WE R SO HARDCOAR

[Laddy]

Do you consider yourself hardcore?

Me? Reasonably so. Definitely when it comes to WRPG's. I can't play Mass Effect or Dragon Age. Cannot. It feels too much like a Hollywood movie, and so much of it feels like blatant fanservice. Also, the combat and character advancement irks me.

I think the mid 90's-early 00's were the Golden Age of RPG's. We had Ultima, Wizardry, Might & Magic, Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Deus Ex, Torment, Realms of Arkania, Lands of Lore, System Shock, Arcanum, Gothic, Neverwinter Nights, Icewind Dale, Daggerfall/Morrowind, all that trout. The fact that so many Kickstarter-initiated games are coming to bring back this style pleases me.

I still think the early Ultima games are criminally underplayed. Ultima IV is up there for one of the best game stories ever, despite its minimalism. The 80's were a bit hit-or-miss however. I think games, especially RPG's, told better stories when they weren't trying to present themselves like Hollywood films. As soon as they did that, games lost their soul in narrative.

Speaking of narrative, Planescape: Torment is my favorite game of all time. While not overwhelmingly hardcore, it's definitely not a mass-appeal game. To me, it shows the power gaming has in regards to narrative and the player's role in it. Also, it's an RPG that makes total non-combat play not only viable, but recommended. Definitely a game everyone should play.

If there was a gaming A-Team, I'd say I've earned my spot in it as the WRPG guy. ._.

So, are you hardcore? Do you have a specialization? Does this interfere with your ability to play mainstream games? Are we all hipsters desperately seeking acknowledgment? Discuss.

[Del Murder]

Nah, I'm not hardcore, nor do I care about the level of hardcoreness of others. I play console games for about 4-8 hours a week and handhelds every day on the subway or when I'm waiting for a table at a restaurant or just relaxing in bed. I don't see that as hardcore enough to get the label.

[Pheesh]

Nope. I very rarely finish games that I buy anymore, there's no one genre that I would say is my favourite or I'm best at, and I will rarely talk openly with people about video games or the amount that I play them.

[Madame Adequate]

I spent like 14 hours a day playing videogames, and the videogames I play include Dwarf Fortress and Aurora.

[Bunny]

I am the hardest of cores.

[Aulayna]

Well this is a different definition of hardcore than what I'm used too which would be doing absolutely everything in a game, including it's toughest challenges. Or in the cases of MMORPGs dedicating large amounts of time a week in a relentless push to stay at or near the top of the pack.

I've never heard the term hardcore to describe someone who doesn't prefer certain types of games in one broad genre.

Which, on the former note, I used to be. I simply don't have the free time anymore though. Unless I'm really into the game I'll put it down as soon as I've finished it - and even that's a bit of a rarity these days.

[Pike]

Seeing as people accuse me of being a video game hipster on a regular basis...

Edit: Also, reminder who is currently holding the Most Hardcore Gamer ciddie /smug

Edit Again: Since we're talking about definitions of "hardcore", my own definition would be someone who puts a considerable amount of time into a variety of different games in order to experience all the best the medium has to offer. Akin to a film buff or bookworm working on watching/reading all the classics. If it's considered a classic of gaming, I want to play it. When I see a Top 100 list I want to be able to say I have played most, if not all, of the games on the list. That's my own personal definition of "hardcore".

[DMKA]

I don't think of myself as a hardcore gamer, no. I just play them for fun.

[Shorty]

Nope. I am absolutely not.

I finally acquired a PS2 again, though, so I'm about a decade and a half behind on the gaming industry.

[Shoeberto]

Nah, I'm not hardcore, nor do I care about the level of hardcoreness of others. I play console games for about 4-8 hours a week and handhelds every day on the subway or when I'm waiting for a table at a restaurant or just relaxing in bed. I don't see that as hardcore enough to get the label.

I'm about in the same boat. I just don't have time to be "hardcore" anymore. I wish I had more time to play, for sure, but I still would rather play simply for enjoyment rather than making it my day-in-day-out activity.

[Pike]

I don't think of myself as a hardcore gamer, no. I just play them for fun.

Nah, I'm not hardcore, nor do I care about the level of hardcoreness of others. I play console games for about 4-8 hours a week and handhelds every day on the subway or when I'm waiting for a table at a restaurant or just relaxing in bed. I don't see that as hardcore enough to get the label.

I'm about in the same boat. I just don't have time to be "hardcore" anymore. I wish I had more time to play, for sure, but I still would rather play simply for enjoyment rather than making it my day-in-day-out activity.

I play them day-in-day-out and still have fun!

For real though. Playing lots and lots of games and having fun aren't mutually exclusive for all of us! It just means I have more fun!

[Shauna]

I play a lot of games, but I am not great at them. I would consider myself to be fairly hardcore, but I'm sure a lot of people would call me a filthy casual due to my poor skills. xD

[Madame Adequate]

Do you people actually think we would play this much vidya if it wasn't fun?

[Aulayna]

Do you people actually think we would play this much vidya if it wasn't fun?

Yes.

[Pike]

Do you people actually think we would play this much vidya if it wasn't fun?

Yes.

That's weird.

Vidya is for fun.

I play lots of vidya to maximize my fun