Please stop me if this has been said before.

I was reading the weekly dig yesterday. I, specifically, was reading their review of Prince of Persia.

Now, I never take what the dig saus as fact because I think they are a bunch of unestablished pricks trying to make a name for themselves, but they did have one interesting analysis.

They said that this installment was a major step away from traditional POP games. Indeed, most movement and action was contextual, meaning: Instead timing the jump, you just need to be pressing the jump button in the designated area that requires you to jump, at that moment the "computer" takes over, and guides the player through the move. Also, there is no dying.

It boiled down to the reviewer saying that if you wanted to have some kind of difficulty then seasoned gamers should probably stay away, but if you are new to gaming, or just like to listen to a nice story, this is for you.

The reviewer described it in this way, or at least this is how I saw it.

Casual gamers play games

Hardcore gamers beat games -(not in the sense that they "complete" the game) but beat as in the "beat down" teh game.

what do you think?
I think it's a cute little simplistic way to look at it.

Either gamer can play a game either way. But most people approach a game in these two ways. One goes out to learn everything and destroy the challenges presented, and another just plays the game and has a good time. This is in no way saying that if you are hardcore that you do not enjoy it, because you probably squeeze every last drip of fun out of that game.

I think its very true. Casuals (in general) aren't as competitive, dont care about trophys/achievments and aren't looking for breathtaking visuals

It is simple but pretty accurate imo.

Not only is it not true, it seems so far from the truth that I am convinced it's a joke post.

@ OP (or at least the quote in the OP) that is not it at all. WoW is probably the game that is played in the most hardcore fashion and it is a game that is impossible to beat. I don't just mean hard, I mean there is no 'you have beaten the game' screen programmed. There are many other examples of hardcore games that have no end, but I shant bother posting them, because after this, you should all be able to think of lots for yourself.

@ SMCC that's even further from the truth. Without trying to insult you, the majority of hardcore gamers play games because they are fun, not because they need the approval of their gaming console. Achievements are not hardcore. Nor are graphics. A game like Afrika is not hardcore, regardless of how shiny it looks. Nor does the lack of photorealistic graphics make something like No More Heroes a casual game

How many "Hardcore" gamers have put in the time or effort to master or beat a game like tetris? The truth is that the "Hardcore/Casual" definition is something that "Hardcore" gamers try to come up with to define themself as being better than the "Casual" gamers.

Lets look at another area, which of the following activities are "Casual" and which are "Hardcore"

• Pen and Paper RPG
• Classic strategy game (Chess/Checkers)
• Classic Card Game (Poker, Hearts)
• New Strategy game (Risk, Axis and Allies)
• New Card Game (Magic the Gathering)
• Board Games (Monopoly, The game of Life)
• Word Games (Boggle)
• Dominoes
• Free Play with children (cops & robbers)
  
• Playing Sports
• etc.

I could keep writing this list for hours, and these are the kinds of activities that lead to videogames. None of the activites are any more "Casual" or "Hardcore" than others, and people choose to take part in some of them because they enjoy them more or because they fit into their life better.

I thought someone might take the word "beat" as in finish. Sorry for the confusion, and bad wording.

When I say hardcore gamers beat games, I mean beat in the sense of "beat down".

For example, by this definition, a casual gamer gets better by playing and a hardcore gamer plays to get better.

I know someone is going to have a problem with this example but tough shit. It's just a cute little wordplay in the first place.

About the bolded section, where did you get your numbers? How do you define majority? And what does any of it have to do with need approval? Can't a gamer just enjoy the challenge of full completion? While I agree that graphics are not hardcore, how is not getting 100% acheivement completion not hardcore? To me it shows going beyond the game and going down a difficult route that does not need to be taken and may not even be part of the objectives of the game.

@Happy

I'm  not really sure I undertand what you wrote, but I did get one hint about it. How hardcore gamers try to define themselves... so on and so forth.

Would you agree that someone who has studied stratgeies and carries their own hand carved pieces around with them a hardcore chess player? What about someone who is so good at chess that they focus on taking out enemy pieces in a specific order, or someone intentionally makes the worst first move in order to undergo the challenge of recouping position?

Like I said though, I'm not really sure I understand your point.

I hate these topics.

Its like I'm still in high school again. The Jock's vs. Nerds. Or whatever else groups catagorize people in.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that was a part of both groups or more. Haven't ever really seen a TV nerd in my life ever though. But just smart unathletic kids, but most like watching sports.

But seriously why descriminate yourself from the fun of casual games. I have fun with my typical Jock friends and with my more nerdier friends. I can watch sports, play sports, party hard, party with few friends, play D&D, axis and allies, monopoly, catch phrase, eukre, texas hold em, chess, paintball or whatever else you can probably think of (non girl things like painting nails). Heck i collect sports memorabilia, and even swords, bows and axes.


Now if I was to try and be just a Jock my list of activities would be cut hugely, and same if i wanted to be just a nerd.

So why try so hard to be a hardcore gamer or casual gamer. Go out and get yourself Killzone 2, COD4. Or go out and get some World of Warcraft. And also go out and get yourself some Mario Kart or heck even carnival games or something.

Trust me you will have fun if you don't go in wanting to hate it.

irstupid you should stick to your joke posts, because these serious ones are even wierder. Where were you going with the first 4 paragraphs?

Nobody is relegating themselves to one side or another.
Backstory information coming up------>
However, I've been a hardcore gamer for a long time simply because I am not that well off and I like to play a lot. Back in the day I owned only 3 nintendo games for a full year. Now, If you want to game and have no other choice but these games that you have beaten thoroughly, there is no other option but to "complete" it.
Get over 150 points in madden 95, force 3 safeties, Beat battletoads without dying or you must reset, and so on.

Now then, with that backstory out of the way.... When you have gotten into the habit of thoroughly demolishing everything a game has to offer, how does one get satisfaction out of wii sports?
Get 2000 points in each sport, now you must agree that this is not the object of every gamer, and some can play it and just go "whee".

But the satisfaction of absolutely destroying a game's challenges is one of those unparalleled feelings that a cheapo can afford. (I feel)

I'm not saying hardcore gamers are better than casual gamers.

Ahh, well I see your point a bit better now, although I still disagree with you. You can be a core gamer without caring about how good you are at the games, simply playing them for enjoyment.

The same with 100%, just because you don't get 100% achievements in a game doesn't make you a casual gamer

yeah you are right there. Not getting 100% does not make you casual, as getting 100% on gta4 is nearly impossible (getting rank 10).
But I think the reverse (getting 100%) is a good indication that you are hardcore.

And you can continue to disagree, but you aren't disagreeing with me because my position isn't the opposite of yours. You are making arguments against a stance that does not exist. Core gamer just really means you play the games that a system is known for. Popular gamer would be a better term. Just because the word "core" rests inside the word "hardcore" does not mean those terms have anything to do with each other, I think.