Here, i shall try to objectively categorize the huge, indescribable mass of gamers, in terms that neither demean nor exalt any particular group
1. Hobbyists: This i think is the better term for that elusive "hardcore gamer." They play as a hobby that is enjoyable in and of itself, and as such are the most concerned with the minutiae of gaming, the ones that care if a game is 60 fps, or if it is truly High Definition, or care whether it supports true Dolby Surround or just ProLogic or whatever. They are very much aware of what is going on the industry, and so are, on the surface, willing to buy anything, yet they are also the pickiest, and the demands of this segment has really driven the graphical arms race, and this segment is the most attuned to hype and to marketing buzzwords. They demand worthy experiences for their dollar in as many categories as possible, and so crave a game that has everything.
2. Loyalists: This is a more neutral way to say fanboy, but the key difference is that while all fanboys are loyalists, not all loyalists are fanboys. These are the gamers whose primary purpose for playing games in the first place is the draw of one particular company or developer. They can easily evolve into fanboys, but often there is simply an honest preference for the work of a given company, because they feel that all or most of that companies' works share certain qualities that make them superior. Someone could just want to play Nintendo games, Blizzard games, Valve games, Square Enix games, etc. This group is most closely related to the hobbyists, but are simply less neutral in the kinds of brands that will attract them.
3. Retro: Could also be classified as a sub-group of hobbyists, for they too are playing games just for the sake of playing, but they have not followed the values that drove the rest of the Hobbyists, the drive for meatier content and realism. They like older types of gameplay, and have zealously stuck to them. They are the people who bought a Dreamcast for Ikaruga, instead of for Phantasy Star Online or Shenmue. They own way more VC games than they do Retail Wii titles or WiiWare, they bought a 360 this year because Street Fighter IV and King of Fighters 12 were dropping in the same year. They also still pursue collections for older consoles
4. Lapsed: Very similar to Retro, except that Retro gamers continued to track down the kinds of games that appealed to them, and so continued gaming, while Lapsed gamers just gave up and went away as the mainstream values of the Industry left them behind. They remember playing Super Mario World and Street Fighter, or Sonic the Hedgehog and Streets of Rage, or Day of the Tentacle and Maniac Mansion, or even older, remember Pac Man and Space Invaders, and simply don't see the value in modern cinematic/realistic experiences. They may even occasionally play these older games when they find them, or if they still have their older consoles around, but they need a real hook to draw them back
5. Red Ocean Casual: This is the kind of gamer who's tastes often overlap with that of the Hobbyists, but do not see gaming as a pursuit in and of itself. They too hunger for realism, cinema, action, or fantasy, but strictly play the games that appeal to them. They don't try actively to broaden their horizons necessarily, they just play what they want, and might stick with it. Equally, they aren't at all concerned with the minutiae of 1080i vs 720p, or other such things, so they aren't as demanding for more features or for specific details. With these similar values to the hobbyists, however, they also get caught up in the hype campaigns and the drive to push games further in the realm of production values.
6. Blue Ocean Casual: This is the group that Nintendo has won as of late. They have little to no concern for the tastes or the preferred gameplay of the groups listed above. They are linked to the Red Ocean Casuals in that both are only in it for fun, and are not trying to pursue gaming as its own virtue, but they have severely different values: they value immersion through interface far and away above audio/video immersion, and want games that feel as natural as non-gaming activities. They may not necessarily crave easy games, but they definitely want pick-up-and-play game types, games that won't interfere with their lives.
7. Online Social: This group includes both the MMO crowd, as well as those that game primarily for the sake of online multiplayer of some other form. They play for fun as well, but their conception of fun involves social interaction in a virtual space. They play in order to meet people, to allow gaming to open them up to the world and have fun at the same time (more fun than, say, simply trolling social networking sites)
8. Offline Social: This group primarily treats video games like board games, or any other medium that allows multiple people to entertain themselves simultaneously. They play in order to have fun with friends and family. This group is not really confined to any particular genre, so long as it's one that is conducive to local multiplayer, but as long as local multiplayer is there, and engaging, they're willing to play it. Gaming to them is complementary to their existing social lives, and not instrumental to enhancing their social life, as it is with Online Social type.
9. Low-Investment: These gamers are really out there on the margins of gaming society, but probably number the most overall, in that they actively enjoy gaming, but not to the point where they're willing to really put investment into it, to buy a console, handheld, or build a gaming rig. They enjoy playing the games that are immediately accessible to them at little to no cost, like free online flash games, or games that come bundled in with Windows (Solitaire, Minesweeper, Pinball, and the like), or relatively low-cost games that they can play at any time, like games on their mobile phone or Smartphone.
10. Trendy: These gamers follow gaming whenever it becomes a social trend, doing so as part of a mass cultural consciousness, and not out of any pre-existing desire to game. It isn't to say that these people are completely without free will, being dragged along by an indifferent cycle of trends, but that the key to convincing them to start gaming was that all their friends were playing a certain game, and they joined in on the fun. The kid playing Pokemon back in 1999 and 2000, or the man playing Guitar Hero from 2005 to 2007, or just the woman who caught "Pac Man Fever" back in the day. Their interest might be fickle, and wane when the trend moves on, but they may find something more enduring that they like, and can easily transition into another kind of gamer (especially since, starting as a trendy gamer, you've already made the investment, and so are past the point that the Low-Investment types are at. You've taken the plunge, might as well enjoy it).
Thoughts? Did i miss anything? Did i insult anyone? And where do you think you fall in? (though i'd speculate that most everyone here is a mix of 1&2, possibly with some 7&8 thrown in)
Monster Hunter: pissing me off since 2010.
Pixel Art can be fun.
(Former) Lead Moderator
