"Casual gamer" - clarification required please

nimander99 · May 2016

Only PVP oriented players (People who only play mmoRPG's for PVP) use casual as a slang or negative term. To the rest of gaming universe and MMO/Other game maker's that term means adults who grew up playing games and have more money than time... i.e paying customers that don't demand stuff for free cause lag/bugs/etc etc.

FortheloveofKrist · May 2016

[Quoted content removed]

LOL. Wow. Ignorance at its finest.

Volkodav · May 2016

nimander99 wrote: »

Only PVP oriented players (People who only play mmoRPG's for PVP) use casual as a slang or negative term. To the rest of gaming universe and MMO/Other game maker's that term means adults who grew up playing games and have more money than time... i.e paying customers that don't demand stuff for free cause lag/bugs/etc etc.

Well said.However,I wish they'd give us a better name than casual.

SkoomaAddict420 · May 2016

Volkodav wrote: »

nimander99 wrote: »

Only PVP oriented players (People who only play mmoRPG's for PVP) use casual as a slang or negative term. To the rest of gaming universe and MMO/Other game maker's that term means adults who grew up playing games and have more money than time... i.e paying customers that don't demand stuff for free cause lag/bugs/etc etc.

nimander99 wrote: »

Only PVP oriented players (People who only play mmoRPG's for PVP) use casual as a slang or negative term. To the rest of gaming universe and MMO/Other game maker's that term means adults who grew up playing games and have more money than time... i.e paying customers that don't demand stuff for free cause lag/bugs/etc etc.

Well said.However,I wish they'd give us a better name than casual.

Your new name is, BoBs...

potirondb16_ESO · May 2016

Yup, Hardcord player are usually just consider the hard-core of the game,meaning they are usually the one that will have complete most of the content and who will be looking for different thing to do.

While casual usually refere to low gaming time, those two concept are not in competition most of the time. Even if most Hardcord player aren't casually playing, some are actually casual player with exceptionnal skill set.

Hardcord opposite is more likely to be newbie or noob for that matter, while casual is usually the opposite of accro. So being a casual gamer isn't a bad thing at all, I know some really good casual player who are log 3 to 6 hour a week and with whom I feel safe going through any type of content while on the other end some player who play 20 hours a week can still be consider as noob.

Most of the time the difference inbetween those two kind of player is knowledge of the game. A casual player can have the same knowledge of the game as an hardcord player which will give him a tremendous advantage over another player who don't.

Noob is usually refering to that specefic aspect, Noob are usually player who don't know much about the game and how it played. Multiple factor could be involve whether it's by lack of time, lack of interest, or lack of practice to realise the action they are ask to perform. So if you are a casual player it's not bad, (actually in my mind), it simply mean that you spent less time playing and it can be actually really hard to figure who's casual and who's not. If you are refere as noob... usually means that a small time Investment and watching some video about the game could help your performance greatly.

Exemple of noob-type situation that most player understand

- A Dps using both ressource (magika and stamina): It's not working but as you are Learning the game it's an honnest mistake that can be corrected if you want to
- Unwise gear choice (Dps on heavy armor, or non-set gear) : Also Something we understand, you want to try Something and sometimes it will work sometimes it don't
- Lack of mecanics knowledge (Standing in AoE and stuff): This is probably the hardest part that is usually bringing casual player and newbie together in people's mind

So noone should feel bad if they are refere to as casual player, and neither should they be if they are refere to as a newbie, I mean it's obviously a videogame.But personnally Casual player don't mean unexperience player and unexperience player don't mean casual player.

Mojmir · May 2016

It's not so much how you play,but how you act.

Lucius_Aelius · May 2016

It is a label, sometimes used in a derogatory manner but not necessarily. Of course being a label it's inevitably used as an insult, as most labels can be if used in a certain way. Casuals play the least of anyone, and they're referred to in a negative way often because of either Elitism or genuine concern that people who don't play much are being catered to at the expense of people who play more.

