Having a "life" vs. being a "hardcore" gamer.

How would you describe your gaming status concerning your lifestyle? Some posters I've noticed try to claim they are both, living large and in charge dating supermodels and jet-setting around the world yet also owning and having time for all the games and systems plus time to churn out 17,000 + posts on their account? In reality one can't have it both ways but that's ok.

I openly admit that I don't game like I used to during college and before, so I don't call myself "hardcore" anymore. There's nothing wrong with casually enjoying games at a slower pace AND there's nothing wrong with admitting that at any given time in ones life not much is going on in the real world and that they spend tons of time playing games with a furious passion.

I don't understand why one camp always belittles the other camp and can't respect the other side without throwing around such petty judgments? (forgive the use of hardcore and casual labels I just use them for a lack of better terminology)

I agree with this - I go through a "hardcore" time every once in a while where I'll play the 360 for 4-6 hours a day for a month or so, but then I go 3-4 months without playing it once. It does depend heavily on what else is going on in life, particularly the academic year calendar. In the month of winter break or this end part of the summer, I often play games like crazy. But when I'm at school and all my friends are around, I'm usually not playing many video games.

Videogames revolve around the other things in my life, not the other way around. I think that's the way it should be.

I consider myself a hardcore gamer, though I have many breaks, such as now. But I also balance it with the real life of my girlfriend and 2 young children.

I consider myself a hardcore gamer, though I have many breaks, such as now. But I also balance it with the real life of my girlfriend and 2 young children.

FatalFantasy206

There's still generally a perception out there that gamers are nerds/losers. It's acceptable to game a little bit, but you can't game as much as most people watch TV apparently. Also, people like to act cool on the internet a lot.

I don't have a life, and I've played a ridiculous amount of games this summer. I'm talking amounts that most people would be ashamed to admit to, but it doesn't really bother me; if there was something else that I felt like doing instead, I'd go do it.

Well, despite what the title suggests, there are plenty of hardcore gamers that do manage to find the time to engage in other activities, probably even more so than the ones who can't seem to find the time to play. The characteristics that you attribute to the terms casual and hardcore aren't as black-and-white or as clear cut as you make it seem to be, as there are be plenty of instances where "casual" gamers engage in activities that could be considered unproductive, or even illegal.

I think the guy who sits with their face glued to the television set playing Halo 8 hours a day is much, much better off than the 40-year old drug addict who spends most of his time in the kitchen trying to concoct a recipe for meth.

Basically, all I do now is game, watch television and browse the forums. I just graduated college, have no job and am incredibly depressed. I don't really have anything else going right now that those things while I job search. I love video games, and that's where I place my time. I spent an evening last week with a friend chilling and doing what he wanted to do, and all we did was sit and talk to his friends, people I didn't know. And then he complained about being bored. I'll stick with games and having fun, thank-you-very-much.muthsera666

yeah, i know what you mean. some people are like, "why don't you get out more?", or "you play games too much" (parents, usually), but often when you try to be more outgoing, what you get in return can simply end up in frustration, or nothing much really happening. great, i'm going outside... and it's cloudy and its raining and its cold, and i want to go back inside where it's warm and i can DO something.

people have to accept that... if you don't have many friends, you're going to be spending time trying to enjoy yourself despite your situation. so when they attack your pastime, or whatever else is deemed 'not the best thing you could be doing', then it infuriates me.

i have a life. i work full time and i recently got married 10 months ago. i am also buying our first house, which will close next week. i still game a decent amount. there are weeks when i dont play anything and then sometimes i play hours and hours on my days off.

i have been trying to play a whole bunch lately cause i know next week when we finally officially own our new house i will have so much do to that i wont play a game for like 2 months.

Video games are my primary form of entertainment, but I do have a life. On weekends I don't sit around playing video games all day long. I go and I study at Starbucks, browse the internet, etc.

I play video games in my free time, other things (work, friends) take precedence over gameing... unless I'm gaming online with friends, then I may play several hours at a time.

