Bridging the gap between casual and competitive gamers

[Nuriyokan]

Hello, I want to talk to both main sides of gamers in gaming . Please note that i am not shunning either side , and that this discussion is not a sword that splits both sides ... but rather a bridge that connects both. I've been gaming for years and I've heard so many things from both sides. I've been fortunate enough to learn from various pros in different genres and meet some really skilled individuals who've passed along their knowledge .

***** I have much to say but i will stick with one thing at a time and go in order .



So, as you all know there seems to be a bit of a gap in between players whom are casual , and those whom are competitive . Please understand that i myself understand both sides and hopefully this can help each side each other gain some insight into others perspectives to see how they think. The goal is to learn from one another and to grow so that you can push your limitations past what you previously thought was possible . More on that later ....

( There are about 4 types of gamers that I've come up with but will be focusing on the main two for the time being. You have your casual player , competitive player , pro player , and lastly you have what i like to call " Shadow " players . )


Many casual players love to play games online but they don't take into account that the game is competitive by default . What that means is that you are 100% going to run into " sweaty " players who are going to try their best to dominate you in any given situation. Many casual gamers have spoken over the mic saying things such as " Ok you gotta let me get one in now " or " Do you have fun doing this like my god dude i can't even land a hit / shot " . This often leads to the casual gamer hurling a barrage of insults at other players .

What casual gamers need to understand is that nobody is going to just let you win . Sure I've seen it myself where you get that one casual guy that feels sorry enough to say " ok buddy I'll let you get some free wins " ... that's not the majority. The example i just gave is what we call an exception to the rule which is less than 1% of gamers who will let you just win . You shouldn't expect for this to happen.

Some casual gamers feel as though they shouldn't have to learn any strategies in order to win , nor should they have to adapt to anything a skilled player is doing to them. You guys often find yourselves frustrated and upset because you simply don't understand the game . An example of this is calling everything you can't deal with " SPAM " . You get upset because you don't fully understand the tool and you think the other player is being " Cheap " or unfair thus abusing an " easy mode " tactic.


Casual gamers couldn't be more wrong and here is where i want to bring in the other side and talk about the fault on their side. Competitive players often complain about " newbies " or casuals using cheap tactics to get an easy win. You guys also just like the casuals say that its " cheap " , or unfair . You both are incorrect and this is what separates the casuals and competitive players from the Pro players .


I spoke with a well known pro from the FGC ( don't worry the genre is irrelevant and it still applies no matter said genre ) . What i learned from him is that one one side you have the casual who has no idea about the core basics of the game from a competitive perspective . On the other side you have the competitive player who does understand the game but is limited in knowledge . Game companies want to make games easier for the casual player and cater to them to SOME degree. The companies often cater to these new players by giving them easier ways to automatically deal with something , or to have an easier time winning in some aspects .

I was told that the issue is that the while the casual will get outplayed by the competitive player by sheer knowledge in most cases , this isn't always the case. The casual will find a way to get easier wins and when this happens the competitive player will get mad and say things like " you're not good dude all you do is this one cheap thing " . The irony here is that the competitive player likes cheap things when they're doing it but they don't like it when the same thing is done to them. None of this is wrong , or a dishonorable way to play however both sides have their opinion and don't like to adapt.

The casual in this situation just wants to press keys/press buttons and have fun . They don't have fun once they realize that they lose a majority of the time just for not knowing how to play the game that well. The competitive player gets upset when the casual presses the same thing over and over and wins just because its works for them. They want to win just as bad as you do so you can bet that newbie is going to " SPAM " the same thing over and over again if it works for them .

What separates the pros from both casual and competitive gamers is that the pro is aware of cheap tactics . The pro is aware of " broken " tactics , but they prepare strategies and techniques against it . They apply fundamental knowledge , skill sets , execution and they abuse the same " broken " mechanics better than the competitor , or casual . Sure the casual will rage quit on anything they don't understand but the competitor will rage quit once they get frustrated with having to adapt to a good player , or they get outplayed while using " broken " techniques .


The pros have the better skill sets to be able to apply techniques in various ways in the likes of which a casual or competitor would lack knowledge of . This is where you get terms like having the most effective tactic available , or META for short. Many competitive gamers will go on sites like YouTube and try to " abuse " META . To the casual gamers you need to understand that using a strategy, or " META " tactic is NOT unfair . You're supposed to use strategy when playing games .

