Article: 11 signs you're no longer a hard-core gamer

[mastermind]

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/xbox/11-signs-youre-no-longer-a-hard-core-gamer-329291

Out of all the reasons listed in the article, this is the only one that fits me to a T:

It's been days, not hours since you last switched on your console

Because things keep getting in the way: TV, movies, books, going out to restaurants, shopping, going down the pub, DIY, dinner parties, the gym, more DIY, your girlfriend/wife/boyfriend [delete as applicable]… oh, and having a job.

Discuss.

[valaris]

The one about the Gaming golden age bothers me.
I don't see how preferring the days of the snes or dreamcast over today make me less of a gamer.

[pherai]

Prepare for hundreds of people who agree with "they just don't make games like they used to."

Also...


There's no denying that the Nintendo Wii is a revolutionary games machine

I've got no hate for the Wii, but I don't consider gimmicky controllers "revolutionary."

[MrQuotes]

i resemble these remarks

It's been days, not hours since you last switched on your console

Because things keep getting in the way: TV, movies, books, going out to restaurants, shopping, going down the pub, DIY, dinner parties, the gym, more DIY, your girlfriend/wife/boyfriend [delete as applicable]… oh, and having a job.

You fondly remember a ‘golden age’ of gaming

You lament the current glut of videogame sequels and often talk fondly of an innovative 'golden age' of gaming. You remember Manic Miner, good ‘ol Chuckie Egg and the Ultimate games on the ZX Spectrum. You played Sensible Soccer the first time around on the Amiga, Elite on your mate’s BBC B, and finished Sonic The Hedgehog on the Megadrive. Happy days… But when modernised versions of these gaming classics turn up on Xbox Live, your excitement quickly evaporates. You quickly realise that, by today’s standards, those cherished oldies are now shallow, repetitive and not much fun.

You avoid playing on the Wii because it’s too much effort

There's no denying that the Nintendo Wii is a revolutionary games machine but… well, it does require a lot of effort. Aren't there times when you just want to slouch into a comfy sofa with a traditional joypad? Times when you can't be arsed with all that wiimote waving and waggling? It's way too energetic – a 20 minute bowling session in Wii Sports is almost akin to a full workout.

[Septimus Prime]

Let's see, there's an article in the Xbox section calling old games non-hardcore and Wii a "revolutionary" hardcore console.

Hmm.

HMM.

[Superking]

All I gotta say is...



































...Mach 5 rolls like a Jungle Cat, Speed Racer just likes it that.

[rsigley]

He's off and flyin' as he guns the car around the track
He's jamming down the pedal like he's never coming back
Adventure's waiting just ahead

Go Speed Racer Go
Go Speed Racer (Go!)
Go Speed Racer, Go! (Mach go! Go! Go!)

[maxx]

lol signs your no longer a hardcore gamer

-you post almost exclusively on the general discussion forums.

[BunnyHead]

Only thing that really really applied to me was

You believe that winning isn't everything

It's the taking part that counts. Obviously. And that's not because you're not good at games. You are. But you've found that there's more to life than spending five hours every night killing all of the Templars in Assassin’s Creed. The fact that you can't find the last three Templars is irrelevant.

[G.O.T]

Should I.......rub my nose in it?

[R.P.D rookie]

The "Golden Age" of gaming for me was the snes, I had the most fun with that system out of all the ones I ever owned. My golden age probably would've been the PS1 but my parents wouldn't get me one. I remember seeing the FF7 commercial on TV and I was like "Wow WOW, I gotta play that! Can I we get a playstation and Final Fantasy 7?"

To which my mom responded "Shit no! Better play your Super Nintendo!".:rofl: THEN in 1999 when my sister had a PS1, her and I both saw the FF8 commercial on tv and we both looked at each other with our mouths wide open. And we sped to Walmart that night and picked it up and were blown away that it was 4 discs. :rofl:

So there you have it.............had my parents caved and got me a PS1 when I was giddy for FF7, I'd probably be sporting a FF7 av right now instead.

OR MAYBE my Golden Age should've been the Dreamcast, they had a lot of fun games I played in 01-02 that had me saying "Wish I had got one of these in 99....."

