What Defines a Casual Gamer?

[Djinni]

As mainly an MMO player, the place I was first introduced to the concept of "Hardcore vs. Casual" was on the Forums where "Hardcore Gamers" would complain after every patch that the game was being nerfed for the "Casual Gamers".

Back in the day, they had 120 man raids that took 3 weeks to fill and organize to kill bosses that had more HP than god and took 8 hours to kill and that was only if some Leroy didn't screw it up and cause a raid wipe - then it took 12 hours assuming half the raid didn't ragelog or have their parents tell them it was time to go to bed. They liked it that way and anyone who didn't was obviously not taking the game seriously enough.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

How's this?

If all you play is big name online multiplayer games like MW2, BC2, Halo, L4D, TF2, etc.

You're CASUAL-CORE.

Hardcore gamers keep up with gaming news and upcoming releases, and tend to also play more than just the latest big-name online games.

Casual gamers play shit like Wii Fit, Brain Age, Nintendogs, and Wii Party.

I wonder what that makes me? I play Halo, MW2 for about an hour and then the Wii(not those games) for hours and hours

You play Treasure games. YOU'RE FREAKING HARDCORE.

 

[Aura Guardian]

How's this?

If all you play is big name online multiplayer games like MW2, BC2, Halo, L4D, TF2, etc.

You're CASUAL-CORE.

Hardcore gamers keep up with gaming news and upcoming releases, and tend to also play more than just the latest big-name online games.

Casual gamers play shit like Wii Fit, Brain Age, Nintendogs, and Wii Party.

I wonder what that makes me? I play Halo, MW2 for about an hour and then the Wii(not those games) for hours and hours

You play Treasure games. YOU'RE FREAKING HARDCORE.

Damn right. Oh yeah. June 6th. Sin and Pinishment Star Successor.

 

[xXDeMoNiCXx]

IMO there is no real, standard difference between casual and hardcore gamers. It's all a matter of opinion.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

How's this?

If all you play is big name online multiplayer games like MW2, BC2, Halo, L4D, TF2, etc.

You're CASUAL-CORE.

Hardcore gamers keep up with gaming news and upcoming releases, and tend to also play more than just the latest big-name online games.

Casual gamers play shit like Wii Fit, Brain Age, Nintendogs, and Wii Party.

I wonder what that makes me? I play Halo, MW2 for about an hour and then the Wii(not those games) for hours and hours

You play Treasure games. YOU'RE FREAKING HARDCORE.

Damn right. Oh yeah. June 6th. Sin and Pinishment Star Successor.

Fuck yes. Is it worth getting the Japanese original off the Wii Virtual Console? Or will I not understand a damn thing?

 

[Aura Guardian]

How's this?

If all you play is big name online multiplayer games like MW2, BC2, Halo, L4D, TF2, etc.

You're CASUAL-CORE.

Hardcore gamers keep up with gaming news and upcoming releases, and tend to also play more than just the latest big-name online games.

Casual gamers play shit like Wii Fit, Brain Age, Nintendogs, and Wii Party.

I wonder what that makes me? I play Halo, MW2 for about an hour and then the Wii(not those games) for hours and hours

You play Treasure games. YOU'RE FREAKING HARDCORE.

Damn right. Oh yeah. June 6th. Sin and Pinishment Star Successor.

Fuck yes. Is it worth getting the Japanese original off the Wii Virtual Console? Or will I not understand a damn thing?

It's has english Voice acting and some english subs. Get it

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

How's this?

If all you play is big name online multiplayer games like MW2, BC2, Halo, L4D, TF2, etc.

You're CASUAL-CORE.

Hardcore gamers keep up with gaming news and upcoming releases, and tend to also play more than just the latest big-name online games.

Casual gamers play shit like Wii Fit, Brain Age, Nintendogs, and Wii Party.

I wonder what that makes me? I play Halo, MW2 for about an hour and then the Wii(not those games) for hours and hours

You play Treasure games. YOU'RE FREAKING HARDCORE.

Damn right. Oh yeah. June 6th. Sin and Pinishment Star Successor.

Fuck yes. Is it worth getting the Japanese original off the Wii Virtual Console? Or will I not understand a damn thing?

