire duds. Most consoles (except the latest) can be emulated on the PC.

I also never understood the history of games opinion either. I think this falls into a different class like gamer historian or student. Kind of like the douche that knows everything (or thinks he does) but can't make any of it practical. Knowing the rise and fall of the developer just means you've done some research. While they were researching others were playing the game!

Just my two cents. Could be wrong.

 

[TiefBlau]

"Real Gamer" elitism is the cancer that's killing the industry, and casual gaming titles like Guitar Hero and Peggle and iPod Touch apps are the chemo that's healing it, despite their lack of real depth or fun more complex than flashy lights and luck.

I loathe the phrase like I loathe the pricks like Jack Thompson that insult it on a daily basis. The reason is simple: alienation is as useful as a splinter in the eye. I want more people to understand why games are fun. I want people to understand why I enjoy the things that I do. I want them to understand and enjoy the things that they do. So it's absolutely essential that gaming can be, at times, inviting and accessible. This is why I don't mind the Wii, no matter how many people want to bash it. Because I know that somewhere out there, the Wii has made a gamer out of someone who would otherwise ignore the medium as a whole.

If everyone wrote a bit of poetry every now and then, the world would be a more understanding place. If everyone studied a little physics every now and then, the world would be a smarter place. And if everyone played a few games every now and then, the world would find something better to do than chase celebrities all the fucking time.