A gamer is the equivalent of a movie buff or a bookworm: people who see it as a hobby, rather than something they just have a casual interest in. Rule of thumb, if someone self identifies as a gamer, they're a gamer.
Poll: What is a gamer?
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As a straight definition: Someone, anyone, who plays games.
What is generally meant when people say gamer is that they are a gaming enthusiast, which gamer is definitely a lot easier to say, and just as well understood. In this case it means someone who is enthusiastic about playing games basically. Not someone who just plays Angry Birds on their I-pod because they're bored on the train, but someone who takes an interest in games and generally follows at least one or too, also designating it as one of their primary entertainment mediums.
What is generally meant when people say gamer is that they are a gaming enthusiast, which gamer is definitely a lot easier to say, and just as well understood. In this case it means someone who is enthusiastic about playing games basically. Not someone who just plays Angry Birds on their I-pod because they're bored on the train, but someone who takes an interest in games and generally follows at least one or too, also designating it as one of their primary entertainment mediums.
Someone who plays games, technically, but the label is really only applied to game nerds, which changes the meaning behind the term a bit. So, I would say that: a video game nerd. 
It's guessing its someone that plays games, but more than just dabbling, sort of like a nice middle ground between so-called casual (only plays games occasionally and even then only Facebook or iphone games) and a hardcore (keeps up with the industry and appreciates games as an art) gamers.
I'm curious, why do you know longer label yourself as a gamer?canadamus_prime said:
A gamer is someone who plays games, as has been pointed out above.
But then there are different types of gamers:
Casual gamers, i.e. someone who plays rarely; hardcore gamers have it as one of their, or only their, main hobby, and everything in between.
Then there are the crazy obsessives, who will go days without eating or sleeping to play games.
There have been quite a few stories of these people dying in gaming bars or video arcades, usually in Asia.
But then there are different types of gamers:
Casual gamers, i.e. someone who plays rarely; hardcore gamers have it as one of their, or only their, main hobby, and everything in between.
Then there are the crazy obsessives, who will go days without eating or sleeping to play games.
There have been quite a few stories of these people dying in gaming bars or video arcades, usually in Asia.
My definition: "Anyone who calls them self a gamer, is a gamer."
It's pointless to try to put a measurement on what a gamer is, if you've ever heard the term "gamer" and identify yourself as such, you are in fact a gamer.
*You cannot label others as gamers or non-gamers, you can only take on the label yourself.
It's pointless to try to put a measurement on what a gamer is, if you've ever heard the term "gamer" and identify yourself as such, you are in fact a gamer.
*You cannot label others as gamers or non-gamers, you can only take on the label yourself.
Apparently I'm not a gamer despite having played games since I was young enough to believe in cooties,sanquin said:
owning a gaming PC,
having owned 5 360's, a PS3, 2 PS2's, 2 PSx's, 2 DS's, and a Gameboy,
spending almost all of my spare money on games (all of it if you're willing to discount buying gifts for family and the occasional novel),
knowing what's going on in the industry pretty well,
being a member of not only this website but the (now definct) Australian Gamer community, DESTRUCTOID, and GamePlanet,
Having worked in games retail,
and literally taking 3 months off of work to play DotA when I was 17 because I had saved like scrooge and there wasn't much work around.
But because I only play when I'm not busy with uni, (ie, I go 4 months without playing anything but iPhone games, and my daily average would be about .25 of an hour)
and I don't know much of anything about hardware accessories, (because they're almost always shit and I have no need for them).
You have far too strict rules.
I don't know many people who are either excelling at uni or gainfully employed outside of the reviewing industry who manage more than 2-3 hours of gaming a week.
I know plenty of people who avoid competitive play because it has no value to them. Personally the only competitive games I play are MOBA's and I don't take it seriously, I may as well be playing a co-op game with 4 bros against bots.
Personally, you play games? You're a gamer.
You give a fuck about games as an entertainment medium? You're a gamer or you're "really into game/gaming".
I'd say a gamer is someone who is/lets games define them and is a part of their identity. To me, it doesn't really matter how many games you play, but if you are someone who talks about games all the time to the point that when I think of you I think of games, and games have become an important part of your personal culture, then I'd say you're a gamer.
And on the other end of the spectrum, even if someone technically spends more time playing games than someone who could be identified as a gamer using these criteria, if they don't really ever talk about games, don't seem to care much about them one way or the other, wouldn't identify as a a game enthusiast, and probably wouldn't even list it as one of their hobbies, then I wouldn't call them a gamer.
I probably spend a lot less time playing games than the typical "gamer" (unless I am really engrossed in a certain mmo [Latale]), but nevertheless, gaming is still a big part of my life. I pretty much spend most of my free think time thinking about either drawing, animation, self-improvement, and games (mostly jrpgs). I know what kind of games I like, and I like to keep up with the companies developing the games I like to an extent, I sometimes check their blogs, I like to talk to my friends about games, and I would identify as someone who enjoys games as a primary hobby. Even though I may not play them as much as some, I still would definitely consider myself a gamer.
