6 signs you probably are not a hardcore gamer
You play all the right games , you play all the right systems. You make the wittiest comments to your friends in the hottest game forums. But are you a hardcore gamer? A trend follower? Or maybe even.... gasp! A casual gamer! Here are some signs to watch out for to determine whether you could be a 'hardcore' , 'casual' or just, well, a gamer.
Sign 1 - The Pirate
You claim to have played 75+% of all games ever made...but it was 95% ROMS and ISOs. Actually inserting the cartridge/disc and playing with the original controller is hardcore. Downloading a rom pack from the pirate bay -not so much. If the availability was not there to download games on whim, you would have just moved on to some other form of entertainment-hardcore movie buff maybe?
Sign 2 - The Noob
Your complete game console collection is countable on someone’s hand that had a few fingers cut off, Considering the used prices of consoles, from the Dreamcast and Saturn to the NES and Super NES. If you don’t own at least a couple of those, you maybe just a casual gamer.
Sign 3 - The Lame
You use Metacritic or some other folly of a 'grading' system to justify or determine the quality of a game. No more needs to be said about that.
Sign 4 - The Weak
You complain that games are too easy. Yet you are a regular to GameFaqs, IGN Guides and other destinations for the casual gamer. You probably also have a cheat device such as a Game Shark. And if you fall into sign 1, you even go as far to use trained ROMS. Everyone gets stuck once in awhile. But if you tend to use a guide more then at the absolute breaking point of being stuck, you are not hardcore.
Sign 5 - The Confused Teenager
You consider hardcore a genre or a graphical style of games. You may even equate it to a certain style of game play. Reality is that it is all marketing hype aimed at a very sheep like demographic. Originality,being unique, and variety is a good thing.
Sign 6 - Casual HQ
GameStop is your primary game retailer.GameStop=Hot Topic of video game stores. Unless you get a discount or there is absolutely no other stores nearby and you can’t wait to get the game by mail through the net, why shop there? A magnet for the nerd version of douches, usually displaying all 5 signs above. Yeah and their prices suck.
Editors Note: This post has created quite a bit of hate towards hardcore gamers. Calling them losers or low-lifers, and other degrading names. VGPLAYR.com is for hardcore gamers to express opinions and whatever else gaming related material you like. We enjoy games to a much greater extent then your average gamer. If your interests aren't very varied or your just more of an avid gamer, then that is cool. Like what you like. There is no right or wrong. We don't bash any consoles. We respect and play classics games. Graphics are for the most part, irrelevant.Hardcore gaming is for fun, not to look cool or be above anyone. It is what it is. Although the post has generated a negative buzz, it in the end is a good thing as hopefully gamers will stop misappropriating the word as a 'coolness' label, and use it for what it is; our crazy obsession with gaming.
