Dividing Gamer-Types

[boag]

If you get

I'll make this as short as possible.
I propose thinking of new terms to describe the different types of Gamers in order to keep the public from stereotyping us
Actually, 'every type of gamer' might sound like a lot of new terms, so let me elaborate.

Its not that I want 'outsiders' to know about JRPGs, RTS, FPS, and etc. and call every gamer by their favorite genre just so that we can feel less misunderstood, since that would make matters worse in a weird way.
What I would like to see is a division between the two major types Gamers; esports/competitive games and artistic/singleplayer/normal games. Its not that I do not enjoy competitive gaming and I am not looking down on it or anything, it is just a bit misleading to put both of them in one category because the actual people differ so much from one another.

I know that someone would shoot me down for saying this, but competitive gamers are a little bit like athletes because of their ambition. They want to be the very best like no one ever was, and that's pretty much their goal. Again, that's totally fine and I am not aiming to offend anyone (please trust me). However, there is that other side of gaming that has been overshadowed in the last couple of years, and that's the people who like enjoying a game like a movie or a painting.

I know you have heard this before, so excuse me for reiterating everything that you already know, but it would be weird to just start talking without any background (because of the many negative implications that one could make right away).
It was just weird when people automatically assumed that I play Call of Duty and invited me to come and play with them at my university's game room just because I said that I enjoy playing video games. I don't feel ashamed or anything, its just confusing.

Its a little bit like a person who likes to draw comics is expected to draw the most realistic setting just because he said that 'he likes to draw'. Of course he could do it and it wouldn't look too bad because of his experience, but it wouldn't be anything like something that his counterpart (I am sorry, I can't think of the term, I am uninformed and ignorant) would draw.

So what do you think? Should we start referring to the two sides of gaming separately in order to avoid confusion and misunderstanding, or should we just be quiet and accept it like musicians who don't care to be summarized with one term even though every instrument is so extremely different from one another?

Also, I hate being included in the 'Gamers are violent' reports just because Call of Duty raises your adrenaline levels. Not that Vanquish wouldn't raise those adrenaline levels, but it would feel different when you lose against yourself or the computer and therefore make you more self-destructive than 'violent'.

Grow thicker skin.

The more attention you give to this issue, the worse it becomes, the minute you start complaining about people harrasing you or giving you unfair treatment because you are a "gamer" you not only reinforce said stereotypes, you encourage a new one.

Lastly, defining yourself as a "Gamer", is sad, because that means your whole world revolves around games. Your existence should not (and probably doesnt) revolve around games, if it does, its time to put down the controller and go outside.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

snip

Honestly? I still think you're being silly. CoD probably /was/ the best multiplayer console game any of them had. Fighting games are very much a niche genre, and they're no fun unless all of the players are on similar skill levels. Shooters can work even if you /do/ have two out of the four players being absolutely terrible (assuming you're talking splitscreen or going online with a team.) It's the same way in my colleges videogame club, except they're more traditional gamer types, and the default game is League of Legends. Now I am not and have never been an RTS player. I love turn based strategy, but something about making it realtime ruins it for me. I still play LoL in there, because it's social and fun to do with a group. Granted, the console scene is a bit more varied than the laptop corner (which settled on LoL mostly because it was free and had low system requirements), but there's rarely any consoles hooked up, and if they are it's either the fighting game club[footnote]which is separate from the VGC, and filled with exactly the kind of fighting game player that is fun to watch but no fun to play against unless you're also that type of fighting game player. They're friendly, but really, really good[/footnote] playing one of the various Street Fighter IV variants and spinoffs, a couple of people playing Smash Brothers, or a couple of guys with a gamecube/other older system playing random games. That sounds like a lot of variety, but it's rare to find all three at once, and the fighting game club is the most common. The VGC makes exceptions for events, though; we have themed meetings every now and then, to shake things up; what I described is just what happens on any given week day in the school's gameroom.

Anyway, what I'm saying here is competitive multiplayer games are what you play in a social environment. Even if it's playing Mario Party or Mario Kart, it's still competitive. Which makes sense if you think about it; co-op games tend to be much longer in length than competitive games, which means more people get a chance to play.

P.S.: I think the real distinction you're looking at is what is commonly referred to as either the "frat boy" gamer, or the "dudebro." Gamers like that tend to focus on multiplayer, but it's not exactly the multiplayer focus that makes them a separate stereotype from the rest of us.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Lastly, defining yourself as a "Gamer", is sad, because that means your whole world revolves around games. Your existence should not (and probably doesnt) revolve around games, if it does, its time to put down the controller and go outside.

