Jan 27 2009
Hard Core v. Casual RPGs
Ever since the Wii, DS, and their line-up of games has hit the shelves, we’ve been hearing these gamer titles thrown around a lot. Some claim that there is a sharp difference between the two. Casual gamers are those who embraced Wii Tennis as the first video game they have ever played and Brain Age is the only game they have for their DS. Hard core gamers are into more complex games like first-person shooters. The other camp claims that there is no distinction between the two: gamers are gamers. The so-called hard core gamer may enjoy Wii Tennis just as much as the so-called casual gamer and play the game to death until they max out their stats. Does the fact that he embraces Wii Tennis as much as the casual gamer make him a casual gamer?
I personally see points on both sides.
So I wonder… is there a distinction for RPG games and gamers?
The first game that comes to mind as a casual RPG is Fable 2. The game controls are fairly simple, it doesn’t take all that long to complete, and the story isn’t that deep. However, I don’t know many “casual” gamers who have picked it up. The gamers I know who haved picked it up thoroughly enjoyed it, and many are playing it again to play as a different personality or get a different ending. That doesn’t sound very casual.
So what RPG could be considered hard core? Final Fantasy? I have to disagree because I know many gamers that got into games thanks to Final Fantasy. The intricate stories and somewhat easy to follow gameplay kept them going and helped them get familiar with the controls. As I’m playing Final Fantasy VII for the first time, I can definitely see how this game hooked so many gamers and non-gamers back in the late nineties. Kingdom Hearts? No, that was the game that got me into playing video games with the puzzles, Disney themes, and hack n’ slash action. Maybe Fallout 3? Okay, I may have one there. Maybe. But I know that some “casual” gamers have gotten into the idea of stuffing unaware people’s pants with grenades.
Well now I think I have confused myself, and answered my question at the same time.
Maybe.
Nice, I like your blog.