It's has english Voice acting and some english subs. Get it

Nice. Now...to slowly input my credit card info. YET AGAIN!

Unless there is a faster way that I'm totally missing?

 

[ohmygohdpie]

Anybody who doesn't have a job that involves video games.

 

[Thaius]

Heh, this might be a tad controversial, but...

A casual gamer is someone who sees no value in video games but entertainment. If they don't find any value in video games beyond just a good time, if there is no competitive or artistic value for them, they are a casual gamer. It has nothing to do with what games they play. After all, someone can watch Casablanca and Citizen Kane and still not care about movies beyond 2 hours of escapism: they would not be considered a movie buff just because they've seen those two films. Video games are the same way: you can play as many "hardcore" games as you want, but if you consider them to be nothing more than entertainment, you do not have the mindset of the hardcore gamer.

A hardcore gamer is someone who sees more value in video games than your average player, someone who considers them to be important to society and to life rather than just being something to waste free time with. If you think video games are nothing more than something fun to pass the time with, I'm sorry, but I would consider you a casual gamer.

 

[Aura Guardian]

How's this?

If all you play is big name online multiplayer games like MW2, BC2, Halo, L4D, TF2, etc.

You're CASUAL-CORE.

Hardcore gamers keep up with gaming news and upcoming releases, and tend to also play more than just the latest big-name online games.

Casual gamers play shit like Wii Fit, Brain Age, Nintendogs, and Wii Party.

I wonder what that makes me? I play Halo, MW2 for about an hour and then the Wii(not those games) for hours and hours

You play Treasure games. YOU'RE FREAKING HARDCORE.

Damn right. Oh yeah. June 6th. Sin and Pinishment Star Successor.

Fuck yes. Is it worth getting the Japanese original off the Wii Virtual Console? Or will I not understand a damn thing?

It's has english Voice acting and some english subs. Get it

Nice. Now...to slowly input my credit card info. YET AGAIN!

Unless there is a faster way that I'm totally missing?

Classic controller?

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Nothing really. It's just a term that people use. It doesn't really have any "strict" meaning, and its definition is strictly subjective.

As for my definition, it's how much a person appreciates games, not just by how often they play.

exactly. everyones a gamer who plays video games, its more about a love and appreciation kind of thing, not necessarily how much time you put into it

 

[Souplex]

A gamer who only plays as a hobby.

Thats funny, cause aren't games a fun pastime by definition?

Yes. This is where the stupidity of the Gramers calling themselves "Hardcore gamers" applies.

 

[DarkDain]

A casual gamer is someone who has never beaten a game but they dont care because they are in it for the fun and challenge and not the accomplishment.

 

[JEBWrench]

I like fishing. I fish occasionally and I sometimes crayfish. I use old traps and rods and I do it maybe once a month. Do I get flak off of 'hardcore' fishermen for being too 'casual'? Fuck no, fishing is a hobby, same as gaming. All gamers are casual by definition and I detest the word 'gamer', that false sense of accomplishment defines everything wrong with the hobby. We are people that play games for fun, it's not a fucking profession!

You, Mr. Gamer, win an internet.

A casual gamer is someone who has never beaten a game but they dont care because they are in it for the fun and challenge and not the accomplishment.

Well, there goes my casual gamer status. I was beginning to think I'd suddenly become one without changing at all how I view my hobby.

Heh, this might be a tad controversial, but...

A casual gamer is someone who sees no value in video games but entertainment. If they don't find any value in video games beyond just a good time, if there is no competitive or artistic value for them, they are a casual gamer. It has nothing to do with what games they play. After all, someone can watch Casablanca and Citizen Kane and still not care about movies beyond 2 hours of escapism: they would not be considered a movie buff just because they've seen those two films. Video games are the same way: you can play as many "hardcore" games as you want, but if you consider them to be nothing more than entertainment, you do not have the mindset of the hardcore gamer.

A hardcore gamer is someone who sees more value in video games than your average player, someone who considers them to be important to society and to life rather than just being something to waste free time with. If you think video games are nothing more than something fun to pass the time with, I'm sorry, but I would consider you a casual gamer.

Controversial, maybe. But I really like these two definitions, if such definitions need to exist. (they don't.)