However the on the other hand the Competitive players need to understand that you shouldn't get upset about " META" either . Developers will and do patch out actual broken things that are unfair . It only last for a matter of days or hours in most cases . Both the casual and competitors label anything they don't like , or know how to deal with as " broken " .
98% of the time most of what each side calls broken just simply isn't and the pros will demonstrate this by finding various ways around it .


( Broken means : SOMETHING THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWER TO IT AND GUARANTEES A WIN BY DEFAULT )

Now to make comparisons between the pros and the competitive gamers . Competitors will try to abuse mechanics and allow it to carry them through the ranks . This will work for some period of time and give a false sense of " god complex " . Once they come up against a person who hones their skill set they begin to mentally break. Pros understand every part of every mechanic and they often think of new ways to use said mechanics in interesting ways . Casuals looking to get better have the option of following in a pro's footsteps as a means to learn how to get better at gaming overall just as competitors .

However this often leads to everyone in the entire community copying one another . People want to win so bad that they will rule out all other possibilities and rely on just " META " only . Pros study the game inside and out while experimenting with a few things . Competitors copy what the pros do while not fully understanding it . This can lead to them getting a few wins and can be fun . It won't put them on the same level as a pro . The pro is about 20-40 steps ahead of the competitor and can use the same tactics in the same match up even better .


Pros are not without fault and often will get salty if some competitor or even newbie gets an easy win off of them. Sometimes tools in games are just that good. Pros can sometimes get complacent and relaxed thus causing them to underestimated the will of a player who just won't quit. This can be embarrassing for the pro from their perspective and can take a huge hit to their ego. No human is perfect and everyone can learn no matter what level you're at.


I would like to say to casual gamers that you should at least learn the game's basic fundamentals and focus on learning . Don't try to WIN all the time as this won't help you get better . The wins will come , you need to learn and have fun while doing so. Gamers who only play once in a blue moon won't care if they lose or win . However many causal players throw a fit when they lose because they want to win badly . Keep learning and don't give up at the first sign of defeat .

To the competitors don't allow a cheap tactic to tilt you , and don't shy away from knowledge just because you think its dishonorable . If your goal is to get better and become good ... you should take all information into account . Focus on learning and adapting to situations . When you come up against a " META " tactic , learn not just how ... but why it works . This can open a few new doors of understanding . Overall this can help you to reach new heights .

I also have a tip for pros out there with a huge name . Don't think that you can't learn something and that you've got it all . This leads me into my next and last topic . Remember when i mentioned the " Shadow " gamers above ? The next segment is what i was referring to.




{ Who are the shadow gamers and why did i give them this name ? }


Yes , there is a 4th group of gamers who push their limitations so far they have shocked not only entire gaming communities but also the pros themselves ! Some of you reading this have witnessed this if you've been gaming for a long time but had no idea what to call it. Some of these gamers have even been recruited for pro teams . It's not a group with the name " Shadow " or anything like that . I gave them that name because its symbolic for my own definition that i made up to describe what i witnessed over the years .


To explain this let me ask you this first : Have you been fortunate to witness a gamer who seemingly comes out of nowhere who shocks an entire community ? I mean a player so good he/she makes the pros look like they have no idea what they're doing ? One who would fit into this category is a gamer so good he's knocking pros off the map as if they're just a regular group of casuals . People often say things like " oh my god who is this guy !!!??? "

I've been fortunate not just to meet but also learn from these individuals I'd put in the 4th group which i named shadow . I will explain why shortly but first you must understand how the players in this category are a cut above the pros . Sounds crazy right ? It exist and we've all seen it before to some degree. You will have some gamers who will be good enough to be on the pro level but they don't play the game in the same way as the pros . See... many pros often have the same opinions about what is good vs what is not . They often disregard what is considered useless and keep what is useful. Bruce lee even mentioned this when he gave speeches .

However Many people also missed what bruce lee said afterwards . It's not the style its the practitioner. He also makes references to being like water . " Be water, my friend. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash .... be like water my friend "

This ^ was bruce lee's quote and it can be compared to what this other type is doing.
See... using " META " stifles innovation and players can begin to plateau , often thinking one thing is the best or better . Sure in gaming you will have some things that are better on their own . However that may not actually be the case . Pay attention because this is a real gem I'm about to talk about here .

you ever seen a player take the worst champion/hero/character in a game and dominate the best players in the game with it using some unknown technique thats over the top ? Those players are cut above the rest but 4th group takes that to a whole new extreme.