I generally don't like being called a casual, but that's just because I've put a great deal of time and effort into this game, far more than any casual, and calling a regular player a casual is like calling a High School student an Elementary School student. It's just not accurately representative of the experience I have and progress I've made, and experience is something crucial to have for people to take your opinion more seriously than they would otherwise, so I don't like people suggesting that my level of experience is any less than it is (and I imagine others don't like being called a casual for the same reason).

There's nothing wrong with being a casual, but there is definitely something wrong with letting them balance the game at the expense of regular players, which sometimes the Developers do by making the game too easy in response to casual players complaining it's too hard (in most games it tends to be the casual players who don't know what they're doing that cry for nerfs the loudest at anything that kills them, so as a group they're certainly not doing themselves any favors regarding how unfavorably they're sometimes viewed).

Volkodav · May 2016

SkoomaAddict420 wrote: »

Volkodav wrote: »

nimander99 wrote: »

Only PVP oriented players (People who only play mmoRPG's for PVP) use casual as a slang or negative term. To the rest of gaming universe and MMO/Other game maker's that term means adults who grew up playing games and have more money than time... i.e paying customers that don't demand stuff for free cause lag/bugs/etc etc.

nimander99 wrote: »

Only PVP oriented players (People who only play mmoRPG's for PVP) use casual as a slang or negative term. To the rest of gaming universe and MMO/Other game maker's that term means adults who grew up playing games and have more money than time... i.e paying customers that don't demand stuff for free cause lag/bugs/etc etc.

Well said.However,I wish they'd give us a better name than casual.

Your new name is, BoBs...

I'll not take that as an insult. XD

Volkodav · May 2016

Lucius_Aelius wrote: »

It is a label, sometimes used in a derogatory manner but not necessarily. Of course being a label it's inevitably used as an insult, as most labels can be if used in a certain way. Casuals play the least of anyone, and they're referred to in a negative way often because of either Elitism or genuine concern that people who don't play much are being catered to at the expense of people who play more.

I generally don't like being called a casual, but that's just because I've put a great deal of time and effort into this game, far more than any casual, and calling a regular player a casual is like calling a High School student an Elementary School student. It's just not accurately representative of the experience I have and progress I've made, and experience is something crucial to have for people to take your opinion more seriously than they would otherwise, so I don't like people suggesting that my level of experience is any less than it is (and I imagine others don't like being called a casual for the same reason).

There's nothing wrong with being a casual, but there is definitely something wrong with letting them balance the game at the expense of regular players, which sometimes the Developers do by making the game too easy in response to casual players complaining it's too hard (in most games it tends to be the casual players who don't know what they're doing that cry for nerfs the loudest at anything that kills them, so as a group they're certainly not doing themselves any favors regarding how unfavorably they're sometimes viewed).

This is the exact meaning of casual,in my way of thinking. This puts me in the regular player category,..not the casual one.

Lucius_Aelius · May 2016

Volkodav wrote: »

Lucius_Aelius wrote: »

It is a label, sometimes used in a derogatory manner but not necessarily. Of course being a label it's inevitably used as an insult, as most labels can be if used in a certain way. Casuals play the least of anyone, and they're referred to in a negative way often because of either Elitism or genuine concern that people who don't play much are being catered to at the expense of people who play more.

I generally don't like being called a casual, but that's just because I've put a great deal of time and effort into this game, far more than any casual, and calling a regular player a casual is like calling a High School student an Elementary School student. It's just not accurately representative of the experience I have and progress I've made, and experience is something crucial to have for people to take your opinion more seriously than they would otherwise, so I don't like people suggesting that my level of experience is any less than it is (and I imagine others don't like being called a casual for the same reason).

There's nothing wrong with being a casual, but there is definitely something wrong with letting them balance the game at the expense of regular players, which sometimes the Developers do by making the game too easy in response to casual players complaining it's too hard (in most games it tends to be the casual players who don't know what they're doing that cry for nerfs the loudest at anything that kills them, so as a group they're certainly not doing themselves any favors regarding how unfavorably they're sometimes viewed).

