The Definition of a Hardcore Gamer.

There is much controversy over what characteristics define hardcore gamers. So, I am going to list what I believe, are the defining characteristics of a hardcore gamer:

1. Hardcore gamers spend lots of time reading about and discussing video games. They follow the news and watch live industry conferences and such.

This fact cannot be disputed. No doubt, most casual gamers simply buy whatever their friends are playing. Hardcores gamers, in my opinion, are more likely to eschew (but not completely) the opinions of friends and seek more "professional" opinions on websites and magazines like GameSpot.

2. Hardcore gamers buy more games and gaming-related paraphernalia than their casual counterparts.

3. Hardcore gamers, on average, spend more time playing video games than casual gamers.

I am a little tired to list any more characteristics of a hardcore gamer, but here is where the discussion part comes in. What do you think defines the hardcore gamer? Are there shades between casual and hardcore?

Personally, I consider myself to be more than a mere casual gamer (becuase I hang out on sites like these and buy plenty of games), but I wouldn't consider myself hardcore either, since I am very much unacquainted and unfamilar with many famous gaming franchises (like Final Fantasy, Starcraft, etc.) and other tibbits of gaming culture.

I agree with you on all of your points.

A consider myself a hardcore gamer for spending $1000's of dollars on one of my hobbies. I game every week 52 weeks a year. It might only be 5-10 a week but it is consistent .

I actually have what I consider the definition of a hardcore gamer in my sig

Oh, and I guess I'd consider myself a hardcore gamer. I've been playing games for 16-17 years and so do the 3 points you mentioned

A gamer who plays more than average.

Who will play any game, no restrictions, just for the fun of it.

Where's the option for 'Just a gamer'?Ravensmash

Option 3

I would say a hardcore gamer, by definition, would never limit his own gaming experiences because of bias, or ignorance. They're willing to actually try out other systems and games.

AKA Not a fanboy

Also, about the first point about reading and discussing video games, and being more likely to consult a professional site over a friend. I actually do the opposite of that sometimes. A lot of times I'll buy a crappy game because it costs so little because just playing it with a friend will make the experience great. I save money, and still have a great time.

I also feel that only consulting professional sites would fit into my point of limiting your own gaming experiences. You can't just take someone else's opinion as fact which is why it seems so many people dislike GTAIV even though that got a 10. Because not everyone has the same opinion.

Most probably everyone who posts here is a hardcore gamer or is one in the making. Who else would post in a forum that discusses gaming, that is known to be filled with fanboys and still return everyday?

On the other hand it would be arguable that someone who spends most of the day in a gaming forum instead of actually gaming is more of a forumite than a gamer.

I would say a hardcore gamer, by definition, would never limit his own gaming experiences because of bias, or ignorance. They're willing to actually try out other systems and games.

AKA Not a fanboytreedoor

I prefer the term "dedicated gamer". Hardcore gamer sounds like someone who is anti-social and has no friends in the real world. I'm a dedicated gamer, and have plenty of friends irl too.

I would say a hardcore gamer, by definition, would never limit his own gaming experiences because of bias, or ignorance. They're willing to actually try out other systems and games.

AKA Not a fanboy

treedoor

I disagree. I have almost always only owned 1 console. When I go to buy I new one, I look at the one that has the most amount of games that interest me. That way, I don't need to own more than one platform. You're always going to miss games unless you own a PS3, Wii, PC, 360, DS, and PSP. At that point, how much free time do I actually have that I would be able to play all the games for all those platforms? I think its still possible to be a hardcore gamer without devoting your life to video games

[QUOTE="treedoor"]

I would say a hardcore gamer, by definition, would never limit his own gaming experiences because of bias, or ignorance. They're willing to actually try out other systems and games.

AKA Not a fanboy

BPoole96

I disagree. I have almost always only owned 1 console. When I go to buy I new one, I look at the one that has the most amount of games that interest me. That way, I don't need to own more than one platform. You're always going to miss games unless you own a PS3, Wii, PC, 360, DS, and PSP. At that point, how much free time do I actually have that I would be able to play all the games for all those platforms? I think its still possible to be a hardcore gamer without devoting your life to video games

But I'm sure you chose to not buy those other games/consoles beacuse of time/money issues, and not because you were ignorant, or biased against them.

I myself only own a PC, aside from my handhelds, but it's not as if I didn't buy a Wii because it's kiddy, or didn't buy a PS3 because it haz no gaemz. I just don't have the money to do so. Instead, I try to play whatever my friends get, and even then I'm willing to try out any game they have at least once.

