GAMERS

[Slimmed_Down]

I've been asked and told about this a lot, and I'm wondering your perspectives are on the concept. When you hear the word," gamer," what comes to mind? Please don't copy any links or web definitions, I want to hear honest opinions.

What traits do you think a gamer has? What experience? Intelligence? What do you think a gamer is in general? ...

I'm not stating that no one is intelligent or a great," gamer," I just want to know what you think when your hear the concept?





I would post this in a more public area, but I'm mostly curious as to Xbox Live gamers at the moment, as almost all of my gaming experience is from Xbox Live.

Stereotyping is permitted, although I don't truly follow, believe, or support the idea of it, specifically when its used negatively and to classify people they don't know the ,"truth," about.

 

[XGC ArchKing]

When I hear the word "Gamer" I think of someone who has played a variety of games on different consoles/platforms over the years. Someone who truly enjoys playing them and wants to pass their joy of video games on to others. I think a lot of people throw this word around to describe someone who just plays games often or to describe themselves as a gamer because they think they're better at playing video games than everyone else and they don't stop and think of what it means to be a "Gamer". To be a "Gamer" does not mean you have to be the best at playing the game, but understand that playing a game because it is fun and you throughly enjoy it.

 

[SYN Maniacal]

i definitely agree with archking, i know some people who think that being called a gamer means you have no life and you just spend all your time burning out on video games, which for some people might be true..but in reality most gamers have jobs/careers, are in school, or have families...and gaming is a release for them, something that they enjoy doing.

 

[Inked Ivy]

I think it's hard to define. There are those who deviate from the gamer stereotypes then there are those that fit them perfectly.

Honestly I think its hard to do because much like any other aspect of society gaming is fluid and constantly changing, and thus defining it would reflect the time period. For example, throughout the 90's/00's the gamer was seen as a basement dweller and to be perfectly honest, a lot of people fit that stereotype as the nature of consoles etc fit that environment. Before that is was the people who hung around arcades etc... Today those stereotypes exists but in a greater variety as gaming is spread across a number of mediums. In the future the gamer may even be seen as a fit, active person as gaming becomes less about peripherals and more about active engagement in the video game (i.e the Xbox console as seen in "The Island").

As for personal traits i.e intelligence, physical attributes.. I don't think these should even be thrown in to the mix quite yet as unless gaming is a huge part of someone's life their daily activities will determine such characteristics much more than gaming will.

 

[SBZ DARKHELMET]

Anyone who excells at games, real or virtual.

 

[JimmyKuddo]

What he said^

When I saw your post however, I thought you were being tricky using the colors & the big space to conduct some sort of psychological test.

I like the size & bold tool myself.

 

[Inked Ivy]

That definition suggests however that someone actually has to be good at the games they are playing, which I think in today's market/audience wouldn't be true.

 

[JimmyKuddo]

Good point.

How frequently one plays games does matter though.

If you played chess a couple times, would you consider yourself a gamer.

I don't think so.

If you frequently play games, it usually shows in your skill.

Thus excels isn't saying your great at gaming, but you are better prepared than the non-gamer through frequent exposure.

A non-gamer with raw talent, or who observed the game before & has critically thought how to win could beat the gamer.

So a gamer is a person who frequently plays games & is subsequently better prepared.

Whether the gamer enjoys the game seems irrelevant, right?

 

[Slimmed_Down]

In response to Kuddo: The colors were just there to make the post seem slightly more interesting. Its not so much of a psychology test, as just a question I've been curious about for a while now. Its an ,"open-minded question," and I do enjoy hearing what people's perspectives are on several different concepts.
In response in general: I didn't mean the negatives of gaming when I said intelligence and other traits. I just wanted everyone's perspectives, because the word," gamer," can be considered by new players as a title for them. However, there are some things that a gamer must possess. Its somewhat complicated for me to explain, I just wanted feedback to know a little bit more about what people think. My friend keeps telling me I'm not a gamer because of him hearing me once say that I only played games for achievements, and that I'm not a true ,"gamer," until I play more realistic games, like Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3.

: I do sometimes play for achievements, but I also think a lot about what I want to do with my life before my time comes. I want to pursue all the different goals I have, and see where I get. However, being a member of Xbox Live for almost five years, its sometimes hard for people to leave a tradition they've done for so long. There's a lot of detail I can go into with this, but basically I'm just wondering if my friend was right. I played Gears 3 because I wanted the Onyx medals, but also because I really liked playing it, especially with Retro Charging and executions. I don't play for achievements so much anymore, compared to now where I just play for recreational purposes, and to learn more about people I couldn't easily visit and socialize with in person.


Anyways, thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it!

 

[x1776]

for me a "gamer" is someone who like to play games of any sort.