What IS a "hardcore" gamer?

[Keir]

According to a recent news article, it's someone who buys more than 6 games a year. I think number of games bought is a pretty unrealistic means of measurement, but lets go with that.

[Captain Wrong]

I think it has nothing to do with buying games and everything to do with playing them.

Hardcore? Getting 2 hours of sleep because you were up all night playing your favorite game. Knowing the ins and outs of your fave game like you wrote it. You need your medical insurance to cover Sega Thumb. That's hardcore.

Anyone with money can go out and buy a bunch of games, but hardcore is a state of mind.

[bargora]

Anyone with money can go out and buy a bunch of games, but hardcore is a state of mind.
Yeah--singleminded purity of purpose is the hallmark of the hardcore gamer.

But if I ONLY own Yar's Revenge, and play the hell out of it for years running, I don't know if I'm a hardcore gamer, or only a hardcore Yar. Hardcore gamers usually want more games. The thing is, if you're hardcore, one game every month or two might be enough to keep you occupied. Doom II kept me fully occupied for several months. And this was when I was pulling easy hours at the coffeehouse...

Now to qualify as a hardcore loser, er, collector, I'd have to go with 25+ games per year as a LOW figure.

[Starcade]

To me it is knowing EVERYTHING about a game without needing help or a guide even, playing 5 or 6 hours a day (like I do with everquest, though I am not hardcore, i just play ALOT!!), and sacrificing human needs, to play games. :-D

[junglehunter]

I did the whole stay up all night with no sleep to beat some of the harder levels of Frequency for the PS2. Everyone says to never play in the morning with no sleep but I did it and has more success.

[ashbourn]

I think it is more of a issue of hours spent playing. I have a friend that has almost every xbox game and never play more then 3 hours a week. Then there is my friend who has only 2 doxen and plays atleast 5 hours a day.

[Cheese]

Someone who plays their PS2 with a boner?

[swlovinist]

Hardcore gaming starts in the mind. You eat, sleep, and play video games. You might go to a friends house and play for 8 straight hours. You might tear out game pictures and decorate your living quarters only with game pictures. You might not get sleep until you accomplish the ultimate "high score". It has nothing to do with buying, it has everything to do with living!

[Arqueologia_Digital]

Hardcore gaming starts in the mind. You eat, sleep, and play video games. You might go to a friends house and play for 8 straight hours. You might tear out game pictures and decorate your living quarters only with game pictures. You might not get sleep until you accomplish the ultimate "high score". It has nothing to do with buying, it has everything to do with living!
Yes, i think the same...and...i was usually a hardcore gamer, but now i don´t have free time...

[RetroYoungen]

I have to agree, the state of mind is what makes a hardcore gamer. Someone who thinks little of anything except saving the princess, or carrying a beef against Ganon (because he kidnapped your bitch), or getting the high score. Wow, I guess I AM hardcore... never thought about it before, really...

[Videogamerdaryll]

Someone who plays their PS2 with a boner? LOL

[Drexel923]

Hardcore gaming starts in the mind. You eat, sleep, and play video games. You might go to a friends house and play for 8 straight hours. You might tear out game pictures and decorate your living quarters only with game pictures. You might not get sleep until you accomplish the ultimate "high score". It has nothing to do with buying, it has everything to do with living!
Yes, i think the same...and...i was usually a hardcore gamer, but now i don´t have free time...

Those two quotes basically sum up how I feel.

[chevy_chase]

I say, none.... for multipal reasons.... 2 to be exact.

1. If your are a hardcore gamer, you'd probably play games 24/7...
So there's no point in working then.... you simply don't have time for such nonsense... so ... you wouldn't make much money and hench would be unable to purchase any games, so you'd have to D/l 'em.

2. (much more reasonable) I don't think you can't define a hardcore gamer by the shear quantity of owned games, it's more like a mindset...
the way someone plays games, skill level, knowledge and stuff,
More than that.... if you'd consider your self a hardcore gamer!

It's like saying your a punkrocker, there aren't really any qualifications to it... just be it... same with HC gamer.. it's a stupid name you can call yourself when you wanna be part of something..

So my conclusion is: WHAt KinndA POLL is this man! @_@

[jose.yoshitake]

There is no way to measure up how much hardcore gamer am I by the number of games owned per period.