There is much controversy over what characteristics define hardcore gamers. So, I am going to list what I believe, are the defining characteristics of a hardcore gamer:

1. Hardcore gamers spend lots of time reading about and discussing video games. They follow the news and watch live industry conferences and such.

This fact cannot be disputed. No doubt, most casual gamers simply buy whatever their friends are playing. Hardcores gamers, in my opinion, are more likely to eschew (but not completely) the opinions of friends and seek more "professional" opinions on websites and magazines like GameSpot.

2. Hardcore gamers buy more games and gaming-related paraphernalia than their casual counterparts.

3. Hardcore gamers, on average, spend more time playing video games than casual gamers.

I am a little tired to list any more characteristics of a hardcore gamer, but here is where the discussion part comes in. What do you think defines the hardcore gamer? Are there shades between casual and hardcore?

Personally, I consider myself to be more than a mere casual gamer (becuase I hang out on sites like these and buy plenty of games), but I wouldn't consider myself hardcore either, since I am very much unacquainted and unfamilar with many famous gaming franchises (like Final Fantasy, Starcraft, etc.) and other tibbits of gaming culture.

The_Capitalist

I disagree with pretty much every one of your points.

1. A hardcore gamer does not spend lots of time reading about OR discussing video games. Why? This is because he would rather play games than talk about them or read about them. He follows the news according to his interests, and does not easily entertain opinions outside of his own when it comes to game purchases. If he likes a game, he'll buy it regardless of what his friends or the media might say. Given that he's hardcore, he's probably surrounded by friends who are equally hardcore. Generally, such people do not respect media opinions, since they commonly hold themselves as experts above what the media can perceive.

2. Hardcore gamers tend to play somewhere around 14-21 hours of game a week, sometimes more. They will usually spend more money on games, but not necessarily for buying more game units. Their money can go into custom HORI sticks, TrackIR, custom driving rig setups and the like, since they expect to spend a great number of waking hours playing the games of their choice.

3. It goes without saying that hardcore gamers tend to spend a lot of time playing games. Many console gamers of the mainstream or "core" market fancy themselves hardcore gamers, thinking that it represents some kind of elite club or some other such nonsense. This is, of course, untrue.

[QUOTE="treedoor"]

I would say a hardcore gamer, by definition, would never limit his own gaming experiences because of bias, or ignorance. They're willing to actually try out other systems and games.

AKA Not a fanboy

BPoole96

I disagree. I have almost always only owned 1 console. When I go to buy I new one, I look at the one that has the most amount of games that interest me. That way, I don't need to own more than one platform. You're always going to miss games unless you own a PS3, Wii, PC, 360, DS, and PSP. At that point, how much free time do I actually have that I would be able to play all the games for all those platforms? I think its still possible to be a hardcore gamer without devoting your life to video games

Nope. A true hardcore gamers gotta have them all and loves them all. Anyone else is just a poser.

Yeah that's another thing (after reading some of the replies) I've been gaming since Atari and Coleco Vision. Although the only negative I have is that I'm not a mutiple console owner, never have been, probably never will be. Just PC/one console

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="treedoor"]

I would say a hardcore gamer, by definition, would never limit his own gaming experiences because of bias, or ignorance. They're willing to actually try out other systems and games.

AKA Not a fanboy

treedoor

I disagree. I have almost always only owned 1 console. When I go to buy I new one, I look at the one that has the most amount of games that interest me. That way, I don't need to own more than one platform. You're always going to miss games unless you own a PS3, Wii, PC, 360, DS, and PSP. At that point, how much free time do I actually have that I would be able to play all the games for all those platforms? I think its still possible to be a hardcore gamer without devoting your life to video games

But I'm sure you chose to not buy those other games/consoles beacuse of time/money issues, and not because you were ignorant, or biased against them.

I myself only own a PC, aside from my handhelds, but it's not as if I didn't buy a Wii because it's kiddy, or didn't buy a PS3 because it haz no gaemz. I just don't have the money to do so. Instead, I try to play whatever my friends get, and even then I'm willing to try out any game they have at least once.

I see. I can agree with that. I thought you were presenting the whole "Why limit your game experience to 1 platform?" and saying that everyone should be multiconsole + PC owners. But yeah, I can't stand when people won't play a game just because it's only on a specific system. I will usually try any game as long as it interests me

I'd say, you can play a game on a casual or hardcore level. So yeah it has to do with skill and how fast you learn the concepts in a new game.

Also generally casuals try to to what they want to do in the games and therefore often complains on how crappy the game is because it doesn't do what they want it to do, because it's either a) not possible or b) they don't have the skill to perform it.

