Editor’s note: If we can’t use metrics such as time played or games owned to differentiate between hardcore and casual gamers, what can we use? Eugene offers a far more introspective solution. -Greg
Be it Sony’s Killzone 2, Facebook’s Millionaire City, or the built-in 3D pinball game included with Windows, Johnny Everyman is technically part of the gaming community at large. Increasingly popular wisdom will have you know that anyone who plays games in any form can be loosely labeled a “gamer.”
In a seemingly desperate attempt to make sense of our favorite hobby’s meteoric rise into mainstream consciousness over the last decade, many people have attempted to add structure within the gaming hierarchy, namely segmenting it into the “hardcore” and “casual” categories, with limited success.
So how is the line drawn? By the type of games played? The duration one spends gaming? The number of consoles owned? Some may not believe a difference even exists. Not me, though. I believe a distinction is inherently present, but in a different manner.
Passion.
I’m not referring to the desire to pick up a controller, or spending hours raking up kill streaks in a random multiplayer shooter, or that vast gaming collection you’ve accumulated. Rather, passion is better measured as the scale with which gaming permeates an individual’s life beyond the console. And no, skipping meals to feed a World of Warcraft addiction does not count.
Essentially, passion for gaming comes intrinsically from within — a person who not only loves to play video games, but also loves the idea of playing video games.
Anyone can go online and read up on the latest gaming news and reviews. Even the computer illiterate have easy access to information via word of mouth. It’s a safe bet to assume that almost every single gamer out there has a rough “to play” list formulated from whatever information they sieved through previously. So where’s the difference then? It depends on whether the individual uses the gathered information as anything other than a buy-or-avoid decision-making tool.
To illustrate my point, let’s use Bitmob as an example. I may be preaching to the choir, but Bitmobbers aren’t here to read the latest reviews or news to decide the fate of our playlist — we’ve already done the groundwork prior.
Rather, we’re here to broaden our perspectives on gaming, to go a step deeper to analyze our hobby. We’re just as excited to read up on the psychological impact of Braid as we are about the announcement of Street Fighter X Tekken. Passionate gamers are an introspective bunch. Analyzing and appreciating certain aspects of each game is just as important as the act of playing it.
“Why do I like this game?”
“Does this apply to other games I’ve played?”
“I’ve never thought about it this way.”
Heck, most of us even spend our precious free time contributing articles to Bitmob, and any writer knows the amount of effort that goes into penning a decent editorial. In comparison, Johnny Everygamer does not have time for this — either he’s too busy climbing the leaderboards or tackling his latest acquisition. Gaming to him is just another random hobby on his to-do list.
It doesn’t stop here, either. As highlighted by fellow Bitmobber Chas Guidry in this article, gaming passion can spill into the unlikeliest of places. Take a trip to DeviantArt and browse the incredible library of gaming-related art. Visit Racketboy for ideas to enhance your gaming setup. Hardcore Gaming 101 is where it’s at if your thirst for gaming introspection cannot be sated. If you so desire, check out when the next Distant Worlds or VideoGamesLive concert is coming to your area.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to gamer culture, and nowhere is passion better implied than simply by being interested in them.