What Kind of Gamer Are You?
 

What kind of gamer do you consider yourself to be?

In the gaming world, many companies create games that inspire and set alight the imaginations of players worldwide. Of course, like religion, many groups or fanbases have emerged so that they can appreciate one particular game/company or console and create unnecessary division in the gaming world. Although this division is pointless, as it puts up a wall for the gamer to appreciate other games, classicifations of different gamers exist. But enough with that.

There are many type of gamers. Some are general and some are specific. This thread is intended so that there may be "intelligent" reflections on the gamer, allowing them to see who they are and hopefully look outside the square they play in. Some type of gamers include:

-Nintendo fanboy (One of the most well known and picked on gaming groups)
-Sony fanboy
-Xbox fanboy
-Portable gamer
-Square-Enix gamer
-RPGer
-Warcraft 3 gamer
-FPS gamer
-Hardcore gamer
-Casual gamer and etc etc.

Personally, I consider myself between casual and hardcore, as I play any game which happens to show up in front of me. I don't spend much time on games, but I have a profound knowledge in the area. Although I prefer playing Nintendo games, I AM NOT A FANBOY who is so dense that he/she wouldn't touch a PS2 controller. I just personally find Nintendo games more enjoyable than the other systems, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy fantasic games on other systems such as Halo on Xbox or Tekken 5 on PS2.

So, what kind of gamer are you?


NOTE: IF A NINTENDO FANBOY DOES REPLY HERE PLZ NO BAGGING, DEGRADING etc etc. Keep it clean guys.

I would consider myself a casual gamer. I don't see myself as a fanboy for any system. If a game looks good and is a joy to play, then it doesn't matter what system it's on.

I guess I am a SquareEnix fanboy... but a casual gamer at most. I am also those sort of gamers who like to play every game that is released, but don't have the endurance to complete some, my own definition of 'boring', games. RPG is my fav genre, because I just love the plot, character involvements and especially the musics.

Casual. It doesn't matter what system, I'm playing the game on.

I hereby request the following option be added: "Want to play, but too busy with school/work/whatever".

As long as a game makes fun, I'll play it. From my point of view, quality is the most important thing regarding games. The console I have to use to play the game isn't that revelant. After all, the console is just a tool to play a game. However, I have some favored genres, like RPGs, Action Adventures and the good old Point & Click Adventures. Apart from this, I'd also play a superb Ego-Shooter, so I don't depend on some strict guidelines while playing a game.

I dunno. I don't think I could class myself as hardcore or whatever anymore, as I've gotten to a point where I just don't give a shit about the majority of 'big new super magical seventy million dollars five years in development fourty hours of video and there's also some gameplay hidden in there but you'll need to waste at least five hours before you can access it' type games.

I think I'm a Master System fanboy.

I Like 2d fighting games more than 3d but i don't mind playing any games!

I guess I'm a pretty hardcore gamer (I have every console of this generation, I think that pretty much qualifies me), but I only own a few games per machine. I guess I'm fairly picky. I generally like ambitious/original games best, even if their execution is somewhat flawed.

I can't really think of any particular system that I like best, to be honest.

My persona would lead to something in between casual and hardcore, if that makes any sense. I'll play just about anything as long as it doesn't follow the lines of a simulation sports game and/or something like GTA. Aside that, I'll give any game on any system a chance with little to no bias.

I'd lean towards hardcore sometimes because I buy the quirkiest of imports and collect a lot of memorabillia from faved series'. That's not casual in the least, so I'd be somewhere safe in between.

I'm a big Nintendo fan, but I don't limit myself to just their stuff. If given the opportunity, I'll play games produced on the Xbox or Playstation. I don't play one style of game. I'll play strategy games, FPSes, racing games, some Platform games, a few RPGs, and few puzzle games. I guess playing such an eclectic bunch of games means I'm a casual gamer.

Same here. The quantity of good games back then defiinitely outweighs the occasional good game on the newer systems.

I consider myself a casual gamer. I'll play any game as long as it's fun and enjoyable. I'll play RPG games, fighter games, sports games, puzzle games, party games, just as long as I find myself enjoying the games. I could be a hardcore gamer if I don't spend so much of my time online.

Semi-casual/hardcore. I don't play games too often anymore, but when I do I hammer them until I beat them.

