You know this has been bothering me for awhile people have different concepts of what the 2 are.
Casual gamer for me is someone who logs on once every few days plays for a few hours and might not be on for a few more days unless a large event is planned.
Hardcore gamer is someone who plays 3 - 4 hours every day or almost every day.
Now there is 168 hours in a week. Average person works 40 hours a week and sleeps 42 hours a week. Leaving 86 left to do what they would like. If you play 25 - 35 hours a week on a video game thats hardcore, anymore then that then your not working or sleeping like a real person lol.
Hardcore is not playing a game 10 - 20 hours a day, all it is to me you should really go to school or get a job because your got an obession with a video game.
Strangely enough i could say i'm a casual gamer but a hardcore player (or the other way around :cool:)
Just like EllieBelly, my usual rate of being ingame is a few hours every few days, because this isnt a game you can just play for 30 mns and leave, and i rarely have a couple hours ahead of me at a single moment (specially during the week)...
But, there are some things that you can do in only 30 mns : troll the forums :p, write some background stuff for your character, think about the evolution of your Clan, in fact more RP and imaginary things that actual playing, but i like it as much !
But, there are some things that you can do in only 30 mns : troll the forums , write some background stuff for your character, think about the evolution of your Clan, in fact more RP and imaginary things that actual playing, but i like it as much !
That pretty much sums up my playing of L2 these days. Log in, check the FL to see if anyone is on to RP with, check the ally to see if there's any parties, find both questions answered in the negative, cruise Giran, log off.
Where did you get the figure of 42 hours a week of sleep? It's probably more like 50+ for me. As far as gaming, I play maybe 1 - 3 hours per day. I consider myself an involved gamer - I play a lot, but I don't sacrifice sleep for it.
42 hours is 6 hours a day which is a min people sleep a day that are having any kind of normal sleep. Can be 50 + for sure but thats why i say you playing a video game more 35 hours a week you life is lacking in some big area and it dont make you hardcore makes you think its time to reexamine what your doing with your life lol
Well ... I'm logged into the game about 160 hours per week. Of course, most of it is not "playing", and those 10-15 hours I actually play are mostly spent with market and clan-related activities; I seldom actually have time to go out and kill some mobs for an hour or two. What does that make me, a casual player with a hardcore gaming time? :)
This game offers pvp as an OPTION or else there would never be safe zones like towns. I wish the people who can play this game 20 hours per day will understand that not everyone high level can just go pvp. Hey you have 5486 pvp points? Great but leave the casual people alone. So what if someone level 70 nuker has only 5 pvp points? That level 70 could be from open beta with a few hours playing per week and pulling extra long hours on one day of a weekend per month.
Lineage2 offers more than pvp and that's the community aspect. Get a clan, grow up, and work towards common goals.
;) And as you know I love partying with you, too, so drop me a note any time.
I don't think of myself as a hardcore player - to me it's less an amount of time spent and more of an attitude. I know when I was mainly reading, I spent similar amounts of time on it as I do on Lineage II (and bloody does that get expensive after you use up the library ...), same for drawing and, when I was still doing it, playing outside.
I tend to veer towards doing the same thing excessively, but that doesn't mean I'm really 'into that thing'.
I'd consider it hardcore if you play even though you're not enjoying yourself - which I occassionally find happening to me, and which usually results in some excessive loitering and altering and just having fun. ;)
... i say you playing a video game more 35 hours a week you life is lacking in some big area and it dont make you hardcore makes you think its time to reexamine what your doing with your life lol
I don't really think anyone who plays an online game (myself included) should judge another person's time spent playing a game. People have RL situations we know nothing about. Sure, I wonder how on earth some people have time to level 2-4 characters up to 78 AND subclass them all to 75 without botting (I actually do know people who have done this.) In my current situation I can barely level 1 character to 75. But that doesn't mean everyone is in my situation and has my commitments.
When I first started playing L2 I had the same attitude as you. When people said they played 30+ hours a week I flipped out. It just was mind boggling to me that anyone would do that. But then I decided to double major at the last minute and had to spend an extra semester at school. All my friends graduated & moved to different states & I moved off campus. That left me with a lot more time on my hands to play L2.
