In my years of playing video games I have noticed a distinct difference between players and playing types. One set that players will tend to label themselves is hardcore as opposed to casual. These two classifications often find themselves at odds with one another. I think that a big challenge is how to appeal to both types of play style without it feeling like one or the other is being favored in any way.
These two types are usually differentiated by one main criteria, time. Hardcore players are players who will spend what may be considered abnormally large amounts of time playing games. What this amounts to is the feeling that they will have an edge on other players in some way. In an MMORPG what the hours and hours of time translate into is them having really good equipment or an understanding of game mechanics that will make them very powerful relative to other players. In an FPS game it will mean a greater understanding of the map, a knowledge of where and when the best weapons and powerups are can be located, which again gives them an advantage over other players. Because of the amount of time that these players spend in a game they prefer a high level of attention to detail, especially to gameplay. They understand that a game does not have to have the best graphics or largest budget to be fun (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hardcore%20gamer). Unfortunately the hardcore gamer often has little patience or respect for the casual gamer since they often are in no position to be competitive and will often complain about the unfairness of having unfavorable odds. Casual gamers often enjoy video games on a much smaller scale, and they do it for the purpose of relaxation and fun. They also make up over 90% of the market, as very few people can or want to devote hours and hours of time to playing games. I know that I have played games where the social pressure to play made it seem like a full time job (not fun anymore).
My problem is that there are some hard core gamers who ruin the experience for the casual gamers. This happens because the hard core crowd has such an advantage in a game and will often do everything in their power to crush any hope the casual crowd has so they (in the hard core mind's eye) are running and crying to mommy. Now I do realize there are some in the hard core crowd who are not included in this rather unfavorable way of looking at them, but the fact that there are even a small number of players like this in a game can make it unenjoyable and uncomfortable for many, many more players in a game. I admit there have been more than one game that has been ruined for me by players who felt the need to show me how I had no place playing there. This quote, again from Urbandictionary.com, puts it rather succinctly.
Hardcore gamers are no less ridiculous than a "pin the tail on the donkey" elitist, who shows up to a birthday party with their own pins and blindfold, won't shut up about you're "spinning all wrong" then looks shocked, as to why the rest of the guests find them socially repulsive.
The harsh reality is that casual gamers may not know this game even exists for a long time while hard core gamers will provide the initial audience and will probably determine whether the game is successful enough to make it past the first year of existence. So how do I appeal to all types of player? I think that taking out leveling and "the grind" of any kind will help a lot in appealing to casual gamers, who may only desire to spend at most an hour a day playing this game. And let's face it, there is a lot of competition for the attention of all players out there. If anyone has any good suggestions on this I would appreciate the help.
Also for more insight into gamers look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamer.
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