I'm also a mascot/IP fanboy. Mario, Sonic, Metroid, and Squenix games are my favorites, and provided that the gameplay is decent I'll attack anything, irritating (to me) genres like strat RPGS and sports games notwithstanding.

I'm a casual gamer with a bit of an RPGer cross. A good portion of my game library consists of RPGs, but I really will enjoy just about any type of game. As long as what I'm playing provides fun and entertainment, I'll play it.

Huge Nintendo fan, also a fan of Sega. The Dreamcast era was pretty much fantastic.

I would go and say I'm a fan of Japanese games but I really hate anime, so that doesn't really work out for me.

If there's a game I'm interested in, I try to play it regardless of what system it may be on. I tend to lean towards RPGs, Survival Horror, or Action/Adventure games now. The DS has an interesting library of games though.

I'd say i fit into two of your categories there. I'm definitely an RPGer 'cause most of my games that i completely adore are in fact RPG's so yeah. But i'm also a casual gamer because i don't game as much as i could do (because of shcool and stuff -_-) so i just game when i need to relax or if i have a sudden urge.

Casual. I don't bother with too much with high scores with buddies over Battlefield 2 nor upgrade equipment and levels and powers in SPRGs like Disgaea nor spend too much time doing quests with people, battling over groups like in Guild Wars or World of Warcraft.

Hell, I just play games because I want to have fun, not to prove I'm better than the best than anyone else or something along those lines.

I'm more of a casual gamer but if I don't have the system to play a game that I want to play, I don't get it but if I do have the system then I'll get the game. For example, I'm gonna be getting MGS 3: Subsistence in a few weeks for the PS2, my sister has the PS2 so I have to borrow it from her. Anyway, I'll get a good game no matter what console it's on. I'm not a fangirl of any sort.

I'd say I'm pretty casual. Even if I only own a PS2 myself, I still play games on other consoles and don't exactly play games a great deal any more. I'm a bit of an RPGer, but am playing plenty of other games too. I don't think I really fit into any one genre of gamer in that sense.

I'm mostly a shooter fan, pretty casual about that though...I'm a MAJOR Deus Ex fanboy, which was an RPG/Shooter released in 2000, my fave game ever, played through it like 30 times. Other than that, lots of Counter-Strike: Source and Day of Defeat: Source, with some BF2 thrown in there...

I'm a Nintendo Fanboy/Casual gamer/selective hardcore gamer. I'm a Nintendo fanboy for the sole reason that i'm largley dissatisfied with the majority of franchises outside of Nintendo's realm (hit me how you will), i'm a Casual gamer in that i'll play whatever seem interesting to me, and Selective Hardcore gamer, in that there are a few franchises i will follow to the end of the world, be it for namesake, or nostalgia, or cause i'm obsessive, whatever.

Let's see...

-Nintendo fanboy... I do play a lot of games starring them Nintendo characters. So, yeah.
-Portable gamer... I love the DS and all my games for it.
-RPGer, though it just happens that most of the RPGs I've played were by Square-Enix so:
-Square-Enix gamer.
-FPS gamer. I play almost every PC FPS game out there, not necessarily once it's released but I eventually get around to it.
-Strategy gamer: I do like the Starcraft mostly.
-Casual gamer. I will sometimes play web games for a while as well, usually Gin, Literati, or Pool on Yahoo!, but anything that's entertaining for brief stints I'll play. I'd also try other games that are deemed unique and/or crazy.
-Board gamer... more in the way of games like Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, Monopoly, Taboo, etc. Fun fun. But these aren't "video games" but I'm mentioning anyway.

Quirky gamer, anyone?

Katamari, Parappa the Rappa (scuse me if I spelt it wrong), Osu, Tatakae, Ouendan etc etc. Love em. I LOVE EM!

I'm a selective gamer. I look for games in a variety of sources, and I'm not limiting myself to shoddy mainstream games.

I have lost faith in Square-Enix, who seems to have alienated their older fanbase, and started milking their intellectual property. Dragon Quest 8 was an exception, however. I also bought the poorly done Final Fantasy IV Advance just because the save battery on my SNES cartridge for FF2 US died.

I guess I should consider myself a classical gamer, if only for the reason that the large volume of new games are becoming piss-poor ones that are crappy rehashes of each other rather than games that actually experiment with original gameplay elements. Also, 3D games don't age very well, so the collection of classic games I like to play tend to avoid games with low polygons and horrid framerate.

