11 signs you're no longer a hard-core gamer

[wraggster]

You used to play videogames all night. Your Quake prowess was unmatched; your skills at Command & Conquer unparalleled. You have a gaming history that stretches back beyond the PlayStation generation to the SNES, Megadrive, Amiga and ZX Spectrum. You were there at the dawn of gaming.

Tick-tock... Time passes. You've quietly come to realise that you're not the hard-core gamer you used to be. Even your Xbox 360 Gamertag seems far too 'sensible'. How do you know that a mid-life gaming crisis is setting in? Watch out for these warning signs…

You prefer playing against the computer

Online gaming against real people has become depressing – it exposes your faded, spoon-sharp reflexes and you abhor the trash-talk from 12-year old fanboys. You prefer playing offline against the computer because a game's algorithms are slightly more predictable. And, once you master the scripted patterns of play, you stand a real chance of being good… of actually winning. And that feels great, doesn't it? Ranking second-bottom on a multiplayer leader board doesn't.

You only play when your girlfriend is out

Because you only have one high-def TV and to play videogames on it while she's at home is 'selfish' and not something the two of you can do 'together'.

You believe that winning isn't everything

It's the taking part that counts. Obviously. And that's not because you're not good at games. You are. But you've found that there's more to life than spending five hours every night killing all of the Templars in Assassin’s Creed. The fact that you can't find the last three Templars is irrelevant.

It's been days, not hours since you last switched on your console

Because things keep getting in the way: TV, movies, books, going out to restaurants, shopping, going down the pub, DIY, dinner parties, the gym, more DIY, your girlfriend/wife/boyfriend [delete as applicable]… oh, and having a job.

You’re the oldest person trading in games at GameStation

So you lie about why you’re there. "It’s, ahem, my son's birthday. I'd like to trade these in for Guitar Hero please…"

You like your Xbox 360 and your PS3 equally

Being a more 'mature' gamer means you have more disposable income, so you can afford the luxury of owning a PS3 and an Xbox 360. So you've become the gaming equivalent of the United Nations, calming accepting the virtues of both consoles to the deaf ears of Xbox zealots and Sony fanboys (who simply ignore you and carry on their slanging match regardless). Because when you stare at those side-by-side game comparison shots on CVG, you can't see the difference. Maybe the PS3 palette is lighter… maybe… Of course, your eyesight could be failing…

You fondly remember a ‘golden age’ of gaming
You lament the current glut of videogame sequels and often talk fondly of an innovative 'golden age' of gaming. You remember Manic Miner, good ‘ol Chuckie Egg and the Ultimate games on the ZX Spectrum. You played Sensible Soccer the first time around on the Amiga, Elite on your mate’s BBC B, and finished Sonic The Hedgehog on the Megadrive. Happy days… But when modernised versions of these gaming classics turn up on Xbox Live, your excitement quickly evaporates. You quickly realise that, by today’s standards, those cherished oldies are now shallow, repetitive and not much fun.

You avoid playing on the Wii because it’s too much effort

There's no denying that the Nintendo Wii is a revolutionary games machine but… well, it does require a lot of effort. Aren't there times when you just want to slouch into a comfy sofa with a traditional joypad? Times when you can't be arsed with all that wiimote waving and waggling? It's way too energetic – a 20 minute bowling session in Wii Sports is almost akin to a full workout.


Your FPS experience consists of spawn, run, die... spawn, run, die... spawn…

The reflexes that served you so well in GoldenEye and Quake seem to be two seconds slower than everybody else these days. You think 'fire', 'jump', 'spin', 'run', 'collect spinny power-up', but your fingers press 'fire' (and pause), 'fire' (and pause), 'spin' and… no, I actually meant 'jump', and – oh, I’m dead. Either you're slowing down, or today's hard-core gamerati are faster than you ever were.

