I want to know what the Escapist thinks of Casual gaming vs Hardcore gaming, just a free forum for ideas on what you think of the growing permeation of casual games on the market.
To sum up my opinion on the subject, I think the difference between casual gaming and hardcore gaming is the difference between cinema and Youtube, and that casual gamers are missing out.
EDIT:
Before people start making assumptions, let me point out something about my opinion:
I feel that casual gamers are missing out, but it's their choice, and I don't think playing casual games is "wrong" I just feel like MOST of those people would probably enjoy hardcore gaming more if they tried it out.
The only time I actually get annoyed by casual gaming is when it affects hardcore gaming negatively, for example, the fact that casual gaming denied hardcore gamers a real Nintendo console for this generation
EDIT2:
Someone asked me what I believe makes a hardcore game hardcore, and I think I should specify.
It's hard to look at one defining characteristic that makes a game hardcore, but the closest thing I can find to a common separating characteristic between Hardcore and Casual games is the presence of a story arc.
A hardcore game is something that could be turned into a novel (more often than not a shitty novel though) while a casual game often has no story at all, much less a proper conflict-resolution story arc. I find this to be the main difference that separates games like Portal and Mass Effect from games like Wii Sports and Wii Carnival Games.
Please note though, this is not the only difference, and this does not apply to all games (for example, many racing games) it is just what I found to be the closest single difference I could find. I am also not saying that a storyline is what makes hardcore games better than casual games (although I definitely think it's a factor) I am merely using it as a sort of litmus test, a characteristic that you will notice most hardcore games have, and most casual games do not.
To sum up my opinion on the subject, I think the difference between casual gaming and hardcore gaming is the difference between cinema and Youtube, and that casual gamers are missing out.
EDIT:
Before people start making assumptions, let me point out something about my opinion:
I feel that casual gamers are missing out, but it's their choice, and I don't think playing casual games is "wrong" I just feel like MOST of those people would probably enjoy hardcore gaming more if they tried it out.
The only time I actually get annoyed by casual gaming is when it affects hardcore gaming negatively, for example, the fact that casual gaming denied hardcore gamers a real Nintendo console for this generation
EDIT2:
Someone asked me what I believe makes a hardcore game hardcore, and I think I should specify.
It's hard to look at one defining characteristic that makes a game hardcore, but the closest thing I can find to a common separating characteristic between Hardcore and Casual games is the presence of a story arc.
A hardcore game is something that could be turned into a novel (more often than not a shitty novel though) while a casual game often has no story at all, much less a proper conflict-resolution story arc. I find this to be the main difference that separates games like Portal and Mass Effect from games like Wii Sports and Wii Carnival Games.
Please note though, this is not the only difference, and this does not apply to all games (for example, many racing games) it is just what I found to be the closest single difference I could find. I am also not saying that a storyline is what makes hardcore games better than casual games (although I definitely think it's a factor) I am merely using it as a sort of litmus test, a characteristic that you will notice most hardcore games have, and most casual games do not.