Anyway, in summary, I am a classical and selective in my game tastes, and I look for creative games out there over flagship series.

Handheld gamer. I am a big Nintendo fan, but I play a lot of PS2 and even a bit of XBox. My tastes in genre are pretty undefined, I have my favorites, but I'll play anything as long as its fun and I'm in the mood. I'm a pretty moody gamer. One month I'll be playing nothing but TBS, then for a good week I'll be stuck on playing Halo 2 with some friends. I get a craving for a certain game (or type of game) and play it until my craving has been satisfied, then move onto my next.

- WraithTwo -

Like WraithTwo, my tastes..vary?

I'm usually a Nintendo fan. When it comes to handhelds, you can bet I'll be rooting for Nintendo. Consoles, not as much, but hey, maybe the Revolution can change that. I'm a casual gamer, though. A little bit of DS, and XBOX. I'm not a Sony fan, though.

I'm a Sony Fanboy, a Square-Enix gamer and a casual gamer.

I'm willing to play anything and I do - handheld, PC, etc. But when you look at my total hours, much of it is spent on a Square-Enix RPG on my Playstation 2. I haven't owned anything Nintendo since SNES (the GBA in the house is my brother's).

I go in cycles between casual and hardcore gaming. Right now I play here and there, but every so often I go into an unstoppable game lock, it's why I logged more than 200 hours into Diablo 2.
I generally play most types of games, except for sports games (excluding the greatness of racing games of course).

-Nintendo fanboy (ZOMG)
-Portable gamer (used to be)
-Square-Enix gamer (hardly)
-RPGer (sorta)
-Warcraft 3 gamer (yey)
-FPS gamer (pew pew lasers!)
-Hardcore gamer (1337 h4x)

pheer!

I don't ally myself with any system. But I hate Microsoft for the XBo, they betrayed PC gamers and waited two years to port Halo over to the PC (when Halo was orignally supposed to be on the PC and Mac).

I consider myself to be somewhere between a hardcore gamer and a casualone, leaning towards casual. I don't hate or love any of he big 3, I consider all consoles to have some ups and some downs. However my tolerance stops at Mouse VS Dual analog. I still find it hard to believe some people prefer dual analog over the mouse.

I'm more of a casual gamer because I mainly play games to have fun. I don't play games just to be playing them or someone recommended them to me. I play because they look appealing. However, the only games I've gone hardcore on are probably Phantasy Star Online, Resident Evil 2, and Area 51. For some reason, I felt I had to get every darn thing in those games.

I would consider myself Casual/Sensible gamer.

I consider myself sensible only because I can step back and judge a game in an unbiased manner.

MMORPG! Does that count?

I can't find the patience to learn how to shoot in CS (well, I KNOW how to, but not how to play well, blah), and I don't bother fighting against Korean Gosu in SC. I'd rather sit and spend hours and hours killing the same monster for leveling up in RO or Maple or similar.

Non-level-based oRPG like Survival Project are fun too. I need people to talk to while I'm playing a game, basically.

MMORPGer eh? I really have to try MMORPG one day.

Are there any race gamers? Those who just play Daytona, Grand Turismo, Initial D etc?

MORE TYPES OF GAMERS
-Music gamers
-Racing gamers
-Quirky gamers
-Clockers - Gamers that overkill any game
-Anime gamers - Gamers that just play games based on Anime
-Resi Gamers - Devoted to Resi

An RPGer, it's basically the only genre that I play. I try other genres from time to time, but I always find myself coming back to RPGs.

i would have to classify myself as a hardcore rpger(MMORPG), as well as a music gamer...i dont know i just get addicted to MMORPGS way too easily... 18+ hrs on weekends playing them... ya....gotta stop that >_<

Me, I'm a pretty hardcore Playstation/PC gamer. I pretty much find anything on the Gamecube or X-Box to be unworth my time (plus anything good on the X-Box is out on the computer and better, for the most part). Gamecube is too "childish" for me, whereas the Playstation seems to have the best selection and variety of games.

As far as styles of games, well, I play almost anything, if I like it, From God of War to Guitar Hero to Disgaea. I like Real Time Strategy, RPGs, Action, Adventure. Styles I generally hate (they have to actually be unique for me to even look at them):

FPS - Hate them. They are just like Fighting games use to be so long ago or Sports games are generally, where they only update minor things each version. They are all generic with nothing new to offer. Besides that, they are very boring to play after the first 10 minutes. On top of that, they are even worse on console systems. I think Rune is the only one I'd still play due to the concept and the fact that I can back out of the body with the camera and turn it into a 3rd person.