Then after I graduated, I took a 6 month break from work and school to relax before I officially entered the work force. During that period of time I played 50+ hours a week, sometimes as much as 10 hours a day. What else was I to do with my time? I was living with my parents, all my high school friends had long since moved away and my college friends were all over the country. Not like I had much else to do.
Since I started working full time, the hours I've had available to play have been drastically cut down. If I did nothing else with my life but eat, sleep, work and play L2 I might get to play 30-35 hours a week. I did that for a while and I enjoyed it. Now, however, I have other stuff going on and so I log in once a week, at best.
I’ll say this though – however much time I spent playing L2 was a choice. I chose to play L2 for 50+ hours at one point in my life. I don’t need to reexamine that. I had 168 hours of free time every week for 24 weeks. I don’t regret that I spent so much time playing L2. I took those 6 months to relax and what better way to do that than play video games? Nor do I need to reexamine the other times in my life when I played 30-35 hours a week. I had specific RL stuff going on (or not going on) at the time that gave me that much free time. I even tried to quit at one point and found that I wound up wasting more time doing stupid stuff when not playing L2.
Anyway, I’m just saying, don’t tell a person they need to reexamine what they are doing with their life or that their life is lacking just because they play a lot of hours. For all you know, they had a rich uncle who died and left them a fortune so they retired at age 25 and now have all the time in the world to play video games! (A girl can dream… can’t she?) :p
I am not hardcore gamer but thanks to L2 i no longer play anyother games or really watch to much tv on my off time. Just wondering how many people have a good comp with only L2 on it lol.. Playing 30+ hours a week is not a problem even casual gamers put that in on a XBOX but once it affects your work school social life (Financial for some playes *cough*) then thats when i think its a problem..
For most people its a hobbie and well you could pick a worse one like.. umm.. drunk rock climbing.. just my 3 cents..
I play like 8-10 hours a day on the internet and computer.
I do buisness on it too, selling things, lately ive been making more money than I would if I actually had a job :P
Well, the kind of a money a 19 year old like me would make at a minium wage job :P
Seriously, I just finished school, I have 3 options atm.
Go to college, go to work, or sit at home.
Like no way in hell do I want to go do MORE school.
Everyone I know who goes out my age and works, quits, or just hates it. And in no way do I need any money at the moment ( No I can't save anyway, weed > my wallet)
I go chill at friends houses, go outside a little but cmon... its like -20 and snowing atm.
Almost everyone hates their job, it's a part of sucking it up and being an adult. If it was a choice between playing l2 10 hours a day and starving or being homeless people would likely change their tune.
But there's plenty of people with jobs that overdo it with l2 too so it all depends :) I know of one grown up fool who has been jobless for like a year but plays l2 constantly. Moderation is the key I guess XD
If you are young and hate your job, consider a career change. Not everyone would work if they didn't have to, but hate is a strong word. Of all the jobs in the world, I've definately taken my career (at 25) to further than I ever thought I would as a child.
I have more income than I know what to do with...it's just truly exciting. All of it thanks to my education in an area I truly have a passion for and finding a workplace filled with people who love it just as much. I know lots of professionals whom year after year continue to say "this is the best time of my life." If you find something you love, find out how you can get involved in it and life only looks up from there.
There is paperwork everywhere, even in buying a Viper. It's still a hell of a lot of fun.
If you hate your job, why the hell are you doing it?
If you are young and hate your job, consider a career change. Not everyone would work if they didn't have to, but hate is a strong word. Of all the jobs in the world, I've definately taken my career (at 25) to further than I ever thought I would as a child.
I have more income than I know what to do with...it's just truly exciting. All of it thanks to my education in an area I truly have a passion for and finding a workplace filled with people who love it just as much. I know lots of professionals whom year after year continue to say "this is the best time of my life." If you find something you love, find out how you can get involved in it and life only looks up from there.
There is paperwork everywhere, even in buying a Viper. It's still a hell of a lot of fun.
If you hate your job, why the hell are you doing it?
There is so much truth to this.
You don't have to hate your job. You can apply yourself to something you want to do.
