What makes a gamer a gamer?

If you haven't been living under a rock this past week, it's been quite a...trying time for the greater gaming community.

I'll not go too deeply into it, but a big statement or movement to come from the past few days is that the "gamer" as an identity is dead - or at the very least not what you think it is anymore.

I have my own views on this, which I'll be sharing in a column soon, but that's unimportant - I want to know what you guys and girls, as gamers, think makes a gamer a gamer.

Is there a definition? Are there requirements? What sets a gamer apart from other people, if at all?

Please vote on the poll, and feel free to share your thoughts.

I've included a few options, which I've heard being thrown around.

I picked Other so I will specify. A gamer is someone who games.

Solitude said:

I picked Other so I will specify. A gamer is someone who games.

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So you'd say it doesn't matter what game they're playing? Even if it were, say, Snake on a 3310?

Someone dedicated to their gaming.
At least once a day - everyday.

A "gamer" games as often as possible (within "scheduled" breaks).

That is how I (narrowly) define a gamer.

My definition of a gamer is no matter what your age, if its in you and its an outlet for you from everyday life and its something you enjoy doing, when your looking forward to your next quest or roundof battlefield. When yiu try and amaas the biggest games library your wallet will allow you to have.
When you dont mind the price of a colectors edition and you realy want it. Then i consider you/me a true gamer

Hagan said:

Someone dedicated to their gaming.
At least once a day - everyday.

A "gamer" games as often as possible (within "scheduled" breaks).

That is how I (narrowly) define a gamer.

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I do think as you move through the various stages of life, your available gaming time does decrease but your interest/love for gaming should not.

qornea said:

So you'd say it doesn't matter what game they're playing? Even if it were, say, Snake on a 3310?

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I think the definition of a gamer is someone who plays games. So yes, playing Snake makes you a gamer.

However it's when someone is a hardcore gamer where in my opinion the other poll options come into play.

*edit*

I had to find something to back my definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamer

A gamer is someone who plays games, possibly most specifically using a device of some sort.

If gaming is your primary source of entertainment, you're a gamer. This can include playing and discussing games, and following gaming news.

I chose to define gamer as someone who loves games with a certain passion. I think that those who identify as gamers have a level of enthusiasm for playing games that those who don't identify as gamers do not have. Many people play games, not everyone is enthusiastic about it. The caveat here is that the line where your enthusiasm is high enough to be considered a gamer is a subjective thing, but I guess if you are enthusiastic enough about games to identify as a gamer then I suppose that makes you one.

This issue is more about how we create an identity for ourselves. If you identify yourself as a gamer, then you are one. If you don't identify yourself as a gamer, then you aren't one. Obviously to identify yourself as a gamer, it is absurd to do so if you don't play a single game, but as is pointed out above, even if you play snake on a 3310 and call yourself a gamer then it's your prerogative to do so. Others cannot define your identity for you and if you identify as a gamer, then it doesn't matter what /v/, r/gaming or anyone else think.

Eugene said:

If gaming is your primary source of entertainment, you're a gamer. This can include playing and discussing games, and following gaming news.

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czc said:

A gamer is someone who games.

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Gaming is not limited to PC's and Consoles, Phones, Tablets, Cards, Boards and anything else that is considered a 'game' is classified as gaming.

Why am I labeled a gamer? Is it because I play games? Perhaps, but why am I not branded a audiophile for listening to music as often as I can? Why am I not branded as a film aficionado because I like to read-up and watch movies as often as I can?

So many people are playing games these days, whether be that on PC, console, mobile or whatever that gaming has become just another media form to consume. Kids these days don't label someone playing video games as a gamer. They don't do it, because everyone is playing games.

We have always been part of an exclusive club, us gamers. We were a select few, with no definitions like "casual gamer" or "hardcore gamer" going around. We were gamers, because we play games.

But now, that club is not exclusive anymore. Kids, women, moms and dads, even grannies and grandpa's are starting to play video games of some sort. Are we all now gamers just because we play games? No, most certainly not.

So what makes a gamer?

A gamer is in the same league as a audiophile. It's not just someone that listens to music; it's someone that is passionate about the industry and it's content; a person that is knowledgeable about his/her music because they read-up about it, love it, live it. And those are the traits that will distinguish between a gamer and someone who games.

Hmmm, sacrificing your soul to the gaming gods? Only then will they bestow the title of "gamer" on you.

I picked someone who spends a lot of time playing games and who loves games with a certain passion.

