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[Gnash]

Lately I've been reading on different sites about how the Wii is weak and it's a casual game console.  That the Xbox360 and PS3 are the real gamers console.  Graphics this, graphics that.  Why is it that games like Gears of War, Halo, and all the other spawns of the same style are "gamer" games? Too be honest along with sports it's the least type of game I like to play.  I think the Wii is great, I think the Xbox360 is great and the PS3 is also great.  I only own a Wii but thinking about buying a PS3.  The Wii is great because it let's me relieve what I played back in the old days. That's what I like about it.  I like to play all my Mario and Zelda games on the same console and be able to pick them from a nice channel menu.  All of them lined up in chronological order.  

This all comes to my story in gaming.  I've been gaming since I could hold a controller.  I played Pac-Man, Asteroids, Phoenix, Space Invaders, Chopper to death on the Atari 2600.  Then the Nes came along and played Mario, Dragon Warrior, Final Fantasy, Mega Man, The Legend of Zelda.  Then I had to own a Genesis and get back into fighters, shooters and of course Sonic and Phantasy Star.  We were not very wealthy so my Genesis was second hand and back then I always dreamed of owning a Turbo Grafx 16 or a Neo Geo.  Then the Super Nintendo came along and I couldn't stay behind.  Street Fighter, Donkey Kong Country, Mario World, F-Zero and of course Final Fantasy, and the other epic jrpgs.  This kept up with the next generations while playing also everything good on the PC like Diablo, Ultima, Star Craft and all the fun RPGs.  Being short on cash I would have to sell to be able to move forward.  Something I consider a stupid move now but back then it made sense.  So then I learned that Nintendo was releasing a new console called the Wii and it was not going to be very powerful,  but then I heard the magic words "Virtual Console" and Game Cube play.   I could now get all those games on one console.  And now that I have a bit more money, not much but a little more,  I want all of it back.

So why am I telling you guys all this?  Because after many forum threads and posts by people in Kotaku, Destructoid and other "gaming" sites.  I came to the conclusion that to the new kids on the block I'm not a "gamer" I'm not a gamer because I own a casual console.  Because I don't think Halo is the pinnacle of gaming.  Because even though I appreciate the art in graphics I don't buy a game based on it.  Because I could care less that the Xbox360 has a xx Ghz CPU, the PS3 a cell thingy and the Wii a mouse on a wheel.  I know what they have, the specs, because I like games but it doesn't affect my gaming decisions.  I'm not a gamer because I think the Dreamcast is one of the best consoles ever released even though it didn't stand a chance, but in my house it's right next to the Wii.  I do not know now what I am, but I know that I'm not a what is now days known as a "gamer".  I will buy a PS3 not because it's more powerful than what I own now, but because there are now games that I consider good enough to make the purchase worthwhile.

I might be wrong but the only synonym I can find to what I consider people call a "gamer" is just a fanboy  and I think most of us here that have been there done that are anything but a fanboy.  

So let's find a new name to what we are because we are more than just "gamers".

[meppi]

Couldn't agree more.

As far as the current generation is concerned I've been a Wii only gamer up till about 6 months ago when I finally bought a PS3 for WipEout.
Yet, before this generation I basically done it all, just like you have.

Started on arcade games in 1979 and got every single console starting with the NES. Played several systems like the Odyssey, C64 and Amiga at a friends house back in the day, even though I didn't know till this year that those were the actual systems he had back then.

The problem you describe has spread throughout our hobby like a virus.
People trying to make themselves sound superior and try to distinguish themselves from what they perceive to be wannabe-gamers, while in most cases those are actually the casuals who just don't know any better.

The problem comes in lots of varieties.
There are those who try so hard to be the hardest of the hardcore that they look down upon great games just because they have become popular or at least well known in the general gaming circles as well and aren't something that make them sound cool when talking about it to their friends.
One game that suffers from this is Radiant Silvergun.
For many years now this game has been getting hated on by the "real hardcore gamers" when in fact you never heard a single bad word about it in the first years it was released.

On the other hand you have the gamers who want to be cool no matter what.
So what can be a better way then to denounce everything that stands for classic gaming, which was considered a nerd and geek hobby up till the PSone was launched.
So what do they do? Belittle Sega and Nintendo just because.

There are also those who an't handle games that offer "non-mature" content.
So anything colorful, like say a Mario game is taboo to them because their cool friends might make fun of them if they find out they like teh kiddy gamez.
Not to mention that those "mature" titles are some of the most immature games when it comes to actual content.

Throw in the graphic whores and HD sheep and stir the pot to get a nice dose of internet stupidity which has not only infected message boards allover the web, but lots and lots of gaming sites as well.

No wonder I haven't bothered reading site reviews these past few years for the most part.
There are always exceptions, but these days they seem to be hard to find.