[TheSix]

I don't turn my consoles on because I play on the PC.

Besides, I have been playing GTA.

And aren't gamers typically a lazy bunch? Since when does playing the Wii make you hardcore?

[valaris]

And aren't gamers typically a lazy bunch? Since when does playing the Wii make you hardcore?

It's generally a sign of the opposite >.>

[R.P.D rookie]

I don't turn my consoles on because I play on the PC.

Besides, I have been playing GTA.

And aren't gamers typically a lazy bunch? Since when does playing the Wii make you hardcore?

Yeah, I know. Tell that Wii jazz to Fatal1ty as he's mouse clicking his way to another six figure contract.:looney:

[Dwin]

Is it okay that I've gone from hard-core gamer to non-hard-core gamer and I'm only 16?????

[DarthTrey]

You only play when your girlfriend is out

Because you only have one high-def TV and to play videogames on it while she's at home is 'selfish' and not something the two of you can do 'together'.


This makes me sad because it's true :(

Just because of that I'm going to go play my Xbox and turn off her lame ass TV Shows.

[Fudd]

The one about the Gaming golden age bothers me.
I don't see how preferring the days of the snes or dreamcast over today make me less of a gamer.

Amen, I know exactly what you mean. They can go fuck themselves with a wiimote before they can tell me what kind of player I am.

[Okazaki III]

Ha....a couple apply to me....I feel old.

[Pablo_the_Mex]

They should add another one:

When you play smash "competitively".

[SIMPLY_HUGO]

The one about the Gaming golden age bothers me.
I don't see how preferring the days of the snes or dreamcast over today make me less of a gamer.

Agreed.

Id say im about 2 out of them all

[mcginnis]

I'm just the Wii thing but I don't play it cause it takes too much effort; I don't play it cause the Wii IMO SUCKS aside from Brawl.

[Hoonyo]

Buying a Nintendo Wii instead of a 360 or a PS3 should be indicative of no longer being a hardcore gamer.

[Satomiblood]

What if you've beaten Strider. That's bound to garner you hardcore points for life.

[DarthTrey]

Buying a Nintendo Wii instead of a 360 or a PS3 should be indicative of no longer being a hardcore gamer.

what if you own all 3?

[OrangeCat]

What if you've beaten Strider. That's bound to garner you hardcore points for life.
Fuck that, even getting past the 2nd level in Strider should equate hardcoredom right there.

OC

[megaultrasuper]

I don't play video games anymore.

*goes and fucks around with emulators for another 4 hours*

[Kang Do]

Stupid list

You believe that winning isn't everything

That's subjective. I try to win in a competitive game but I probably won't jump off a bridge if I lose. The description it actually gives is even more stupid. It refers to that stupid "fetch all 1982641 stars to get the extra congratulations screen" crap rather than "winning" which I always thought was stupid. Judging by this, I was never a hardcore gamer.

You’re the oldest person trading in games at GameStation
That just means you're old. If you make up excuses and are ashamed then okay but not if you're just old

You fondly remember a ‘golden age’ of gaming
Anyone who gets older naturally has a lot more years to remember than a younger person and will naturally reminisce. Stupid sign.

You avoid playing on the Wii because it’s too much effort
Everyone here's pretty much covered this one. If I avoid, it's because the damn thing doesn't work. And hasn't the Wii been associated with non-hardcore gamers anyway?

You've pre-ordered GTA IV but don't mind if it doesn't turn up on launch day
What if you just don't like GTA as much as other games?

[Infernoman]

hardcore or not, I'm a gamer...and that's all that matters...I may not play as much as before...but that's cause I have a life...

[Satomiblood]

Fuck that, even getting past the 2nd level in Strider should equate hardcoredom right there.

OC

I'll concede to that, but only because you're OC.

[Mr.Noodle]

You’re the oldest person trading in games at GameStation

So you lie about why you’re there. "It’s, ahem, my son's birthday. I'd like to trade these in for Guitar Hero please…"

Gee I wonder how old you gotta be to lose "hardcore" gamer status.

