Poll: If you're not trying to excel at a game, are you a gamer?

[geldonyetich]

You know, I've been gaming for some 25-ish years now, and an interesting fact has come to light about my play style lately:

I don't get all that deep into a game before I get bored and move on. Consequently, I don't really bother getting better at a game. I don't care if I am getting better at a game, I only care if the game is enjoyable.

Starcraft 2 is about to come out, a highly competitive game, and I'm looking at the fact I've barely even touched Supreme Commander 2 or Red Alert 3 and thinking to myself I aught to pass on this, a hallmark game on the PC.

This has broached a certain bit of cognitive dissonance. This whole "gamer" thing... am I doing it wrong? Seems like food for thought, and where food for thought can be found, so also can a good thread.

 

[WaNNaBJusTLiKeU]

Simple, A gamer refers to anyone who plays games, whatever skill level. You don't have to be super skilled or make any attempt at getting super skilled as long as you enjoy games and continue to play them.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

Obviously you are, just about anyone who plays games is a "gamer", even if its just the Mario games, they're still going to be dubbed "casual" gamers.

 

[Judgement101]

Playing a game makes you a gamer (unless its a casual game)

 

[Djinni]

I don't play games to work hard at it. To me that's like a job and I already have a job. I play games to relax. Some people are only enjoying themselves when their character is constantly on the brink of death or failure and everything is a huge challenge. They love their heart racing and adrenaline pumping 24/7. I say more power to them. But don't tell me that I'm not a gamer cause that's not enjoyable to me at a constant level. Sure, I enjoy the intensity of a raid that's difficult and there's chance of failure. But I don't want to do that the entire time I'm playing a game.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Not trying to excel at a game doesn't make you any less of a gamer, it makes you someone who wants to have fun.

 

[UnusualStranger]

Playing a game makes you a gamer (unless its a casual game)

This is exactly what the OP is getting at. When is a game casual? If I simply play a flash game from time to time, does that mean I'm a gamer, or not? It doesn't require skill to master.

I'm right with you OP. I don't play games to get better. I play games to entertain myself. I can be pretty good at them, but I don't strive to become a master at them.

 

[Judgement101]

Playing a game makes you a gamer (unless its a casual game)

This is exactly what the OP is getting at. When is a game casual? If I simply play a flash game from time to time, does that mean I'm a gamer, or not? It doesn't require skill to master.

I'm right with you OP. I don't play games to get better. I play games to entertain myself. I can be pretty good at them, but I don't strive to become a master at them.

A game is "casual" when you can play it time from time and it never really changes. At least thats my take on it

 

[Jadak]

A gamer? Sure, you're just not a "hardcore" gamer, unless you're striving to excel.

 

[Outright Villainy]

If you play games for any reason, and you identify it as important to you for any other reason, then yes, you are a gamer. Playing to win has nothing to do with that.

 

[squid5580]

Is the guy who spends a million hours playing a single game mastering everything in it a gamer?

Is a guy who spends a million hours playing different games who beats them and moves on to the next any less of a gamer?

I think not.

 

[King Crab]

you'd be a gamer if all you played was chess. What is a game? If it ain't fun, is it a game? what is 'fun'? oh wait, that's all subjective, ain't it? well, I guess a game is a game is a game. and a gamer, well, what the hell is that supposed to mean anyways? someone who plays games? bah and humbug.
chess is fun. especially when you're playing crab roulette chess. 's kinda like normal chess, and normal Russian roulette, except with crabs.