This article “What is Casual” introduces to us the idea that there are two types of video games. Casual games and hardcore games. But what the author tries to determine is whether we should define casual and hard-core based on the genre of game or the people who play the games. In other words, are there casual games and hard-core games or are there really just casual gamers and hard-core gamers?
In this article we read about how the genre of casual games came to be and what went into making a casual game. Things such as fiction, usability, interpretability, difficulty, punishment and juiciness all determined whether a game was casual or not. But after analyzing some games that are generally considered casual or hard-core the author determined that most games can be played as either casual or hard-core games, all depending on how you play it. So maybe games can’t really be split up into the two genres casual and hard-core. Maybe we need to classify the gamers as either casual or hard-core.
This brings up another point that I find fascinating. Most “casual gamers” don’t even consider themselves gamers. When was the last time you heard someone who occasionally plays Mario Kart or really loved Angry Birds refer to themselves as a gamer? It doesn’t happen very often. We almost just classify all hard-core gamers as the gamers and casual gamers as… well just normal people. Consider that for a moment. Everyone who wouldn’t consider themselves a gamer is truly a casual gamer who doesn’t want to admit it. Everyone plays games. They’re all over! So the question isn’t whether you are a gamer or not. The question is “are you a casual or hard-core gamer?”
4 Comments
Megan · October 6, 2022 at 4:09 am
I agree—most “casual” gamers don’t even consider themselves gamers!
Brian Croxall · October 6, 2022 at 6:39 pm
As we talked about in class on Tuesday, we’re bogged down by the stereotype of “gamer” and the fact that most of us feel like we don’t fit into that. Juul is interested in pointing out that another stereotype (that of the casual gamer) doesn’t really fit all that well either. And where I think your line of questioning ultimately takes us, Kaden, is the realization that most games can be played casually or intensively.
Ellie · October 6, 2022 at 7:16 pm
I’m glad that you mentioned Angry Birds, because that brings up the point of whether people who play games on their phones are “gamers”. I think we often only associate console games with gamers, but if you play games on your phone you’re still playing games. I think that we all are or have been a gamer at some point in our lives, we just need to recognize that gaming comes in different forms.
Luci · October 6, 2022 at 7:55 pm
It’s definitely interesting to see how the demographic of “gamer” expands as we take all different types of video games into account, instead of just the “hardcore” ones. Basically everyone has some contact with games on a regular basis, so why doesn’t everyone consider themselves a “gamer”?