Casual and Hardcore aren't Exactly the Right Words

[Shadow)OS]

Wii_R2_Hardcore said:
What I actually find funny is how some people say casual as a synonime of dumb. It is also regarded as low quality. This people call themselves hardcore meaning smart and high quality.

The meaning is changing

Casuals: the future of gaming. Social, cooperative and open minded gamers

Hardcore: the past of gaming. Elitist, competitive and conservative gamers

Then I dread the future.

I'm all for relaxed experiences, but when you start turning competitive games "friendly", the people who desire stronger more cut throat experiences are left out of the loop. How would you feel if you were playing a game for weeks straight, then some button mashing mouth breather comes up and defeats you due to randomness?

It's like the items in Smash Bros argument. Some people like items and think the game is funner that way - great. I think that's fantastic too... when I don't care about winning or losing. When we're playing for keeps? Items off please. Why? Because if I widdle my opponent down to the point where they are one strike away from dying, then a Pokeball that unleashes Latios/Latias and a heart randomly appear before my opponent and I ultimately lose because of it, does this mean I am less skilled? Did my opponent deserve that win? Of course not. What did this "friendly" randomness? It tells the would-be clearcut winner that effort and skill is meaningless, and it tells the would-be loser that even though they are subpar, they some how deserve to be on top of the chain.

Bullshit.

 

Now for the Social/Cooperative aspect.

Let's use NSMB:Wii as an example. I can play a traditional (for the most part) Mario game with friends. Cool! That's neat, and I'm probably going to do that. But I'm also likely to play and beat it alone. Again, why? Because when I play with my friends, I get hindered. Sure it's fun for that occasion I play with my buddies, but when I want to make progress and do things that require greater finesse, there's no way I could do that with them. They'll likely be tripping all over themselves.

What does cooperative play do to the people who are a cut above (and I assure you, there is a such thing)? They are hampered by the partners. This will occur in ANY cooperative game. One player in the team is always going to be better off on their own. Someone is going to make a mistake, and someone is always going to be thinking "We lost because of HIM" - which is entirely true.

Why the hell should I pay for my partners mistakes? If I don't want co-op, don't force that shit on me.

 

Here's another thing: Don't call competitive people close minded. I'm very open minded to new experiences, thank you. I bought Mad World. I bought NMH. I bought Deadly Creatures. I bought World of Goo. I bought Okami. I didn't buy Cooking Mama. I didn't buy "Babyz". I didn't buy Spongebob Square Pants. That crap does not appeal to me in anyway, but it does not mean I am close minded. I know what I like, and I know what I don't like.

 

And finally to everyone who's thinking it right now: go ahead and call me "elitist". I'm not sorry if I think Street Fighter is better balanced than button mashing Soul Caliber. I'm not sorry that I really do think I'm better than my opponent when I smash them into the ground. I'm not sorry that I think games should be difficult with a strong curve. Want to know what I am sorry for? I'm sorry Dev's are actually dumbing their products down and giving me and other gamers of my caliber, who have supported them all these years, the bloodiest assfuck in history.

I guess I'm mostly pissed off because of fat lazy mother fuckers (metaphoircally) who think having to try two or more times in completing any challenge is too difficult for their pudgy fingers, and ruin MY experience because they are unwilling to put any effort into what they do.

That said, I hope everyone who disagrees has fun playing "Friend Tussle" mode in "Cotton Pillow Fight 3" where the winner is randomly selected after 5 minutes of nudging eachother - with a naptime break in the middle; that's certainly where this industry is headed if they keep listening to the wrong people.