Define casual and hardcore gamer

There are many threads thatuse the two terms but in everyone I read there is always a discrepancy in what people define as a hardcore gamer and a casual gamer. Can we possibly define the two terms concretely so that when we talk about the two demographics we can know exactly who falls under which category?

Is it the time spent? the money spent? the energy spent playing games? the skill level of the player? the kinds of games they choose to play? or is it something else?

I will hold off stating my opinion until I hear what you'll have to say.

Labels are a part of our culture. Though the terms are relative the meaning of the definition really does differ from gamer to gamer.

Casual and hardcore do not have to have a negative connotation.

When I was a kid the term Hardcore meant that you were gamer and not loyal to one brand over the other. I grew up during the 16-bit wars and was a huge Sega Genesis Fan, but I love the Super Nintendo. To me the term hardcore meant you loved gaming period. Now as an adult the meaning has changed somewhat.

As an adult the term hardcore gamer gets defined into collecting. I try to collect as many games as possible for every single system. I have over 1500 games does it mean I'm hardcore?

A casual gamer has always been someone like my parents who I have seen play a game only once or twice.

To me a hardcore gamer is someone that loves videogames and the hobby itself

A casual gamer is someone could care less.

The problem is that the terms are relative. For some people, anyone who isn't playing an obscure PC game like Mount and Blade is automatically a casual. Others pride themselves on being hardcore for playing Modern Warfare 2.rragnaar

I agree. Personally, the only games I consider hardcore are the ones that are beyond my simpleton understanding such as submarine sims, tank sims, insanely complex strategy games and ultra-realistic first-person shooters (Operation Flashpoint, ArmA II make Ghost Recon and the newer Rainbow Six games seem kiddy in comparison). People who play that are truly hardcore.

To me a hardcore gamer is someone that loves videogames and the hobby itself

A casual gamer is someone could care less.

tommy_boy9999

The easiest way I can think to define a gamer would be their dedication to the games they play. If all I played was Harvest Moon I could still be labeled as a hardcore gamer IF I played that game to its fullest potential and played it often.

On the other hand I could also play a PC RTS game infrequently and without any passion and still be casual gamer. So the answer must simply be my attitude towards games is what makes me one or the other.

The way that I see it is that when most people say "casual" or "hardcore" they're referring to how into gaming a person in. A casual is a person who occasionally plays games whereas a hardcore gamer is very avid about video games. In other words, a casual gamer is into games about as much as they're into other forms of entertainment like TV, movies, and music. A hardcore gamer though sees gaming as their primary hobby, or at least one of their major hobbies.

The result is that a hardcore gamer is going to be into more obscure, fringe, and niche titles than a casual because they're a lot more aware of what's being released, what's good, what's bad, etc. A casual, on the other hand, is likely to only be into the popular, mass appeal games like COD, Madden, and Guitar Hero because those are the types of games that a person who doesn't keep up with the industry much is aware of. Furthermore, a hardcore gamer is likely to own a lot more games than a casual because, again, a casual just plays games about as much as they watch movies, whereas a core gamer plays games very often.

Casual means when the dryer buzzes, I pause the game, put down the controller, and fold my laundry.

Hardcore means I'm wearing wrinkly clothes this week.

Casual means when the dryer buzzes, I pause the game, put down the controller, and fold my laundry.

Hardcore means I'm wearing wrinkly clothes this week.

Oleg_Huzwog

I'd say a hardcore gamer is a gamer who is aware and open minded in terms of games.

And by open minded I don't mean that he/she needs to like every different kind of game and genre, I'm aware people have different and particular tastes. But I just mean I think a hardcore gamer wouldn't simply discount a game because it doesn't fit into their area of comfort and liking.

Like, I think a casual gamer would see somethinglike Zack & Wiki and think it's garbage because of it's a puzzle game with cartoon graphics. He/she doesn't need to like the game, but give it the respect it deserves.

I think under this definition I could also call people who simply discount games like Wii Fit and Wii Sports as casual shovelware because they don't fall into the categories of what we'd usual call hardcore games casual gamers as well. If you think the games are actually bad and not fun, fair enough. But if you don't think they are good or "count" because of their target audience alone, that's not a good argument.

I suppose I would define a "casual" gamer as one who just plays video games on the side-- i.e. they don't have alot of titles and video games take up a small portion of their time. As for a "hardcore" gamer, I would define a "hardcore" gamer as one whose primary entertainment is video games and sees everything else in their life through them. I lean more toward hardcore, but I do have other things in my life as well-- video games are just my primary hobby.

Hardcore: Plays almost everyday. And doesn't see it as a thing to pass time.

Casual: Person who plays from time to time. Or plays games like wii fit and stuff like that.

Hardcore: Plays almost everyday. And doesn't see it as a thing to pass time.

Casual: Person who plays from time to time. Or plays games like wii fit and stuff like that.

James161324