Comments on: Bust the Casual and Hardcore Myth The Words Don’t Mean What You Think http://www.torontothumbs.com/2008/06/18/bust-the-casual-and-hardcore-myth-the-words-dont-mean-what-you-think/ By Canadian Gamers Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:59:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Shaun Hatton http://www.torontothumbs.com/2008/06/18/bust-the-casual-and-hardcore-myth-the-words-dont-mean-what-you-think/#comment-925 Shaun Hatton Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:07:14 +0000 http://www.torontothumbs.com/2008/06/18/bust-the-casual-and-hardcore-myth-the-words-dont-mean-what-you-think/#comment-925 That's a good way of looking at it, David. It's obvious I'm not a fan of the artificial Casual/Core split but it's important to note that there are different types of gamers. I just detest that budget titles get lumped into the "casual" classification just because they tend to be shovelware. Even casual game players have standards, you know. It's this misuse of the term that I'm speaking out against. If you think of a game like Donkey Kong or Pac-Man, there really isn't a lot going on. The games aren't very in-depth and yet these days titles like this are shrugged off as "casual" despite the fact that they're extremely difficult to master and that there are people who have notoriety for being the best in the world at these games (King of Kong, for instance). That’s a good way of looking at it, David. It’s obvious I’m not a fan of the artificial Casual/Core split but it’s important to note that there are different types of gamers. I just detest that budget titles get lumped into the “casual” classification just because they tend to be shovelware. Even casual game players have standards, you know. It’s this misuse of the term that I’m speaking out against.

If you think of a game like Donkey Kong or Pac-Man, there really isn’t a lot going on. The games aren’t very in-depth and yet these days titles like this are shrugged off as “casual” despite the fact that they’re extremely difficult to master and that there are people who have notoriety for being the best in the world at these games (King of Kong, for instance).

]]> By: David Wylie http://www.torontothumbs.com/2008/06/18/bust-the-casual-and-hardcore-myth-the-words-dont-mean-what-you-think/#comment-924 David Wylie Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:44:22 +0000 http://www.torontothumbs.com/2008/06/18/bust-the-casual-and-hardcore-myth-the-words-dont-mean-what-you-think/#comment-924 Oh Shaun; you're such a casual gamer, I bet you play your Wii in a nursing home ;) I agree that the casual/hardcore gamer divide can create a bit of a class war. Core gamers tend to get super offended when you call them a casual gamer, like it's the ultimate insult. On the other hand, it is clear there are three separate camps. There are people who take their gaming very seriously -- too seriously some would argue (I used to play Halo 2 with folks who would practise with the battle rifle once a day). There are those who bought a Wii so they can do yoga, and have probably never even heard of Call of Duty. And there are those who fall in the middle -- they play for fun when they feel like it because it's a hobby rather than an obsession. That's my two cents, anyway. Oh Shaun; you’re such a casual gamer, I bet you play your Wii in a nursing home ;)

I agree that the casual/hardcore gamer divide can create a bit of a class war. Core gamers tend to get super offended when you call them a casual gamer, like it’s the ultimate insult.

On the other hand, it is clear there are three separate camps. There are people who take their gaming very seriously — too seriously some would argue (I used to play Halo 2 with folks who would practise with the battle rifle once a day). There are those who bought a Wii so they can do yoga, and have probably never even heard of Call of Duty. And there are those who fall in the middle — they play for fun when they feel like it because it’s a hobby rather than an obsession.

That’s my two cents, anyway.

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