You find the idea of videogames based on board games perfectly acceptable

Anyone for a game of Carcassonne tonight? The wife's out until 10pm and I'll be online after I've had my dinner…

You've pre-ordered GTA IV but don't mind if it doesn't turn up on launch day

Wednesday's just fine. Really. You're a bit busy at the moment, anyway. In fact, you probably won't get a chance to play GTA IV until the weekend. You're also not bothered by the prospect of downloading the DLC for GTA IV either. You'll never finish the main game anyway.

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/xbox/11-signs-youre-no-longer-a-hard-core-gamer-329291

[Gene]

Yeah. I'm not even old or anything but I'm starting to notice that I barely have time for gaming anymore. Honestly It's probably relationships to blame in most cases. But hey, is that such a bad thing?

[pdogg]

That's my life's Story, basically. Only diff is, I didnt order GTA-IV because it sucks.

[Axelius]

That's so true... Actually I'm on my computer the same amount of time as I was some years ago, but I'm not playing. Most of the time I don't feel like playing. I mean, of course it is fun to play some Assassin's Creed or whatever, but going out with friends is in fact more fun.

[geise69]

Oh?...I didn't know in order to be a hardcore gamer you have to be playing the latest and greatest (greatest meaning popular) games. I guess me staying up till early in the morning to play some Turbo Duo or some old school Amiga games doesn't make me hard core. Only if I play the latest popular FPS, or Forza, or Madden then I'm a hard core player. Just because real life sets in and affects your game playing time, it doesn't mean a damn thing if you're hard core or not.

[watupgroupie]

What happened to when hardcore meant you were good at games an enjoyed games that were actually good? Oh and when he makes the comment about trading in a game for guitar hero... wtf. That is the most fanboyish game ever. No hardcore gamer would trade a game for that.

[Sketchy]

Only diff is, I didnt order GTA-IV because it sucks.


Of course, i suppose GOW2, R6V2, PGR4 and GT5 Prologue, all suck too :rolleyes:

[JKKDARK]

I have less and less time for video games.

[iniquitous_beast]

Yeah, I'm slowing down too. The problem is that my wallet hasn't. More and more, I've been buying a great new game, only to not even unseal it until months later.

That's the irony. When I was younger, I had plenty of time for games, but no money for buying them. Now, I've got the money, but not the time or the energy.

[____anders____]

some of them fit for me :D, some don't..

i like playing games on my wii, but as you said...


..against the CPU :p

like in SSBB, i'm more busy with completing the subspace emissary than competing online, same on Mario Kart, i want to have gold trophies on every cup and on every class (50cc, 100cc, and 150cc) rather than playing online, as i'm better in mario kart 64 than on WII..

the most games i play are the VC games, mario kart 64, mario 64, well every mario game there is, i have on my wii, bought from VC..

but i'm only 18 in a few months, i'm not that old riiight?:p

[one winged angel]

its kinda depressing I hope this will never happen to me I totally own CSS right now play 70 hours in 2 weeks but then again im still young compared to you guys

the only problem i have i mostly only get 4 to 5 hours sleep a night(with the exception of weekends where i 12 to 16 sleep a night)

[osgeld]

few weeks ago i was trading in some psp games for some xbox games

the kid asked for my birthdate (you have to be 18 to trade) and i said 6-26-79

and the kid honestly asked "did you just say 79"

mother f*W#!ng kids at gamestop

now let me talk fondly about my colecovision and about that time i saw SMB3 in the wizard and thought OMG those graphics are great!

[Ashen]

Tis mighty depressing. I've got a nice backlog of unfinished games from last year which I refuse to buy more until I've finished.

Its like... You work in IT coz you were always good at this stuff (because you played games back in the day), but when you get home the last thing you want to do is look at a screen. Thats such an old man thing to say, but its not just me. Alot of my gamer mates have been saying the same thing.

Also, lans have slowed down now... only 2 or 3 a year... as opposed to every 2nd week in the good old days.

*sniff*

:p

Cheers.
Ash.

