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...e-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

[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 , some don't..

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


..against the CPU

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?