Granted being a gamer isn't the sub-culture it used to be since everyone plays games these days, I think it's that extra bit of passion that we have for gaming that really makes a gamer a gamer.

My definition of gamer is someone who really passionate about gaming; not just finish main storyline of game, but acquire 100% completion, max out character or even get collector's edition.

Gamer also, is not someone just plays game, but also ensures that gaming experience (like audiophiles mentioned by DieGrootHammer, try to reach high fidelity sound reproduction); real gamer never plays on typical R6k, but may invest on double to get great HD experience; buy R2k+ periphery to reach high level of control and immersion (7.1 headsets, etc).

Gamer is never limited to one gaming platform, and may own PS, PC, XBox, etc (mobile platform doesn't count). Gamer also follows gaming industry news and visits E3 (or comparable).

TLDR: Gamer tends to play game extensively, invest in gaming tech much more, plays on more than one platform and follows gaming news.

P.S. Real gamer knows way more gaming titles than regular gamers (so namely casual).

I reckon the "love games with a certain passion" is the most apt description. If you've ever had that game you had to play or finish, or that game that you thought about during the day, counting down the hours until you can play again, then you know what it is like to be a gamer.

Eugene said:

If gaming is your primary source of entertainment, you're a gamer. This can include playing and discussing games, and following gaming news.

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Well put.

If talking about games with another person who likes to talk about games makes you excited then I think that's a clear indication you might be a gamer, this post reminded me of that and I just happened to have such a conversation about Divinity Original sin 3 or so hours ago

I feel a gamer should stay true to the title, be a gamer damnit!

No need to hate on one type of platform, we are all here for the same reason. Not because X is better than PS that is better than PC. THey are all an equal medium. A medium to a game, an outlet, a creative direction, a way to express ones self (I could go on).

I think you get my point. I am a gamer!
I play on PC, PS3/PS4 and (had) Xbox. They each have their uniqueness to them, for their own rights, but does that make this on less equal to the other? If you think/feel this is the case then keep to that, and become narrow minded.

BeoTeK said:

I feel a gamer should stay true to the title, be a gamer damnit!

No need to hate on one type of platform, we are all here for the same reason. Not because X is better than PS that is better than PC. THey are all an equal medium. A medium to a game, an outlet, a creative direction, a way to express ones self (I could go on).

I think you get my point. I am a gamer!
I play on PC, PS3/PS4 and (had) Xbox. They each have their uniqueness to them, for their own rights, but does that make this on less equal to the other? If you think/feel this is the case then keep to that, and become narrow minded.

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Allow me a moment to play some devils advocate.

Don't you think a true gamer will only play a game on the platform that he/she feels are superior to the rest? If a gamer is someone with a unparalleled passion for the industry, he/she should know enough to ensure they play games on the best possible platform.

You see, my point I made earlier spoke about a gamer being a person for a total love and passion for the industry. So many people tend to just play games for the entertainment value that I don't think they can really be classified as gamers in the truest sense of the word. But a true gamer is the one that plays only on the best hardware, using the best peripherals (much like what Jagtiger was saying).

Don't get me wrong, I agree with your statement of "can't we all just get along", but I also know that a lot of people will believe that console peasants aren't true gamers. And maybe that is the case, or maybe, gaming has become bigger than just one sub culture. Maybe we have evolved to incorporate multiple sub-cultures, each as passionate as the other.

DieGrootHammer said:

Allow me a moment to play some devils advocate.

Don't you think a true gamer will only play a game on the platform that he/she feels are superior to the rest? If a gamer is someone with a unparalleled passion for the industry, he/she should know enough to ensure they play games on the best possible platform.

You see, my point I made earlier spoke about a gamer being a person for a total love and passion for the industry. So many people tend to just play games for the entertainment value that I don't think they can really be classified as gamers in the truest sense of the word. But a true gamer is the one that plays only on the best hardware, using the best peripherals (much like what Jagtiger was saying).

Don't get me wrong, I agree with your statement of "can't we all just get along", but I also know that a lot of people will believe that console peasants aren't true gamers. And maybe that is the case, or maybe, gaming has become bigger than just one sub culture. Maybe we have evolved to incorporate multiple sub-cultures, each as passionate as the other.

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Yeah, I get with what you're saying and I understand and agree. But this then makes me look again at the subject at hand. I really guess it comes down to interpretation and/or opinion of what one conceives to be a 'gamer'.