Core, Classic or Expanded?

If you think that current games are not much fun and you would rather go play an SNES, your retro.

fixed
and thats me!

I identify myself as a core gamer.

Originally Posted by Double A

Which one are you?

In some industries, especially videogames, there are generally three types of audience - The Core, the Classic, and the Expanded audience.

The "undershot" Core audience:
-Generally call themselves the "hardcore", which is a nonexistent word.
-Generally the hardest to please (hence, "undershot")
-Generally appreciate least the values of the Wii (innovative game control) and appreciate most the values of the HD twins (technological achievement, multi-purpose)
-Often, the least open-minded

The "overshot" Classic audience:
-The "retro" or "lapsed" gamers.
-Feel like gaming in general has left them behind one way or another (e.g. not enough 2d games) in its quest for technological and graphical superiority (hence, "overshot")
-Sometimes prefer older-styled games to newer ones, e.g. prefer NSMBW over SMG2.

The "non-consumer" Expanded audience:
-The nonexistent "Casual" or "Non-gamer" stereotype.
-"Casual" only refers to amount of time they spend gaming, as some "casuals" like to play core games.
-"Casual" =/= non-gamer.
-"Non gamers" are your ordinary everyday people who had barely known anything about videogames before.
-Generally the most open-minded.

Myself, I'm not completely sure. I would probably put myself as some sort of a freak hybrid of Core and Expanded audience. I play core games exclusively, but my routine is somewhat like an Expanded audience gamer since I am so busy all the time.

But I'm gonna be sadistic and not let you choose hybrids.

I think you should probably redefine your definitions for what categories of gamers there are. I would define it more like this:

Core Audience:
Gaming is the main hobby for this audience. They tend to pay attention to the industry and research before they buy. These are the type of people who would pay attention to GDC, TGS, E3, etc.

Casual Audience:
Gaming is not their main hobby, and is rather something they do as a time waster. These are also the type of people who play predominantly at social gatherings. The casual gamer tends to play easy to learn pick up and play types of games, in contrast to the core gamer, who is willing to invest hours into learning and mastering a complex game.

There can be some overlap between the two, but, I think the easiest and best way to distinguish between the two audiences, is to see whether or not gaming is their main hobby.

Wii (innovative game control)

The Wii isn't innovative.

Anyway, I'd like to point out that your definitions of "core" and "expanded" don't encompass the most important traits in determining whether one is a "core" or "casual" gamer.

You forgot to mention that "core gamers" usually look for depth and quality in videogames whereas casual gamers don't really care much about those traits.

You also forgot to mention that "core gamers" are the people that normally correctly view videogames as an art form whereas casual gamers generally incorrectly view them as mere toys.

Originally Posted by Zeldoom

fixed
and thats me!

SheikahSage had a point. Games now adays are way easier than they were 15 years ago. Now, it takes more than one hit to kill you, you respawn at a conviently placed checkpoint 10 feet from where you got nailed, you have unlimited lives, and you never lose items after dying. Not to mention most games have some sort of god mode or unlimited ammo or some other unnessesary cheat. *sigh*

Originally Posted by Andross

Anyway, I'd like to point out that your definitions of "core" and "expanded" don't encompass the most important traits in determining whether one is a "core" or "casual" gamer.

You forgot to mention that "core gamers" usually look for depth and quality in videogames whereas casual gamers don't really care much about those traits.

You also forgot to mention that "core gamers" are the people that normally correctly view videogames as an art form whereas casual gamers generally incorrectly view them as mere toys.

Nailed it.

Originally Posted by Andross

You forgot to mention that "core gamers" usually look for depth and quality in videogames whereas casual gamers don't really care much about those traits.

Quality is subjective.

You also forgot to mention that "core gamers" are the people that normally correctly view videogames as an art form whereas casual gamers generally incorrectly view them as mere toys.

This can be true, but, some games are really just advanced toys.

I'd say, the casual audience tends to play more "toy like" games, (think peggle, and other Popcap like games), which is why a majority may view games as toys rather than artistic medium.

SheikahSage had a point. Games now adays are way easier than they were 15 years ago. Now, it takes more than one hit to kill you, you respawn at a conviently placed checkpoint 10 feet from where you got nailed, you have unlimited lives, and you never lose items after dying. Not to mention most games have some sort of god mode or unlimited ammo or some other unnessesary cheat. *sigh*

Nah that wasnt what i was getting at. I just find alot of current games to not be very fun in general. It has little to do with difficulty or lack thereof. Yeah some games are too easy, yeah yeah. But really advanced graphics, weirdass controls, and all that does not a fun game make. So ahh its late and im not making much sense now. But the difficulty of games now or lackthereof, is NOT really the reason i choose to play older stuff...

Originally Posted by Eternal Paradox

Quality is subjective.

Some aspects dictating the quality of a game are objective. A poor camera is going to be poor, clunky movement control is going to be clunky, generic level design is going to be generic, and reptitive animation is going to be repetitive, and so on.