It doesn't mean that you are going to have a party every day at work, but it does mean that one can, if one actually applies themselves, find a means to make a living that also grants one a solid feeling of accomplishment.
All ive noticed is the only people posting about playing 50 hours a week or more are people that dont have to pay the bills to actually play l2 and dont go to school.
Maybe ncsoft needs to re examine this game how many people in the world fit into a category that they are rich enough not to have to work or go to school and enjoy playing video games..... Maybe when they realize they are marketing the game for the wrong people they will wake up.
Meanwhile those same rich people are the ones most likely to ebay since hey they dont earn the money anyway so why do they care.
I would say that I'm a relatively casual gamer with hardcore playtime. I was actually looking for a game where my playtime would be used doing something other than being LFG/putting groups together with no "necessary classes" available (EQ1), soloing most of the time (CoH, CoV, WoW, EVE) or the like and a friend recommended L2. According to my xfire profile (http://www.xfire.com/profile/remianen/), I've spent 37 hours this week playing MMOs (and that's only when I remember to load it up prior to logging in). This week's been kinda slow since I've been out of town on business for 3 days but 30-50 hours a week is more the rule than the exception for me. But, I can (and do) play at work so my numbers can be somewhat inflated. I might be online for 12 hours but only playing maybe 4-6, given meetings and such.
I think casting aspersions on folks because they can do what many cannot is kinda short-sighted. I think it also depends largely on your personal definition of "rich" (IMO, Bill Gates is rich. I'm comfortable) and how much of your time is actually your own. I know of about 70 people from a variety of MMOs who can play 50 hours a week and not have their personal lives negatively impacted. I will admit that I don't fit the criteria of hours spent at various activities that you stated. I sleep 30 hours a week tops (usually 20-25) but it works for me (and has for over 20 years. I've never been a big sleeper). Also consider the sheer number of people who can put in hardcore playtime on weekends (that can be 20 hours minimum right there).
All ive noticed is the only people posting about playing 50 hours a week or more are people that dont have to pay the bills to actually play l2 and dont go to school.
I can't fault you for your experiences. While I do know of several young people who fit that criteria, their numbers are dwarfed in comparison to folks paying their own way and still managing to play a great deal. I also think casual vs hardcore is a mindset, not an issue of how much a person plays. It's more like a focus rather than a concrete concept to me (which is why I describe myself as a casual gamer). Depending on the game, my mindset changes. I'm hardcore in A Tale In The Desert but casual in say Anarchy Online. Hardcore in WoW (my blood elf hit 60 three weeks after BC's release and was 68 when I quit), casual in L2 (for now. Still on trial but loving it so far). Hardcore in Earth & Beyond (RIP), casual in EVE. My playtime hasn't changed much since 2000 and if anything, has gone UP since then.
I consider myself a hybrid player and quote the phrase "it depends." I've been playing LineageI/II for seven years now. Sometimes I like it hard and sometimes I like it soft. I've gone through periods where I played every hour I wasn't at work or engaged with the family, or other periods where I was so burnt out on it that I couldn't stand to look at the game. I'm not a TV watcher and I don't go to bed early, so not much else to do besides reading and gaming on a limited budget. Some people hang out in bars, others hang out online. I've found Lineage to be the cheaper of the two by far. Seems to me there's enough room in Lineage for both types of players and it's in NCsoft's best interest to keep them both.
I'm hardcore to the extent that I am usually doing something Lineage-related several hours each day, every day of the week. If not leveling, then playing the market or following the boards.
But in every other fashion, my approach to the game is really laidback. I have no desire to have the most uber gear, or reach the highest levels, or have PVP bragging rights. I'll never participate in any of the Hero competitions, mostly because I can remember a time when being called "yellow" wasn't a badge of honor (that glow really sickens and disturbs), and if any of my toons reaches level 75+ in this decade, it will be a surprise to you and me both!
I'm a stay at home dad, I get to play games on average 12-18 hours a day hehehehe with the certain interuptions of my child of course.
I wouldnt class myself as an insane gamer, just involved,as I'm deffinitely not hardcore either, well maybe on EVE, and deffinitely not on L2 as I have only just reactivated my account after about a years break, but I used to grind for 20hrs a day back in the day before my daughter was born.