Sports - If I'm going to play a sports game, I'd rather actually walk outside grab a buddy or 10 and play.

Squenix - By this I mean now (although I haven't experienced Dragon Warrior VIII yet, so that one I can't judge from). Ever since Final Fantasy VI (barring Tactics, which was one of the greatest games ever), there hasn't been a Final Fantasy game I liked. Final Fantasy VII I've grown to hate more and more over the years (I think mainly due to fanboys more than anything who don't realize there are better games out there), and other than that, the rest are Meh. The problem seems to me that while the gaming market has (generally) grown up (or at least those that play on the PS2), Squenix seems unable to. That said they are generally "Hollywoodizing" their games, to make them appeal to the lowest common denominator now, mass-marketing it rather than making something new and unique. It's too bad really. I used to really like them...

Fighting Games generally let me down to. Barring the Soul Blade/Calibur series and the odd Wrestling game (of all things, no game can compete with a fricken wrestling game for a character creator...why is that? Freaking RPGs, where you are supposed to immerse yourself in the character don't have the detail a wrestling game has...very sad), none are interesting.

Favorite games:
Guitar Hero - There is so much that is so perfect with this game that I cannot get into it. This is the single best idea to come out in a long time. Sure it works off of an older concept, but this game makes it work to perfection.

God of War - Such a great game, well executed, a game that has me eagerly awaiting a sequel.

KOTOR - Probably the single best RPG experience I've ever had. A well executed story, great characters, many options, and perfect immersion.

Final Fantasy Tactics - A Final Fantasy that actually seemed appropriate to an older audience. Great, deep story, fantastic characters (despite the fact they stuck in Cloud for the rabid fanboys, :) ), and graphics that are still gorgeous today.

Diablo II - I don't think any other game has had me playing it so many different times. So much replayability, so fun. Great game.

I think that's it for now.

I'd like to call myself hardcore but I have a strong hatred towards Sony and Square.

Where exactly would that put me?.

Here here.

mostly RPG gamer...btw hardcore and casual...
i'm sorta perfectionist when it comes to games that i REALLY like...and so then i'm "hardcore"...but when it's just plot i'm after, then i suppose i'm "casual"

You can't be both.

I'm a Sega fanboy and I can't lie, since after all, the Genesis was awesome. I still remember commercials for the Genesis, and they were hilarious. "GENESIS HAS MICHAEL JACKSON'S MOONWALKER, NINTENDON'T."

Sega are still around, but they're much like Atari now - just making games here and there, popular in japan, their audience isn't as popular post-2000. I'd say my collection is unbalanced as I have so many PS2 games over Nintendo ones, but that's irrelevant considering I imported an american SNES just to play both regions of my Chrono Trigger.

Basically casual, I don't take games seriously anymore.

I'm a casual gamer mixed with Square-Enix gamer. Recently I've lost my drive to play videogames as much as I did when I was younger, but when I do pick up the controller I find myself playing Final Fantasy. Occasionally I'll pick up a fighting game or an action game, quite rare though.

I like original games. By originality I mean, new kind of game. Katamari, any good puzzle game, DDR/ITG, Indigo Prophecies.

But I don't say I never play other games. Just check my game shelves and you'll know.

I am definitely the "Bargain Gamer/Oldschool Gamer."

I.e., I will only buy a game near release if it is one I truly can't wait on. Otherwise, I don't buy PC games until they have been reduced to anywhere from $10 to $25. What this means is that I end up with a lot of "b-list" games that have unique appeal, and a few a-list titles that have become greatest hits and therefore cost less. This also lends me to be old-school, because many times I am just getting around to playing games that are "old news" to most. For example, only my shelf I have, but have not played: Wizardry 8, Gothic II, Arx Fatalis, KOTOR, amongst others...
Edit: ... and along those lines, I just installed and am playing through M&M VI: Mandate of Heaven again. :D

RPGamer, for the most part, and follow a lot of Square's work. I'd say that I am both Hardcore and Casual. Casual in the sense that I never really have that much time to spend on playing games, and playing in short burts. Hardcore in the sense that I have to get everything in the game and even try to figure out how a game works. Dunno how that works in my mind, but probably because I'm a perfectionist.

