Question of the Day, May 30, 2010

[Kapol]

I don't think that the amount of time has to do with being a hardcore gamer. What makes the difference between a hardcore gamer and a casual gamer is the amount we're willing to dive into the game's 'depth.' Say a casual gamer and a hardcore gamer are playing Oblivion. I see the casual gamer as simply playing the various quest to simply be done with the game. The hardcore gamer would take time out to explore the world itself and maybe even learn about it instead of simply focusing on 'go here do thing A.' That may be a bad exampled as that game is made for roaming, but the general idea I'm trying to show is there.

 

[theownerer]

was unsure whether or nor i should vote for the time you played because i thought of games like farmville and stuff but i guess that would be the most accurate. Although that guy that beat bejeweled is a hardcore gamer in his own way.

 

[EboMan7x]

How much you genuinely care about what goes on in the games industry.

 

[Dioxide20]

Other

The amount of stuff I know about the games I play. Background, story, reoccurring glitches, that type of stuff.

Oh and I play a lot too.

 

[Continuity]

Simple: You have to be elitist.

I think there is a distinction between hardcore gamers and elitist gamers, which isn't to say you can't be both. I think it would be best to say many hardcore gamers are elitist rather than to say an elitist gamer is hardcore, which is what you're saying.

 

[De Ronneman]

Other, obviously. Why? Here you go:

-Type of games: Doens't matter, should it? I play both the big titles and bejewled, am I any less hardcore or not hardcore at all?
-Time spent: Shouldn't matter. If you spend 50 hours messing around, trying to find out what button is jump, or spend 5 hours powerleveling or something.
-Money spent: BS. I don't buy every console or game, why should I, how should I do that? I don't make millions (yet). Does that make me less hardcore?

Which brings me to:
-Other: Your mindset. If you play games you like the way you like, you migth very well be very hardcore.

 

[Peace Frog]

How competitive or obsessive completionist you get. So, it's about spending time but with a goal, not just wasting away the day on something mindless.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

I'd say the amount of time spent playing. Both Casual and Hardcore gamers play Halo, Gears of War and Call of duty right? The difference is that when the Casual gamer finally quits in about an hour or two, the Hardcore player will keep going.

 

[UsefulPlayer 1]

By how much you love what we do.

I once played Diablo 2 online on dail-up.

 

[Mike Richards]

I'd say its all about how much you care about the medium. I guess you could say how passionate about gaming you are.

You don't really have to be good, though you probably are at at least one title, and you don't have to play a lot, though you probably do if you care that much. But you really know what you're talking about, and you have a definite interest in where gaming on a whole goes.

That's my take at least.

 

[dee_dubs]

Personally I think it's about how much focus you put into your games. The casual gamer is the sort who would walk into a games shop and get something that looks good or is being advertised (but probably hasn't researched the game first or read any reviews), and will enjoy it, or not, until the next game comes along. A hardcore gamer is more likely to know exactly what they want before they walk into that store (having followed the games development, read previews and reviews, etc.), and when they find a game the really like tend to go back to that game time and time again, even in the face of the next big shiny release.

 

[mr.aravaro]

I'd say its the type of games you play.

 

[Danpascooch]

I'd say a combination of A and B, or maybe even all of the above.

Mostly to me it's about experiencing a variety of games that require a time investment, and leave you feeling like it was time well spent at the end, instead of things like Wii Sports, 5 minute minigames.

 

[derelict]

Urgh.
It's being a douche and calling yourself a hardcore gamer.

This here.

Enjoying games is fine, and playing to win is fine too, but you damn well best understand that everyone else that plays with you is playing to have a good time, too. The minute you start trying to lord yourself over others is when you become hardcore, also known as a complete dickhead.

 

[Chase Yojimbo]

What makes a hardcore gamer is how they play the game. Time plays a factor in this, honing the skills of the gamer over time, but when your senses are faster, you memorize everything on the controller, don't need to have to look. Playing the game, you play above the rest of average gamers.

In short, a Hardcore Gamer is someone who can play any game, and learn it very quickly, and become one of the best... Though there is always better >.< like on friggen Warcraft 1/2/3 and than the PVP punks on WoW, i like end game better.

 

[SniperMacFox]

I'd say that hardcore gamers are gamers who have to over-compensate for their lack of social skills by spending ages playing "classic" video games. Hence why I'm in the category, unfortunaely.

 

[Fightgarr]

I chose other in that I am not a hardcore gamer, I don't desire to be one and because I find people who give themselves the moniker of "hardcore", generally, have given themselves the moniker of "douchebag" in my eyes.

 

[Doctor Professor]

A few people have said it's the gamer's attitude, or simply that they self-identify as hardcore. I think it's a combination of these things, though it does correlate with time/money/game-type. Ultimately, someone who is "hardcore" about some activity is someone who takes pride in their skill or dedication to that activity.

I wrote a pretty popular article about this, give it a read [http://www.pixelpoppers.com/2010/01/status-and-signals-why-hardcore-gamers.html].

 

[laryri]

Keeping up with the industry. Whether it is just for the games you play or for the entire gaming industry as a whole, if you know a lot about what is coming out, I consider you hardcore.