Sorry about the double post, but I missed this when I wrote my other post, and I want you to get a notification. I disagree pretty strongly with this last statement. "Gamer" is the gaming equivalent of "movie buff," "bookworm," "audiophile," and "videophile." It doesn't mean your life completely revolves around gaming so much as that it's a big hobby for you. Heck, I actually fit into all five of the categories that I just listed to varying degrees; doesn't mean my life revolves completely around any one of them.

 

[boag]

Lastly, defining yourself as a "Gamer", is sad, because that means your whole world revolves around games. Your existence should not (and probably doesnt) revolve around games, if it does, its time to put down the controller and go outside.

Sorry about the double post, but I missed this when I wrote my other post, and I want you to get a notification. I disagree pretty strongly with this last statement. "Gamer" is the gaming equivalent of "movie buff," "bookworm," "audiophile," and "videophile." It doesn't mean your life completely revolves around gaming so much as that it's a big hobby for you. Heck, I actually fit into all five of the categories that I just listed to varying degrees; doesn't mean my life revolves completely around any one of them.

Exactly, gaming is only your hobby, it doesnt define who you are, so you shouldnt feel offended by anyone calling gamers fat disgusting basement dwelling neckbeards. Because 1, you are not defined by videogames and you know that is a bullshit statement.

I always have taken the "I dont give a fuck" approach to these sort of situations, because there are other matters that seem more important than the current definition of a Gamer.

With that said, I hate, abhor and loathe GAMER GRRRRLS. Even though their existence as attention whoring parasites, is as common as the Lock Ness Monster.

 

[Vault101]

"kind of gamer" well I mean everyone has a preference..but I dont know about putting such labls on things

I dont mind calling myself a "gamer", Im obsessed enthusiastic about all things gaming so like "bookworm" or "movie buff" I dont mind

I dont really prefer any one genre, and I like single player...I still jsut dont "get" multi., it feels like a timesink, and pointless

Lastly, defining yourself as a "Gamer", is sad, because that means your whole world revolves around games. Your existence should not (and probably doesnt) revolve around games, if it does, its time to put down the controller and go outside.

Sorry about the double post, but I missed this when I wrote my other post, and I want you to get a notification. I disagree pretty strongly with this last statement. "Gamer" is the gaming equivalent of "movie buff," "bookworm," "audiophile," and "videophile." It doesn't mean your life completely revolves around gaming so much as that it's a big hobby for you. Heck, I actually fit into all five of the categories that I just listed to varying degrees; doesn't mean my life revolves completely around any one of them.

Exactly, gaming is only your hobby, it doesnt define who you are, so you shouldnt feel offended by anyone calling gamers fat disgusting basement dwelling neckbeards. Because 1, you are not defined by videogames and you know that is a bullshit statement.

I always have taken the "I dont give a fuck" approach to these sort of situations, because there are other matters that seem more important than the current definition of a Gamer.

With that said, I hate, abhor and loathe GAMER GRRRRLS. Even though their existence as attention whoring parasites, is as common as the Lock Ness Monster.

Ive never encountered a "GAMER GIRRRRRRL", the phenomenon is somthing I find interesting though

 

[xvbones]

I propose thinking of new terms to describe the different types of Gamers in order to keep the public from stereotyping us

When you give different names to facets of the same thing, all you do is divide it and form cliques.

We are already divided enough as it is, between more nebulous Sony v Microsoft v Nintendo and Console v PC to the more specific CoD v MW et al, we do not need more division and classification.

At all.

 

[LordFisheh]

I honestly don't see the point in the current groupings of gamers, let alone in creating more. All it does is divide us, and as groups become more separate we just see more and more hate based not even on reality but on ideology - 'fucking casuals ruining the industry' spring to mind. Before long we'll have gone the way of music, with 'RPG player' not just a choice of game but a way of dressing and maybe even a ridiculous 'stick it to The Man' facade to go with it.

Worse, splitting off into silly little cliques is yet another barrier to just sitting down and enjoying a game. And as far as I'm concerned, that is absolutely all that matters. The last thing we need is 'we hate them because they aren't us and also FPS's are morally despicable and RTSers have no taste and...' making its way into gaming. Games are recreational (and artistic, of course). Enjoy them as you please. That is absolutely fucking all that matters.