Also, I've recently turned a doujin gamer - those games made by fans (usually in Japan). Some are amazing quality, and the current one that I play are vertical scrolling shooters. My perfectionist mentality makes me want to increase my skill so I can actually try and beat the hardest difficulty setting.

In summary, an odd gamer.

I'm pretty much a casual gamer. Though I prefered to play all my games on a PS2. I do have a GCN and an Xbox, but I only buy the games only made for those 2 console. If a game is multi-platform, I alway buy it for the PS2, no matter how better the graphics are for the Xbox.

I'm not too much of an RPG fan. I like only a small amount of them (Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger/Cross, Kingdom Heart). I'm not too much into animes so it's hard for me to get interested in all those crazy japanesse RPGs.

My main preference is the action genre, hack and slash, platforming and adventure games. I like to control my character and beat a game without having to level up or spent 50 hours on it. I like shooters and horror games too. I also like to play 2-D action games like Contra and Mega Man X. The type of racing game I like is the futuristic genre. Don't make me play Grand Turismo cuz I'm gonna be bored as hell, give me F-Zero!

I pretty much stay into this kind of games. If you take a look at my game collection under my signature, you gonna have a pretty good idea of what I like to play.

WTF is this shit? Every poster in here has huge self confidence issues or is just truely delusional.

If you are a posting member of a gaming forum, you are not a casual gamer.
If you play RPGs that are not named Pokémon, you are not a casual gamer.
If you use the word "library" to describe your collection, you are not a casual gamer.
If you own a copy of Need for Speed, you are a casual gamer.

Can't you guys just own up to the science fact that you're huge gaming nerds, end this cool image bullshit.

I'm a hardcore Nintendo fanboy, rarely will I touch other systems and I won't go to them with an open mind. I don't play games as much as I'd like to but even then I'd spend many more hours gaming than your average Joe. I've probably spent over $800 AUS on my DS alone in the past twelve months. Probably a similar figure for the GameCube, despite the poor amount of releases.

Awesome. Thanks for reminding me why Sega ruled. :tpg:

I think there needed to be a catergory of just a gamer. Just a person who enjoys games, some can't be classified to liking only one specific system or genre. You could consider them casual gamers, but as RAB pointed out, there are much more casual gamers. People who only buy a game that has garnered media attention or is widespread due to word of mouth, casual gamers raen't going to search out decent games, they aren't going to come to a gaming forum to discuss games and they aren't going to pick up obscure games.

This being said I wouldn't consider myself a hardcore gamer, as I could go without playing games for months and not be lost or struggling without them. I enjoy games that's all, although I mainly play and enjoy Nintendo games, I don't have an allegiance to them. I can enjoy games on my PC and PS2 just as much as Nintendo games (although I haven't for a while).

I am a gamer.

That's pretty much it you know. I think many people who don't have a single allegiance and own many, but not an insane amount of games would just call themselves a gamer.

Then of course you have your hardcore gamer kind of like myself who owns every system going and buys three new games before finishing their last two, and loves a variety of genres aswell.

And then you have your casual gamer, which as you pointed out sticks to the biggest system going, or the one that most of their friends have and only really know of the big "Block Buster" titles.

Then what about the people that have only one system, but don't play new releases? What category are they?

Depends on what genre the games are.

Poor people.

If you play alot you would still be a gamer. Because when I said "new games" they could be old games, but new for you. In the end though. they're still "new".

RABicle: There's no need to be rude. It's people like you that bring down online communities.

From the current list, I'd add a section called PC Gamer, what with the Xbox/Sony/Nintendo fanboy categories. The last console I owned was a SNES, so most of my gaming experience is on the PC.

But I kinda question categorizing gamers into platforms... Are we looking for the taste of the gamer in the genre of games, or the amount of time one plays, or the platform one plays on here? Everyone of these have subcategories by themselves.

Slayer X: There is no need to be serious. It's people like you that bring down online communities.

can you be a hybird? cause im a nintendo fanboy with a case of casual gamers pinkeye

hope that helps :p

That doesn't help at all. "with a case of casual gamers pinkeye" What does this even mean? Until you explain this you will be classed as an "idiot gamer"..:)

I'm sure there's other type of gamers out there not on my list... But maybe they just haven't seen this thread.

Oh, and how can I forget the horror gamer!!! MEEEEE!!!