Now what i learned from my mentor who i classify as being in this 4th group is this . He told me the first step is the accept the fact that everything you think you know is wrong . This can be a huge pill to swallow for some gamers . We often tend to think we know everything especially if we sank years into learning a game . He said you must be willing to unlearn and relean all that you know so that you may soar to new heights .


Bruce lee also talked about how he created his own style and was known as a mixed martial artist if not the first . He became his own person and did things his own way . So, its like having your own flavor to a recipe. Everyone has their own shadow and your shadow is custom to you and you only. Nobody's shadow looks like yours , and it will never have the same outlines or ridges as another person's shadow. It's 100% unique to you and only you. This is why i called them shadow gamers and its symbolic .


These gamers find unique and creative ways to push beyond the limitations of what was previously thought possible by various gaming communities . They often learn the same things the pros came up with . They don't copy the pros they come to the same conclusions but they don't get stuck in the hamster wheel of " META " . They always accept they're wrong and they always give themselves room to grow and constantly learn to improve and push boundaries . This is how you get people looking like an anime protagonist in the online games that you play. People will at first glace ask if they're cheating but upon inspection they'll find out that the player is indeed just that good . They often are the ones with a low sub count on youtube but has a video with 8.9M views and people going nuts on what they just did in game .


I was taught by my mentor that i could find puzzle pieces and link various puzzle pieces together in ways that not even the game would tell me . Games have rules and devs build games a certain way . Sometimes they shock the devs and the devs are pleased . One prime example is GameBreakerGod on youtube with GOW 2018. The devs sent him a personal letter thanking him for expressing himself and blowing their minds with his amazing gameplay . You can end up figuring out through experimentation that you are actually capable of doing things that you didn't know was possible . Once you figure out the puzzle pieces and find viable ways to use them , once you mix them together along with your knowledge and current skill set ... you will unlock a variety of doors that lead to insane possibilities. This is gaming on a new level that allows any player to truly make their gameplay their own . You can express yourself in your own way and show people just how skilled you can be .

People who do this are in that shadow category and they inspire and rile up gaming communities and become true legends who will never be forgotten . I want you all to know that any of you can reach this status as long as you are willing to keep learning . you must be able to control your anger and be willing to learn more than anything otherwise you won't be able to attain this . Gamers with a negative , or toxic ego are so busy trying to be the " superior " gamer that they plateau and hinder themselves from increasing their potential. Not reaching it ... because its truly endless. You don't reach it , you endlessly improve upon it. This can be done not just in multiplayer games but also in single player games as well . DMC( Devil May Cry ) was one of the first communities to actually do this sort of thing and they still learn new things to this day . You can always push the boundaries .


See what you can learn and how you can improve upon it . Don't give up , or make complaints about things you've yet to learn how to deal with . Not everything you struggle to deal with is broken and broken things are extremely rare . Continue to learn and improve upon yourself. Your true competition is the version of you from yesterday .

[Ȼħⱥꞥꞥēł8753452]

friends Hello

moo

[Nuriyokan]

Originally posted by Channel_701:

friends Hello

moo

Take a look

[Zero]

The gap that is bridged is that eventually you become too old to care anymore.

Source: Someone who was "pro" level who can no longer be bothered with it and only plays casually now.

[Lime]

As someone who has a comprehension comprising both sides of the equation I'd rather if you don't cross the beams. What are you aiming for? failure? be sure continue to continue to follow the ubisoft directive.
.

[Ȼħⱥꞥꞥēł8753452]

Originally posted by Nuriyokan:

Originally posted by Channel_701:

friends Hello

moo

Take a look

:O

Originally posted by Nuriyokan:

Hello, I want to talk to both main sides of gamers in gaming . Please note that i am not shunning either side , and that this discussion is not a sword that splits both sides ... but rather a bridge that connects both. I've been gaming for years and I've heard so many things from both sides. I've been fortunate enough to learn from various pros in different genres and meet some really skilled individuals who've passed along their knowledge .