[Septimus Prime]

You’re the oldest person trading in games at GameStation

So you lie about why you’re there. "It’s, ahem, my son's birthday. I'd like to trade these in for Rock Revolution please…"

Gee I wonder how old you gotta be to lose "hardcore" gamer status.
Fixed? :confused:

[fishjie]

wtf does not turning on your console have to do with not being hardcore? i'm a pc gamer. fuck that console noise.

[ST Vega]

The "Golden Age" of gaming for me was the snes, I had the most fun with that system out of all the ones I ever owned. My golden age probably would've been the PS1 but my parents wouldn't get me one. I remember seeing the FF7 commercial on TV and I was like "Wow WOW, I gotta play that! Can I we get a playstation and Final Fantasy 7?"

To which my mom responded "Shit no! Better play your Super Nintendo!".:rofl: THEN in 1999 when my sister had a PS1, her and I both saw the FF8 commercial on tv and we both looked at each other with our mouths wide open. And we sped to Walmart that night and picked it up and were blown away that it was 4 discs. :rofl:

So there you have it.............had my parents caved and got me a PS1 when I was giddy for FF7, I'd probably be sporting a FF7 av right now instead.

OR MAYBE my Golden Age should've been the Dreamcast, they had a lot of fun games I played in 01-02 that had me saying "Wish I had got one of these in 99....."

And now look at you, repping the FF8 gang for LIFE.

[Chachi]

They forgot:

-When your Sentinel isn't quite the bitch it used to be.
-When going to Vegas, to play video games, for money becomes a tough sell.
-When your $300 custom joystick collects dust in the closet.
-When you actually back out of a Molten Core run to go to work.
-When you don't shout random oblivious phrases while watching your friends play games.

[Noob-NJ]

I know im getting old.

Some days i'll be sitting on the couch thinking about video games, then i'll get the urge to play, and then seconds latter im like ' fuck that shit im tired"

[Rico!]

I know im getting old.

Some days i'll be sitting on the couch thinking about video games, then i'll get the urge to play, and then seconds latter im like ' fuck that shit im tired"

Sounds like my typical night. I'm like "I'm dying to play some 3S", but then that would involve going over to my shelf, taking the game out, taking out whatever game is already in the PS2, fix that AV cords that my brother always switches for some other system, get the joystick out of the closet, etc....


Too much work.

[Biolink]

Anyone that can vividly remember the time of the Snes would prefer it.

Not only were the games legendary for that system(And the Sega Genesis also had some good one's),but there was also a lot less shit going on in the World/The United States.

That's proably what I loved most about the Golden Age of gaming.It was all relatively peaceful times.I didn't have to worry about anything,but Mario,Sonic,Street Fighter,the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,and Power Rangers.That was it.

[jae hoon]

Prepare for hundreds of people who agree with "they just don't make games like they used to."

Also...



I've got no hate for the Wii, but I don't consider gimmicky controllers "revolutionary."

Wii revolutionary :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Got my laugh for the day

[Noob-NJ]

If Wii bowling with your wife/gf takes up 50% of your gamming youre getting old.

<----- guilty.

[deadfrog]

Well, I guess I'm not a hardcore gamer. :smile:

[DropOff]

Yeah I don't think the writer of this article is very hard-core or ever was at all.

[Ferdinandz]

lol signs your no longer a hardcore gamer

-you post almost exclusively on the general discussion forums.


:shake:

also

-you've been playing DS games for the past year or two.

[Dark Stalkers]

-you spend more time bitching about games than playing them

[The Epidemic]

I dont think i ever was a "hardcore gamer" ("hardcore" shits sounds douchy and nerdy) i was always more casual...

[jubeh]

I guess I'm not a hardcore gamer because I actually like being able to play Carcasonne on my Xbox. Fuck if I don't want to fumble around with little piece in real life. I have a dog. Dogs eat that shit.

[Jimmy Bones]

No one said i was a hardcore gamer once, so i guess im not.
But im still playing games, catch me in someone's house destroying his console...

[Serpent]

Like with nearly all lists, this one was written up by an idiot. It's pretty much comparable to that 75 things a man should master list. I wonder if the same person wrote both.

[Sonic_Reaper]

I know im getting old.

Some days i'll be sitting on the couch thinking about video games, then i'll get the urge to play, and then seconds latter im like ' fuck that shit im tired"

Haha I'm exactly the same. I'll read down a list of my games in my mind, then at the end, just be, "Meh, played them all, would rather just lay here instead"."

