Can We Stop Saying Hardcore and Casual? (An Article from Gamervision)

[Xander]

I’m a pretty avid gamer, I would say. I have been playing video games for the vast majority of my life. I own over a dozen systems and hundreds of games. I enjoy titles from just about every genre, excluding sports (unless you count Hot Shots Golf, I’ll play that all day long). I’ve been to E3, PAX, and a handful of other conventions. Oh yeah, and I work for a video game website. Despite all of these things some might use on a checklist to determine gamer cred, I never refer to myself as “hardcore”. Why? Because I really hate that term.

This generation, Nintendo started what has been described as a “casual gaming revolution” with the Wii and DS, pulling an entirely new audience into our industry. At first, this seemed like a good thing. Finally, people who didn’t care about gaming were showing an interest, thanks to games like Wii Sports and Brain Age. While this should have created a new unity among all gamers, instead it has created a giant rift between the casual and the other side of the fence, the “hardcore”. Just like casual gamers were once easily defined, hardcore gamers used to be simple to spot as well. Hardcore gamers were the ones with more than just a passing interest in gaming. As this generation has gone on, though, gaming has evolved, and the meanings of “casual” and “hardcore” have become pretty unclear. Even worse, they have been turned into little more than message board insults and marketing strategies, which means that continuing to try and fit every gamer into these categories is only going to be detrimental.



First of all, the meaning of “hardcore” changes from person to person. Some say that the hardcore like shooters and only play games on the 360 and PS3, as if playing a quality game on the Wii makes you less of a gamer. Others claim that Call of Duty 4 and BioShock, two of the most popular games this generation, are for babies, and only those who can beat the hardest, most frustrating games are “hardcore”. The popularity of music games has further muddled these terms, because while just about anyone can jump in and play Guitar Hero or Rock Band, few can master them on the highest difficulty settings. Are they casual? Are they hardcore? Pretty much every owner of a Wii or DS has been accused of being a “casual” gamer, but what, exactly, makes a game casual? Is it widespread mainstream appeal? If that’s the case, that means games like Super Mario Galaxy and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess—again, some of the best games this generation—are casual, despite both of them taking dozens of hours to complete. Or is it mass-produced, low-quality games that are considered casual? This is also a problem, because it shouldn’t be nearly as acceptably as it is for publishers to pump out shovelware in hopes of attacting new gamers—that’s partially what caused the video game crash of the early 80s, certainly not something we want repeated.

By continuing to use these meaningless terms, we’re letting the general public categorize and stereotype us. To the outside world, hardcore gamers are men who only play games filled with blood and gore, while casual gamers are children, tween girls, parents, and the elderly. This allows for stupid marketing campaigns to insult our intelligence and countless shovelware titles to clutter our store shelves. Most gamers know by now that people of all ages, male and female, enjoy a wide variety of titles. We don’t say things like “casual TV watcher” or “casual filmgoer”, so we need to just deal with the fact that as the industry grows, it’s going to attract a wider audience, including some who have never been interested in this form of entertainment before. It’s not a bad thing; it means gaming is becoming less of a niche and more of a widespread, accepted way to spend time.

As gamers, it’s already hard enough having to deal with the uninformed media painting us as heartless killers, or socially inept nerds living in our parents’ basements. We don’t need to label each other meaningless things just to feel better about ourselves. It’s pointless, and the terms “hardcore” and “casual” are becoming more obsolete every day. They mean different things to everyone, and the fact that you enjoy different games than someone else doesn’t make you a better gamer. So please, once and for all, can we just cut out the hardcore vs. casual gamer nonsense?





source


This sounds familiar:

Originally Posted by Xander You see, the problem stems from "hardcore" really just being there as a status symbol. Like, as a way for one person to say they are better than another person at games. I think it has definitely become more prevalent this gen, with "casual" games and gamers being hunted down like witches, and I think that's the wrong approach to it. Before, games were just games. Good games were good games and bad games were bad games, gamers played games and people who occasionally picked up a game, weren't, and it was a more or less peaceful co-existence. There have always been games that marketed towards non-gamers, the fact that the PS2 and Xbox could serve other multimedia functions was a thing to get non-gamers to buy their console (not a bad thing). It just seems that this generation, people are acting like it's a make or break moment everyday and the other company or companies have to make a mistake or everyone has to justify their purchase by saying such and such is the best, and while in truth, that's always been there, before, gamers looked down at that kind of attitude (at least that's what it seemed like to me) while now, people seem to glorify this rift people gamers and for virtually no reason at all.

Anyways, I thought this was a good read for everyone.

[Darth_1978]

