A video game player is a person who plays video games or sometimes computer games. A video game player who plays video games as a regular hobby or routine almost everyday is referred to as a full-time or hardcore gamer, and one who does not play them that often is referred to as a part-time gamer. Video game players are mostly from Generations X and Y. According to the Entertainment Software Association, as of 2004 an average video game player was born in 1974. A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... A hobby is a spare-time recreational pursuit. ... Generation X describes the generation following the post-World War II baby boom, especially Americans and Canadians born in the 1960s and 1970s and to a lesser extent Britons, although the exact dates of birth defining this age demographic are highly debated. ... The examples and perspective in this article do not represent a worldwide view. ... The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is the trade association of the computer and video game industry in the United States. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ...

Video gaming is a traditionally male hobby. Until the 16-bit era, female video game players were extremely rare. Today, 30 percent of PC gamers and 20 percent of console gamers are female. Video game players who think older video games are more fun than newer ones sometimes call themselves old school gamers. Most gamers recognize two types of video game players: hardcore and casual. (Redirected from 16-bit era) In the history of video games, the 16-bit era was the fourth generation of video game consoles. ... One of the first PCs from IBM - the IBM PC model 5150. ... The Nintendo GameCube is an example of a current generation video game console. ...

Types of video gamers

Hardcore gamers are video game players that purchase many video games, make the purchase decisions independently, and have video gaming as one of their top priorities. Most hardcore gamers are males and are within in an age group of 14 years of age to 30 (as determined by the Entertainment Software Association). Many in the video game industry consider hardcore gamers to be their core audience and sometimes rely on them as early adopters who will provide word of mouth advertising to casual gamers. The computer and video game industry is the economic sector involved with the development, marketing and sale of video and computer games. ... Word of mouth is the passing of information by verbal means, especially recommendations, but also general information, in an informal, person-to-person manner, rather than by mass media, advertising, organized publication, or traditional marketing. ...

In contrast, casual gamers are occasional video game players who play only to entertain themselves. The age group is varied, ranging from children to advanced adults. This group tends to be more heavily saturated with women than other groups and is the most populous of any of the groups. What this group lacks in enthusiasm for the latest and greatest hardware and engrossing gameplay, they make up in sheer numbers. Some companies that specialize in casual games have become very successful just by making games that are easy to play and somewhat engaging, such as PopCap Games (makers of Bejeweled, Bookworm and Zuma). Several of the all-time bestselling computer games attracted the attention of casual gamers, such as Myst and The Sims. PopCaps logo PopCap Games is a popular online gaming developer and website. ... A screenshot from Bejeweled. ... Bookworm can refer to: The insect of that name. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... This article is about the first computer game titled Myst. For the entire series, see Myst franchise. ... This article is on The Sims video game. ...

An "old school" gamer is a video game player who believes that older (pre-32-bit era) video games can be just as entertaining as today's video games. Their opposites are called "new school" gamers. "Old school" gamers are partly responsible for the popularity of console emulation. Some collect old video games and prototypes, or are in the business of refurbishing old games, particularly arcade cabinets. Some even make their own arcade cabinets (see MAME arcade). The NES and SNES, Sega's consoles, Atari's 1980s era consoles, and the Neo·Geo­­ are among the most popular systems to collect. Old school, variously spelled old skool, oldschool or oldskool, is a slang term referring to old ways of thinking or acting, and to old objects in general, within the context of newer, more modern times. ... Ridge Racer was one of Sonys launch titles for the PlayStation; it was a port of the Namco-made arcade game. ... A console emulator is a program for a computer, or other computing device, that can emulate a video game console or handheld, so a computer can be used to play games that were created for that console or to develop games for that console. ... This arcade cabinet, containing Centipede, is an upright. ... MAME Arcade Cabinets are meant to provide the experience of an entire video arcade in one unit. ... Nes is: A municipality in the county of Akershus in Norway, see Nes, Akershus. ... The European SNES design is identical to the Super Famicom. ... Sega (セガ) is a video game software and hardware developer, and a former home computer and console manufacturer. ... For the concept Atari (当たり) in the board game of Go, see Atari (go term). ... The original Neo-Geo console was greatly advanced for its time. ...

A competitive gamer primarily plays games in a certain genre for the enjoyment of competition with other gamers, and possibly simply for money or other extrinsic rewards. The distinguishing feature of these gamers is that they may often not like a particular game within a genre but play it only because others do. This type of gamer is most often found playing games of the fighting game and first person shooter genres. Screenshot of Kung Fu Master. ... A first-person shooter (FPS) is a computer or video game where the players on-screen view of the game world simulates that of the character, and there is some element of shooting involved. ...

Import gamers, as the name implies, purchase video games from overseas countries (this is usually done with Japanese games, as most games are originally made in Japan, though it is not uncommon for European gamers to purchase games that were released in North America due to the increased selection of English-language titles). Depending on the gaming platform involved, these gamers may use devices such as modchips, boot disks, and/or Gamesharks to bypass regional lockout protection on the software, though some prefer to purchase imported consoles as well, and some platforms do not feature said protection. Import gamers are a subset of the video game player community that partake in the practice of purchasing games from another region, usually from Japan where the majority of games originate. ... This article is about the continent. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the... Look up English in Wiktionary, the free dictionary As an adjective, English refers to anything from or pertaining to England. ... A modchip is a device used to play import games and/or circumvent the digital rights management of many popular game consoles, including the Xbox and PlayStation. ... GameShark Pro V3. ... Regional lockout is the programming practice, code, chip, or physical barrier used to prevent the playing of media designed for a device from the country where it is marketed on the version of the same device marketed in another country. ...

Graphics versus gameplay

It is often argued by old school gamers that, in the past, video game companies had to focus on game attributes other than graphics, due to the graphical limitations of the 8-bit and 16-bit consoles. However, it would be wrong to say that during the older generation of games, graphics didn't matter, period. Many games beloved by old school or "classic" gamers, such as Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, and Super Mario World, were praised for their graphics when they were released and were sold via advertising featuring graphics specs and screenshots. Graphics have always been an important part of the industry, dating back to the static-cling overlays packaged with the first console, the Magnavox Odyssey, and the colored screen which made arcade versions of Breakout appear more impressive. Chrono Trigger (クロノ・トリガー) is a role-playing game that was released in Japan on March 11, 1995 for the Super Famicom and in North America on August 22, 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES); it was re-released in 1999 for the Sony PlayStation (PS) in Japan and in... Final Fantasy VI (ファイナルファンタジーVI Fainaru Fantajī VI) is a computer role-playing game developed and published by Square Co. ... Super Mario World (SMW) was the first launch game for the Nintendo Super Famicom/Super Nintendo game consoles, and thereby the 16-bit console debut of Mario. ... The Magnavox Odyssey is the first home video game console, predating the Atari Pong home consoles by three years. ... Breakout is a Pong-like arcade game introduced by Atari in 1976. ...

It would be equally wrong to say that the current generation focuses on graphics to the absolute exclusion of all else. Graphics may sell a game early on, but word of mouth can quickly ruin its reputation, especially in this age of rapid communication. However, the trend toward a more passive, movie-like experience (via full motion videos) has alienated many of the old school crowd. Screenshot of an FMV from Final Fantasy VIII. Full motion video, usually abbreviated as FMV, is a popular term for TV-quality movie or animation in a video game. ...

See also

• Gamer
• Hardcore gamers
• List of gaming topics