Lucius_Aelius wrote: »

It is a label, sometimes used in a derogatory manner but not necessarily. Of course being a label it's inevitably used as an insult, as most labels can be if used in a certain way. Casuals play the least of anyone, and they're referred to in a negative way often because of either Elitism or genuine concern that people who don't play much are being catered to at the expense of people who play more.

I generally don't like being called a casual, but that's just because I've put a great deal of time and effort into this game, far more than any casual, and calling a regular player a casual is like calling a High School student an Elementary School student. It's just not accurately representative of the experience I have and progress I've made, and experience is something crucial to have for people to take your opinion more seriously than they would otherwise, so I don't like people suggesting that my level of experience is any less than it is (and I imagine others don't like being called a casual for the same reason).

There's nothing wrong with being a casual, but there is definitely something wrong with letting them balance the game at the expense of regular players, which sometimes the Developers do by making the game too easy in response to casual players complaining it's too hard (in most games it tends to be the casual players who don't know what they're doing that cry for nerfs the loudest at anything that kills them, so as a group they're certainly not doing themselves any favors regarding how unfavorably they're sometimes viewed).

Lucius_Aelius wrote: »

It is a label, sometimes used in a derogatory manner but not necessarily. Of course being a label it's inevitably used as an insult, as most labels can be if used in a certain way. Casuals play the least of anyone, and they're referred to in a negative way often because of either Elitism or genuine concern that people who don't play much are being catered to at the expense of people who play more.

I generally don't like being called a casual, but that's just because I've put a great deal of time and effort into this game, far more than any casual, and calling a regular player a casual is like calling a High School student an Elementary School student. It's just not accurately representative of the experience I have and progress I've made, and experience is something crucial to have for people to take your opinion more seriously than they would otherwise, so I don't like people suggesting that my level of experience is any less than it is (and I imagine others don't like being called a casual for the same reason).

There's nothing wrong with being a casual, but there is definitely something wrong with letting them balance the game at the expense of regular players, which sometimes the Developers do by making the game too easy in response to casual players complaining it's too hard (in most games it tends to be the casual players who don't know what they're doing that cry for nerfs the loudest at anything that kills them, so as a group they're certainly not doing themselves any favors regarding how unfavorably they're sometimes viewed).

This is the exact meaning of casual,in my way of thinking. This puts me in the regular player category,..not the casual one.

I also call myself "Regular" just because I don't think of myself as "Hardcore," I just don't play nearly enough, but I do play endgame content and play enough that the term Casual doesn't apply either (it is certainly a gray area, there's no rigid definition of how much time played=what, it's just my feeling on it).

Volkodav · May 2016

Lucius_Aelius wrote: »

Volkodav wrote: »

Lucius_Aelius wrote: »

It is a label, sometimes used in a derogatory manner but not necessarily. Of course being a label it's inevitably used as an insult, as most labels can be if used in a certain way. Casuals play the least of anyone, and they're referred to in a negative way often because of either Elitism or genuine concern that people who don't play much are being catered to at the expense of people who play more.

I generally don't like being called a casual, but that's just because I've put a great deal of time and effort into this game, far more than any casual, and calling a regular player a casual is like calling a High School student an Elementary School student. It's just not accurately representative of the experience I have and progress I've made, and experience is something crucial to have for people to take your opinion more seriously than they would otherwise, so I don't like people suggesting that my level of experience is any less than it is (and I imagine others don't like being called a casual for the same reason).

There's nothing wrong with being a casual, but there is definitely something wrong with letting them balance the game at the expense of regular players, which sometimes the Developers do by making the game too easy in response to casual players complaining it's too hard (in most games it tends to be the casual players who don't know what they're doing that cry for nerfs the loudest at anything that kills them, so as a group they're certainly not doing themselves any favors regarding how unfavorably they're sometimes viewed).