How would you describe your gaming status concerning your lifestyle? Some posters I've noticed try to claim they are both, living large and in charge dating supermodels and jet-setting around the world yet also owning and having time for all the games and systems plus time to churn out 17,000 + posts on their account? In reality one can't have it both ways but that's ok.

Bigboi500

I disagree. I think you can have it both ways. I think it's possible to be a "hardcore" gamer and still have room to lead a very dynamic life

- I don't claim to date super models but I do lead an active and...eventful social life with attractive women.
- I have 12,000+ posts on my account but I have been a member here for 6 years.
- I own and play a lot of video game systems both old and new and always make time for my favorite games. I've actually become a bit of an acheivement dork in recent months.
- I don't "jet-set" around the world but I do love to travel. In the last year and a half I've been in Kentucky, Tenessee, San Fracisco CA, Georgia and N Carolina. I have a trip scheduled for New York in September and my next big trip is going to be to Australia some time next year.
- I'm in the the Army and that has added a really interesting layer to my life since I joined 3 years ago.
- I'm also a proud father of a 6 year old little girl.

I'm not listing these things because I'm trying to make myself sound like the most interesting man alive but just to show that if you give a little effort to making something of your life that you really can squeeze a lot of adventure in to the very short time we have here. And really, who would want it any other way?

i recently got married 10 months ago. skrillalover

Congratulations!!

I may not bethe most popular kid around, but althought I love gaming with a passion, I never put it over hanging out with friends or going toa party.

[QUOTE="skrillalover"]

i recently got married 10 months ago. Vundi

Congratulations!!

See? I have life x8

:P

I have a hardcore life ....

I like a good game every now and then. It's relaxing.

Basically, all I do now is game, watch television and browse the forums. I just graduated college, have no job and am incredibly depressed. I don't really have anything else going right now that those things while I job search. I love video games, and that's where I place my time.

I spent an evening last week with a friend chilling and doing what he wanted to do, and all we did was sit and talk to his friends, people I didn't know. And then he complained about being bored. I'll stick with games and having fun, thank-you-very-much.muthsera666

Ah I feel for you, since I find myself in the same position. Having recently graduated I am without a job and money to do anything. Even though, I find going out and socializing has a certain monotony to it and is something I simply don't enjoy as much as going to the cinema, reading a book or gaming. When I am not applying to jobs, I game and read. I have never been much into going out and continue to find it laughable that somehow spending your time on activities outside of gaming are more fruitful and worth the time.

As long as those relationships you care about (friend and family) don't suffer and you are not deteriorating in health due to your hobby (which can be the case with anything, not only gaming) then I don't see the problem. After all time spent CAN but isn't the determining factor in whether you consider yourself casual or hardcore, its a label you give yourself and not others to you. It shouldn't be used as a derogatory insult either way and I think that only happens when someone feels insecure about what they can enjoy. People are different and so they enjoy different things in different ways.

I hate the term hardcore and casual.Vexx88

But they are there to describe the very real divide between the different types of gamers however you want to describe them. There has been a push to move away from the terms to phrases like CORE, but ultimately it doesn't change the fact that these terms exist to describe different types of people, which isn't in itself wrong.

I like a good game every now and then. It's relaxing.

TheSoundSystem

You can have it both ways. It's called The Sims.

I considered myself a hardcore gamer because I usually spent more than 5 hours on video games everyday. I still remembered when I spent 8 hours a day on online games 2 years ago. But while playing games, I still go shopping, doing sports, drawing, and enjoy the life outside of the gaming world.

no life but not a gamer either. im a total losermramz88

lol. you beat me.

[QUOTE="Vundi"]

[QUOTE="skrillalover"]

i recently got married 10 months ago.

Congratulations!!

I'd consider myself a hardcore gamer because during my free time, gaming is what I usually do. I have loads of free time since I'm currently out of school and I have no part-time job (although I am looking). Hanging out with friends is difficult because most of them are slightly older than me and have college / work so scheduling times is difficult.

Plus half the time we game together anyway.

no life but not a gamer either. im a total losermramz88

I casually play games in a hardcore manner.