I'm a casual gamer. I get bored of games quickly and often don't finish games I've started.

Occasionally I'll get into an rpg but I prefer action type ones and shorter ones to the huge sprawling efforts. For example, I loved the Bard's Tale but didn't get on with Star Ocean Second Story at all (Got bored after disc 1).

I play a lot of fps games on Live, Ghost Recon being my favourite but I've never been good enough to be too bothered about levels or ranks or anything, I just play for fun.

I like short, silly games like Parappa and Alien Hominid. I prefer Street Fighter to Tekken although Soul Blade is the finest Beat em up ever and the best game ever made ever ever ever is Worms, possibly the World Party edition.

a good game is a good game, doesnt matter what system it's on.
But I am a Sega fanboy, althought i havent gotten all their newest games i defend and worship sega to the end. I would get a new sega system over any of the other posers :/

I used to consider myself a "Hardcore" gamer. Now I just more or less like to talk about games and collect them rather than play them. I play RPGs, Music games and strange/shitty games and nothing else really, with the exclusion of a few diamond in the rough mainstream titles like Resident Evil 4. For some reason beyond my knowledge, Massive Overhype or Hype in general usually kills my enjoyment of most games. Probably disapointment, like Final Fantasy VII which I loved but have grown to hate the name. Games like Halo which I just hate and can never and probably will never see why they're so popular.

I don't love being "different" when it comes to my taste in games like most people think I'm trying to do. I've got fucked up, uncomprhendable taste. Like why I like Ephemeral Fantasia and not love Shadow Hearts.

I don't understand my taste in games and probably never will. I rarely play them anymore though (no where near as much I used to). I love collecting them though...Ill never get tired of that.

Well lets see how I fit into these groups

-Nintendo fanboy best games ever in terms of playability and fin
-Sony fanboy love the RPGs
-Xbox fanboy modded XBOX for the W
-Portable gamer PSP, DS, GBA great boredom relievers at work
-Square-Enix gamer FF, DQ, CT, and many other great games
-RPGer general category and the bulk of my gaming collection
-Warcraft 3 gamer never really cared fo the game
-FPS gamer I like playing offline in WW2 style games
-Hardcore gamer just built a new rig for close to 2k, 7900GT FTW
-Casual gamer not so much as this is what I spend a lot of my time doing

I'd have to call myself an FPS-gamer. However, I like FPS's that have a good story to them. Games like the Jak series, Ratchet and Clank series et al. Then again, mindless, wanton destruction like that offered in Megaman and Doom isn't bad either.

I'm an NIS fanboy. I love pretty much everything that this company has put forth. I guess I fall in with the RPG gamer also, since pratically half of my game collection is RPGs. Casual gamer, yes, to an extent, since I don't really play games that much anymore. I'm also a sucker for the survival-horror genre, like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Clock Tower. Oh, and I'm a Guilty Gear fan too, and I love the series.

Looking at the replies so far, it seems everyone is mixing or combining themselves as casual AND hardcore. I think I'd better clear this situation up:

Hardcore:
-You play any type of game that comes your way.
-You don't care what system the game is on
-You're very critical when reviewing games.
-You have an encylopedia of the history and issues involving the topic of videogames
-You have stacks of game magazines since you were a young'un.
-You clock up to 20hrs+ per week playing games
-You have an almost non-existant social life
-You'd rather have the autograph of dudes like Shigeru Miyamoto, Sid Meyer and Hideo Kojima rather than Britney, Jessica Simpson or whatever slut/hunky guy they have on TV these days
-You You own a number and variety of console brands (say for example you own an Xbox, GCN, PSP, DS and have in your closet at around two of the three past generation consoles for eg. both 64 and PSX, SNES and Sega Genesis, NES and Master System).

Casual:
-You play when you have a bit of spare time
-You mainly play critically acclaimed games or games from word-of-mouth
-You don't care what system you play the games on
-You own a limited number of systems
-A lot of your games are pick-up-and-play games
-You manage to hang out with friends for a reasonable amount of time
-You can integrate the topic of games through conversation without confusion other non-gamers who listen

Before I finish, the reason why I have both casual and hardcore gamers as people who don't care for what system they play their games on is because of the existence of fanboys.

That's what they're for. System loyalty.

Yes, but chaosfan, you can own 200 consoles and still be a casual gamer.