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="treedoor"]

I would say a hardcore gamer, by definition, would never limit his own gaming experiences because of bias, or ignorance. They're willing to actually try out other systems and games.

AKA Not a fanboy

gensigns

I disagree. I have almost always only owned 1 console. When I go to buy I new one, I look at the one that has the most amount of games that interest me. That way, I don't need to own more than one platform. You're always going to miss games unless you own a PS3, Wii, PC, 360, DS, and PSP. At that point, how much free time do I actually have that I would be able to play all the games for all those platforms? I think its still possible to be a hardcore gamer without devoting your life to video games

Nope. A true hardcore gamers gotta have them all and loves them all. Anyone else is just a poser.

Well some people might be full time students, work 30 hours a week, and look to getting into a career. I don't really have 10 hours everyday to spare playing games. I do still play games nearly every day and am quite good at most of them but to own all platforms and play/finish every game is just unrealistic

[QUOTE="gensigns"]

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

I disagree. I have almost always only owned 1 console. When I go to buy I new one, I look at the one that has the most amount of games that interest me. That way, I don't need to own more than one platform. You're always going to miss games unless you own a PS3, Wii, PC, 360, DS, and PSP. At that point, how much free time do I actually have that I would be able to play all the games for all those platforms? I think its still possible to be a hardcore gamer without devoting your life to video games

BPoole96

Nope. A true hardcore gamers gotta have them all and loves them all. Anyone else is just a poser.

Well some people might be full time students, work 30 hours a week, and look to getting into a career. I don't really have 10 hours everyday to spare playing games. I do still play games nearly every day and am quite good at most of them but to own all platforms and play/finish every game is just unrealistic

Being "hardcore" has nothing to do with how much money or time you spend on gaming. It is a mindset, one that is very uncommon among modern gamers. Being "hardcore" means you take gaming extremely seriously, so seriously, that it has become a life-styIe for you, going well beyond merely a hobby with invested time and money.

I personally am not a "hardcore" gamer. I take the hobby somewhat seriously, but it is still to me a hobby, something that I use to unwind with at the end of the day.

Ok, so how do you define that guy that plays Madden 5 hours a day, buys the new one every year at midnight, knows the ratings of single player on the game, and can blow you out 100-0 before half time? This also has a PS3, but has never even heard of Uncharted, Infamous, or Killzone. Hardcore or casual? chaotzu

based on what you said, borderline between casual and gamer imo, because playing 1 sports game is very casual, even if you're badass at it

[QUOTE="gensigns"]

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

I disagree. I have almost always only owned 1 console. When I go to buy I new one, I look at the one that has the most amount of games that interest me. That way, I don't need to own more than one platform. You're always going to miss games unless you own a PS3, Wii, PC, 360, DS, and PSP. At that point, how much free time do I actually have that I would be able to play all the games for all those platforms? I think its still possible to be a hardcore gamer without devoting your life to video games

BPoole96

Nope. A true hardcore gamers gotta have them all and loves them all. Anyone else is just a poser.

Well some people might be full time students, work 30 hours a week, and look to getting into a career. I don't really have 10 hours everyday to spare playing games. I do still play games nearly every day and am quite good at most of them but to own all platforms and play/finish every game is just unrealistic

Then you're a GAMER.

Really, to be a "hardcore" at anything is kind of limiting and sad.

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="gensigns"]

Nope. A true hardcore gamers gotta have them all and loves them all. Anyone else is just a poser.

Bigboi500

Well some people might be full time students, work 30 hours a week, and look to getting into a career. I don't really have 10 hours everyday to spare playing games. I do still play games nearly every day and am quite good at most of them but to own all platforms and play/finish every game is just unrealistic

Nope. Pretty much only a Highschool has the time for that. And if you do as an adult... it's kind of sad.

Then you're a GAMER. Really, to be a "hardcore" at anything is kind of limiting and sad.gensigns

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="gensigns"]

Nope. A true hardcore gamers gotta have them all and loves them all. Anyone else is just a poser.

Bigboi500

Well some people might be full time students, work 30 hours a week, and look to getting into a career. I don't really have 10 hours everyday to spare playing games. I do still play games nearly every day and am quite good at most of them but to own all platforms and play/finish every game is just unrealistic

Yeah, as well as having Mommy pay for all your games and having to do extra chores around the house so you can get the special edition version of your favorite upcoming game

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="gensigns"]

Nope. A true hardcore gamers gotta have them all and loves them all. Anyone else is just a poser.

gensigns

Well some people might be full time students, work 30 hours a week, and look to getting into a career. I don't really have 10 hours everyday to spare playing games. I do still play games nearly every day and am quite good at most of them but to own all platforms and play/finish every game is just unrealistic

Then you're a GAMER.