Lucius_Aelius wrote: »

It is a label, sometimes used in a derogatory manner but not necessarily. Of course being a label it's inevitably used as an insult, as most labels can be if used in a certain way. Casuals play the least of anyone, and they're referred to in a negative way often because of either Elitism or genuine concern that people who don't play much are being catered to at the expense of people who play more.

I generally don't like being called a casual, but that's just because I've put a great deal of time and effort into this game, far more than any casual, and calling a regular player a casual is like calling a High School student an Elementary School student. It's just not accurately representative of the experience I have and progress I've made, and experience is something crucial to have for people to take your opinion more seriously than they would otherwise, so I don't like people suggesting that my level of experience is any less than it is (and I imagine others don't like being called a casual for the same reason).

There's nothing wrong with being a casual, but there is definitely something wrong with letting them balance the game at the expense of regular players, which sometimes the Developers do by making the game too easy in response to casual players complaining it's too hard (in most games it tends to be the casual players who don't know what they're doing that cry for nerfs the loudest at anything that kills them, so as a group they're certainly not doing themselves any favors regarding how unfavorably they're sometimes viewed).

Lucius_Aelius wrote: »

It is a label, sometimes used in a derogatory manner but not necessarily. Of course being a label it's inevitably used as an insult, as most labels can be if used in a certain way. Casuals play the least of anyone, and they're referred to in a negative way often because of either Elitism or genuine concern that people who don't play much are being catered to at the expense of people who play more.

I generally don't like being called a casual, but that's just because I've put a great deal of time and effort into this game, far more than any casual, and calling a regular player a casual is like calling a High School student an Elementary School student. It's just not accurately representative of the experience I have and progress I've made, and experience is something crucial to have for people to take your opinion more seriously than they would otherwise, so I don't like people suggesting that my level of experience is any less than it is (and I imagine others don't like being called a casual for the same reason).

There's nothing wrong with being a casual, but there is definitely something wrong with letting them balance the game at the expense of regular players, which sometimes the Developers do by making the game too easy in response to casual players complaining it's too hard (in most games it tends to be the casual players who don't know what they're doing that cry for nerfs the loudest at anything that kills them, so as a group they're certainly not doing themselves any favors regarding how unfavorably they're sometimes viewed).

This is the exact meaning of casual,in my way of thinking. This puts me in the regular player category,..not the casual one.

I also call myself "Regular" just because I don't think of myself as "Hardcore," I just don't play nearly enough, but I do play endgame content and play enough that the term Casual doesn't apply either (it is certainly a gray area, there's no rigid definition of how much time played=what, it's just my feeling on it).

Ahh.I see.I dont like being called casual due to the fact that I put in a lot of time each day to playing. I dont do endgame stuff because I am not interested in PvP.

There should be a third category of players.You said "regulars",and that would work.We play regularly and devote time and effort into our gaming.
The word Casual doesnt describe most players who spend a lot of time inworld.

Moonscythe · May 2016

Casual does not mean uncommitted, it does not mean unskilled, it does not mean don't care about crafting/better gear, learning to play. Casual is a label appended to players the person doing the appending wants to denigrate in some fashion. I have never seen the label applied in any manner that was not condescending or patronizing. Casual is "not one of us".

This is my first MMO and, yes, it is because it is Elder Scrolls. I prefer single player on a console so I know this makes me barely better than some woman (did I mention I'm a mature woman) chasing her 800th level in Candy Crush. To me, casual is the quick puzzle game I play in the morning to wake me up or the word game I play before bed to turn off my head. Casual is not ESO or Skyrim.

I put over 2 years and many hundreds of hours into Skyrim, crafting, and fighting and questing and exploring and building numerous houses. It took me two years to finally have the confidence to play on Master. That took commitment and I had made myself as strong and capable as I could but I still don't think of myself as hardcore. I don't chase achievements, I don't care about being first/best/whatever. All I care about is that I had fun and could achieve my goal. If that goal is only achievable by some hulked-out demi-god then I will quit playing but I will be sad.