I own 8 consoles and I consider myself a casual gamer. Oh sure, my taste is a little expensive - with japanese imports, games you've never heard of, and games you probably would NEVER play, but that's how I like it.

I don't think it's defined by statistics. I think you can tell whether you're hardcore or not judging by how you treat your games. If you get a game, complete it, complete it on hard/extra difficulties, then yeah, you're hardcore. If you buy a game and progress through it, and then never touch it again, I would consider that casual.

I said I'm casual because I don't take games seriously anymore. That means, I usually don't mind if I die/whatever. And I usually don't try REALLY hard to prevent myself from being hurt in a game, like some do.

Optionally, you can judge yourself on hard games. Simple. Will you try over and over to pass Extra Hard mode, or don't you care? I think that your true answer lies in there.

Well, I suppose yeh casual gamers can own a thousand consoles.

I suppose the main thing that separates casual and hardcore is the devotion the individual puts into their gaming life.

Well, lets take a look at your criteria, and how I rate up :)
---------------------------
Hardcore:
-You play any type of game that comes your way.
No, I wont play "any" game, it has to be somewhat appealing.

-You don't care what system the game is on
No, I dont care what system I play a MMO on, I find game, then look for what its for (though, generally its going to be for PC, I think the only exception is FFXI)

-You're very critical when reviewing games.
Im generally very easy to please with games

-You have an encylopedia of the history and issues involving the topic of videogames
Hmm, this is a "semi-strike", I know various tidbits like the whole Nintendo/Tengen bit, but can I run down a whole timeline for you? No.

-You have stacks of game magazines since you were a young'un.
Subscribed from NP#1 up to like...#150 or somewhere abouts there, I think, that number is probably wrong, somewhere around the "N64 era", and some issues from the GC era.

-You clock up to 20hrs+ per week playing games
12-18 hours a day, please.

-You have an almost non-existant social life
I suppose so, I only talk to a few, on AIM/MSN, and not often.

You'd rather have the autograph of dudes like Shigeru Miyamoto, Sid Meyer and Hideo Kojima rather than Britney, Jessica Simpson or whatever slut/hunky guy they have on TV these days
Im not big on autographs, really, what am I going to do with it really? Nothing fun, I want something fun :)

You You own a number and variety of console brands (say for example you own an Xbox, GCN, PSP, DS and have in your closet at around two of the three past generation consoles for eg. both 64 and PSX, SNES and Sega Genesis, NES and Master System).
Mostly Nintendo, but I own 3 SNES, 1 Sega Genesis, 3 NES, 4 GB (this is actually, a funny story...haha), 1 GBA, 2 PSX, 2 PS2, 1 Virtual Boy, 2 N64, 1 GC

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Casual:
-You play when you have a bit of spare time
Unless I have some other business to attend to, like going to a doctor, I'm playing MMOs. (Well, unless im bored with my current ones :P)

-You mainly play critically acclaimed games or games from word-of-mouth
I browse ONRPG.com, MMORPG.com, RPGAMER.com's MMORPGAMER section, google searches, etc, till I find a game I want to play.

-You don't care what system you play the games on
No, I dont care what system I play a MMO on, I find game, then look for what its for (though, generally its going to be for PC, I think the only exception is FFXI)

-You own a limited number of systems
I own SNES (multiple), NES (multiple), N64 (multiple), PS2 (multiple), PSX (multiple), GB (multiple), GBA, GC, Virtual Boy, somewhere, but I dont know where >_>

-A lot of your games are pick-up-and-play games
I play a MMO till I get bored of it, find another, rinse and repeat.

-You manage to hang out with friends for a reasonable amount of time
The only friends I've had since I was 14 have been on AIM/MSN.

-You can integrate the topic of games through conversation without confusion other non-gamers who listen
I dont bring up conversations about games I play, I know people who dont play them wouldnt understand, so why bother? It just makes me feel embarrased. :P
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Well, according to your criteria, I am a "hardcore gamer", which is what I consider myself, though I dont meet every single thing you came up with, glad to know I rated myself in the right category :)

Yeah, that one is uh... debatable. If you recently by a game, then of course you're going to play it. But I bought Shadow of the Colossus back in the middle of feburary and still haven't gotten into it properly. I like to take my games slow and consider myself a casual gamer.

But then again, I also like to stay up to 4 am playing MAME games on my xbox. So meh. It just depends on the person, and most people posting here are either 12-20 hardcore gamers, 12-50 casual gamers, or 30+ hardcore nerds. It just depends.