Really, to be a "hardcore" at anything is kind of limiting and sad.

So you think people who play games professionally still spend all their free time playing every game fore every platform just to maintain their "hardcore" status?

Yeah, as well as having Mommy pay for all your games and having to do extra chores around the house so you can get the special edition version of your favorite upcoming game

BPoole96

So you think people who play games professionally still spend all their free time playing every game fore every platform just to maintain their "hardcore" status?

BPoole96

Professional =/= Hardcore

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

So you think people who play games professionally still spend all their free time playing every game fore every platform just to maintain their "hardcore" status?

gensigns

Professional =/= Hardcore

There is just something about calling myself hardcore that I find sophomoric and silly. Mostly because usually when somebody spouts off about being hardcore there talking about playing some 5 hour console shooter withgiant hit boxes.

I refer to myself as a video game enthusiast.

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

Yeah, as well as having Mommy pay for all your games and having to do extra chores around the house so you can get the special edition version of your favorite upcoming game

markop2003

I mean a lot of the money I do make goes to gaming, but I have other things to pay for as well. The idea of the only way of being a hardcore gamer is to essentially live a terrible anti social life and be financially unstable just doesn't seem right to me. I mean, gaming is easily my biggest hobby. I actually spend time out of my day to not just play games, but just to discuss them with other gamers on a gaming forum.

Would I have to quit my job and sell my car so I would have enough time/money to be considered a "hardcore gamer". I think the definition in my sig is pretty fitting. You're not going to find someone who plays a handful of hours a week and telling you they're some amazing gamer that dedicated to that hobby

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

So you think people who play games professionally still spend all their free time playing every game fore every platform just to maintain their "hardcore" status?

gensigns

Professional =/= Hardcore

Oh right, professional gamers are just casuals that happen to be really good and get paid for it

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="treedoor"]

I would say a hardcore gamer, by definition, would never limit his own gaming experiences because of bias, or ignorance. They're willing to actually try out other systems and games.

AKA Not a fanboy

treedoor

I disagree. I have almost always only owned 1 console. When I go to buy I new one, I look at the one that has the most amount of games that interest me. That way, I don't need to own more than one platform. You're always going to miss games unless you own a PS3, Wii, PC, 360, DS, and PSP. At that point, how much free time do I actually have that I would be able to play all the games for all those platforms? I think its still possible to be a hardcore gamer without devoting your life to video games

But I'm sure you chose to not buy those other games/consoles beacuse of time/money issues, and not because you were ignorant, or biased against them.

I myself only own a PC, aside from my handhelds, but it's not as if I didn't buy a Wii because it's kiddy, or didn't buy a PS3 because it haz no gaemz. I just don't have the money to do so. Instead, I try to play whatever my friends get, and even then I'm willing to try out any game they have at least once.

[QUOTE="gensigns"]

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

So you think people who play games professionally still spend all their free time playing every game fore every platform just to maintain their "hardcore" status?

BPoole96

Professional =/= Hardcore

Oh right, professional gamers are just casuals that happen to be really good and get paid for it

"That Dr. Obermann, thats guys a hardcore Dermatologist. Pwns your pimples right off your face."

Someone who cares enough to argue about which is the better system.Grand242154

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="gensigns"]

Professional =/= Hardcore

gensigns

Oh right, professional gamers are just casuals that happen to be really good and get paid for it

"That Dr. Obermann, thats guys a hardcore Dermatologist. Pwns your pimples right off your face."

"That Dr. Smith, worst dermatologist ever. I've gone to him multiple times and still have a pizza face. He should take take his job more seriously like Dr. Obermann"

A hardcore gamer is anyone who is extremely dedicated to gaming, casual gamers usually play games like Tetris, people who play all the games that are the most popular at the time, anyone who can't stop playing MW2 is a casual gamer because they don't play any other games. Being dedicated to a system is OK because some people are unable to accomodate to other systems, not EVERYONE has every game system, I don't have a PS3 but I am working to geting a real computer that can play games (I still have a pentium 4 processor) but I don't really like PS3 games, but I don't think that makes me a casual gamer it's just an opinion. If you care about what happens to video games and you are willing to make that a big part of your life makes you a hardcore gamer, how long you have played games has a factor too, I have been playing video games since I was three starting with a Sega Genisis and a PC with Myst, if you have fond memories of playing video games all your life that really says something. Casual gamers are shallow, not that casual gamers are bad but when you have someone who plays one actual game and has some games on their phone or iPod Touch and they call themeselves a gamer there is something wrong with that.

