What is a Hardcore Gamer?

[Hiddlebits]

I've seen the term "hardcore gamer" used a lot in these forums and other gaming related magazines and whatnot but I've never really understood what it means.

For example, I play games quite a bit (probably too much than is good for me) but i'm not really that good at them. I play most of my games on normal difficulty but i sometimes play on easy. I have more fun playing co-op or single console multiplayer than pwning n00bs or other such sillyness and, believe it or not, actually still enjoy playing with my Wii.

So I ask you, am I a hardcore gamer, as gaming is my one of my main hobbies and if not then what is a hardcore gamer?

 

[Humanfishboy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardcore_gamer

You sound like a Casual gamer to me

Hardcore gamers are the kinda guys who like to be the best - to practise and practise until they can pull off that perfect headshot or conch without fail in Team Fortress Classic (as a medic, of course)

 

[D_987]

In my opinion a hardcore gamer is somebody who plays games, proper games, usually on either a PS3, 360 or PC.

The games are usually played on the medium to harder settings and the player usually goes on websites like the escapist to talk about said games.

Its subject to personal opinion hence why the large amount of usuallys.

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

Hardcore. Meet all or some of these requirements and you are one:
Logged over 2 months on WoW
Turned down sex for more gaming
Play videogames at least 25 (being generous) hours a week
Built your own computer
Have played at least 1 game over 13 times
Had to decide whether to get food or a new game
Have named, and refer to your console as a person
have spent over a week with more gaming time than sleeping

If you meet any of those you are hardcore. Other than that You might be dedicated but not hardcore.

 

[Jumplion]

Hardcore. Meet all or some of these requirements and you are one:
Play videogames at least 25 (being generous) hours a week
Have played at least 1 game over 13 times
Have named, and refer to your console as a person
have spent over a week with more gaming time than sleeping

If you meet any of those you are hardcore. Other than that You might be dedicated but not hardcore.

Heh, I fill the criteria for those

 

[Humanfishboy]

Hardcore. Meet all or some of these requirements and you are one:
Have named, and refer to your console as a person

Hey! Sheba may be an Xbox 360, but she understands me like no other! :O

Nobody understands our forbidden love...

 

[MarcusStrout]

Ok ok, try this on for size.

I played the Sims 2 for 35 hrs one week. I got less than 27 hrs sleep time. I have made over 10 families, lived as many careers as I could. I bought the Apartment Life expansion one day and didn't eat breakfast for four as a result. My computer is named Frank, after Frank Sinatra.


I still have doubts as to whether or not playing the Sims 2 can ever result in becoming *hardcore* unless you count downloading the incendiary bomb and blowing up your family in fiery glee.

Even that is a stretch.

 

[Hiddlebits]

Hardcore. Meet all or some of these requirements and you are one:
Logged over 2 months on WoW
Play videogames at least 25 (being generous) hours a week
Had to decide whether to get food or a new game
Have named, and refer to your console as a person
Have spent over a week with more gaming time than sleeping

If you meet any of those you are hardcore. Other than that You might be dedicated but not hardcore.

Yep, those are the ones i have done.

What i did forget to ask is whether Hardcore Gamers should be something to admire/despise/pity/worship ect.

 

[Boober the Pig]

Hardcore usually means someone who agrees with you about gaming. According to games makers and retailers it is the people who spend over a certain amount of money each year on games and hardware. For those with lobotomies it means game related tattoos. On Halo 3 servers it means that you have hit puberty. For PC gamers it means that you hardware changes from day to day and you don't remember the last time you saw the access panel for your case. For console games it's blisters and overdeveloped thumb muscles. On XBox live it's knowing your gamer score and checking achievements before renting or buying a game. For people who stick to one game, it's thinking that every forum discussion ends with accepting the greatness of your game. For small children it's being able to start the game by yourself. For old people it's it's being able to start the game by yourself. According to most wives and girlfriends it's someone who would rather play a game than snuggle while watching The Man From Snowy River...again. According to Gamestop employees it's Gamestop employees. According to the mass media it's people with bad hygiene and violent tendencies.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

To me its rare I see a definition of hardcore gamer that is a positive thing.

I think its a simple rule that could be applied to almost everything in the world tho.

'Too much is bad'.