[Mr_Biggs]

Lol, I disagree with the nostalgic thing, even if I'm 17 I still have fond memories of playing Super Mario World on the SNES.

But other than that, I'm hardcore. :D

[masterchief929]

thankfully, im still a hardcore gamer.

[MicroNut]

I fit most of these but I don't think I am jaded or outdated.
I am just an old experienced shark in fresh waters.
Playing games online does not make you social.
Playing games with people that you really know means that you have friends.

[mike_jmg]

I'm slowing down a bit, cause there are no games that I like at the moment.

And I'm not buying a Ps3 at the price that people sell it in here (700 usd). I just want it so I can play resistance, DMC4 and Burnout Paradise (so, for three games I'm not paying that, maybe when there are more games that I like)

Soon I'll be able to play DMC4 on my PC :p

If you want to know I was playing Yoshi's Island like 3 minutes ago on my psp (it is my only nextgen console, and I need to get my hands on Naruto ultimate ninja 3 for my ps2)
Days without playing, I think it'll never happen

[urherenow]

You have a gaming history that stretches back beyond the PlayStation generation to the SNES, Megadrive, Amiga and ZX Spectrum. You were there at the dawn of gaming.


Dawn of gaming?

it's official. Wraggster is a child. I was gaming a good bit before the spectrum and amiga.

How about the original Atari? Coleco Vision? Commodore Vic 20? COMMODORE 64! (outstanding computer for its time imho)

[MicroNut]

My first system was a TI99-4a
Typing in and debugging my first games without a disk drive from Compute! magazine.
The moon patrol cart for it was the only real game I had that I could keep without power applied.
C=64 rocked!
Talk about the first real "pc" game machine.
First game studio related job was working for Dynamics
Caveman Ughlympics the first game I ever worked on.
The Amiga was the real super computer of the day.

[ExcruciationX]

I'll probably still be playing video games as much as I do now when I'm older. I don't want a girlfriend, or friends, so just omitting those two gives me more free time.

[osgeld]

Lol, I disagree with the nostalgic thing, even if I'm 17 I still have fond memories of playing Super Mario World on the SNES.

But other than that, I'm hardcore. :D

LOL ok see yea right there is why this thread was created

im only 28 and by SMW i was on my 3rd pc and 3rd video game

ok dad bought the apple and the coleco for him, but by SMW came out i was doing afternoon jobs and scrapped up a turbo XT then a 386 and working on a 387 math co processor (drop in a cheap chip in a subsocket make your celeron a p4), bought a genesis a few years before and had put the nes in the attic

now stop making me feel old jackass (kidding, your ok)

now let me ramble on about how to complete the damn mad hatters house on the apple ][e version of "alice in wonderland"
http://www.brownbag.0catch.com/appleg1.jpg

[DarthPaul]

I choose option number 12...

All of the above!

[urherenow]

what's worse about calling those things 'the dawn of gaming' is that the snes was mentioned but not the NES? Holy crap... the SNES was the most rocking system of its time and is still popular today (just look at VC sales before the recent cracks...) but the NES revitalized the entire gaming industry!

[Mr_Biggs]

LOL ok see yea right there is why this thread was created

im only 28 and by SMW i was on my 3rd pc and 3rd video game

ok dad bought the apple and the coleco for him, but by SMW came out i was doing afternoon jobs and scrapped up a turbo XT then a 386 and working on a 387 math co processor (drop in a cheap chip in a subsocket make your celeron a p4), bought a genesis a few years before and had put the nes in the attic

now stop making me feel old jackass (kidding, your ok)

now let me ramble on about how to complete the damn mad hatters house on the apple ][e version of "alice in wonderland"
http://www.brownbag.0catch.com/appleg1.jpg

hehe, we had an apple ][ as well, and we traded it in in 93 for a Packard Bell PC, based on a Intel 486, with a blazing-fast quad speed CD-ROM drive, 16 MB of RAM, and a 1 GB drive loaded with Windows 3.1 . Ran Wolfenstein like a charm.