In ESO, I go nowhere near Cyrodil or PvP and I wish you hardcore folk well. I do not cry for nerfs but I do think that the leveling 1-50 areas should be playable by all skill levels so that those people can learn how to play. I have built characters who couldn't do on-level anything but I learned what I needed to do and came back later and did it. No nerfing required. That's the way some "casuals" progress. Steadily, in bits and bites while they learn. That doesn't make them less than the person who fast-forwards through with the biggest, baddest gear they can find.

I promise to get out of your way while I politely ask you to stay out of mine. I can't learn anything if some V16 decides to run through a low level dolmen or world boss. I sometimes appreciate some help on those; I can't do them alone, but I don't learn anything or get credit for the boss if I'm not allowed to fight.

Volkodav · May 2016

Moonscythe wrote: »

Casual does not mean uncommitted, it does not mean unskilled, it does not mean don't care about crafting/better gear, learning to play. Casual is a label appended to players the person doing the appending wants to denigrate in some fashion. I have never seen the label applied in any manner that was not condescending or patronizing. Casual is "not one of us".

This is my first MMO and, yes, it is because it is Elder Scrolls. I prefer single player on a console so I know this makes me barely better than some woman (did I mention I'm a mature woman) chasing her 800th level in Candy Crush. To me, casual is the quick puzzle game I play in the morning to wake me up or the word game I play before bed to turn off my head. Casual is not ESO or Skyrim.

I put over 2 years and many hundreds of hours into Skyrim, crafting, and fighting and questing and exploring and building numerous houses. It took me two years to finally have the confidence to play on Master. That took commitment and I had made myself as strong and capable as I could but I still don't think of myself as hardcore. I don't chase achievements, I don't care about being first/best/whatever. All I care about is that I had fun and could achieve my goal. If that goal is only achievable by some hulked-out demi-god then I will quit playing but I will be sad.

In ESO, I go nowhere near Cyrodil or PvP and I wish you hardcore folk well. I do not cry for nerfs but I do think that the leveling 1-50 areas should be playable by all skill levels so that those people can learn how to play. I have built characters who couldn't do on-level anything but I learned what I needed to do and came back later and did it. No nerfing required. That's the way some "casuals" progress. Steadily, in bits and bites while they learn. That doesn't make them less than the person who fast-forwards through with the biggest, baddest gear they can find.

I promise to get out of your way while I politely ask you to stay out of mine. I can't learn anything if some V16 decides to run through a low level dolmen or world boss. I sometimes appreciate some help on those; I can't do them alone, but I don't learn anything or get credit for the boss if I'm not allowed to fight.

Your comment's well written and their intent easily understood.Though I doubt some here will agree,I do agree with you.
Well,there is one small thing:
.Actually,if you look up the meaning of the word "casual",you will find that it does mean those things like uncommitted,etc. It is used in an improper context when referring to players.A reference I really dont care for at all.

newtinmpls · May 2016

aldriq wrote: »

The problem with the word (like most social labels) is that it's OK to apply to yourself or people you know well, but problematic to throw around to people you don't know. .

Very insightful. I started thinking about how we apply these things differently to "me" or "us" and "them" or "you".

I'm casual in that I stop and smell the roses, enjoy the content, really like it when random group folks chat in chat box or on skype or teamspeak during a run.

I'm casual in that I have more fun dinking around with low level characters than getting everyone to Max Level and/or Max Gear.

When I am tempted to use the word to describe others, it's more about

-not understanding very basic game mechanics (don't stand in stupid, having a healer does NOT mean no self-heals or potions), don't run into the battle till everyone is ready. .... and so on.

newtinmpls · May 2016

@Kildayen

In all fairness if you are seriously poking fun, you need to put more balanced comments in.

But yes, I get the point (that I think you were making) that either extreme can be annoying when looked at from "the middle". And can drive folks from "the other end" completely batty.

But I also think that either extreme is fine - if the person enjoys it.

