What Type of Video Gamer Are You?

There are video games to suit every type of person, and for those of us who play them, we tend to fall into certain categories. Those who play gory games generally steer clear of titles intended for younger audiences. Those who like real-time strategy games generally avoid sports games (unless they are simulations). To provide a little clarity as to how you may want to categorize your video gaming tendencies, here is a list of what I believe are the six main types of gamers.

The Hardcore Gamer: Typical games played include World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, and most other fantasy-themed games.

The hardcore gamer is that rare individual who shows true devotion to a task. He diligently studies the ins and outs of every aspect of his game. He can tell you the pros and cons of upgrading a +6 Legendary Mace to +7. He grinds through monotonous quests with fervor and enjoys marathon gaming sessions. He tends to seek out those of a like mind and avoid casual gamers.

The Nerd Gamer: Typical games played include all types of games other than sports titles.

The nerd gamer is often equally as devoted as the hardcore gamer but tends to play a wider variety of titles. Nerd gamers tend to be fascinated by things that other gamers might find to be of only passing interest. They like knowing what game engine was used, who the programmers were, what Easter eggs are present in a game, and even make a point to read copious online manuals or other information about the game they are playing. They get along well with hardcore gamers (if they happen to be playing the same game) but tend to get frustrated with casual gamers' lack of passion.

The "Ville" Gamer: Typical games include anything with the suffix -ville following it.

A relative newcomer on the gaming scene, ville gamers stick to seemingly mundane projects such as running virtual farms, theme parks, and frontier homes. They are extremely patient and often invest a great deal of time, and in some cases money, in outfitting their virtual worlds. They are highly connected to other ville gamers, as these games require a lot of interaction with fellow villers to progress in the game. They often are confused by nerd and hardcore gamers but get along well with casual gamers.

The Sports Gamer: Typical games played include any game that has a ball, puck, or referees in it.

Sports games can be enjoyed by anybody, but there seems to be a group that plays these games exclusively. They spend hours diagramming plays to run, considering pitching rotations, or deciding on how to match up with an opponent's checking line. They are generally quite dexterous, as these games require a fair amount coordination to master. Sports gamers are a tight-knit fraternity and don't mix much with those outside their group.

The Casual Gamer: Typical games played include simple to understand and play titles such as Pac-Man, Mario games, and other basic platformers.

The casual gamer has no great love for video games but instead views them as a kind of fun and meaningless diversion to engage in if there is nothing else to do. They don't want to know many details about their games but instead like to keep things light and playful. They enjoy cute characters and storylines in games that are not too dark. They get along okay with other casual gamers but don't tend to associate much with anybody in the gaming world.

The Social Gamer: Typical games played include LaTale, Maple Story, Hello Kitty Online, or any other game that features a lot of conversation between gamers.

Social games are hugely popular, especially among younger players. These games have advanced social features, including things like virtual dating and marriage, virtual divorce (yes, it even happens in video games), and clubs where friends can chat. The gaming aspect is almost secondary in these games and serves more as a conversation topic than something to be taken seriously. Social gamers get along well with those who play these games but tend to be looked down upon by other gamers.

What type of gamer are you? I am probably a combination of all these types other than the ville gamer. Whatever type of gamer you are, why not try going out of your comfort zone for a bit and play some games you usually don't. Perhaps you will find that you are more inclined to another type of game than you might think.