What does it take to earn a legit version of the title "Hardcore Gamer"

[Drakenian]

Hm... I wouldn't really know, but these are the standards I keep myself at.

1. Never insult others due to lack of skill or when you are winning because you are winning. Only when they make stupid mistakes, and even then, kept on a civil level.

2. Keep drawer filled with games (I actually have trouble when I buy new ones; I have to squeeze them in).

3. Beat every game that is planned to stay in collection at least once.

4. Don't ever look at games as if they are a competition. If you are competing, fine, but overall, you are playing to have fun.

 

[SantoUno]

Hey there sparky, he edited the title after people started making posts telling him a gamer is just someone who plays games. The original title was just had "gamer" not "hardcore gamer" Hope this helps.

Oh really? Well apologies then, now I came off as a smug prick, I just thought if he was referring to hardcore gaming from the beginning, then you two were putting him down, but damn he has some ridiculous standards for a regular gamer if that was his initial term for the thread.

 

[x0ny]

If they're not sleeping, then they're playing games. That's a hardcore gamer, aka Mr/Mrs no life. I used to be like that.

 

[SantoUno]

Meh. Its of no importance anyway.

You are correct, and I was corrected with the fact that the thread began as "gamer" instead of "hardcore gamer" so apologies to you sir.

 

[MattZero]

I think if you have to differentiate between the kinds of gamer then this is the best definition:

A "Hardcore Gamer" is a person who defines a major portion of themselves by their love of playing videogames and their immersion in gamer culture.

A "casual gamer" isn't likely to reference gaming in a non-gaming related conversation or grind their teeth furiously in support of our Australian comrades when someone says Micheal Atkinson.

 

[The Heik]

I remember a few months ago me and my girlfriend would dispute about the fact that she was a hardcore gamer. She said she was, but I would to this day say she's not. She only played music games and maybe some Mario racing on the wii. But of course, this definition is a form of opinion. So, what do you think someone has to do or fall under to be considered a legit gamer?

Here are some ideas I thought of.

1.Have played all the genres
2.Have played with other players.
3.Has a game collection
4.Has their own sophisticated opinions on games.
5.Plays on a 3 day basis.
6.Have been inspired to do something by video games. Like join this forum.
7.Hopefully can aim a gun in a fps. Assuming they play them often.
8.Last but not least. Has thrown a remote of some kind some were.

So any ideas from you guys?

- must own more than one gaming platform (PCs included)
- has at least once played from dusk 'til dawn
- can draw a map of Oblivion's Cyrrodil to scale (only for REALLY hardcore gamers)

 

[The Warden]

I fit into all of those, but I don't feel I'm that much of a hardcore gamer, really.

 

[DRTJR]

A gamer who derives enjoyment from the tedious part of gaming

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

Anyone whose main hobby is gaming, and that is IT. It doesn't matter what they play, if they own a bajillion titles as opposed to 3, or if they play on a Wii as opposed to a 360. I absolutely hate that elitist douchebag bullshit.

 

[Eggsnham]

I guess I'm a hardcore gamer by your criteria. I personally don't care and can't be bothered to make my own criteria, so I'll just stick to yours.

 

[phar]

I remember a few months ago me and my girlfriend would dispute about the fact that she was a hardcore gamer. She said she was, but I would to this day say she's not. She only played music games and maybe some Mario racing on the wii. But of course, this definition is a form of opinion. So, what do you think someone has to do or fall under to be considered a legit gamer?

Here are some ideas I thought of.

1.Have played all the genres
2.Have played with other players.
3.Has a game collection
4.Has their own sophisticated opinions on games.
5.Plays on a 3 day basis.
6.Have been inspired to do something by video games. Like join this forum.
7.Hopefully can aim a gun in a fps. Assuming they play them often.
8.Last but not least. Has thrown a remote of some kind some were.

So any ideas from you guys?

Has to own Halo3 or Modern Warfare 2 and a Xbox 360 with a Live Gold account. Any 12 year old with that is damn hardcore

 

[Samuel Adams]

I'd say they:
1) can make the sound when you open a chest in zelda
2) can correctly PRONOUNCE "pwn"
3) know what game Gordon Freeman is from

it's a fairly solid definition, whilst also being very accepting

I fixed that for you.

 

[PrimoThePro]

1.Have played all the genres
2.Have played with other players.
3.Has a game collection
4.Has their own sophisticated opinions on games.
5.Plays on a 3 day basis.
6.Have been inspired to do something by video games. Like join this forum.
7.Hopefully can aim a gun in a fps. Assuming they play them often.
8.Last but not least. Has thrown a remote of some kind some were.

for each:
1.They would have to have at least tried it.
2.This may not be necessary i think.
3.Necessary. Hardcore means you always have games on-hand.
4.Definetly. If all they show is a blank stare to a discussion where the words "The idea that you can fix sonic by making it 2D again in a last ditch effort to save him is flawed at best." or "Sniping on a FPS will never work absolutely, as someone will train with it so they can no-scope head-shot every time. This ensures that people can no longer play a game where everyone uses the most efficient close, middle and long ranged weapon." then they are not hardcore gamers.
5.Again, not necessary. My uncle is hardcore and he rarely plays at all. many would say he is a natural, but he fulfills all other prerequisites. and kicks ass.
6.Definetly. Also, look up the music from a videogame(for me it was fable 1 and metroid prime for GC) and be able to hum it perfectly while the game plays. (for me that would be Rise of Nations)
7.I do not need to fix this whatsoever.
8.this one made me laugh. also, they could have smashed one on a rock, or tied it to the end of a string and flung it as far as possible.

Your girlfriend is not a Hardcore gamer. you need to show her this forum so she may learn her mistake.
To your girlfriend, should she read this: Until you have fulfilled the above requirements, that either myself or your boyfriend, or anyone on this site (probobly your boyfriends call on this one) then you are not a hardcore gamer. PERIOD.

 

[NickCaligo42]

So, what do you think someone has to do or fall under to be considered a legit gamer?

Alright. Now I have a question:

Don't you have more important things you could be thinking about, like what color socks you're going to wear tomorrow?

Maybe the better question to ask would be: why do we feel that this question even deserves a neuron of thought to begin with?

When I was a kid, this was real simple: there were video games, I played them, my friends played them. We weren't "gamers." We weren't even "hardcore." We just liked video games, and we didn't feel the need to validate ourselves or trivialize others with a lame stuck-up title. I mean, really? You're going to put hardbound rules on whether or not someone's qualified to put in their two cents in a debate about video games? How about we go by these rules instead: someone expresses a thought, you pay attention to it, listen to it for its own goddamn merit, and THEN judge whether it's a reasonable or insightful remark. "When is someone qualified to be a hardcore gamer," though. Do you realize that's like asking when someone's qualified to watch a movie, watch TV, read a book, or, Hell, read a COMIC book?

Perhaps the ultimate question is:

When did this simple matter of personal enjoyment turn into some kind of a Spanish Inquisition?