[pdogg]

Of course, i suppose GOW2, R6V2, PGR4 and GT5 Prologue, all suck too :rolleyes:

- GOW2 = Gears2 or God2 ? (both don't suck)
- R6V2 doesn´t suck
- PGR4 sucks
- GT5 doesn´t suck
- Sketchy sucks for being an ignorant idiot.

nuff said.

[Mc_Logical]

They only suck if u suck at em lol im 22 I deff havent lost my gaming, since the master system, yeah! I went out and done things (infact allways out in my teens) but my time in im on games none stop, I havent watched anything on tv in months, everything evolves around my ps3, I cant wait for gta iv!!!! Im out of a relasionship with a girl too, and u know what? I like my own space lol it allways gets to that point in a relasionship, doesnt matter who u are, ok if your perfect! then fair enough, my relasionship is with my ps3, get laid now and again lol boom boom tut ba boom boom tut

EDIT: And I dont think I will lose it, becasue graphics and gameplay is getting better and better, ima be an 80yr old gamer! lol u only live once, so why not live how u wanna?

[don3z]

Yeah, I'm slowing down too. The problem is that my wallet hasn't. More and more, I've been buying a great new game, only to not even unseal it until months later.

That's the irony. When I was younger, I had plenty of time for games, but no money for buying them. Now, I've got the money, but not the time or the energy.

Couldn't have said it better myself.. Seems like money and time never seem to come together in the same package. You either get one or the other :(

[Shrygue]

I guess these days I don't play video games as much as I used to. As another user mentioned, I'd see a real good game, buy it and then leave it somewhere untouched for weeks, maybe months before actually opening the case and playing the game. Most of my time is spent on more pressing issues and watching this forum. Maybe I was a hardcore gamer back 13 years ago when I'd play the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) for hours on end every day.

[robman84]

Old fart and proud of it :-). 40 beckons...

Anyhow, since the arrival of my kids about 8 years ago my actual game playing time completely collapsed. Nowadays I buy a game and my eldest son has completed it before I've even sat down to play it. I guess that's why I like to have my DS to hand for those few minutes I get to actually play something (more often than not, something very old via an emulator).

I can't say modern games are rubbish, 'cos they're not. But there's very little I've seen on the 360/PS3 that gives me that sense of anticipation, constantly bugging the game store bloke to ask "is it in yet?".

To be honest I was a bit like that with the PS2 - waited until GT3 came out before I actually bought one I think. And the Xbox didn't come into my life until 2005, when I got it cheap and a ton of AAA titles at about 5 quid each - probably ended up with most of the top-rated Xbox games. Amusingly I only loaded Metal Gear Solid 2 for he first time yesterday (I bought it 2 years ago!). Still have 3 or 4 others I haven't even loaded yet - KOTOR, FFX2 on PS2, both decent Prince of Persia ones etc. I even only actually played GTA San Andreas for the first time this week - pretty good stuff and I could waste hours on that.

I guess although gaming still takes up most of my leisure time, my leisure time is retty darned minimal! And it's easier to surf the web instead, 'cos your other half thinks you are working on your laptop doing that report you've got to do :-)

[____anders____]

I'll probably still be playing video games as much as I do now when I'm older. I don't want a girlfriend, or friends, so just omitting those two gives me more free time.

who would want an alien as a friend anyway?

hehe, just kidding, i don't have much friends either..

[mib_]

I started gaming in 1979 on an Acetronic MPU1000.