When I was a kid, there was no way to BUY a game, but... there was exactly the time I were a pure hardcore gamer.

Time to get sick after playing a straight 18h, for example.

Today I just can't do that anymore, because I have a job, a bride - that hates gaming :( @_@, ... Murphy's Law on gaming... -, and little or no time for the art of playing games. Must get a GBA to kill the pain in the bus...

I would think of an inverse relation.

As more games you buy for period the hardcore-o-meter goes down and down!!! That's an ominous signal!!!

[GamecubeFreek]

I would like to add on to the "Hardcore gaming starts in the mind" post. This is pretty much what I would have said, but...no wait, that's exactly what I would have said. Well, this was a waste of a post. Good choice of words swlovinist!

[lostsage]

here's what i think. it's a small list. it's an uncomplete list. but it's what i would use to determine what makes a hard core gamer. it's the the number of times you've committed these acts that make you hard core. it's the fact that you have done these acts that makes you hard core. the more, the better.



1. willing to blow a nice amount of cash ($100+) to buy a controller for just ONE game (have a set of ddr pads, the official sambe de amigo controlers, dc keyboard, driving wheel)

2. when put in front of you, you would rather read a video gaming magazine rather than, let's say, playboy, maxim, cosmo, ym, mad, penthouse, etc.

3. you go to garage/yard/estate sales to look for those rare games, consoles and accessories.

4. you search ebay/newspapers classifieds/word of mouth/etc., to see if anyone is getting rid of collections so you can have backups of you machines, games, and accessories.

5. you can openly debate the pros and cons of a multitude of systems with strangers standing in front of the video game case at target/walmart/kmart/best buy/etc.

6. you nearly get into a fist fight because of a open debate of a multitude of systems with the same strangers.

7. between sex and beating the last boss, 3 out of 5 times you choose beating the last boss.

8. fifty dollars isn't enough money to be spending at an arcade.

9. you have your own room just for video games (bonus points if everything in the room is a higher quality than anything else in the room. exsample: the living room has a 24 inch tv, the video game room has a 35 inch flat screen hdtv.)

10. multiple email list/newsletters/forums/magazine subscribtions.

11. you played for 2 or more days straight without sleep/food/water/restroom

12. can quote lines of text from final fantasy series

13. know what the "konami code" means

14. you have that one game that you love to play, but wouldn't be caught dead playing it in front of people. (cough cough space channel 5 cough)

15. if you ever mixed school or work assignments with videogames just so you have an excuse to play video games "on the clock"

16. you cried at the end of disk one of final fantasy VII (or any video game for that matter)

17 your dream girl/guy is someone who loves video games as much as you.

18. half of your music collection is comprised of video game music and soundtracks

19. ever dreamed about video games in your sleep

20. and finally, you enter video game contest, not to win, but to learn from your mistakes, see who to beat, and to prepare for the next one (and any prizes won would be exchanged for cash or credit towards the purchase of other video game paraphanila).

bonus points:

1. if you collect video game toys

2. if you ever built your own controller/arcade unit/custom system

3. if you ever called in sick to work/school/responsiblities just to stand in line to ensure you get that video game the day it's released

[RCM]

People aren't born hardcore, but once they are that's how they live. I feel that in your heart and your mind you just know that you're hardcore. I don't play as much as i used to (gotta pay the bills) but I own more games now then I ever did. I don't feel any less of a gamer b/c I can't play as much. On the fliipside I don't feel any more of a gamer b/c I own a ton of hardware and software. Being hardcore is something very personal. Nobody can truly tell you if you are or you aren't, like I said you just know.

THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM

[RetroYoungen]

here's what i think. it's a small list. it's an uncomplete list. but it's what i would use to determine what makes a hard core gamer. it's the the number of times you've committed these acts that make you hard core. it's the fact that you have done these acts that makes you hard core. the more, the better.



1. willing to blow a nice amount of cash ($100+) to buy a controller for just ONE game (have a set of ddr pads, the official sambe de amigo controlers, dc keyboard, driving wheel)

2. when put in front of you, you would rather read a video gaming magazine rather than, let's say, playboy, maxim, cosmo, ym, mad, penthouse, etc.

3. you go to garage/yard/estate sales to look for those rare games, consoles and accessories.

