Is the "casual vs hardcore gamer" a myth?

[Harabecw]

I've seen people saying they don't need the latest in hardware because they don't play much.
However, I can't understand that mentality. Even if you only play 1-2 hours a day, that game may be something like Raven Shield...or any other current game with demanding graphics.

How would you define a Casual Gamer and a Hardcore Gamer?

 

[Jeff7]

Casual gamer - one who only plays occasionally and uses the default settings, or reduces the resolution and quality to match the hardware.
Hardcore gamer - one who'll play whenever there's time, at the maximum visual settings that'll still give a good framerate. If that's not enough, the hardcore gamer will seek out the best videocard that can be afforded.

 

[Wingznut]

I consider myself a hardcore gamer... I have to be able to run the game at its maximum detail settings, or else I find it difficult to enjoy.

However, I only play maybe 8 hours a week. (But alas, that's not by choice. It's a product of being a responsible husband and parent with a full time job. )

My point is, that I don't think hrs/week determine if one is hardcore or not.

But then again, I know people who are more hardcore than I, but do not have the greatest equipment. But again, they probably would if they didn't have other priorities for their money.

 

[Jeff7181]

A hardcore gamer buys hardware to suite the games... a casual gamer buys games, and if his hardware isn't up to snuff, he doesn't play that game anymore.

 

[Harabecw]

Good point. brings me to a very annoying thing I see.
Walk into Office Depot. Look at their "Top End kick ass rig!".
Laugh at the 256MB of slow ram and integrated graphics selling for twice as much as you can get it elsewhere. then cry when you see people buying into the fact it has a P4 3GHz in it.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Harabecw
Good point. brings me to a very annoying thing I see.
Walk into Office Depot. Look at their "Top End kick ass rig!".
Laugh at the 256MB of slow ram and integrated graphics selling for twice as much as you can get it elsewhere. then cry when you see people buying into the fact it has a P4 3GHz in it.

Yeah, I looked at one at office max... $1800 and it had a 40 GB 5400 RPM hard drive.. WTF is that?????

 

[Texun]

I consider myself a casual gamer who does not like hardware limitations. Since I am a casual gamer I am usually behind on the latest and greatest games. I just started playing CS a few months ago with some guys at work. I know there are better games out there but for now that's my deal.

I usually play one game at a time and like to have it turned up to a level that suits my liking, whatever that may be at the time. When I find something I like but find that it stresses my computer I move up. I don't see a need to max out until there is a need, although CS really hasn't stressed my XP2400 and gig of ram at all. For my next upgrade I will probably replace the GF4-4200

 

[Harabecw]

If you're sticking with CS your current system is a lot more than what it needs. you may become an addicted CS player...

 

[Texun]

Originally posted by: Harabecw
If you're sticking with CS your current system is a lot more than what it needs. you may become an addicted CS player...

I still suck at CS and don't have a lot of patience when repeatedly getting my butt shot off. I got pretty good and then started to slide downhill so CS may not be in my plans much longer. I am already looking for another good FPS to replace it with. Thanks.

 

[Harabecw]

UT2003k will also work more than well. its fun though a little too fast for me. I prefer tactical games (like Raven Shield...tactical...yeah right

 

[gf4200isdabest]

Off topic note: ut2003 sucks big time. There is currently no FPS out that is even on the same level as CS. Wait for hl2 and maybe we'll see...

Casual gamer vs hardcore gamer is defined by time spent playing games. However, the more you spend playing games the more you need better technology. that's why hardcore gamers tend to have the best equipment they can afford. However, i know plenty of hardcore gamers who probably play games 2x as much as anyone who has posted in this thread (they pretty much play 14 hours a day) and don't have the money to afford top of the line systems. However, despite that, saying that you are a casual gamer and don't need the new video card makes perfect sense and is probably one of the best reasons for not buying a "top of the line" rig...

 

[Harabecw]

UT2003/CS preference is purely subjective.
BTW...I'm guessing your friends don't have jobs if they play that much.
What about those who only play a few hours a day but still want the best?

 

[Sunner]

I tend to upgrade whenever I feel the the need to.

Right now, my rig is pretty crappy compared to the high end(GF3 Ti200, AXP 1.46 GHz, 512 MB PC2100, etc), but that's cause there are no new games that I enjoy, so Im not gonna spend money on new equipment.
I mostly play FreeSpace2, some XCom:TFTD, Fallout, Baldurs Gate II, etc, golden oldies, none require any high end hardware by todays standards, so I don't need any.

I wish it wasn't like this though, I'd like some cool new games, but games just aren't as good as they used to be.
Oh well, leaves more money for beer&booze

 

[thatsright]

I'm not sure even I would qualify as a 'Casual Gamer.' I haven't played a game in about 18 months, and that was Jane's FA-18 Super Hornet (Man that Jane's Series was great, too bad its dead.) But my system now is a P3 750 Slot 1 with 512Mb PC100, and a Creative Riva TNT 16MB AGP card. I get a 3dMark2001 score of 776. Yeah, that is beyond pathetic.