 

[Maveroid]

Lastly, defining yourself as a "Gamer", is sad, because that means your whole world revolves around games. Your existence should not (and probably doesnt) revolve around games, if it does, its time to put down the controller and go outside.

Don't worry, our brain does not allow us to be centered on one thing only.
I don't see why this:

Yes, its just an entertainment medium, but it does define me just as much as my writing, my drawings and my general interests .

is a problem. Any hobby defines a person. Even a single action defines a person. If staring into a blank space shows something about your character, then a story with moving images revolving around your interaction with fictional characters should definitely define me just as much as the things that I read that revolve around stories about fictional characters.

But I guess you guys convinced me. Its true that divisions like that are most likely unnecessary and its just my overreaction that makes this a problem.

So, thanks everyone for participating!

 

[Keneth]

I always mentally plot people on a coordinate grid similar to the "Political Compass". HardcoreStrategy on the Y-Axis.

Spoiler

Hardcore Action(100,100)
These gamers prefer AAA Shooter, Racing, and Sport games and they won't rest till they've beaten you into submission at them. They don't want to think about what they are doing. They just want to DO it.

Hardcore Strategy(100,-100)
These are the serious JRPG, Turn-Based Strategy, and Empire Building gamers. They like to take the long view. They plan out their strategies several turns ahead.

Hardcore General(100,0)
This type of gamer doesn't really care what game they play, as long as it's enjoyable. They like to both think AND do.

Casual Action(-100,100)
They like to play some splitscreen deathmatch at their buddies houses and racing games on their phones.

Casual Strategy(-100,-100)
These are the Angry Birds and Bejeweled players. They probably have Crossword and Sudoku apps too.

Casual General(-100,0)
This type doesn't really consider themselves "Gamers." They might have a couple fun apps on their phones or play Farmville.

Moderate General (0,0)
Not the most dedicated gamer, but they have a few different games they like to play. They are pretty good at them too.

Personally I'm mostly Hardcore General with Strategy leanings.(90,-25)

 

[Techno Squidgy]

How about we all stop stereotyping and trying to label others in order to make ourselves feel more important?

Yeah, I think that sounds like a good idea.

Quoted for truth!

On Topic:
There really is no need to label ourselves. Extra credits did a good episode about the term gamer, I'm not sure if it's still on Escapist, but if not you can find it over on PATV. They have a website aswell but I fail to remember what it is, can't be bothered to find it, and if you really cared you'd look yourself you lazy slob Yes you, reading this right now.

 

[Wolfram23]

I always mentally plot people on a coordinate grid similar to the "Political Compass". HardcoreStrategy on the Y-Axis.

Spoiler

Hardcore Action(100,100)
These gamers prefer AAA Shooter, Racing, and Sport games and they won't rest till they've beaten you into submission at them. They don't want to think about what they are doing. They just want to DO it.

Hardcore Strategy(100,-100)
These are the serious JRPG, Turn-Based Strategy, and Empire Building gamers. They like to take the long view. They plan out their strategies several turns ahead.

Hardcore General(100,0)
This type of gamer doesn't really care what game they play, as long as it's enjoyable. They like to both think AND do.

Casual Action(-100,100)
They like to play some splitscreen deathmatch at their buddies houses and racing games on their phones.

Casual Strategy(-100,-100)
These are the Angry Birds and Bejeweled players. They probably have Crossword and Sudoku apps too.

Casual General(-100,0)
This type doesn't really consider themselves "Gamers." They might have a couple fun apps on their phones or play Farmville.

Moderate General (0,0)
Not the most dedicated gamer, but they have a few different games they like to play. They are pretty good at them too.

Personally I'm mostly Hardcore General with Strategy leanings.(90,-25)

Hah that's pretty good. I'd probably be around 80, 50 because I really do like shooters and racing games, although I also don't necessarily take them online. Depends on the game. But I also have to take some points off action because I like some RPGs and certain RTS games.

 

[Wolfram23]

In the thread: People getting on their soap boxes instead of getting their feet dirty and having a little fun. Oh, Escapist community, why are you so self-important?

Seriously, though, the only thing a bit "silly" the OP said is about the stereotyping... maybe that brought a little too much seriousness to the topic. But making labels for types of gamers can be quite a bit of fun, whether you want to make RPG, action, fighting, or shooter gamer archetypes or even focus on a specific title. Lighten up.