It is hard work indeed, that is why i try to get as many hours in playing games as i can, its quite lonely when your wife is at work till midnight most nights :S
haha and yea if you heard my wife, you'd think i let my daughter look after herself!
not everyone hates their job. I have one of the 2 only jobs i WANT to have, and I will prolly never quit.
i have such a good job I can spend almost all time at work reading the forums ^^
All ive noticed is the only people posting about playing 50 hours a week or more are people that dont have to pay the bills to actually play l2 and dont go to school.
people that can afford to spend the time to play L2:
a. have no life
b. have no sleep
c. have no job
d. somehow combine their L2 time with their job time.
Generally during the time I am attending university I will play about 8 hours a week, give or take. Usually that is a 4-5 hour grind session on Friday night, and then either one siege day, usually can't make both, or grinding Saturday for 3-4 hours. It is rare to log on during the week except maybe an hour at the arena once and a while. To me this is pretty casual.
Sometimes I am hardcore though. Like when I have a long break. Usually I will just continue working part time and play L2 full time, somewhere around 8 hours a day. I do this in order to progress within the game, because otherwise I probably wouldn't.
Now sometimes I play less during a school week, sometimes not at all. Sometimes I don't even log on during the weekend for RL social things or just too much school work. Sometimes when the week seems slow I will play 3-4 hours on a weekday because I will have time.
Nonetheless L2 eats away lots of my time. Lots of things I could do instead of playing L2, but I enjoy L2 and I can't be busy all the time because then where would be the fun in that? :D
yeah i mean, im a rutt atm, I do NOT want a job atm... like..why.. money for...what... Im only 19 remember though :P
Like Im even learning japanese atm i have that much free time laying around
Nihongo o hanashimasu ka? lol
Why don't you go to school and major in Japanese. Thats basically what I am doing... After that you can go to Japan and teach English for up to 3 years and make about $30k a year which isn't bad straight out of college. Maybe find some opportunity in Japan, or take that knowledge back to the states. Being fluent in another language, especially a language that represents a booming economy will land you a job in no time where you can make some **** good money.
Believe me, your parents won't be around forever to support you, and I am pretty sure they would like to see you stand on your own two feet. The earlier you go to school the easier it is to do btw, before you have kids or something, or get caught up in working dead end jobs for the rest of your life.
Not trying to scare ya or anything...just saw you were learning Japanese and since I have some knowledge on this I would share it. No worries, there is still time to play L2 while your in college. :p
What Ellie said is definitely true. I wouldn't necessarily say I am LOVING college, it is hard work and many times I just get bored of it. And I probably won't LOVE my job either, I can hope, and there is a possibility, but I do like living and eating food, and sleeping in a comfortable place, so I can at least love my job enough. lol
Is my major "Global and Multicultural Studies" something that is going to be my future forever, am I 100% sure this is what I really want to do. HELLS NO! I am about 30% sure this is something that I will later tie into my career. Right now I am just learning stuff, the more knowledge I know the better choice I can make later on. Maybe I will go back to school, maybe I will get lucky and find a job I will truly like, maybe I will get a job that isn't even related to my major and really like it and wonder how the hell I got this job except for my overall interest in it. (it happens)
The point is, if you just sit around and do nothing, except just playing L2, you won't get very far. Even if you aren't sure what you wanna do, you should do something so at least you know what you DON'T want to do (does that make sense? lol). You don't want a job? More or less you probally don't want a job such as frying french fries at Macdonalds or some sort of job that doesn't expect a college education...don't blame ya there. But apparently you are interested in Japanese, languages, whatever...just get that piece of paper so you can prove to your employer that you can accomplish tasks...thats all they really care about in the end, unless it is a super specialized field such as a doctor, etc. etc.
As for me... It depends on the mood. Sometimes I am hardcore, playing hours and hours. Other times I am just not much in the mood and just play a little. And there are times where anything Lineage 2 related is the last thing I want to see. It is kinda random.
I am a hardcore/casual gamer. I do custom sewing in my home so I can work when I want and grind when I get frustrated. Sleep is usually just when ever I feel like it.