surveys - Kotaku

posts about #surveys more →
NPD Says Half of All Americans are Gamers
Survey Says ...
God of War III Survey Hints At PS2 Games On Blu-ray
Steam Hardware Surveys Relaunched, Makes You Smarter
WoW Is Major Cause Of College Dropouts - FCC
Solitary Versus Social: Play Styles of Gamers
Microsoft Poll: One of Five Canadian Men Game in the Nude
Games Make You Drive Faster?
3% of All Gamers Obnoxious, Foul-Mouthed Kids
"Casual" Gamers More Hardcore Than Previously Thought

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

fauxbravo
08/01/09

In reply to NPD Says Half of All Americans are Gamers
Ha. Freakin' nerds.
Reply

Showmeyomoves! promoted this comment fauxbravo was starred fauxbravo was unstarred

Limeade
08/01/09

In reply to NPD Says Half of All Americans are Gamers
We're all gamers. From the flash-clickers to casual gamers to SIMs virtual management player to the 80 hours a week 'hardcore' FPSers. I don't see why we need titles and separation.
Reply

svetlana promoted this comment Limeade was starred Limeade was unstarred

svetlana
08/01/09

@Limeade: While I don't think marketers will ever be chased away from putting people in boxes so as to fine-tune their companies to make bigger bucks...it _is_ refreshing to hear a more inclusive, less Cut Their Nuts Off voice, here, regarding the lesser-publicized people who bulk up the numbers of that survey. So, thanks. My bookshelves may bristle with too much hardware to put me in that group, but I bear them no ill will--and am tired of the cultish attacks self-promoted hardcore gamers see fit to unleash upon people who are just trying to have a little fun, same as anyone else.

(edit: grammar)
Reply

Edited by svetlana at 08/01/09 5:19 PM svetlana was starred svetlana was unstarred

Limeade
08/04/09

@svetlana: You're welcome. A community that tears itself apart is something I'll never understand. We can do much more as a united front than segregated subgroups.
Reply

Limeade was starred Limeade was unstarred

Trey
08/01/09

In reply to NPD Says Half of All Americans are Gamers
Games are an important provider of easy entertainment. The goal is clearly defined, the method to reaching that goal is usually a static concept, and the pursuit of winning can be made again and again.

I think more people should get into gaming.
Reply

(Zombie) Goldwings promoted this comment Trey was starred Trey was unstarred

switchblade saints
08/01/09

In reply to NPD Says Half of All Americans are Gamers
So thiiiiis why blockbuster feels they can charge 10.00 for a 5 day rental.

ridiculous.
Reply

switchblade saints was starred

(Zombie) NitroAML
08/01/09

@switchblade saints: Last time i rented from blockbuster(about 5 years ago) they were dollars 7 a game for a week.
Reply

switchblade saints promoted this comment (Zombie) NitroAML was starred

Ryan Meehan
08/01/09

@switchblade saints: why the fuck are you still renting from a video store.
Reply

switchblade saints promoted this comment Ryan Meehan was starred Ryan Meehan was unstarred

switchblade saints
08/01/09

@Ryan Meehan: Oh I am not, I just noticed the prices were that high at the local BB. I still go in to buy the 4 for $20 DVD's on occasion.
Reply

switchblade saints was starred

Showmeyomoves!
08/01/09

In reply to NPD Says Half of All Americans are Gamers
For those about to argue what constitutes a 'gamer', consider this: What is a 'moviegoer'?
Reply

Edited by Showmeyomoves! at 08/01/09 4:41 PM Showmeyomoves! was starred Showmeyomoves! was unstarred

Helkaurain
08/01/09

@Showmeyomoves!:
A miserable pile of popcorn!
Reply

Helkaurain was starred Helkaurain was unstarred

ReconToaster misses garnett :(
08/01/09

@Showmeyomoves!:

I see what you're getting at, but the thing is, Flash games are to full production video games as Youtube videos are to Full length, feature films.

Tons of things that take advantage of video recording are not referred to as "film." In the same way, I think it's fair to say that, while solitaire and flash games take advantage of the same technology, they're not really the same thing as full retail games.

Calling these kinds of people 'gamers' is like calling the guy who reads the weekly funny pages a 'fan of graphic novels.'
Reply

Koda89
08/01/09

@Helkaurain: A Symphony of the Night reference? Pure-fucking-win.
Reply

Showmeyomoves! promoted this comment Koda89 was starred Koda89 was unstarred

Koda89
08/01/09

@ReconToaster.: True.