I'm okay with content so hard that I will never do it. I'm okay with crown store stuff so fluffy that I will never buy it.

Kildayen · May 2016

newtinmpls wrote: »

@Kildayen

In all fairness if you are seriously poking fun, you need to put more balanced comments in.

But yes, I get the point (that I think you were making) that either extreme can be annoying when looked at from "the middle". And can drive folks from "the other end" completely batty.

But I also think that either extreme is fine - if the person enjoys it.

I'm okay with content so hard that I will never do it. I'm okay with crown store stuff so fluffy that I will never buy it.

Yay! Someone got to read my post before it was removed

Yes, I was poking fun at the extremes of each direction or "title". I was rushed when I posted it so I didn't go into too much "balance" into my comments. Just was trying to show the extreme views.

dtm_samuraib16_ESO · May 2016

Mojmir wrote: »

It's not so much how you play,but how you act.

It's not so much as how you act, but as who you are.

CherryCake · May 2016

Moonscythe wrote: »

Casual does not mean uncommitted, it does not mean unskilled, it does not mean don't care about crafting/better gear, learning to play. Casual is a label appended to players the person doing the appending wants to denigrate in some fashion. I have never seen the label applied in any manner that was not condescending or patronizing. Casual is "not one of us".

This is my first MMO and, yes, it is because it is Elder Scrolls. I prefer single player on a console so I know this makes me barely better than some woman (did I mention I'm a mature woman) chasing her 800th level in Candy Crush. To me, casual is the quick puzzle game I play in the morning to wake me up or the word game I play before bed to turn off my head. Casual is not ESO or Skyrim.

I put over 2 years and many hundreds of hours into Skyrim, crafting, and fighting and questing and exploring and building numerous houses. It took me two years to finally have the confidence to play on Master. That took commitment and I had made myself as strong and capable as I could but I still don't think of myself as hardcore. I don't chase achievements, I don't care about being first/best/whatever. All I care about is that I had fun and could achieve my goal. If that goal is only achievable by some hulked-out demi-god then I will quit playing but I will be sad.

In ESO, I go nowhere near Cyrodil or PvP and I wish you hardcore folk well. I do not cry for nerfs but I do think that the leveling 1-50 areas should be playable by all skill levels so that those people can learn how to play. I have built characters who couldn't do on-level anything but I learned what I needed to do and came back later and did it. No nerfing required. That's the way some "casuals" progress. Steadily, in bits and bites while they learn. That doesn't make them less than the person who fast-forwards through with the biggest, baddest gear they can find.

I promise to get out of your way while I politely ask you to stay out of mine. I can't learn anything if some V16 decides to run through a low level dolmen or world boss. I sometimes appreciate some help on those; I can't do them alone, but I don't learn anything or get credit for the boss if I'm not allowed to fight.

I always love reading your posts, there isnt one thing that I read from you and thought it wasnt good!

FelixTheCatt · May 2016

Just to play devils advocate a sec , saying hardcore players have "no life" is just as rude as saying casual players are noobs with no skill. Regardless of how much or how little we play , aren't we all just gamers at the end of the day?

Hallothiel · May 2016

First would like to say thank you for all the responses! Very enlightening & entertaining & educational - especially as it seems to mean slightly different things to different people.

Has given much food for thought.

TheSpin · May 2016

Fun topic... here's another way to view it.

1st Gen MMORPG (EQ1)

Hardcore players played 40+ hours per week. They shared their personal number with their guildmates so they could be reached if a rare mob popped. They might spend half of their time simply waiting online in case a mob popped and the other half grinding mobs.

Casuals were basically anyone who only fit part of the above description.

2nd Gen (WoW)

Hardcore players focused on leveling and maxxing everything and then attend regularly scheduled raids with their guild.

Casuals could fit many criteria, but a generic description is a player who logs in for a couple hours a day to play.

3rd Gen (Now)

Hardcore players are the ones who actually commit to a game--no games really require that much work as long as you stick with it.