***** I have much to say but i will stick with one thing at a time and go in order .



So, as you all know there seems to be a bit of a gap in between players whom are casual , and those whom are competitive . Please understand that i myself understand both sides and hopefully this can help each side each other gain some insight into others perspectives to see how they think. The goal is to learn from one another and to grow so that you can push your limitations past what you previously thought was possible . More on that later ....

( There are about 4 types of gamers that I've come up with but will be focusing on the main two for the time being. You have your casual player , competitive player , pro player , and lastly you have what i like to call " Shadow " players . )


Many casual players love to play games online but they don't take into account that the game is competitive by default . What that means is that you are 100% going to run into " sweaty " players who are going to try their best to dominate you in any given situation. Many casual gamers have spoken over the mic saying things such as " Ok you gotta let me get one in now " or " Do you have fun doing this like my god dude i can't even land a hit / shot " . This often leads to the casual gamer hurling a barrage of insults at other players .

What casual gamers need to understand is that nobody is going to just let you win . Sure I've seen it myself where you get that one casual guy that feels sorry enough to say " ok buddy I'll let you get some free wins " ... that's not the majority. The example i just gave is what we call an exception to the rule which is less than 1% of gamers who will let you just win . You shouldn't expect for this to happen.

Some casual gamers feel as though they shouldn't have to learn any strategies in order to win , nor should they have to adapt to anything a skilled player is doing to them. You guys often find yourselves frustrated and upset because you simply don't understand the game . An example of this is calling everything you can't deal with " SPAM " . You get upset because you don't fully understand the tool and you think the other player is being " Cheap " or unfair thus abusing an " easy mode " tactic.


Casual gamers couldn't be more wrong and here is where i want to bring in the other side and talk about the fault on their side. Competitive players often complain about " newbies " or casuals using cheap tactics to get an easy win. You guys also just like the casuals say that its " cheap " , or unfair . You both are incorrect and this is what separates the casuals and competitive players from the Pro players .


I spoke with a well known pro from the FGC ( don't worry the genre is irrelevant and it still applies no matter said genre ) . What i learned from him is that one one side you have the casual who has no idea about the core basics of the game from a competitive perspective . On the other side you have the competitive player who does understand the game but is limited in knowledge . Game companies want to make games easier for the casual player and cater to them to SOME degree. The companies often cater to these new players by giving them easier ways to automatically deal with something , or to have an easier time winning in some aspects .

I was told that the issue is that the while the casual will get outplayed by the competitive player by sheer knowledge in most cases , this isn't always the case. The casual will find a way to get easier wins and when this happens the competitive player will get mad and say things like " you're not good dude all you do is this one cheap thing " . The irony here is that the competitive player likes cheap things when they're doing it but they don't like it when the same thing is done to them. None of this is wrong , or a dishonorable way to play however both sides have their opinion and don't like to adapt.

The casual in this situation just wants to press keys/press buttons and have fun . They don't have fun once they realize that they lose a majority of the time just for not knowing how to play the game that well. The competitive player gets upset when the casual presses the same thing over and over and wins just because its works for them. They want to win just as bad as you do so you can bet that newbie is going to " SPAM " the same thing over and over again if it works for them .

What separates the pros from both casual and competitive gamers is that the pro is aware of cheap tactics . The pro is aware of " broken " tactics , but they prepare strategies and techniques against it . They apply fundamental knowledge , skill sets , execution and they abuse the same " broken " mechanics better than the competitor , or casual . Sure the casual will rage quit on anything they don't understand but the competitor will rage quit once they get frustrated with having to adapt to a good player , or they get outplayed while using " broken " techniques .


The pros have the better skill sets to be able to apply techniques in various ways in the likes of which a casual or competitor would lack knowledge of . This is where you get terms like having the most effective tactic available , or META for short. Many competitive gamers will go on sites like YouTube and try to " abuse " META . To the casual gamers you need to understand that using a strategy, or " META " tactic is NOT unfair . You're supposed to use strategy when playing games .

However the on the other hand the Competitive players need to understand that you shouldn't get upset about " META" either . Developers will and do patch out actual broken things that are unfair . It only last for a matter of days or hours in most cases . Both the casual and competitors label anything they don't like , or know how to deal with as " broken " .
98% of the time most of what each side calls broken just simply isn't and the pros will demonstrate this by finding various ways around it .