Though to be fair, some of the better flash game creators go on to become game developers(see Behemoth, The), much like a few YouTube video creators have become actual movie creators.

Granted it is usually only the cream of the crop that does this, though.
Reply

Showmeyomoves! promoted this comment Koda89 was starred Koda89 was unstarred

GoonerVance
08/01/09

@Showmeyomoves!: Well if a gamer is merely someone who plays worm on their cell phone, then I think there is a need for terms like "hardcore" and "casual". "Gamer" is just too broad a term.
Reply

Showmeyomoves! promoted this comment GoonerVance was starred GoonerVance was unstarred

DrunkRobot
08/01/09

Don't argue what constitutes "a gamer". That's not for other people to decide. When a minority of people feel they are entitled to label and judge others, they become the real problem. If you follow politics, take a look at the mess which is the republican party. That's what happens when you let a small minority speak for the rest of the community. So even if someone plays a game once a year, they should feel welcomed by other gamers and industry as a whole. Hard core gamers who are only interested in "pwning" other gamers and talking trash should be forced to play amongst themselves so they can't ruin the experience for everyone else.
Reply

DrunkRobot was starred DrunkRobot was unstarred

GoonerVance
08/01/09

@DrunkRobot: Chill DrunkRobot, in marketing, labeling is necessary. No one's starting a culture war over video games. You're probably referring to immature people who can be found in all walks of life. You go to a baseball game you will find die hard fans who do the same thing as hardcore gamers. It's not against the law to be a jerk and you are given the options to ignore these jerks.
Reply

Showmeyomoves! promoted this comment Edited by GoonerVance at 08/01/09 5:35 PM GoonerVance was starred GoonerVance was unstarred

Showmeyomoves!
08/01/09

@ReconToaster.: I can find no fault in these comparisons, actually. Well done. :)

I guess I just have a problem with people looking down on the 'casual gamer', like they're not good enough to earn the grand title of "hardcore" or (shudder) "real" gamer.
Reply

Showmeyomoves! was starred Showmeyomoves! was unstarred

ReconToaster misses garnett :(
08/01/09

@DrunkRobot:

It's also people who really enjoy story-driven games getting frustrated by people playing Wii fit and thinking they're experiencing the best that gaming has to offer.
Reply

adaorardor
08/01/09

@Showmeyomoves!: a more apt comparison could be drawn out by asking "what [who] is a skateboarder?" a lot of 12 year old boys have skateboards in their room, but only a small handful would be considered 'skateboarders'.
Reply

Showmeyomoves! promoted this comment adaorardor was starred adaorardor was unstarred

Showmeyomoves!
08/01/09

@adaorardor: You're comparing videogames to a sport, instead of a form of entertainment.

I rest my case.
Reply

Showmeyomoves! was starred Showmeyomoves! was unstarred

Showmeyomoves!
08/01/09

@ReconToaster.: Who says they aren't? It might not be for you (God knows it's not for me), but who cares! If someone enjoys the funny pages, who am I to tell them they should be reading Watchmen instead?
Reply

Edited by Showmeyomoves! at 08/01/09 7:36 PM Showmeyomoves! was starred Showmeyomoves! was unstarred

SmilingPolitely
08/01/09

@ReconToaster.: But his point still stands. Someone who watches Youtube but has never seen a single theatrical release would not be called a moviegoer.

At the same time, you're also correct. This is maddening, as I'm rather particular about language and word selection.

It comes down to this: the word gamer, as is the case for the majority of our words, has different meanings depending on context.

There are golfers, and there are golfers. If I play golf, then I am a golfer. But if you ask someone what they do, and they reply "I am a golfer," that has a different meaning, implying more than just the simple fact that they play golf on occasion. In both cases, the choice of words is correct.

Really, it's the same thing here. There are gamers, and there are gamers.
Reply

SmilingPolitely was starred SmilingPolitely was unstarred

Trey
08/01/09

@SmilingPolitely: Not necessarily. There are golfers, and there are professional golfers (or amateurs trying to make a career out of golfing). Like there are gamers (which includes people who play solitaire on the company computer to the WoW addict) and professional gamers like those of MLG infamy. That's the difference you're showing: people who simply do a hobby, and those who make a living out of that hobby.
Reply

SmilingPolitely promoted this comment Trey was starred Trey was unstarred

SmilingPolitely
08/01/09

@Trey: Aye, and my point remains the same: golfers are golfers whether they are professional or casuals. Using the term golfer in either case is correct; the same goes for gamer.