And on the other end of the spectrum, even if someone technically spends more time playing games than someone who could be identified as a gamer using these criteria, if they don't really ever talk about games, don't seem to care much about them one way or the other, wouldn't identify as a a game enthusiast, and probably wouldn't even list it as one of their hobbies, then I wouldn't call them a gamer.
I probably spend a lot less time playing games than the typical "gamer" (unless I am really engrossed in a certain mmo [Latale]), but nevertheless, gaming is still a big part of my life. I pretty much spend most of my free think time thinking about either drawing, animation, self-improvement, and games (mostly jrpgs). I know what kind of games I like, and I like to keep up with the companies developing the games I like to an extent, I sometimes check their blogs, I like to talk to my friends about games, and I would identify as someone who enjoys games as a primary hobby. Even though I may not play them as much as some, I still would definitely consider myself a gamer.
Now, while not necessarily new in terms of questions, in my case, it isn't simply everyone who plays a game of one kind or another. Now, I don't judge what games you play, because I don't think that has a bearing on whether or not someone is a gamer, so much as what kind of gamer. Like an FPS gamer, or a 'casual' gamer.
To me, a gamer is someone who plays a game relatively often, and is not only interested to an extent in games, but is also invested to an extent in them as well.
I won't be more specific than that, because really, I don't think I can be without excluding others that should be included as a gamer. And, really, one is only truly a gamer if they call themselves that as well. If not, hey, that's their prerogative.
To me, a gamer is someone who plays a game relatively often, and is not only interested to an extent in games, but is also invested to an extent in them as well.
I won't be more specific than that, because really, I don't think I can be without excluding others that should be included as a gamer. And, really, one is only truly a gamer if they call themselves that as well. If not, hey, that's their prerogative.
Anyone who plays games at least semi-regularly, platform is irrelevant.
Does it really matter though? Who cares if someone calls themselves a "gamer" but doesn't meet some arbitrary standard?
As I've learned with this whole "Fake Geek Girl" thing, cultural "Gatekeepers" are the worst.
Does it really matter though? Who cares if someone calls themselves a "gamer" but doesn't meet some arbitrary standard?
As I've learned with this whole "Fake Geek Girl" thing, cultural "Gatekeepers" are the worst.
EDIT: I've changed my mind. Let's just say that gamers are no longer a group I want to associate with.TheNewGuy said:
This.GunsmithKitten said:
Folks, this is why the English language has this lovely things called ADJECTIVES. Well, one of them. They can be used to narrow down otherwise broad and honestly not terribly well defining terms like "gamer" to suit our needs, without completely demanding a rewrite of the base noun in the first place.
Anyone who plays games is "a gamer".
My mother, who plays Solitaire and Bejeweled, is a "lite gamer".
My dad, who dislikes games in general but can't resist Starcraft, is a "reluctant gamer".
My friend, who plays AAA games often and with great skill, is a "hardcore gamer".
My other friend, who plays WoW professionally and has made a total hash of his life, is an "obsessive gamer".
I, who constantly recommend obscure and unconventional stuff as well as play them, am a "hipster douche gamer".
Notice the array of differences.
Any person who plays games at least somewhat frequently.
My mother has played Bejeweled once or twice, but I wouldn't call her a gamer.
I'm not saying it's the type of game though. A person frequently plays Facebook games is also a gamer.
But if someone goes out to a beach and attempts to surf twice, then stops and tries again months later, you wouldn't call them a surfer.
My mother has played Bejeweled once or twice, but I wouldn't call her a gamer.
I'm not saying it's the type of game though. A person frequently plays Facebook games is also a gamer.
But if someone goes out to a beach and attempts to surf twice, then stops and tries again months later, you wouldn't call them a surfer.
I'd call them a "rather bad surfer". At any rate, they're certainly more of a surfer than me, as I'm a true non-surfer (I've never surfed).Sir Thomas Sean Connery said:
So you could make an argument both ways.
If they continued to attempt it, I would call them an aspiring surfer.lacktheknack said:
If they continued to attempt it, but failed to get any better, I would call them a rather bad surfer.
My point is that just because someone has played a video game, that doesn't mean they are a gamer.
Someone who is interested in games and calls gaming their hobby. I read and enjoy books but I'm not a bookworm. People can play games and not be a gamer. People who like games beyond the normal (and it doesn't have to be in the creepy obsessive hardcore sense) is a gamer.
I'm going to be unconventional here and say anyone who prides themselves in playing games. We might go around saying that people who play Facebook games or mobile games aren't real gamers, but why is that so? Because they don't "understand or appreciate real games". Elitist behaviour right there. It's not a protected title like doctor or lawyer. Anyone should be allowed to call themselves a gamer if they feel that defines them. However why should gaming be what defines you? Is your life so hollow that your hobby defines who you are?
Personally I wont call myself a gamer because I am so much more than that single hobby.
Personally I wont call myself a gamer because I am so much more than that single hobby.