While reading the chapter by Juul, I couldn’t help but ask myself, by Juul’s definition, what kind of gamer I actually am. Although the elements outlined in the chapter (Positive/Negative fiction preference, game knowledge, time investment, and attitude towards difficulty) definitely affect gameplay and the overall experience of the player, I do not believe that one can generalize players into two categories, that of “casual” and “hardcore”. Personally, as a gamer, I hold no preference for negative/positive fiction, game knowledge, or difficulty. Although time is certainly an element (some games I can play for a few minutes, while others I won’t play unless I have 20+ minutes) which dictates what kind of game I play, it does not dictate me as a gamer, as I play games of both shorter and lengthier time requirements.
When it comes to games, I believe the game knowledge and level of difficulty are dictated by the time investment factor. Games that are designed to be used in shorter amounts of time intervals typically do not require vast game knowledge or complex controls to learn, thus the difficulty comes from advancement through levels rather than complexity within the core coding of the game. Games designed for longer intervals of time typically can expand and require greater game knowledge, and present challenges outside of the basic game motive, thus creating a more complex game with more options and controls.
Within game design, it is important to consider to whom you are marketing a game, but perhaps it is of greater value to know and fully understand what you hope to achieve through the game and the player’s reaction itself (e.g. a tool for relaxation or stress relief, a game to stimulate certain emotions (fear, excitement, happiness, etc.), a puzzle to stimulate thought or to challenge oneself, etc.). It all comes back to the question, “why do people play video games?” For some of us, it might be a way to pass time while waiting in line to pick up a package, for others, it might be a way of life; to relieve the stress and have fun at the end of the day (used as a hobby), or to just stop thinking about one or more aspects of one’s life. For many of us, however, it may a mixture of the two, depending on an individual’s priorities in life.
I agree with you. It seems that, just because someone can be a “casual gamer”, that means that they are “less of a gamer”. How do they do those differentiations? Do they look into the type of game played? Does that mean that if you spend 10 hours a day playing Solitaire, you aren’t a hardcore gamer? Or maybe they have into account the time spent playing it? Then, how come I have never heard of a “casual gamer of Call of Duty”?
Even though I don’t consider myself a hardcore gamer (well, at least I am not if I compare myself with other gamers I know), I don’t think I am just a “casual gamer”. It is true that I usually play casual games, those who don’t require you extensive hours of playing to finish them, or that I enjoy more with a DS game than with a PS3 shooter (in fact, I hate shooters, and not because I am a girl, simply because I spen 3 and half years testing shooters and I find them boring and annoying :)), but I don’t think I should be called “casual” gamer when I probably spend more hours than many people playing different types of games (right now, I play Sims Social pretty much 3/4 times a day, plus a couple of small games on my iPhone, plus any silly game on a web that you might send me via e-mail… until I decide that I have to work and I close down the page).
Hence, I think there are more than just A (hardcore) or B (casual) gamers, and for some time I have decided to call myself a “hardcore casual gamer”. Me likes! ;)
Thanks for this post!
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