[Nairdas]

None of those applied to me, but I know I'm not as hardcore a gamer I used to be. I used to play CvS2 faithfully and I was buying a new game every other week. I can't do that anymore. Money is kinda tight.

[BrentoBox]

That list is retarded, and it seems like it was put together by a lonely, selfish loser who doesn't know anything about having friends or a girlfriend.

[OrangeCat]

You have to wonder what is the idea of a "hardcore gamer" suppose to mean? I used to consider myself hardcore but it seems that there is a fine line between nerdcore and hardcore. Knowing the framerate of various fighters, the resolution differences between different variations of games and perhaps the history of a storyline between any given game isn't what makes a hardcore gamer hardcore. Neither does experience so it seems because there are so many SNES owners who probably never had the luxary of owning a Genesis at the same time and therefore missing out on a more complete portion of being a hardcore gamer.

A neat article featured on N. Gai Croal's blog (http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2008/04/08/the-big-idea-do-we-need-more-ways-to-describe-how-and-why-we-play.aspx) has yielded this idea of relabelling gamer
The Reaction: We thought we had made a genuine contribution to the never-ending discussion of videogames when we coined the term "hardcasual." But Krpata goes much, much further. In 11 brief, provocative posts collected under the heading "A New Taxonomy of Gamers," he eloquently argues that we should unpack the assumptions built into the overly broad terms "hardcore" and "casual." Instead, he says, we need to evaluate our tastes in videogames along multiple axes that are more precise, such as:

* intention: "skill players" versus "tourists"
* mastery: "completists" versus "perfectionists"
* duration: "good and too short" versus "good and too long"
* time available to play: "wholesale players" versus "premium players"

Reading Krpata's terrific series a few weeks ago, it was clear that this kind of language could not only be of use to journalists and gamers, but also to developers themselves. We suspect some of them already know this instinctively. But by formalizing the use of such descriptors, they might get a better sense of the multiple audiences that their games might appeal to beyond the hardcore-casual dichotomy--if only they would design their games with multiple audiences in mind, as we discussed in this extensive but thought-provoking comment thread here. And with such market-expanding products as SingStar, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Nintendo DS and the Wii available, the need to more precisely define and cater to a variety of gaming audiences will only grow.
However really I think the main thing that defines hardcore gamers between the mid-core or casual players is the mindspace dedicated to gaming. While it goes hand in hand with time available to dedicate to games, it still somewhat a state of mind of relating to gaming, enjoying gaming and being immersed into the culture of gaming. It's almost like work when suddenly you lose interest and then work becomes just another motion to grind through the day.

I think the main thing that hardcore gamers lose is that mindspace real estate dedicated to gaming. It's not so much the idea that you fail to multi-task but your ability to jump back into the gaming medium without feeling that it's something you *have* to do as opposed to *want* to do. That's why I think pacing of a game is suddenly much more important nowadays because it's being able to give people who lack the room in their heads for gaming to play a game and not feel like they are abandonning it for some other task. Games with episodic content or episodic-like content (aka Pheonix Wright) are games that appeal to me now because even though it might take a while and multiple sittings to play through a court case, it never feels that when I put it down, I have to retrace my steps as to where and why I'm continuing from the point I left off.

In the end I think being a hardcore gamer isn't so much the time that you have towards game but the state of mind.

OC

[bokchoy]

Soooooo true.

BTW, some of you guys need to lighten the fuck up. So offended that a joke article is implying that you're no longer a hardcore gamer. It's supposed to make fun of hardcore gamers and non-hardcore gamers alike. Cry more please.

[Dhalsimowns]

I think everything applied to me, but I have never considered myself a hardcore gamer. Nor have I ever wanted to be one. I strive not to, its just that when good games ou I have to play them.

At this stage in my life, I dont even look for games coming out anymore. If I dont hear it by word of mouth it doesnt even register with me,

Mostly because rpg's are dead atm, and 90% of all games are a fps. Fuck, I have been playing the alpha anthology lately. I dont care really anymore is all. Gameplay is dead, no games are challenging anymore, you can just save anywhere you want or continue wherever or whatever. You almost cant lose anymore, its stupid.

