Editor’s note: Many hardcore gamers have a Wii-sized chip on their shoulders about casual gamers. David asks what’s the difference between hardcore and casual gamers these days, and he also wonders if casual gamers are the new hardcore. -Jason
The terms “casual” and “hardcore” have become popular in the gamer lexicon in recent years. These terms came about in part thanks to the runaway success of the Nintendo Wii and its new audience of gamers. The difference between the two types of players is an increasingly significant issue, and it’s one that’s been bothering me lately.
“Casual” gamers are usually described as people who play the occasional game. Generally, these are easy-to-learn titles that aren’t too deep. These gamers usually don’t devote significant time or money to gaming.
“Hardcore” gamers are the opposite. They play a multitude of different games and genres, devote large amounts of time and resources to their hobby, enjoy intense competition among fellow gamers, and are rather proficient at games.
A disconnect’s grown between them. The hardcore feel that many publishers — particularly Nintendo — are ignoring their interests and paying more attention to the more lucrative casual market. The distance’s growing between these two groups.
But what exactly are “casual” and “hardcore” gamers?
The definitions that I used earlier have been adopted rather informally. However, what exactly defines a gamer as belonging to one of the two categories? Is it the time you put into games or spend playing games relative to your other hobbies? Or is it something more tangible, such as the amount of money you budget for video games? Or is something much harder to measure, like a social aspect.
Is someone a “casual gamer” if they own a Wii and nothing but “casual games” but participates in many gaming forums, engages in conversations about gaming and surrounds themselves with other gamers?
Therein lays the problem. The two terms aren’t mutually exclusive. In the last generation of consoles, I was “hardcore” about Dead or Alive: Ultimate, yet I was “casual” about Halo 2 and other games. Most gamers were like this.
The only thing that makes someone “hardcore” in the bigger picture is if the people making the games cater to you. For many years, game developers did just that for the “hardcore” (before that term was around). But now, using my definition, who are the hardcore?
I think the “casual” have become the “hardcore,” because they’re driving the industry. If this is true, it’s interesting to think of what the “hardcore” gamers have become or where they fit into this.
I think that it’s time for the “hardcore” to get off their high horses. It’s a good thing that more people are playing games, no matter what type of gamer they are. While certain developers will always keep both audiences in mind, video games are still a business — the bigger audience will win in the end.
Casual gaming has always been around, from the Space Invaders days to the odd quarter spent on Street Fighter 2 in the arcade to the present day. The “hardcore” should embrace the “casual” for helping gaming become a mainstream activity.
It’s time to face reality — no one’s “hardcore” for 100 percent of what they do, and some of those “casual” gamers might become “hardcore” gamers someday. Both audiences help gaming, and we should all realize that.