Whether or not you choose to append "professional" or "amateur" to the word is your own choice, but the using just the base term to describe either group is correct regardless.
Reply

SmilingPolitely was starred SmilingPolitely was unstarred

fruitsofherwomb
05/03/09

In reply to Survey Says ...
Fable II was pretty bad...
Reply

fruitsofherwomb was starred fruitsofherwomb was unstarred

MattB
05/03/09

@fruitsofherwomb: I enjoyed it less than the first. I do think they had some really cool ideas, and some really nice small touches, but to me it was lacking on the story front and surprisingly lacked emotional pull.
Reply

MattB was starred MattB was unstarred

Ghede
05/03/09

@MattB: I also find the multiplayer component is soulless. The fact you have to use pre-generated heroes with static weapons just sucks all the fun out of it.
Reply

Ghede was starred Ghede was unstarred

Sensai
05/03/09

@Ghede: It's almost like it was designed for only one person and then had multiplayer mode tacked on at last moment.

I just don't get why developers feel that they need to add in things that clearly aren't designed for their games. Like Resident Evil 5, both with co-op _and_ the whole Versus thing.

And Bioshock 2, but that's not my only complaint/fear with the game...but that's another can-o'-worms.
Reply

Sensai was starred Sensai was unstarred

GexX2
05/03/09

In reply to Survey Says ...
I find this unfunny.

Bethesda is nothing compared to Bioware, and Peter Moloneux at least tries to innovate.

Oblivion sucked ass without mods. I know this is only my opinion, but I'm also of the opinion that anyone who thinks otherwise is easily entertained.

Fallout was a step up from Oblivion in the sense it had less copypasta (at least outside DC) and the enemies didn't become badasses while you worked hard for your stuff, just so they could kick your ass for trying. And anyone who owns the PC version of Fallout 3 can attest to Bethesda's coding skill.

They've had a massive bug on the PC version of Fallout 3 that hasn't been fixed since the release of Operation Anchorage. Either that's a sign that Bethesda has come to rely on its modding community to fix it's fuck-ups, or a sign they don't care. I don't dislike Bethesda enough to assume the latter, so I'm of the belief it's the former.

Sigh. I made a wall of text/rant/venom. Sorry. :<
Reply

GexX2 was starred GexX2 was unstarred

MattB
05/03/09

@GexX2: Rant or not, I think most who've played all these games would agree what what you say is true. I liked Oblivion even without mods, but your complaints are all valid IMHO.
Reply

MattB was starred MattB was unstarred

stupid_mcgee: 1000 angels could save your soul ([k])
05/03/09

@MattB: Yeah, I liked Oblivion a lot, but it was nowhere near flawless. I haven't played Fallout 3 extensively, so I don't really know. I bought a boxed copy, played for about a week and then sold it. I figured I had enough on my plate, what with having bought Mass Effect recently and getting sucked back into Bladur's Gate 2. I'm also not a huge open-world RPG fan, so games like Fallout 3 and Oblivion aren't really my type of thing.

Bioware on the other hand, I've enjoyed all of their games and own every single one on the PC. I have yet to be disappointed by any of their games, even though I was a bit disjointed by Mass Effect's FPS/RPG melding. I really cannot wait until Dragon Age.
Reply

Char Aznable
05/03/09

@stupid_mcgee: uber pyro > zerg rush: I've got to disagree here, I find that the content Bioware actually puts out always has a rushed feel to it. I don't get that feeling from Bethesda, generally-- especially with Fallout3 (The Pitt excepted, 'the heck were they thinking). I find Fallout3 to be infinitely superior to Oblivion in almost every sense, for which I am thankful. I have never spent as much time in a Bioware game as I have in Fallout3.