A hardcore gamer is anyone who is extremely dedicated to gaming, casual gamers usually play games like Tetris, people who play all the games that are the most popular at the time, anyone who can't stop playing MW2 is a casual gamer because they don't play any other games. Being dedicated to a system is OK because some people are unable to accomodate to other systems, not EVERYONE has every game system, I don't have a PS3 but I am working to geting a real computer that can play games (I still have a pentium 4 processor) but I don't really like PS3 games, but I don't think that makes me a casual gamer it's just an opinion. If you care about what happens to video games and you are willing to make that a big part of your life makes you a hardcore gamer, how long you have played games has a factor too, I have been playing video games since I was three starting with a Sega Genisis and a PC with Myst, if you have fond memories of playing video games all your life that really says something. Casual gamers are shallow, not that casual gamers are bad but when you have someone who plays one actual game and has some games on their phone or iPod Touch and they call themeselves a gamer there is something wrong with that.

metroidprime55

I can agree with this definition

[QUOTE="treedoor"]

I would say a hardcore gamer, by definition, would never limit his own gaming experiences because of bias, or ignorance. They're willing to actually try out other systems and games.

AKA Not a fanboyAvian005

And where do you draw the line of a fanboy? What I have seen around here is if you defend a console you are a fanboy. If you prefer a console over another you are a fanboy. I am much more interested in this definition as the term gets abused on these forums.

[QUOTE="metroidprime55"]

A hardcore gamer is anyone who is extremely dedicated to gaming, casual gamers usually play games like Tetris, people who play all the games that are the most popular at the time, anyone who can't stop playing MW2 is a casual gamer because they don't play any other games. Being dedicated to a system is OK because some people are unable to accomodate to other systems, not EVERYONE has every game system, I don't have a PS3 but I am working to geting a real computer that can play games (I still have a pentium 4 processor) but I don't really like PS3 games, but I don't think that makes me a casual gamer it's just an opinion. If you care about what happens to video games and you are willing to make that a big part of your life makes you a hardcore gamer, how long you have played games has a factor too, I have been playing video games since I was three starting with a Sega Genisis and a PC with Myst, if you have fond memories of playing video games all your life that really says something. Casual gamers are shallow, not that casual gamers are bad but when you have someone who plays one actual game and has some games on their phone or iPod Touch and they call themeselves a gamer there is something wrong with that.

BPoole96

I can agree with this definition

[QUOTE="Avian005"]

[QUOTE="treedoor"]

I would say a hardcore gamer, by definition, would never limit his own gaming experiences because of bias, or ignorance. They're willing to actually try out other systems and games.

AKA Not a fanboyrp108

And where do you draw the line of a fanboy? What I have seen around here is if you defend a console you are a fanboy. If you prefer a console over another you are a fanboy. I am much more interested in this definition as the term gets abused on these forums.

SW pretty much calls anyone who likes a certain game over another a fanboy of that system. If you say "I like Killzone 2 better than Halo 3" than you better believe it, you're a PS3 fanboy (at least on SW).

Really though, I get called a fanboy or Cow on here and its only because I only own a PS3. I don't normally go around bashing other systems/games just because I can't play them

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="metroidprime55"]

A hardcore gamer is anyone who is extremely dedicated to gaming, casual gamers usually play games like Tetris, people who play all the games that are the most popular at the time, anyone who can't stop playing MW2 is a casual gamer because they don't play any other games. Being dedicated to a system is OK because some people are unable to accomodate to other systems, not EVERYONE has every game system, I don't have a PS3 but I am working to geting a real computer that can play games (I still have a pentium 4 processor) but I don't really like PS3 games, but I don't think that makes me a casual gamer it's just an opinion. If you care about what happens to video games and you are willing to make that a big part of your life makes you a hardcore gamer, how long you have played games has a factor too, I have been playing video games since I was three starting with a Sega Genisis and a PC with Myst, if you have fond memories of playing video games all your life that really says something. Casual gamers are shallow, not that casual gamers are bad but when you have someone who plays one actual game and has some games on their phone or iPod Touch and they call themeselves a gamer there is something wrong with that.

50u1r34v3r

I can agree with this definition

That's just the way it is man. It also depends on how much you play them

When I first started out gaming, hardcore used to define those who play games with a steep learning curve, eg flight sims. They were hard enough to require cardboard templates for different keyboards. Through the years, the definition got dumbed down more and more.