Casual people try games out but never stick along long enough to really experience all of the content. It may take a long time before they move on to the next game depending on their availability to play, but they still don't get to the level where they compete with the committed players.

I'm not saying this is the absolute best definition, but I think it shows that a casual or hardcore gamer is very relative and varies over time and depending on your perspective.

Myrcy · May 2016

Casual vs. Hardcore has nothing to do with how much time you are able to play. The difference is attitude about the game.

Hardcore players are focused on having the best gear and being the best they can be. Min/maxers obviously fall in this group.

Casual players take a much more relaxed approach to the game. They may want to improve but tend to be much less focused on it. Instead they are more focused on other aspects of the game which tend to revolve around their definition of fun (e.g. socializing)

Someone who can only spend an hour a day on the game may be a hardcore player. It just takes them longer to get where they want to be than someone who spends 5-6 hours a day in the game. And on the flip side someone who spends 5-6 hours a day in the game may be a "casual" player if their primary reason for playing isn't about being the best or having the best gear.

In reality its a spectrum with most people falling somewhere in between two extremes.

ArchMikem · May 2016

Aisle9 wrote: »

b]TL;DR;[/b] - Casual players are those who play games that require a low level of commitment, or push for a game to reduce the level of commitment it requires, either for lack of time or skill.

I don't agree with that last part. I don't actively complain the game needs to be easier. I complain about the people wanting the game to be harder. I take what I'm given, but I definitely don't want what's given to be made worse.

People equate "Casuals" as a bad thing. Something that's wrong with gaming, and I've even seen the word 'Cancer' thrown around. Casual means Relaxation. You play at your own pace, usually a lazy one. You take your time, you never rush, you don't give a flying eff about Achievements, and those Trials things that take you two hours to complete are far down your list of things you want to do. A Casual is the opposite of a Completionist. We don't care about 100%ing the game, filling out all our character slots with level capped characters that have the absolute best gear possible with the highest stats. We just want to make a character we like and then go frolicking off into Tamriel whenever we feel like it.

Aisle9 wrote: »

b]TL;DR;[/b] - Casual players are those who play games that require a low level of commitment,

It's not the game mate, it's how we play it.

Auricle · May 2016

Interesting discussion here. A lot of really solid points and good reads.

I believe the term 'casual', when it comes to gaming, was built up by hardcore players who felt a need to distinguish themselves. Being a hardcore player involves a great time investment, and as such, a title and status to make them feel like it's 'worth it' (not to say this justification is used by everyone, but I think we all know the type; the braggarts, those who look down on the "filthy casual"). Being hardcore is a point of pride in most gaming communities, and puts you at the top of the imaginary hierarchy. Being casual, in those terms, is to be less than. That kind of thinking is pretty destructive to the game as a whole.

That said, not all players feel this way (obviously). And if we're discussing the validity of labels, then shouldn't there be one for those folks left inbetween? The 'educated casual', who follows builds, does research out-of-game, and tries his or her best to learn mechanics, but maybe isn't as obsessed with the gear race or hasn't quite mastered everything? I don't think it should be a binary of 'casual' and 'hardcore'. Like most things in life, gaming is a spectrum.

I have a lot of respect for people who are good at what they do, be it gaming or anything else. If you put time and effort into something, work at it, then you deserve recognition. Just not at the expense of basic respect for other people who have different priorities.

Dru1076 · May 2016

ArchMikem wrote: »

Aisle9 wrote: »

b]TL;DR;[/b] - Casual players are those who play games that require a low level of commitment, or push for a game to reduce the level of commitment it requires, either for lack of time or skill.

I don't agree with that last part. I don't actively complain the game needs to be easier. I complain about the people wanting the game to be harder. I take what I'm given, but I definitely don't want what's given to be made worse.

