The Passion of the Gamer

All of us have a genre we just utterly adore above all others. Sometimes it is a rocky relationship, but we keep going back time and time again. I started to notice that people who loved specific genres often shared many characteristics, such as, their opinions, lifestyle and the music they listened to. I decided to draw some inconclusive conclusions based on this observation. 

Now before I delve into this, I want to assure you, the readers, that this is just MY perception, and MY opinion of such things. I have been wrong many, many times, but I have also been right. So please, before you get offended, take this with a pinch of salt.

For the sake of space I will lump similar genres together.

The Adrenaline Junky (Action Gamer)

This cross-section will have the largest percentage of young gamers due to it being the most popular and represented genre. Because of this, it also has the burden of having the most annoying gamers in its ranks. 

These gamers appear to enjoy the punishment they can deal out, whether to AI opponents or to human foes. This seems to derive from a strong need to assert dominance over others. Action Gamers are what I would call “The Lowest Common Denominator Gamer”, enjoying popular music, socializing, and big budget movies. They do not appear to be the most discerning portion of the gaming populace.

Loves – copious amounts of blood and gore.

The Obsessive Compulsive (RPG Gamer)

This is where I would fall in. RPG gamers are your obsessive gamers. These gamers often have immense amounts of free time, likely springing from the lack of a functioning social life. They are what I would call Proper Geeks, often reveling in pastimes such as Pen and Paper Role-playing and watching sub-titled Asian “cartoons”. They are also likely to be seen perusing comic stores. To most we seem odd, and well, we usually are. These gamers are also prone to having social and psychological issues, for example, shut-ins. 

They often enjoy fantasy fiction, and may be linked to the Japanese Otaku culture and have a love for Rock /Metal/Goth music genres.

Loves – 20 sided Dice.

The Puzzler (Adventure Gamer / Puzzle Gamer)

This being a struggling genre, its fans are often misplaced and forgotten, which leads to some curious effects. 

I have found these gamers to be an exceedingly picky bunch. They don’t usually appreciate mainstream affairs. They often refuse to play outside their preferred genre, adoring brain busting puzzles, which any normal sane person would give up on. You will find most of its supporters are in the older age bracket, and do not get along very well with the younger gamer who does not have as much patience as they do.

Loves – ambiguous, mind-bending puzzles.

The Commander (RTS / Management Gamer)

Real control freaks, these gamers do not like to get their hands dirty; they would rather have others do it for them. They excel at manipulating their environment, and always plan ahead. Once they find a game they love and are good at, they have the tendency to never stop playing it, even when something new and fresh hits the gaming scene. 

Loves – Starcraft and wishing they lived in South Korea.

The Mundane Gamer (Sports / Real World Simulation Gamer)

To be honest, these people are barely gamers, playing games that work purely in real world ideals. Spending little time playing games in general, they tend to hide the fact they even game to most of their friends and family, and, if confronted, they will maintain that flight simulators are NOT games. 

They will scoff at the ideas of anything fantasy, basically calling it stupid and childish. On occasion you will find them playing a First Person Shooter, but it must meet the criteria of being uber-realistic, and never over the top.

Loves – real life.

The Socialite (MMO Gamer)

If these people could be playing Facebook or Twitter with a fantasy or sci-fi overlay, they would. For them the primary draw of playing online is the socializing. They form many bonds with guild members and clan mates, often spending more time involved with them than with their real family. To really succeed in any MMO, you need copious amounts of time, so likely they are unemployed, barely work, or are kids. These gamers usually find self-worth in their virtual acquisitions, and even derive meaning and purpose from their game worlds. 

Loves – fast food and smiley faces.

The Competitive Gamer (Competitive Online Multiplayer)

These gamers are linked with many of the other genres, but I felt a need to include this section.

Serious competitive gamers can be annoying and arrogant online. In contrast, in real life they can be mild mannered, but put them in front of a screen with a mouse / keyboard, or a game-pad and all their manners, ethics and morals fly out the window. They feel the need to push others around, often lacking self confidence without a safety barrier. 

Loves – teabag-ing noobs.

Conclusion

So the next time you are interacting with other gamers out there, ask yourself, “am I coming accross as any of these ridiculous stereotypes?” Share your views in the forums.