4. you search ebay/newspapers classifieds/word of mouth/etc., to see if anyone is getting rid of collections so you can have backups of you machines, games, and accessories.

5. you can openly debate the pros and cons of a multitude of systems with strangers standing in front of the video game case at target/walmart/kmart/best buy/etc.

6. you nearly get into a fist fight because of a open debate of a multitude of systems with the same strangers.

7. between sex and beating the last boss, 3 out of 5 times you choose beating the last boss.

8. fifty dollars isn't enough money to be spending at an arcade.

9. you have your own room just for video games (bonus points if everything in the room is a higher quality than anything else in the room. exsample: the living room has a 24 inch tv, the video game room has a 35 inch flat screen hdtv.)

10. multiple email list/newsletters/forums/magazine subscribtions.

11. you played for 2 or more days straight without sleep/food/water/restroom

12. can quote lines of text from final fantasy series

13. know what the "konami code" means

14. you have that one game that you love to play, but wouldn't be caught dead playing it in front of people. (cough cough space channel 5 cough)

15. if you ever mixed school or work assignments with videogames just so you have an excuse to play video games "on the clock"

16. you cried at the end of disk one of final fantasy VII (or any video game for that matter)

17 your dream girl/guy is someone who loves video games as much as you.

18. half of your music collection is comprised of video game music and soundtracks

19. ever dreamed about video games in your sleep

20. and finally, you enter video game contest, not to win, but to learn from your mistakes, see who to beat, and to prepare for the next one (and any prizes won would be exchanged for cash or credit towards the purchase of other video game paraphanila).

bonus points:

1. if you collect video game toys

2. if you ever built your own controller/arcade unit/custom system

3. if you ever called in sick to work/school/responsiblities just to stand in line to ensure you get that video game the day it's released

That's a pretty good list I'd say, but a few little notes I'd like to add if I may:

1. Makes sense, unless you're utterly broke (like... me).

2. Some of those magazines also cover games (I know for sure Playboy does, they actually did a very nice must-play spread either Nov. issue or Dec. issue).

3-6 I see no quarrels with (except the fist fight, which IS a quarrel).

7. All the person has to do then is close their eyes and make sweet sweet love to the character of their choice.

8. Again, the money issue.

9. Money problem.

10. Could be, but money again.

11-17 I also agree with (*cough*cough*FeetofFury*cough*cough*).

18. I think that's another money issue.

19 & 20 are right on, I'd say.

I think you're pretty much on the money, but a lot of the things you wrote were involving money issues, and I don't think money really has that big of a hold on the ranking. But that's just my opinion.

[MarioAllStar2600]

It has absolutly nothing to do with buying games. I consider myself hardcore not cause i spen all my money on games but I put time into organinzing, never stop playing, and research them alot. It is based on thier knowledge for the hobby.

[BrAInDeD]

Heh i usualy spend any cash i have on games (unfortunately thats not a whole lot of cash) also to earn more games i just go buy them used there usualy in good shape and i never sold of gave or traded any of my games in even if i hated them (which is not really the case since i dont buy just anything that pops in the display set)

Hardcore gamers well i dunno i usualy play about 5 hours ever day (damn school if it wasnt for you id be playing more) i don't think it has anything to do with buying games just basically playing them and enjoying them and defenetly talking about them and ass raping your friends in them. :evil:

[jaydubnb]

I have to go with the "state of mind" viewpoint as well and how much time one puts into the hobby (or willing to put into if he/she had more free hours). Not just playing, but hunting, trading, messageboarding, arcading, etc.

Oh, and if someone ever says to me again that they're hardcore because he/she skipped out on their rent in order to buy some games, I'd have to conclude that they're not hardcore...they've crossed over into the realm of stupidity. Sadly enough, a childhood friend of mine has fallen into that category...more than once.

[Balloon Fight]

It has absolutly nothing to do with buying games. I consider myself hardcore not cause i spen all my money on games but I put time into organinzing, never stop playing, and research them alot. It is based on thier knowledge for the hobby.

Precisely. I think a hardcore gamer is someone that plays games at least 2 times a day, enjoys his hobby, has a couple of systems, actually does research, and just has fun 24/7. Outside of school and work that is.
I also think that if you are hardcore, you dont go bragging about it like on GameFAQ's, you know you are when you are.