( Broken means : SOMETHING THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWER TO IT AND GUARANTEES A WIN BY DEFAULT )

Now to make comparisons between the pros and the competitive gamers . Competitors will try to abuse mechanics and allow it to carry them through the ranks . This will work for some period of time and give a false sense of " god complex " . Once they come up against a person who hones their skill set they begin to mentally break. Pros understand every part of every mechanic and they often think of new ways to use said mechanics in interesting ways . Casuals looking to get better have the option of following in a pro's footsteps as a means to learn how to get better at gaming overall just as competitors .

However this often leads to everyone in the entire community copying one another . People want to win so bad that they will rule out all other possibilities and rely on just " META " only . Pros study the game inside and out while experimenting with a few things . Competitors copy what the pros do while not fully understanding it . This can lead to them getting a few wins and can be fun . It won't put them on the same level as a pro . The pro is about 20-40 steps ahead of the competitor and can use the same tactics in the same match up even better .


Pros are not without fault and often will get salty if some competitor or even newbie gets an easy win off of them. Sometimes tools in games are just that good. Pros can sometimes get complacent and relaxed thus causing them to underestimated the will of a player who just won't quit. This can be embarrassing for the pro from their perspective and can take a huge hit to their ego. No human is perfect and everyone can learn no matter what level you're at.


I would like to say to casual gamers that you should at least learn the game's basic fundamentals and focus on learning . Don't try to WIN all the time as this won't help you get better . The wins will come , you need to learn and have fun while doing so. Gamers who only play once in a blue moon won't care if they lose or win . However many causal players throw a fit when they lose because they want to win badly . Keep learning and don't give up at the first sign of defeat .

To the competitors don't allow a cheap tactic to tilt you , and don't shy away from knowledge just because you think its dishonorable . If your goal is to get better and become good ... you should take all information into account . Focus on learning and adapting to situations . When you come up against a " META " tactic , learn not just how ... but why it works . This can open a few new doors of understanding . Overall this can help you to reach new heights .

I also have a tip for pros out there with a huge name . Don't think that you can't learn something and that you've got it all . This leads me into my next and last topic . Remember when i mentioned the " Shadow " gamers above ? The next segment is what i was referring to.




{ Who are the shadow gamers and why did i give them this name ? }


Yes , there is a 4th group of gamers who push their limitations so far they have shocked not only entire gaming communities but also the pros themselves ! Some of you reading this have witnessed this if you've been gaming for a long time but had no idea what to call it. Some of these gamers have even been recruited for pro teams . It's not a group with the name " Shadow " or anything like that . I gave them that name because its symbolic for my own definition that i made up to describe what i witnessed over the years .


To explain this let me ask you this first : Have you been fortunate to witness a gamer who seemingly comes out of nowhere who shocks an entire community ? I mean a player so good he/she makes the pros look like they have no idea what they're doing ? One who would fit into this category is a gamer so good he's knocking pros off the map as if they're just a regular group of casuals . People often say things like " oh my god who is this guy !!!??? "

I've been fortunate not just to meet but also learn from these individuals I'd put in the 4th group which i named shadow . I will explain why shortly but first you must understand how the players in this category are a cut above the pros . Sounds crazy right ? It exist and we've all seen it before to some degree. You will have some gamers who will be good enough to be on the pro level but they don't play the game in the same way as the pros . See... many pros often have the same opinions about what is good vs what is not . They often disregard what is considered useless and keep what is useful. Bruce lee even mentioned this when he gave speeches .

However Many people also missed what bruce lee said afterwards . It's not the style its the practitioner. He also makes references to being like water . " Be water, my friend. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash .... be like water my friend "

This ^ was bruce lee's quote and it can be compared to what this other type is doing.
See... using " META " stifles innovation and players can begin to plateau , often thinking one thing is the best or better . Sure in gaming you will have some things that are better on their own . However that may not actually be the case . Pay attention because this is a real gem I'm about to talk about here .

you ever seen a player take the worst champion/hero/character in a game and dominate the best players in the game with it using some unknown technique thats over the top ? Those players are cut above the rest but 4th group takes that to a whole new extreme.


Now what i learned from my mentor who i classify as being in this 4th group is this . He told me the first step is the accept the fact that everything you think you know is wrong . This can be a huge pill to swallow for some gamers . We often tend to think we know everything especially if we sank years into learning a game . He said you must be willing to unlearn and relean all that you know so that you may soar to new heights .