A real gamer doesn't give a damn if he's playing a 360 or a Game&Watch, as long as the game is fun to play that should be enough.
I hated the term "hardcore gamer" ever since it stopped meaning what it originally meant: a gamer who loves games A LOT, period.
Not the Halo loving, GTA is the best thing ever, Madden playing types we all know.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not hating on those games.
And I understand that there are people out there who love them as much as I love NiGHTS, Waverace64 and Sega Rally, but if they can't see beyond their oh so limited point of view and want to belittle people who love games on a system they are too cool for to even be standing next to, then they don't deserve to be called gamers.

But since that has become the norm, I guess I don't see myself as the gamer they are describing.

[STGuy1040]

The new generation considers the Wii 'casual' because a lot of the games are pretty linear. There was a time when the Wii's library was chocking on pointless shovelware that had absolutely no substance. Does this make Wii owners casual gamers? I don't believe so. In recent months, games like the Conduit and Muramasa: The Demon Blade  have proven that Nintendo's console is capable of high-profile titles. In all reality, it was the amount of junk that was first released for the system that gave it that label. I own a Nintendo Wii and love it. It doesn't make me any less of a gamer for owning one.

[KMFDManic]

Defining a gamer is always a tough classification, no matter what distinction you give them, be it hardcore, casual, or such.  That is not much different than people arguing over whether a game is an RPG.  Any classification can hardly be taken literally, as the world of gaming is constantly changing.  Everyone who games has their own likes and dislikes.  I classify myself as a like-a-challenge-don't-easily-get-frustrated-sort-of-gamer.  In that, when I hear complaints about how utterly hard a game is, it makes me want to play it more.  Case in point, Ninja Gaiden on XBOX, Demon's Souls on PS3, and Super Ghosts N' Goblins on PSP.  Playing a game that is too easy, just isn't fun for me.  Probably one of the biggest punishment dealers on the original NES was Bayou Billy, due to its horrible hit detection.  I took on beating that game.  You need a bit of luck as well as patience to take on a game that has its own design against you!  I tend to love games that let you win medals, etc...such as Pilotwings 64, Blast Corps on N64 as well...I earned platinum medal status in both of those...and, to date, they still are in the top leagues of challenging games in my book.  Most recently, I have gotten into the Tower Defense game trend.  And, I pretty much  love any game that has that element. 

So, anyways, what it comes down to, honestly is...the only people who can classify a gamer are the gamer him/herself...If I were writing a review for a videogame, I'd simply give examples in the way of, "if you like such and such game, or can handle so and so challenge, then this game is perfect for you"  I would avoid bias and bad classification at all costs.  One person's garbage is another's treasure, nuff said.

[Addicted to Chaos]

I hate bias myself, but it exists in everybody, so all I can do is admit it and bring it to notice. Basically I agree with everything you said, especially that last paragraph, and I wish more people though more openly when giving a review or what not. From what I read in this topic it seems that problem is that everybody thinks they know enough to judge, give orders and preach that they are right and everybody is wrong, when in fact nobody is in this position.

That and there is this great human need for people to brag, and we all do it (it's human nature), it's just that some people do it so obviously. To the point where it's relatable to predicting a childs behaviour or when someone is obviously in love and they're acting obviously in love (and it's prety embarrising to watch too ).

I can ususally spot flawed thinking and I see a pattern in the people I don't like and/or are a waste of time. Though I try not to judge, I will avoid avoid them and save myself the headache if I can, without being rude or pushing them away.

I also noticed that through onlne communities that there are alot of people I hate (mostly because they are full of BS), and yes hating is wrong and I'm against it, but it's a human instinct/flaw.  So ultimately I'm or may seem like (whatever suits you) a hypocrite, but because I admit I'm wrong and/or my behaviour is wrong, that's fine then, because I can at least fix it as long as I'm aware of it or try.

Anyways, enough philosophical talk, I'm pretty bad at explaining what's on my mind and ultimately my question I really wanted to ask and why I posted a reply, before I got sidetrracked, is this; Did you ever beat F-Zero for the Gamecube, because man, at on point the difficulty just skyrocketed to insane out of nowhere.

[KMFDManic]

Yep, F-Zero GX, highly challenging game.  Playing the normal game is one thing.  But, have you tried the "challenge" mode?  Yes, I have beat it, and it is a matter of trial and error, of course, just like most oldschool games.  I really liked the fact that Nintendo AND Sega worked together in making the game!  

Probably one of the hardest things to ever learn in a videogame is using the dump truck in Blast Corps.  Only the back part of the truck can destroy buildings!  Yet you have to be going as fast backwards as you are forward...yet can only drive fast forwards!  Basically, you have to master the power slide, in order to do this game.  But, if you master the power slide in this game, you will almost automatically know it in every other game to come!