People equate "Casuals" as a bad thing. Something that's wrong with gaming, and I've even seen the word 'Cancer' thrown around. Casual means Relaxation. You play at your own pace, usually a lazy one. You take your time, you never rush, you don't give a flying eff about Achievements, and those Trials things that take you two hours to complete are far down your list of things you want to do. A Casual is the opposite of a Completionist. We don't care about 100%ing the game, filling out all our character slots with level capped characters that have the absolute best gear possible with the highest stats. We just want to make a character we like and then go frolicking off into Tamriel whenever we feel like it.

Aisle9 wrote: »

b]TL;DR;[/b] - Casual players are those who play games that require a low level of commitment,

It's not the game mate, it's how we play it.

As someone who started throwing the term around to describe myself, for me it is ENTIRELY time related. I have skills. I have knowledge. I have a strong desire to play. I also have a job and a family and real world responsibilities that come first without question. So I can't grind for cp's or even progress at close to the average player, and my characters therefore progress at a snails pace compared to everyone etc.

The suggestion to me that it's my ATTITUDE to gaming that's casual can only come from people who don't know me at all. I think its the same for most people who describe themselves as casuals.

Some people can put in a lot of hours. Some people don't have the time.... But that doesn't mean if they did have time they wouldn't play.

PS. I always complete games I play.

Xylphan · May 2016

I think "hardcore" and "casual" are misnomers. There are those players that play to have fun. Then there are those players that play to win.

Those that play to have fun actually play the game for entertainment. They don't crave to have the best stats or best gear. They won't kick you if you aren't running optimal builds and/or equipment. They actually stop for the dialogue, are completely fine with others picking through boxes and urns, and usually have a pretty good attitude overall. They like winning just as much as the next guy or gal, but losing is also just part of the game. They won't use exploits or cheats because that detracts from the game. It's all in the name of fun after all.

Those that play to win treat the game more like a job or an addiction. They complain bitterly over every game tweak, especially if it threatens there precious build. They complain about long queue times, but kick people for the slightest transgression about what they think you should be running. Everything is a speed run. Everything is race to max level and max equipment. You can expect a profanity laced tirade/trolling/raging/rage quitting over any mistake, no matter how small. Exploits and cheats are always options if they think they can get away with it and will be quick to justify doing so. These players generally have bad elitist attitudes, aren't really enjoying the game, and are not fun to play with. At all.

Personally I prefer playing to have fun, and playing with those who also like to have fun (casual or hardcore).

disintegr8 · May 2016

There are a lot of grey areas in these definitions - I cannot figure out if I am a good casual player or a bad hard core player. Maybe I am neither and need another category.

I work full time and still average about 40 hours a week on the game, have several vet characters and 400 CP's but do not do PVP. None of my characters have legendary gear but they have appropriate sets/weapons/skills for their roles. I try and do the daily writs and run undaunted dailies every day on several characters but will skip harder dungeons without losing any sleep over anything I miss.

I am more likely to be offended if you call me hard core than a casual. I enjoy the game, spend too much time playing but don't feel that I have to beat everything.

FortheloveofKrist · May 2016

I'm just an extremely hardcore casual player.

Myrcy · May 2016

disintegr8 wrote: »

There are a lot of grey areas in these definitions - I cannot figure out if I am a good casual player or a bad hard core player. Maybe I am neither and need another category.

I work full time and still average about 40 hours a week on the game, have several vet characters and 400 CP's but do not do PVP. None of my characters have legendary gear but they have appropriate sets/weapons/skills for their roles. I try and do the daily writs and run undaunted dailies every day on several characters but will skip harder dungeons without losing any sleep over anything I miss.

I am more likely to be offended if you call me hard core than a casual. I enjoy the game, spend too much time playing but don't feel that I have to beat everything.

I think you just described most players. Most people don't quite fit in either group. They are terms thrown around when changes are made to games that people don't like. Or when other peoples priorities don't match their own. Gotta have someone to blame right?

Volkodav · May 2016

dtm_samuraib16_ESO wrote: »

Mojmir wrote: »

It's not so much how you play,but how you act.

It's not so much as how you act, but as who you are.

What you act like is what people think you are.You are judged by your actions,and how you act is who you are.