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Are Hardcore Gamers Ruining the Games Industry?

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Before I begin, I think it's important to answer the question: what constitutes hard core? There's no set in stone definition for what a hard core gamer is, but it's generally accepted that a person who spends more than 20 hours a week playing games is hard core. That equates to two hours a day from Monday to Friday, and five hours a day on Saturday and Sunday. For the sake of comparison, I spend about five to ten hours a week playing games, and I'm the most hard core gamer I know.

Hard core gamers also provide the games industry with the most funding. They buy at least one game a month. That's twelve games a year, and usually this number is greater. Again, for the sake of comparison, I purchase about six to eight games a year.They also spend the most time playing games on the Internet, but I don't have an estimate on how many hours they spend on-line.

It's pretty much apparent that these hard core gamers are the backbone of the industry, but are they also it's greatest enemy? Yes, and no.

Yes because most hard core gamers have been around since computer games were first created. They've seen it all, and as such have become extremely jaded and difficult to impress. They have very high standards when it comes to gaming, and most games just can't live up to that standard. And since the hard core gamers are the most vocal gamers out there, they let their disappointment be heard. They influence other, more casual, gamers to not purchase a given title, even though said title might be highly enjoyable. Games like Rune, Nightmare Creatures, Prince of Persia 3D, the Settlers, MediEvil, and others - fun titles that were never meant to ride the cutting edge of design are relegated to sleeper status *because* they weren't riding the cutting edge of design.

But no, hard core gamers are not ruining our industry, because it is they who drive innovation. It is these same very high standards which spurs developers to create new and ingenious games. If it weren't for the hard core gamers, we wouldn't have masterpieces like Escape from Monkey Island, Black and White, Ecco the Dolphin, Spiderman, or Tony Hawk. Chances are, you haven't heard of most of these titles, but you should definitely check them out, because they are the greatest gameplay experiences to be had anywhere.