Big Nintendo fan and RPG lover (although both groups don't mix well.... i wish nintendo had more RPGs).

Well if you own a PSP, stay far away from Generation of Chaos if you know what's good for you. If you have to play it, rent it from Gamefly or something.

I'm surprised that -Collector wasn't a given choice. I'd definitely be a collector, and i might deem myself hardcore as well, because i'm usually going to milk a game for all it's worth. so being a collector, there are a bunch of classic games in my collection. i used to be a portable gamer, that is, until i learned to drive, which robbed me of the commute time i used to play the portables.
strategy/fps- not so much
square enix- maybe individually,though i dont have many (if any) games made by squeenix.
rpg- i tend to be, though it can't always be turn based....

I'd like to think i'm not judgemental about the games I play. I enjoy a game with a good story, or one that's entertaining enough to not need one. I play more games on the PS2, but I don't consider myself a fangirl of one system. I own all three (not the Xbox 360) and have found games that i've enjoyed and completed on each.

If anything, I may be a console fangirl. I really don't play too many games on my PC other than browser based games. Unless you count emulated games. :biggrin:

I do know that I have a great passion for games, which I hope will continue for years to come.

And I'm sure there's a million classic gamers out here. Name me one person in these forums who isn't a classic gamer!!!

I would certainly be a collector as well (I mean, click my sig!), but I also enjoy the classics, and have been a Nintendo fanboy for some time (I mean, click my sig!:p ).

Hey all

I would consider myself between hardcore and casual gamer, probably leaning more towards hardcore. I've been playing games for many many years now and have quite an interest in the area.
I wouldn't consider myself to be a fanboy of any kind, since I own both an Xbox and PS2. I happen to enjoy games on any console, and although I dont' own a GameCube, I enjoy many games on that platform as well. I think, in MY case, it just depends on what game is released on whatever system. If I really want to play that particular game, then I'll go out of my way to try and play it.

I'm a much more casual player then I used to be. I used to get home from school and get right on my xbox and stay there until I went to bed. But, that kind of got in the way of homework. So, these days I don't play a whole lot anymore. I tend more to play SNES games on emu.

I'm also a huge RPG fan. I've always loved playing RPGs since I started playing games at 7 or so.

Hmm... I guess I'd be considered somewhat casual. I'll play most games, including racing and skating and etc, but I can't stand most first person games... though I do enjoy watching other's play them. I'd also be in the RPG fan catagory, as alot of my games are that, or action/adventure/whatever you wanna call them. Aaand, I'd be in the sony catagory, though I do play some nintendo games. So, Sony Casual RPGer? XD

It varies with what's out.

All-in-all, I guess you could call me a "hardcore" gamer since I take free time out of my day(s) to play games. When I do play, I tend to do so for extended periods of time -- 4 to 5 hours.

As for what I play -- for a while I was playing hack n slash, action, and shooters, but then that Winter 06/07 influx of RPGs switched me back over to RPGs. So currently I'm an RPG gamer. But during the Fall season of likely every year, I'll be a devoted platform gamer a la Ratchet, Jak, and Sly.

I didn't checked the last 2 pages of the thread but did you considered adding the Rockman/Megaman-Boy type (casual and hardcore)?

I'll consider myself a hardcore Rockman-Boy and a Square-Enix-Boy (well before the merge) because i'm a fan of Final Fantasy Tactics, Xenogears and the like.
BTW consider the type :)

I would also consider myself a "hardcore" gamer in most every sense of the word. I play all genres with the exception of sports, though I have been known to play pro-wrestling titles, and most don't consider pro-wrestling a sport anyway. I've beaten literally hundreds of games over the years, starting from meager PC and NES titles such as Rogue and Megaman/Legend of Zelda leading all the way up to the current generation. Don't think I'll be slowing down any time soon either.

I tend to have more of a calling toward RPGs, but fighting games are always something I have enjoyed, as well as 2D/3D platformers.

Im a big time Nintendo Fanboy.... Have every system they've made & play them regulary.... Also Im a biggey Res. Evil fanboy..... I guess that would be a Capcom fanboy.... Im all mixed up wit hit all XD

Well this thread's intention was to find out what other kinds of gamers are out there so you don't necessarily have to follow what I've listed... those were the only ones I could think of at that point of time.