Bruce lee also talked about how he created his own style and was known as a mixed martial artist if not the first . He became his own person and did things his own way . So, its like having your own flavor to a recipe. Everyone has their own shadow and your shadow is custom to you and you only. Nobody's shadow looks like yours , and it will never have the same outlines or ridges as another person's shadow. It's 100% unique to you and only you. This is why i called them shadow gamers and its symbolic .


These gamers find unique and creative ways to push beyond the limitations of what was previously thought possible by various gaming communities . They often learn the same things the pros came up with . They don't copy the pros they come to the same conclusions but they don't get stuck in the hamster wheel of " META " . They always accept they're wrong and they always give themselves room to grow and constantly learn to improve and push boundaries . This is how you get people looking like an anime protagonist in the online games that you play. People will at first glace ask if they're cheating but upon inspection they'll find out that the player is indeed just that good . They often are the ones with a low sub count on youtube but has a video with 8.9M views and people going nuts on what they just did in game .


I was taught by my mentor that i could find puzzle pieces and link various puzzle pieces together in ways that not even the game would tell me . Games have rules and devs build games a certain way . Sometimes they shock the devs and the devs are pleased . One prime example is GameBreakerGod on youtube with GOW 2018. The devs sent him a personal letter thanking him for expressing himself and blowing their minds with his amazing gameplay . You can end up figuring out through experimentation that you are actually capable of doing things that you didn't know was possible . Once you figure out the puzzle pieces and find viable ways to use them , once you mix them together along with your knowledge and current skill set ... you will unlock a variety of doors that lead to insane possibilities. This is gaming on a new level that allows any player to truly make their gameplay their own . You can express yourself in your own way and show people just how skilled you can be .

People who do this are in that shadow category and they inspire and rile up gaming communities and become true legends who will never be forgotten . I want you all to know that any of you can reach this status as long as you are willing to keep learning . you must be able to control your anger and be willing to learn more than anything otherwise you won't be able to attain this . Gamers with a negative , or toxic ego are so busy trying to be the " superior " gamer that they plateau and hinder themselves from increasing their potential. Not reaching it ... because its truly endless. You don't reach it , you endlessly improve upon it. This can be done not just in multiplayer games but also in single player games as well . DMC( Devil May Cry ) was one of the first communities to actually do this sort of thing and they still learn new things to this day . You can always push the boundaries .


See what you can learn and how you can improve upon it . Don't give up , or make complaints about things you've yet to learn how to deal with . Not everything you struggle to deal with is broken and broken things are extremely rare . Continue to learn and improve upon yourself. Your true competition is the version of you from yesterday .

:O

[Lime]

https://youtu.be/DHUMJotjrpQ?si=mqzhjDLX_4VafsrA

[Defective Dopamine Pez Dispenser]

I think part of the issue is dialectical and semantic, too. I've never felt framing the antonym of competitive when it comes to gaming as "casual" made a lot of sense.

Not everyone is into multiplayer. A lot of people discovered gaming at a time before competitive multiplayer outside of things like fighting games was even much of a thing, apart from high score chasing. So for them, that's just not the paradigm they care about in gaming.

Yet I also don't think the sort of players who, say, spent thousands of hours playing their favorite RPGs, obsessing over minutia, lore, and coming up with different RP ideas, can really accurately be called "casual" about their gaming habits.

Or the person who had The Forever War happening in Civ, and wrote elaborate histories of the conflict and made it into something they spent years on. It's hard for me to call that a "casual" approach to Civ lol.

I think the beauty of video games as a medium, is the variety and richness of the experiences it can generate and provide, in unique ways due to its fundamentally interactive nature. This naturally and sort of inevitably leads to different kinds of gamers. I don't think the sole or even primary differentiating factor between them is their level of "casualness." It can come down to many different factors, and I think even trying to stratify people in that way in the first place is sort of non-representative of what gaming actually is.

You mentioned meta, and I think that's a huge part of it. You have people who simply don't want to meta-game, but rather will intentionally avoid arbitrary meta for the sake of immersion or roleplay or whatever in a game. Yet pour thousands of hours and tons of passion into that roleplaying experience. I can't really call that "casual." (And that meta vs RP distinction goes back all the way to TTRPGs, too, and still exists in that world.)

Someone who runs through the same game's main quest while doing little else, and never thinking much about it beyond a cursory surface level? Sure, that's a casual way to engage with a game. And there's nothing wrong with that.