We really don't need telling that too much salt/sugar/crack/radation/celery/videogames/fox news is bad, what we do sometimes need is someone to tell us that its US doing it too much.

It's so easy to let anything slip and take over.

I'd say I'm a fairly hardcore gamer, but I'm trying to cut down.

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

What i did forget to ask is whether Hardcore Gamers should be something to admire/despise/pity/worship ect.

None of the above. They/we are to be FEARED. Worship is close but you really wouldn't have to do much outside of give them games and snacks.

 

[zirnitra]

someone with a ridiculous gamer tag. very aggressive. goes on penny arcade. and likes to point out just how 'hardcore' they are at every chance...not really someone I'd want to be acquainted with but to each their own.

 

[mark_n_b]

It's subjective. I don't like the term being included as a part of core gaming terminology because it does have a lot of negative associations to it.

You sound like a Casual gamer to me

I will tell you right now HiddleBits, you are definitely not a casual gamer. I'm sure you get the idea, Hardcore is a reflection of passion towards games and gaming, how that manifests itself is still debatable.

 

[tobyornottoby]

Ok ok, try this on for size.

I played the Sims 2 for 35 hrs one week. I got less than 27 hrs sleep time. I have made over 10 families, lived as many careers as I could. I bought the Apartment Life expansion one day and didn't eat breakfast for four as a result. My computer is named Frank, after Frank Sinatra.


I still have doubts as to whether or not playing the Sims 2 can ever result in becoming *hardcore* unless you count downloading the incendiary bomb and blowing up your family in fiery glee.

Even that is a stretch.

so "blood, tits, explosions" are the definitions of hardcore...?

 

[Corven]

Hardcore. Meet all or some of these requirements and you are one:
Logged over 2 months on WoW
Turned down sex for more gaming
Play videogames at least 25 (being generous) hours a week
Built your own computer
Have played at least 1 game over 13 times
Had to decide whether to get food or a new game
Have named, and refer to your console as a person
have spent over a week with more gaming time than sleeping

Are you more hardcore if you've never been offered sex at all?

 

[shatnershaman]

Hardcore. Meet all or some of these requirements and you are one:
Logged over 2 months on WoW
Turned down sex for more gaming
Play videogames at least 25 (being generous) hours a week
Built your own computer
Have played at least 1 game over 13 times
Had to decide whether to get food or a new game
Have named, and refer to your console as a person
have spent over a week with more gaming time than sleeping

If you meet any of those you are hardcore. Other than that You might be dedicated but not hardcore.

I only meet 2,5 and 8. Off to casual land with lolipops I go.

 

[ElephantGuts]

Hardcore gamer = Me. I'm actually kind of dissapointed in how stereotypical I am as a hardcore gamer, but I console myself by taking pride in being a very, very hardcore gamer. Example: When I was younger I played The Sims all the time, and it's frustrating because I'm still interested in the sims, but I can't play it now without getting bored. Which I find weird, I want to play the game, but when I try to it bores me? Also I just got 100% completion in Mercenaries 2 like half an hour ago, so I'm gonna go play some WiC.

I know you didn't want a description of what games I've been playing but all you need to know is that I am the definition of a hardcore gamer. Though I don't think I would ever turn down sex for games...

 

[Cpt. Red]

Hardcore. Meet all or some of these requirements and you are one:
Logged over 2 months on WoW
Turned down sex for more gaming
Play videogames at least 25 (being generous) hours a week
Built your own computer
Have played at least 1 game over 13 times
Had to decide whether to get food or a new game
Have named, and refer to your console as a person
have spent over a week with more gaming time than sleeping

Are you more hardcore if you've never been offered sex at all?

If so, one point for me!!!
Me happy now...
Now me thinks...
Me sad now...

 

[guko84]

i am the definition of a hardcore gamer.

 

[LivemeLifefree]

I say they can be admired, it depends on the type. There's the stuck up, and the 'cool' ones, mostly they're stuck up. I also say it just depends on the ammount of time you devote to gaming. Like, I use to be a hardcore gamer as I would ignore everything to play games, woke up early so before school I could squeeze some gaming in, and such. Now, I call my self a casual gamer because now I just play for the fun of gaming. Like, I'll spend, each week, more then likely a total of 11-26 hours of gaming.