Well anyway, I am building a new system this week (ABIT IC7 P4c 2.4 Ghz 1Gig of HyperX Ram PC3500), and I went out of my way to get a Radeon 9700 Non-Pro card for $209. And to 'show it off' I just bought Max Payne for $20. I'll get maybe 4 or 5 more games in the 3 or 4 months. Thats all I can really think of for now.

I guess what really separates causal from hardcore, is how much your willing to shell out initially for a Video Card. And also, how often you play games per week, in hrs. But I was never really that big into games to begin with except Flight simulators and the Tomb Raider Series; but yeah that was awhile ago.

Thats my $0.02

 

[LegionX]

cassual gamer dreams of beautiful women (or men if your a woman) when your sleeping and hardcore gamers dream of hearing "Head Shot!!" as they drool over pixelated animated female/male ai characters

 

[Texun]

Originally posted by: Harabecw
UT2003/CS preference is purely subjective.
BTW...I'm guessing your friends don't have jobs if they play that much.

Correction on my previous post: They are not actually friends in the normal sense of the word, they are employees and I am the head of the department. We work during the day and play in the evening. The kick is that only the admin knows I am in there as an "invited guest from someone who knows someone else and wanted to play with the small group."

None of my people know the boss is in there.

I'm having a hell of a good time with it. I hear them at work talking about the night before, who was hot and who was not. I ask extremely dumb questions about what weapons are used in CS, who the better players are, do you need a mouse or a joystick, how on-line games work and so on. It's a hoot hearing them educate me on how the game works, then talk about "that new guy that nobody knows." They keep inviting me but I have told them that I haven't installed HL since my last crash, that the upgrade didn't work, that I downloaded the wrong file and will try again later, etc. Sooner or later I am going to have to come clean and let them know that I have been logging in with them for the past 5 months. They are sure to open fire on me then, 20:1.

It's all good fun and it has actually pulled them a little closer together at work. I also pay a large portion of the server fees but they don't know that either.

Sorry but you can't have the IP.

 

[Harabecw]

nice boss :beer:
so, what weapons DO you use?

 

[LukFilm]

Originally posted by: Sunner
I tend to upgrade whenever I feel the the need to.

Right now, my rig is pretty crappy compared to the high end(GF3 Ti200, AXP 1.46 GHz, 512 MB PC2100, etc), but that's cause there are no new games that I enjoy, so Im not gonna spend money on new equipment.
I mostly play FreeSpace2, some XCom:TFTD, Fallout, Baldurs Gate II, etc, golden oldies, none require any high end hardware by todays standards, so I don't need any.

I wish it wasn't like this though, I'd like some cool new games, but games just aren't as good as they used to be.
Oh well, leaves more money for beer&booze

X-Com 4eva!

 

[Atlantean]

I consider myself a hardcore gamer, time that isn't spent on here is spent either with friends or playing games. I always get upgrade fever and want the latest and greatest hardware for my system, but only do major upgrades once every 2 years or so. Next upgrade coming will be for halflife2 and doom3.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Two-line summary:

Casual gamers buy software to suit the hardware.
Hardcore gamers buy hardware to suit the software.

- M4H

 

[CrazySaint]

Originally posted by: texun

Originally posted by: Harabecw
UT2003/CS preference is purely subjective.
BTW...I'm guessing your friends don't have jobs if they play that much.

Correction on my previous post: They are not actually friends in the normal sense of the word, they are employees and I am the head of the department. We work during the day and play in the evening. The kick is that only the admin knows I am in there as an "invited guest from someone who knows someone else and wanted to play with the small group."

None of my people know the boss is in there.

I'm having a hell of a good time with it. I hear them at work talking about the night before, who was hot and who was not. I ask extremely dumb questions about what weapons are used in CS, who the better players are, do you need a mouse or a joystick, how on-line games work and so on. It's a hoot hearing them educate me on how the game works, then talk about "that new guy that nobody knows." They keep inviting me but I have told them that I haven't installed HL since my last crash, that the upgrade didn't work, that I downloaded the wrong file and will try again later, etc. Sooner or later I am going to have to come clean and let them know that I have been logging in with them for the past 5 months. They are sure to open fire on me then, 20:1.

It's all good fun and it has actually pulled them a little closer together at work. I also pay a large portion of the server fees but they don't know that either.

Sorry but you can't have the IP.

Can I come work for you?

 

[PliotronX]

Hardcore is using r_picmip 5 in Q3 to get every last frame out of the hardware

 

[Corporate Thug]

casual gamer: 9500 pro or 9600 pro
hardcore gamer: 9800 pro or 5900 ultra

 

[randumb]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Two-line summary:

Casual gamers buy software to suit the hardware.
Hardcore gamers buy hardware to suit the software.

- M4H

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: texun

Originally posted by: Harabecw
If you're sticking with CS your current system is a lot more than what it needs. you may become an addicted CS player...

I still suck at CS and don't have a lot of patience when repeatedly getting my butt shot off. I got pretty good and then started to slide downhill so CS may not be in my plans much longer. I am already looking for another good FPS to replace it with. Thanks.

Soldier of Fortune 2 is a lot of fun