But the first example where the person is still incredibly passionate and invested and takes it seriously, but simply doesn't want to use a meta-gaming approach, isn't someone I'd consider more "casual" than someone who does. Whether they discover all of the quirks, exploits, and dynamics a more hardcore meta-gamer might or not. After all - what is the goal of playing the game for the person? Is it to systematically dissect the game? Or is it to have an experience they're seeking?

Both are valid, and both are potentially equally passionate or "non-casual."

I also just don't think it really matters, either, at the end of the day. Video games are about personal fulfillment, whatever that means for you personally. They are a form of interactive entertainment. Which validly varies massively from individual to individual, and taste to taste.

It's also just funny to me when people tell me the way I play a given game makes me "casual," when I've been gaming since before video arcades existed. Like, okay. Sure thing, young ones. You have your "filthy casual" label and your Dark Souls. But I beat Ghosts'n'Goblins before save states existed while paying with quarters and standing, so... 🤷🏻‍♂️

Who cares at the end of the day? I don't see a divide in the first place, frankly. Except yet another of the countless, endless false dichotomies and categories gamers have invented to bludgeon each other with since time immemorial.

Just enjoy video games. While we're here and blessed to do so.

[Nuriyokan]

Originally posted by Defective Dopamine Pez Dispenser:

I think part of the issue is dialectical and semantic, too. I've never felt framing the antonym of competitive when it comes to gaming as "casual" made a lot of sense.

Not everyone is into multiplayer. A lot of people discovered gaming at a time before competitive multiplayer outside of things like fighting games was even much of a thing, apart from high score chasing. So for them, that's just not the paradigm they care about in gaming.

Yet I also don't think the sort of players who, say, spent thousands of hours playing their favorite RPGs, obsessing over minutia, lore, and coming up with different RP ideas, can really accurately be called "casual" about their gaming habits.

Or the person who had The Forever War happening in Civ, and wrote elaborate histories of the conflict and made it into something they spent years on. It's hard for me to call that a "casual" approach to Civ lol.

I think the beauty of video games as a medium, is the variety and richness of the experiences it can generate and provide, in unique ways due to its fundamentally interactive nature. This naturally and sort of inevitably leads to different kinds of gamers. I don't think the sole or even primary differentiating factor between them is their level of "casualness." It can come down to many different factors, and I think even trying to stratify people in that way in the first place is sort of non-representative of what gaming actually is.

You mentioned meta, and I think that's a huge part of it. You have people who simply don't want to meta-game, but rather will intentionally avoid arbitrary meta for the sake of immersion or roleplay or whatever in a game. Yet pour thousands of hours and tons of passion into that roleplaying experience. I can't really call that "casual." (And that meta vs RP distinction goes back all the way to TTRPGs, too, and still exists in that world.)

Someone who runs through the same game's main quest while doing little else, and never thinking much about it beyond a cursory surface level? Sure, that's a casual way to engage with a game. And there's nothing wrong with that.

But the first example where the person is still incredibly passionate and invested and takes it seriously, but simply doesn't want to use a meta-gaming approach, isn't someone I'd consider more "casual" than someone who does. Whether they discover all of the quirks, exploits, and dynamics a more hardcore meta-gamer might or not. After all - what is the goal of playing the game for the person? Is it to systematically dissect the game? Or is it to have an experience they're seeking?

Both are valid, and both are potentially equally passionate or "non-casual."

I also just don't think it really matters, either, at the end of the day. Video games are about personal fulfillment, whatever that means for you personally. They are a form of interactive entertainment. Which validly varies massively from individual to individual, and taste to taste.

It's also just funny to me when people tell me the way I play a given game makes me "casual," when I've been gaming since before video arcades existed. Like, okay. Sure thing, young ones. You have your "filthy casual" label and your Dark Souls. But I beat Ghosts'n'Goblins before save states existed while paying with quarters and standing, so... 🤷🏻‍♂️

Who cares at the end of the day? I don't see a divide in the first place, frankly. Except yet another of the countless, endless false dichotomies and categories gamers have invented to bludgeon each other with since time immemorial.

Just enjoy video games. While we're here and blessed to do so.