History:

Acetronic MPU1000
ZX81
Vic 20
Spectrum +3
Amiga 500+

NES
SNES
PSX
Saturn (x3)
Dreamcast
Xbox
PS3

Gameboy
Game Gear
PSP phat
PSP slim

7 Jama boards

486 DX2 66
P90
P200
P600
AMD1.3
AMD 2100
AMD 3400

and at least 8 laptops


I've pre-ordered GTA and I'm taking the week off.

yeah, I'm still hardcore. :cool:

[Mc_Logical]

LOL nice

[R4mbo]

:D Still a hardcore-gamer!
I only disagree with the part of the templars in AC... you can not unlock anything by doing this, so I skip this part because there are so many other games I have to play. I finished a game when I completed the story once and unlocked EVERYTHING... which means completing the old Resident Evil parts a lot of times and that stuff^^. Assassins Creed has a lot of stuff to collect and gather, but you dont Unlock anything for it, they are just eating your time. Cant wait for Brawl to arrive at europe... all that trophy stuff, uaaaaaaaa^^

[gr42178]

I slowed down alot myself, old age will do that to you!



P.S. Old school nes/snes forever hahahaha

[benn]

i read this post and thought it was one of the best ever.
soooooo funny and sooooo like my life.

it is so funny the people on here getting all pissed off cos they 'are not hardcore' cos they dont play what popular etc. chill out and shut up. the point of the article is humour and in my books it is frggin hilarious.

top marks to author.

[Steely]

Not really true, but funny.

I'm only 14 and I'm slowing down on games. Never really was a fan of FPS's, though.

I started playing the NES, then SNES, then Genesis, then SNES, then N64, playstation, Gamecube, Wii, 360... Yeah. I've only really enjoyed the Nintendo systems, though, and some 3rd party titles on other systems.

When I had almost no homework, I used to play SNES, N64 and Gamecube all the time. I always won. Now, I don't have as much time for games because of homework and friends, and I don't even enjoy games as much anymore.

[jaws365]

Sadly many of them fit on me :D I actually only play DS and PSP against computer these days, and when I pick up a game it has to have great soundtrack.

[Paperghost]

To me, it's not so much a case of whether the players are "hardcore" anymore, as much as the games themselves.

It's a similar situation to where the comics industry is at - we've all aged, perhaps grabbed a wife, family, fluffy dog, whatever, got a job and so on. As the userbase has grown older, so too has the medium had to adapt and evolve to cater for the aging demographic. Whereas 15 or even 20 years ago, most comics were still primarily viewed as "for kids", so was the gaming industry. Now comics are supposedly deeper, darker and more interesting for the audience that's grown up with it so the comic makers don't lose the older demographic cash.

In the same way, its interesting to note how games have become more accessible in certain ways to accommodate for the aged audience that the game makers don't want to lose, but at the expense of perhaps losing the thing that made those older games "hardcore" (and by extension the gamers that played them) in the first place.

Is anyone going to make a game now like Star Wars on the NES with its handful of lives and continues, then demand you make it through the WHOLE GAME with that poxy supply or start all over again? Nope, because the kids need feeding and that dog has to be walked and nuts, there's bills to pay too. So games have become much more accesible (read: stop and start friendly), with easy access save points at every turn and a noticeable decline (for me, anyway) in difficulty, amongst other things.

I look back at all those old C64 / NES / SNES games, and wonder if they actually expected anybody to complete the majority of those titles. if you didn't, there wasn't any real expectation of continuing storylines anyway so it was no big deal and there was always that annoying patronising attitude of "just for kids" from the games magazines, the adults around you and (to a degree) even the game makers themselves. Now everything is a franchise and the game makers *want* to you take part in the continuing storyline, buy into the game, its spinoffs and keep coughing up the cash. Its not in their best interests to make the games "hardcore" anymore. To be honest, I appreciate the tradeoff in some ways, as I doubt I could play games with the same level of intensity I used to - but I do smile when I see a lot of younger gamers eager to pick up and play megadrives, dreamcasts etc because they quite often tell me they just don't feel challenged enough by a lot of the newer games out there.

ultimately as long you enjoy what you're playing, I don't think it matters much either way.

[Greg_Alexander]

OP: TELL ME ABOUT IT, lol.
'Life' has an annoying habit of getting in the way...

:eek::D:(