Originally Posted by Xander I’m a pretty avid gamer, I would say. I have been playing video games for the vast majority of my life. I own over a dozen systems and hundreds of games. I enjoy titles from just about every genre, excluding sports (unless you count Hot Shots Golf, I’ll play that all day long). I’ve been to E3, PAX, and a handful of other conventions. Oh yeah, and I work for a video game website. Despite all of these things some might use on a checklist to determine gamer cred, I never refer to myself as “hardcore”. Why? Because I really hate that term. This generation, Nintendo started what has been described as a “casual gaming revolution” with the Wii and DS, pulling an entirely new audience into our industry. At first, this seemed like a good thing. Finally, people who didn’t care about gaming were showing an interest, thanks to games like Wii Sports and Brain Age. While this should have created a new unity among all gamers, instead it has created a giant rift between the casual and the other side of the fence, the “hardcore”. Just like casual gamers were once easily defined, hardcore gamers used to be simple to spot as well. Hardcore gamers were the ones with more than just a passing interest in gaming. As this generation has gone on, though, gaming has evolved, and the meanings of “casual” and “hardcore” have become pretty unclear. Even worse, they have been turned into little more than message board insults and marketing strategies, which means that continuing to try and fit every gamer into these categories is only going to be detrimental. First of all, the meaning of “hardcore” changes from person to person. Some say that the hardcore like shooters and only play games on the 360 and PS3, as if playing a quality game on the Wii makes you less of a gamer. Others claim that Call of Duty 4 and BioShock, two of the most popular games this generation, are for babies, and only those who can beat the hardest, most frustrating games are “hardcore”. The popularity of music games has further muddled these terms, because while just about anyone can jump in and play Guitar Hero or Rock Band, few can master them on the highest difficulty settings. Are they casual? Are they hardcore? Pretty much every owner of a Wii or DS has been accused of being a “casual” gamer, but what, exactly, makes a game casual? Is it widespread mainstream appeal? If that’s the case, that means games like Super Mario Galaxy and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess—again, some of the best games this generation—are casual, despite both of them taking dozens of hours to complete. Or is it mass-produced, low-quality games that are considered casual? This is also a problem, because it shouldn’t be nearly as acceptably as it is for publishers to pump out shovelware in hopes of attacting new gamers—that’s partially what caused the video game crash of the early 80s, certainly not something we want repeated. By continuing to use these meaningless terms, we’re letting the general public categorize and stereotype us. To the outside world, hardcore gamers are men who only play games filled with blood and gore, while casual gamers are children, tween girls, parents, and the elderly. This allows for stupid marketing campaigns to insult our intelligence and countless shovelware titles to clutter our store shelves. Most gamers know by now that people of all ages, male and female, enjoy a wide variety of titles. We don’t say things like “casual TV watcher” or “casual filmgoer”, so we need to just deal with the fact that as the industry grows, it’s going to attract a wider audience, including some who have never been interested in this form of entertainment before. It’s not a bad thing; it means gaming is becoming less of a niche and more of a widespread, accepted way to spend time. As gamers, it’s already hard enough having to deal with the uninformed media painting us as heartless killers, or socially inept nerds living in our parents’ basements. We don’t need to label each other meaningless things just to feel better about ourselves. It’s pointless, and the terms “hardcore” and “casual” are becoming more obsolete every day. They mean different things to everyone, and the fact that you enjoy different games than someone else doesn’t make you a better gamer. So please, once and for all, can we just cut out the hardcore vs. casual gamer nonsense? source This sounds familiar: Anyways, I thought this was a good read for everyone.

I definitly agree with this article. I'm sick and tired of hearing the stupid terms "hardcore" and "casual". A gamer is a gamer, some just play more than others. But of course you got some jackass out there who always has to be an elitist and put a special title on themselves like hardcore. Frankly I'm sick of it and wish people would just play their games and chill.

[Zwei]

Games are games like Xander says. The terms "hardcore" and "casual" are just terms created simply by mainstream gaming. Games these days attract many ppl from different age group and cause of this, ppl have obtained views and opinions on video games thus creating the terms "hardcore" and "casual." Ppl should just experiment with different consoles and games. That way ppl can understand both sides "hardcore" and "casual."

In my opinion, if you not going to try all genres of video games then your not a gamer at all and I suggest that you put away your handheld video game console or video game controller and go read a freaking book.

[Fyree the Spirit God]

Agreed...
I'm a casual gamer--who has an addictive personality--I'll play a certain game SO MUCH--you'd call me "hardcore"

[Xander]

Glad you guys agree. There really needs to be an end to this kind attitude gamers have towards each other by advocating that gamers are gamers, nothing more or less.

[Lord Gamington]

Good point Xander.
A+ Thread.

Some people just like games more than others... But that doesn't mean that they are "Hardcore"
This whole, "Are you hardcore gamer?!?!one?!" crap is getting annoying. We are all gamers, thats what we are here. So can we leave it at that?
(I honestly can say I didn't read the whole article.. xD)

[Fyree the Spirit God]

some people just arent THAT into games, and don't feel like playing games 10 hours a day, or whatever "hardcore" gamers say is a MUST to be "hardcore"...

and yeah, great thread

[Nightwing2110]

i say it doesnt matter what people say other than yourself

[Fyree the Spirit God]

I agree--but all the obsessive games, who are complete a-holes out there in "Gamer Land"---the kind who go around and criticize other gamers for playing Wii, and calling it a "kiddy system"--THEY would disagree.

I'm a casual-Hardcore gamer

[Xander]

Exactly, these terms are only there for mass-marketing appeal and to belittle other people.

I almost miss the days when gamers were geeks playing whatever game because gaming was their passion and the more friends they could get the better, not really what is common today.

[Redmage]

Aren't we all just gamers. Cos thats what I am. I play games, therefore I am a gamer. Does it really matter what games I play, how I play them or how often. Seriously?

[Xander]

Originally Posted by Redmage Aren't we all just gamers. Cos thats what I am. I play games, therefore I am a gamer. Does it really matter what games I play, how I play them or how often. Seriously?

Apparently to some people it does. Perhaps you should join the crusade to end these stupid titles.