I agree and thanks for the first actual response and not a troll one . The post is to encourage the casuals who DO take it seriously aka the ones cursing you out saying it's not fair. " all you do is the same tactic " . They take it seriously so I want to let them know that they can improve and to understand that ONLINE games PVP is indeed competitive and people will try to beat you vs letting you win.

Yes the divide is silly but hopefully the post can encourage people to want to reach that next level and really have fun with it.

[Nuriyokan]

Originally posted by Zero:

The gap that is bridged is that eventually you become too old to care anymore.

Source: Someone who was "pro" level who can no longer be bothered with it and only plays casually now.

...... you're a person who decided to move on from it which is fine . However being too old to care ( which doesn't really exist because age is not a factor ) has no effect . It won't close nor open the gap . People who still love to game will still game . So to those individuals who want to get better at a game they should know that they can do so and shouldn't be upset or cursing at others if they lose . Age has no factor in ones ability , or patience to learn .

[The nameless Gamer]

The gap between player types is not a chasm, it doesn't need to be bridged. Multiplayer is all about how much you want to commit to a game. Let's take fighting games for example. If you don't want to learn frame data, tight execution and spacing, don't expect to win against someone who is training for the next EVO. That person is committing hours into thoroughly studying the game. And there is no way to bridge that gap but to commit just as much. But not every player is trying to play on tournament level.

[Nuriyokan]

Originally posted by The nameless Commander:

The gap between player types is not a chasm, it doesn't need to be bridged. Multiplayer is all about how much you want to commit to a game. Let's take fighting games for example. If you don't want to learn frame data, tight execution and spacing, don't expect to win against someone who is training for the next EVO. That person is committing hours into thoroughly studying the game. And there is no way to bridge that gap but to commit just as much. But not every player is trying to play on tournament level.

agreed but the gap I'm referring to is one that is a divide among communities not in terms of skill. However the gap can be bridged when you have pros offering help on how newbies can improve which they do actually but I do agree with what you said .

[The nameless Gamer]

Originally posted by Nuriyokan:

Originally posted by The nameless Commander:

The gap between player types is not a chasm, it doesn't need to be bridged. Multiplayer is all about how much you want to commit to a game. Let's take fighting games for example. If you don't want to learn frame data, tight execution and spacing, don't expect to win against someone who is training for the next EVO. That person is committing hours into thoroughly studying the game. And there is no way to bridge that gap but to commit just as much. But not every player is trying to play on tournament level.

agreed but the gap I'm referring to is one that is a divide among communities not in terms of skill. However the gap can be bridged when you have pros offering help on how newbies can improve which they do actually but I do agree with what you said .

In games with larger player bases, you have higher odds at finding someone willing to coach you, but with how little spare time most people have, those people are VERY FEW. The fault isn't in the games or the people, but how little time we do have for pastime activities. And we, of course, prefer that spare time used for our own enjoyment.

[Nuriyokan]

Originally posted by The nameless Commander:

Originally posted by Nuriyokan:

agreed but the gap I'm referring to is one that is a divide among communities not in terms of skill. However the gap can be bridged when you have pros offering help on how newbies can improve which they do actually but I do agree with what you said .

In games with larger player bases, you have higher odds at finding someone willing to coach you, but with how little spare time most people have, those people are VERY FEW. The fault isn't in the games or the people, but how little time we do have for pastime activities. And we, of course, prefer that spare time used for our own enjoyment.

indeed

[Refurbished Cream Cheese]

Well, its been proven that on average 1 out of every 3 players CHEAT in online games.
So 1/3 of those players are FAKE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's crazy how many true-cowards are out there ruining games!

Saving FPS Games - AI Anti-Cheat
https://youtu.be/LkmIItTrQP4?si=uIA7wZuXNNa_TFhI

[Zero]

Originally posted by Nuriyokan:

...... you're a person who decided to move on from it which is fine . However being too old to care ( which doesn't really exist because age is not a factor ) has no effect . It won't close nor open the gap . People who still love to game will still game . So to those individuals who want to get better at a game they should know that they can do so and shouldn't be upset or cursing at others if they lose . Age has no factor in ones ability , or patience to learn .

It's not about that. It's about not having the patience to deal with all of the showmanship and toxicity. It absolutely is something that comes with age and maturity. At some point, you will feel like you don't want to exert the effort to deal with all of it anymore. That doesn't mean that you don't still love gaming, it just means that you've "grown out of" the juvenile behavior tolerance that permeates the competitive scene.