These are just personal taste issues however, as we all recognize. I am utterly sick of swords and sorcery games, and though I loved Mass Effect, it just doesn't hold a candle to the Fallout universe in my little corner of the world.
Reply

Char Aznable was starred Char Aznable was unstarred

Ghede
05/03/09

@interim is a biscuit: I dunno, the only extra content of theirs I've ever liked was Shivering Isles, and they have publicly stated they will not do expansions of that scale ever again. Operation Anchorage just bores the shit out of me.
Reply

Ghede was starred Ghede was unstarred

excel_excel
05/03/09

In reply to Survey Says ...
Is it evil to have sex with an alien?
Reply

excel_excel was starred excel_excel was unstarred

stupid_mcgee: 1000 angels could save your soul ([k])
05/03/09

@excel_excel: Fuck yeah it is! Dey turk er jerbs!
Reply

excel_excel
05/03/09

@stupid_mcgee: uber pyro > zerg rush: DEY TURK AR JUBS!!!!
Reply

excel_excel was starred excel_excel was unstarred

Omnimon
05/03/09

In reply to Survey Says ...
I can just see Molyneux thinking, "Seriously!?! We have a dog! Our dog is awesome and is a complete differentiator!".
Reply

Omnimon was starred Omnimon was unstarred

Archaotic
05/03/09

In reply to Survey Says ...
Awesome. Quite a cute little jab...
Reply

Archaotic was starred Archaotic was unstarred

svenhoek
05/03/09

In reply to Survey Says ...
LOL I see Molyneux now, "But Fable 2 is SO MUCH BETTER than Oblivion! You can have sex and fart in my game! This is preposterous!"
Reply

svenhoek was starred svenhoek was unstarred

Pombar
05/03/09

@svenhoek: When In Romero: And it is. I want to fart on a Super Mutant!
Reply

Pombar was starred Pombar was unstarred

Hraesvelgr
05/03/09

@svenhoek: When In Romero: Say what you will about Molyneux, he wouldn't be wrong to say his game is better than Oblivion.
Reply

Hraesvelgr was starred Hraesvelgr was unstarred

Dangeresque (Kojima-san doesn't have to make Metal Gear any more)
05/04/09

@Hraesvelgr: Well, no. But neither would I, saying my game is better, and it's a bloody text adventure. Doesn't take much to top the dull mess that is Oblivion. Fallout 3, on the other hand....
Reply

Rob
05/03/09

In reply to Survey Says ...
Bahahahahaha!
Reply

Rob was starred Rob was unstarred

RaginKaGin21
05/03/09

@Rob: I raughed I rost...but on another note they seem to have forgotten Obsidian and CD Projekt though. I guess they'll just have to be happy that they were grouped in with Molyneux, Bethesda, and BioWare without apology.
Reply

RaginKaGin21 was starred RaginKaGin21 was unstarred

N●Gage Croal is grabbin' peels
05/03/09

@RaginKaGin21:

I think only the Lionhead (or at least Molyneux), Bethesda, and BioWare groups care enough about stuff like that. :P
Reply

TRT-X
04/16/09

In reply to God of War III Survey Hints At PS2 Games On Blu-ray
So let me get this straight....

Re-releasing old PS2 games with enhanced contents for PS3 = OMG Sony is awesome!

however,

Re-releasing old Gamecube games with enhanced contents for Wii = OMG Nintendo cash cows!
Reply

TRT-X was starred TRT-X was unstarred

DugDawg
04/15/09

In reply to God of War III Survey Hints At PS2 Games On Blu-ray
I've never understood why Sony hasn't made Playstation 2 games downloadable on the PS3 like Microsoft has with the Xbox Originals. It seems to me like Sony could profit immensely from allowing PS3 owners to download the best sellers from its absolutely huge PS2 lineup. I'm one of the few people who never bought a PS2, so being able to download games like God of War II, Devil May Cry, Twisted Metal Black, or previous installments in the Final Fantasy series would be very appealing. Sony, are you listening?
Reply

DugDawg was starred DugDawg was unstarred

bobtheduck in Korea
04/15/09

In reply to God of War III Survey Hints At PS2 Games On Blu-ray
I'm guessing MIPS and PPC are very different architectures, but considering how frigging powerful the PS3 is, couldn't they just do a simple port and include the port with the game? Instead of having PS2 games on a bluray that only older systems would be able to play...

I'm saying this because that's what it sounded like they were doing, not actually putting PS2 games on a bluray, but porting PS2 games to the PS3...
Reply

Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

SUBSCRIBE TO Kotaku

Login

Reset Password

Register

Submit Your Comment