I am not really hyped for any games cause none of them are about skill or challenge, everything has to be some multimedia experience, which means its a boring game cause I can always save anywhere and will never die.
Wtf, I'll just watch a movie then.

3 lives, 1 continue ftw

[Septimus Prime]

Wii revolutionary :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Got my laugh for the day
The Wii's control scheme is not an advancement in conventional controls, so it's definitely not evolutionary.

It's completely different from all of its predecessors, which would make it revolutionary.

However, it does not forever change the way we interact with our games, since the PS3 and 360 both have equally viable controllers, and even some of its own high-caliber games offer conventional controls, so as it revolution, it fails.

A failed revolution is usually called a revolt.

So, really, the Wii's control scheme is revolting.

Sounds about right to me.

[DeathScythe]

Wii sucks.

[fistoftheryustar]

im no longer that hardcore of a gamer...really bc im poor. if i had the money i'd be ok

[tharimrattler]

Anyone that can vividly remember the time of the Snes would prefer it.

Not only were the games legendary for that system(And the Sega Genesis also had some good one's),but there was also a lot less shit going on in the World/The United States.

That's proably what I loved most about the Golden Age of gaming.It was all relatively peaceful times.I didn't have to worry about anything,but Mario,Sonic,Street Fighter,the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,and Power Rangers.That was it.

Weren't you in diapers in this era?

[BBQ]

I hate these lists. So pointless and straight up stupid.

[coffeerox]

@Septimus

:rofl: so true so true.

You prefer playing against the computer

eh. What he says about trash-talking 12 year olds is true. On the WOW boards, at least, the Rogue boards, theres nothing but trash-talk about arena rating and gear and all that shit it just gets so disgusting to be around. It's like if you're not cream of the crop you're nobody. I'm not gonna sit there and get trash-talked by some moron that has nothing better to do than play Arena 12hrs a day. There are people who like that aspect of the game, but don't have the time to play hardcore like that. When it all comes down to it, its all about whoever has more time to play. High-rankers on leaderboards just mean that they spent more time on it than you did.

You believe that winning isn't everything
It's been days, not hours since you last switched on your console


I agree with these two as well. Gaming just isn't about mastering and unlocking every secret anymore. I just like to play games in an episodic fashion, going from chapter to chapter, saving and quitting. But still enjoying the game quite a bit. Great examples of this are God of War and Devil May Cry. After you beat the game, you can just come back to it, and play the mini-games for unlocking/challenges or whatever and that'd be it.

You like your Xbox 360 and your PS3 equally

:rofl: well this is just being smart. 360 and PS3 obviously has different appealing games and obviously, owning both gives you access to best of both worlds. I always looked down on people who picked sides or whatever because there was no reason to do so, its not logical, makes them look stupid, and poor and/or not hard enough working to get what you like.

[valaris]

This list isn't a "You're no longer hardcore points" list but a "follow these guidelines because we still want to drain your money".

[thurst]

well the primary reason i don't like the wii is bcuz i think having to move around to play a game is stupid, so i fit that one. also i used to own at FPS but i reguarly get raped when i play halo online these days...and until i bought GTA4 i hadn't turned my 360 on in 180 days according to xblive.

[orochizoolander]

I guess being a hardcore gamer according to that list requires you to be 12 years old.

[MrQuotes]

The Wii's control scheme is not an advancement in conventional controls, so it's definitely not evolutionary.

It's completely different from all of its predecessors, which would make it revolutionary.

However, it does not forever change the way we interact with our games, since the PS3 and 360 both have equally viable controllers, and even some of its own high-caliber games offer conventional controls, so as it revolution, it fails.

A failed revolution is usually called a revolt.

So, really, the Wii's control scheme is revolting.

Sounds about right to me.

thanks for the new sig

[marcusg]

At least they didn't mention MMOs.

[Rik]

You know I consider myself a pretty big geek but the more I think about it I hardly play games anymore. Im a fighting nut and because of the understimulated community here Im left to only go "online"to the dreaded lag filled BS. Afterall awhile I just get bored and call up some friends, on that note who many hours do peeps normally get of gaming in a day?