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View Full Version : Hardcore vs. Casual-Which is better?



Knightsong
10-21-2007, 06:00 AM
I've played a couple of mmorpg games in my time and there seems to be alot of controversy about which games are good and which games are bad. It basically boils down to wether or not you're a hardcore player.

Deffinition:
Hardcore-A player who enjoys figuring things out. They don't give much care about maps, directions, or other in-game help. It's the thrill of discovery for them. They feel that the more difficult the game is, the better a player it makes you. If when you die, you lose XP plus have to retrieve your corpse, this teaches you skills on how not to die. They tend to look at user friendly games that have maps and in-game directions as lesser games because it candy coats things for players. There is no sense of achievment because you never had to figure anything out for yourself. A hardcore player also has no problem camping a spawn for 16 hours to complete part of a quest, and will gladly sit around for 3 hours while a raid is organized.

Casual-A player who is limited by the time they have to play and therfor wants their game more user friendly. They feel things like losing xp and doing corpse runs don't teach you much of anything other than to question why you are paying to play the game that is supposed to be fun(If you have a game you pay for that is). They like a user friendly system, with maps and tutorials, that get you right into the meat of the game because that's what they're there to do, play the game. The idea of sitting for 16 hours to wait to kill 1 thing is ludicrous and it should never take 3 hours to organize a raid on anything.

So which is better? Or is either? Do both hold an equal degree of merit?

I personally fall into the second category. It's not that I don't enjoy figuring things out on my own, but I didn't sign on to solve a mystery. I signed on play a game. And a game should help you play it, and it should want you to come back and play some more (especially if you're paying a monthly fee for it). I like a game without a corpse run, because doing one never made much sense to me. You're out fighting some big bad monsters, when suddenly you die. crap. Now you're naked at your home point with none of the gear or weapons on you that you needed to get where you were in the first place. double crap. Now I'm expected to run my naked vulnerable butt back and get dressed surrounded by the big baddies that killed me in the first place? triple crap. Now I know alot of games have instituted a graveyard so people can go pick up their bodies there, but honestly if you're coming back from the dead, wouldn't you be in the graveyard? In short, I feel a game should be just that, something to play and have fun. Something with a goal. Something that doesn't require you to be married to it to play it.

Where do you stand on this?

Crystall
10-21-2007, 07:20 AM
I play a game for the game, not to have a mystery. If I wanted a mystery I'd watch mystery tv shows, I'm more of a casual player

Cyrogen
10-21-2007, 07:31 AM
Where do you stand on this?

Where do I stand? I disagree with your definitions :) Time is the only thing that seperates them.

Having been a guild master of a semi-hard core raiding guild on warcraft, the hardcore players are the ones who are there every night, they live for the game, they will spend the time to come to an event with all the necessary requirements, potions, scrolls, stones, resistance, etc.

The casual players play the game casually, they find out things at their own pace, they level slower as they play less, the reasons they play less don't matter. The speed they improve their trade skills & get gear reflects the amount they play. They are everything a hardcore player is, just without the time. They won't commit to coming to events night after night, week after week, but if they are around during an event & a spot opens up, given an explanation they will do their job as well as their skill & gear allow.

You get casual & hardcore players both who skip over as much content as they can.

Knightsong
10-21-2007, 08:43 AM
Might have to disagree with your similarities between Hardcore and Casual. I have probably 3-4 friends who are Hardcore, and they are nothing like the casual players. They dedicate themselves to the game, and they have a different mindset on alot of things. They take the game seriously, and they have serious fun I guess. But I've sat down to watch them raid and had to leave before the raid ever got started. And to them, it was like nothing, they were patient. They weren't crabbing "LET'S GO!!!" They just waited until it was time to move out. And they have stayed up 24+ hours playing too, and they did it without thinking twice.

Are they addicts? Just about everyone of them have quit their jobs to play a game before. Most of them have matured beyond that point. But to me, these are the attitudes and the habbits I've witnessed in a hardcore MMORPG gamer. They are deffinately a different breed, and believe me nothing about what they do in games is casual.

XpierulesX
10-21-2007, 08:45 AM
I'm somewhat of a Hardcore player ;).

Cloud_
10-21-2007, 05:48 PM
I merit in both catagories

Archaonn
10-21-2007, 05:58 PM
I'm a mix in both. I have limited time when playing and maps really help but also I like to have exp lost because it makes me more careful.

Stragy
10-21-2007, 06:22 PM
Im definatly a hardcore gamer ^^.

anarchy_
10-21-2007, 10:37 PM
Elite player - A player who doesnt waste time, money, effort. Researches and studies every aspect of the game and eloquent with player interaction, elite players realise they are the few out there that endeavour to be the best, just like the ol' high school nerd, only without the humility. Elite players will push the boundaries, set milestones and accomplish eye opening achievements. Sadly greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies and elite players will often be under the scrutiny [or envious view] of the rest of the community, such is their fate. So, are YOU an elite player?

Fauxhawk
10-21-2007, 10:48 PM
I like figuring things out during the game, but i definatly am not gonna sit around for hours waiting for a monster to spawn.. I'm a hardcore casual gamer i guess



p.s- I'm new here :D

Desirai
10-22-2007, 09:03 AM
Hardcore players are just that.. hardcore. They dedicate themselves to the game...just to be the best. x.x;
I can't do that.. so I am definitely a casual gamer. I get up there in the ranks eventually, but I'm always one of the last. ^^;;