A new taxonomy of gamers

[J T]

Gamers have a tendency to get all huffy and mad whenever you don't concede that whatever game they like is in fact the "omg greatest game evor!!111"

But perhaps our disagreements on games say less about the games and more about us.

I like this article posted up over at Insult Swordfighting because it provides a beginning way to understand the differences between gamers. It's also a good guide for game developers trying to figure out who their target market is without cramming them into the so-broad-to-be-completely-useless categories of 'hardcore' and 'casual'.

A new taxonomy of gamers

What type of gamer are you?

[lordofduct]

I'm a non-competetive skill based gamer who enjoys a fantasy world that I can engross myself in, but still utilize my brain and empower myself in.

[J T]

I am a competitive skill based gamer in multiplayer, but mostly a tourist when playing single player games. I have the ability to be very good at video games, but I guess I don't care so much about that if I don't have a competitor, or at least an audience. I especially like arcade machine competitions because when you win, the other guy just lost his quarter-- there is at least some stake in winning besides pride. In the 90s I was unstoppable on Street Fighter II. I could be in the arcade all day with one quarter because no one could beat me.

When I'm playing a single player campaign, I don't feel the need to ratchet up my skill quite as high though. I don't want my game to be easy; I do find exercises in skill to be enjoyable, but I'm mainly looking for cool experiences in mood, game mechanics, graphics, sound, and story. I like games that have some emotion to them, or provide a novel approach not seen in other games.

I have some perfectionist/completionist tendencies, but they are a danger for me because I usually get bored with games and shelf them if I get too into collecting everything or trying to explore all areas and talk to all NPCs. I actually hate when games have lots of unlockables and bonuses because I find myself getting sidetracked by them and the game quickly becomes dull for me.

As for the monetary component, I'm mostly a premium player because I don't really have the time, for example, to do everything that one can do in a game like Disgaea. Nevertheless, I don't like to spend more than $20-30 on any game, and I do own Disgaea and quite a few other long players. But I have these game for the tourist factor, not the completionist factor. I have patience for a slowly unfolding storyline, and with my limited time some of these games will require months of slow moving devotion. Even though I consider myself more of a premium player who wants more bang for his buck, I can be turned off by too much bang, like when a game tries to be "epic" from start to finish with no moments of rest or any thoughtfullness.

[MrPopo]

Very interesting article. I like how he really took the time to investigate and break down things so that you get a much more defined spectrum.

As for me, I'd say I fit into the Tourist with Perfectionist leanings. The perfectionist part is how I try and exploit the mechanics of every game I play as much as possible. But it swings back to tourist as I have no need to get the best scores. I am content with the knowledge that I have figured out the game, and getting those S ranks is just going through the motions. Beating it is enough for me.

On the value side, definately wholesale. I have a very large amount of time for games, so I tend to gravitate towards the longer games, like JRPGs. That said, games like Portal and MadWorld may be short, but I've also felt that the experience was perfectly suited for the length. Since I am not budget constrained I can always pick up a bunch of well-developed short games.

[fast]

I use to be in the same boat as JT, but now I view all gaming is to have fun. I guess that makes me an tourist? I have no desire to 100% every game I own, though if I really enjoy a game I will push for it (the last game like this was Kuru Kuru Kurin, and I am almost at 80%).

But like I said I play to have fun. So if I get fun in multiplayer by just running around, I will do so. It kinda pissed off my team the last time I played Battlefield 1942 (we were playing the pirate mod) because I picked the extreme melee class and would hold whatever point I thought was the coolest looking - from both teams.

[Ack]

Let's see...according to this, I'm a Completionist with Tourist leanings, as well as a Wholesale gamer(I actually used to figure out the cost per hour of playing a game versus watching a film).

Hmm...interesting. You would think I would like platformers, but after going over the possibilities in my head, I think I've come to an understanding why I don't. The very things that make platformers work, such as their puzzle systems, jump systems, and camera work, I all consider hinderances to my exploration and discovery of whatever it is I'm looking for. And I especially hate jump puzzles because those require a combination of all three. I'll have to think about that some more...

[weasels]

I'm a non-competetive skill based gamer who enjoys a fantasy world that I can engross myself in, but still utilize my brain and empower myself in.

same here. i always enjoy a good story. I think its fine to get competetive of course but only on a friendly level.

[bobbynewmarkiii]

yeah, whatever... I'm hardcore.

Or should I say I'm a skill biased completionist tourist with obesessive perfectionist tendancies, whom requires a premium value of his wholesale gaming time.

Like I said... hardcore.

[t0yrobo]

Meh, gaming pseudo intellectualism . Taking 2 (ok 3, cas-core is very worth counting) categories that everyone fits in and breaking them into even more categories that no one fits in very well is totally non-productive. Especially when only considering major console titles, and totally ignoring arcade, and older titles.
I do find it entertaining to work out the cost/time figures for games though. Based on that many of the games I play are 3-5 dollars per minute .

[Dakinggamer87]

This is an interesting article.. indeed