To be a gamer, you MUST play...

[Joshroom]

To be a gamer per se, truly all you need to do is enjoy playing a diverse range of games, no?

As to games you must buy if you see them, Vandal Hearts for the PS1. An incredibly rare game and if you enjoy any form of tactical rpg then you must play this game as its a classic example of the genre. Also, the main character's called Ash which always reminds me of Evil Dead.

 

[Zing]

I'd think you lucky if you hadn't played Final Fantasy..not "unclean", to be quite honest.

 

[squid5580]

Not Ocarina of Time.

Well, I didn't like it at least.

You must play nothing.

Naw to be a gamer you have to play something. Just not any specific title.

 

[scnj]

To be considered a gamer you MUST play games

 

[Xorghul]

To be a gamer, you MUST play...games.

Yes, it's as simple as that.

 

[AgentNein]

Dear god, no. I've been a part of my local (and not so local) punk scene for years, and if there's anything that gets me it's the idea that I've got to listen to certain bands for cred, or dress a certain way for cred, etc.

Now we've got gamer cred. What a load of bull. Here's an idea, you're a gamer if you game. Only qualification. If you only play Nintendogs, you're just as much a gamer as the dude who plays Unreal.

It's just silly elitism. Let's stop being divisive. This also goes for those folks who think you're only a fan of a band or something if you've been listening to them since they put out their 'good' stuff. No. If you listen to a band and you dig their music you're a fan.

 

[Slaanax]

I think to be a gamer you have to play games, but that's about that.

 

[nyx15]

to be honest, if you ever spent at least 1 minute playing pacman, playing a streets of rage derivative (there's a lot of them), played some form of tetris, kicked a ball from the halfway line using only your fingers and a pad, placed a crosshair (or pointed a light gun FTW) to a guys head and tried to pull the trigger, commanded an army of at least 5 troops that you made yourself in little huts, castles or houses, forced some form of spellcaster to cast a fire spell at an enemy or made a dolphin swim through hoops, do any of those for 1 minute and enjoy it and then find yourself continuing for more than 10 minutes
then you can call yourself a gamer

point blank series, any of the obscure light gun games for the ps1 or 2, tombi 2, nomad soul for PC or DC, all games I would snatch from the shelf and whisper precious to as I walked to the counter to pay for them... why are you staring at me?
stop staring!

 

[Giest118]

I am of the opinion that a "hardcore gamer" is a term that should be used to describe people who know a lot about the history of gaming, and enjoy the classics as well as at least some of the new stuff. Sort of the equivalent of a "movie buff."

And, like a movie buff, such a person will recognize that good ideas have gotten steadily more rare in the modern age.

Regular 'gamers,' however, can play whatever the hell they want and still be 'gamers,' in the same way that people who watch some movies are 'watchers.'

 

[Abengoshis]

Probably already said, but....to be a gamer you must have played A GAME................-_-

 

[Tharwen]

About your innovation point, I'd say that it's just the AAA titles that aren't 'gaming gold'. There are indie developers for whom innovation is still key, because they can't afford to sell their games on better graphics/more weapons/etc.

 

[Archindar]

Any game in the IGN list of 100 best games ever.

 

[Gauntes]

I use the term 'Gamer' for someone who plays DnD or other tabletop role playing games.
Usually I refer them to something specific like... Console gamer or PC gamer or casual gamer and etc...

 

[experiment0789]

1. Like almost everybody here said, to be a "gamer?, you just have to play video games. I don't believe that if I haven't play a certain game, in this case let?s say Half Life (I really have played the game it?s just the first one I could think of),it makes me any less of a gamer.
To me this is like saying someone who goes to every football game of their favorite team is more a fan then someone watching every football game of their favorite team on their TV.
But I believe to be better at something; you start at the basics, in this case "The Classics".
Stuff like Pacman, Galiga, Donkeykonk (the arcade game), Mortal kombat, Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Half Life (anyone will do), stuff like that.
Now other than making me feel old for being able to remember all this stuff, this does give a better understanding of GaMeInG HisTOrY not making me a more superior gamer to someone newer to gaming.

2. For your question "do you think gaming gold is hard to come by these days? Were games better in the past?"
I got to say....F@#$%^& YEA. Now since the bar has been set higher for what passes as a (an) expectable game, it?s even harder (or least I imagine it is), more complicated, and requires more stuff. Now making a game is not only Grate Story, Plot, and characters (it needs more than this I?m just trying to prove a point), you need All that combined with graphics that live up to that system and some other stuff I can?t think of now(Don?t Judge me?I don?t make video games, I play them)

3. Is there any game that you would immediately snatch up if you saw it on sale?
You mean if I didn?t have them already?..psychonauts and Star wars republic commando and Voodoo Vince.

 

[mkg]

You are a gamer when you can either;

1.) Successfully beat a game.
2.) Instantly recognize a reference to music, characters,or events to any game you're fond of.
3.) Spend a large portion of your income on games.
4.) Own game related items. (Clothing, decorations, posters, etc.)
5.) Complain that a previous generation of gaming consoles is superior to the current.

 

[Odd Water]

Yeah I hate when people say that stuff, everyone likes different kinds of games and if I have to play something I don't like to be a true gamer I'll stick with being a half rate gamer.