[whoisKeel]

i don't see how the amount of games makes anyone a hardcore gamer... that only makes you a hardcore collector. hardcore gamers take on the challenge without guides/etc., the way games were ment to be played. you could play 5 games a year and be a hardcore gamer, so long as they were the right games. i think i really only played quake 3 instaunlagged last year for a whole year, pretty much ... and if you've played that mod you know it is pretty much just dm17. i probably averaged 3 hours a day on that game (sometimes i played for 10 hours easily). anyways, it's the DEVOTION that makes a hardcore gamer. can you beat ocarina without a guide first time through? how 'bout tomb raider 3? can you beat %95 online gamers at your favorite game?

[lostsage]

That's a pretty good list I'd say, but a few little notes I'd like to add if I may:

1. Makes sense, unless you're utterly broke (like... me).

2. Some of those magazines also cover games (I know for sure Playboy does, they actually did a very nice must-play spread either Nov. issue or Dec. issue).

3-6 I see no quarrels with (except the fist fight, which IS a quarrel).

7. All the person has to do then is close their eyes and make sweet sweet love to the character of their choice.

8. Again, the money issue.

9. Money problem.

10. Could be, but money again.

11-17 I also agree with (*cough*cough*FeetofFury*cough*cough*).

18. I think that's another money issue.

19 & 20 are right on, I'd say.

I think you're pretty much on the money, but a lot of the things you wrote were involving money issues, and I don't think money really has that big of a hold on the ranking. But that's just my opinion.

a question like this was posted awhile back on another forum, and just copy pasted it to here. but yeah, i agree with the money issue. back in school and flat broke. at the time this was written, i had a good personal allowance for my crack... i mean gaming habit. now i barely have time to pick my dreamcast controller. and i agree with #7.

[Neonsolid]

Gone.

[Neonsolid]

Gone.

[anagrama]

What is a "hardcore" gamer?

Someone who believes that giving themselves a meaningless label somehow makes them better than the "casual" masses. aka: a snob.

[qbertandernie]

it think ive you cant pause a game(and play on several more levels or screens) to go to the bathroom when you really have to go. i mean really have to... im-going-to-pee-my-pants-but-i-just-want-to-beat-one-more-guy kind of love for the games...thats hardcore.

also if you sit there with your stomach grumbling but you dont want to take the pizza rolls out of the oven that you put in when you were 'just going to play for a minute til the pizza rolls are done' ..thats pretty hardcore.

unless you just dont want to get grease on your controllers..then thats perfectly understandable.

[zerohero]

3. if you ever called in sick to work/school/responsiblities just to stand in line to ensure you get that video game the day it's released

Ah the good old day in HS when I could just skip school and stay home and play a good game. Now that I'm in college I have to choose those sick days wisely...

[cyberfluxor]

I say it all depends on the situation of the person. Some don't have the money nor the time to play and buy games.

Lets say someone works 2 jobs and goes part-time college, they may not have any free time at all, but somehow squeeze a few hours of gameplay a week or even each month. If they are dedicated to toss any ounce of that gamming into what little free time they have, then yes I think they should be considered "hardcore".

Now, there is also "overboard". Those are the people that ONLY play video games and do absolutly nothing else in their lives, except go to work. This means they throw out a social life, most likely losing all their friends, don't have a girlfriend, and hate sun light. If that's they way they want to live life, then more power to them, but it's no way I want to live by any means. I believe even the extreme gamers should be into at least 1 other thing and not spending every once of time into them.

[CYRiX]

When I saw what you could vote for I was worried but I'm glad to see that mostly everyone agrees its the amount of time spent playing games not how mcuh they have, that'd be hardcore COLLECTOR

[7th lutz]

To me a hardcare gamer is not on money spent. A hardcore Gamer is into getting that aren't in the mainstream like Crusader of Centy. A causal gamer doesn't look are more into popular games like Mario. A hardcore gamer would like to get Mainstream games and games that are advertised well or aren't popular.

[NintendoxPopCoRn]

You get one game and become hardcore. You can play it every second l think quantity really means nothing l only own 1 ds game new super mario bros l play it every second
l could own 1 million games and not play one
im confused X_x