I was talking with some pals of mine yesterday and they made me think about this.

What is your purpose for playing video games? Are you playing as a casual gamer just to have fun? Are you the type that plays for competition? Or are you one of those Pro types that break game mechanics down to a science to be better than everyone else?

I, personally, consider myself as a casual gamer (with a little bit of hardcore), I purely play games for fun. To past the time and to keep myself occupied when there isn't anything else to do.

I feel that when you take games too seriously you lose the 'fun value'.

So share your thoughts and lets get this topic rollin'.

I agree with your viewpoint. I'm not a professional gamer, and I wouldn't want to be. I've played games since before I can remember, but I've always done it for the enjoyment of them.

In fact, that's how I do many things. If I enjoy doing it, than it's worth it. Reading, writing, playing video games, any of that would turn into a (gasp of horror) chore if I didn't have fun while doing it.

I do it purely for fun, it is a good way to wind down after a long day.

And its a good way to meet new people

I'm just a casual gamer, I'm not good enough to be hardcore.
I just don't think it's worth the effort to try learn every little trick to become the 'very best' when it's all meant to be fun.

I can't imagine that there are too many people out there who don't play games for the fun factor. Even when you're breaking down game mechanics and training to beat the snot out of the other self-proclaimed masters you aren't really doing it just to say you can. I consider myself to be more of a hardcore gamer, but I still play games because I think they're fun. I just happen to be more picky when it comes to solid gameplay mechanics and a decent level of challenge that isn't due to things like stat boosting.

I used to be a terribly hardcore gamer on the Old Times (meaning Atari, Spectrum ZX, and NES... Oh, and PC, of course).

I played a lot for fun, and also for competition between friends, but also to LEARN. I learned many game mechanics just by watching the games and analyzing them (I discovered the 16-by-16 squares in Super Mario, heheh).

The new technologies (Nintendo 64 and up) were extremely difficult to get in my country. We not only have an awful custom system (which I loathe) but also a pathetic Economy that makes prices on foreign technology cost TRIPLE here.

And so, I based most of PC games.

A couple years ago I managed to get a PS2 and have loads of hours of fun with it. I'm no longer a hardcore gamer (I don't play all day, and I certainly play MUCH less), but I do enjoy many games.

Why? Because they are a fun way to spend the time. They're cool.

I play for fun - as an extension of that, since I usually play RPGs, I play for the story. I'm not there to marvel at awesome game-mechanics (though sucky battle-systems will make me give up), but to play my way through a story.

But yes, causal-for-fun-gamer here. It's fun being the best at something, but it's not the be-all and end-all of the gaming universe for me. While I'm a bit of a completionist (if you need to get all of the gems/pieces of maps/those lovely Chocographs in FFIX which I wasted hours and hours and a fortune on, I will probably get them all), that's not the point of gaming for me.

I kinda see myself on the boarder line between casual for fun and cometative. It realy depends what game im playing.

For example if its one of my faveorite games like grand theft auto, devil may cry or halo the i will be constantly playing that game to get every single achievement or thing unlocked. Whre as if i play a game like burnout or guitar hero. I'm mainly playing the game for the fun of it.

Yeah I'm a pretty casual gamer.

Gaming's pretty much my anti-drug
(aside from drawing)..

i play games because its ufn to escape the real world sometimes

I see it as an oppotunity to meet new people. Kids in playgrounds play "games" to socialise and excercise. I guess you can see gaming as people playing the same games and socialising even if its blowing the crap out of each other.

For fun, when I'm not reviewing them.

For fun at first. If I like the game, this continues to be the reason. If I do not, then it's because I'm a completionist and knowing I've left something unfinished prevents me from being able to sleep. Of course, actually finishing it has the same effect.

I do not get much sleep.

Same here.

Some of the time I play so I can review the game and tell everyone how crappy or how awesome it is. Although 90% of the the time I play just for fun and/or relief stress.

I think of gaming like any other hobby: fun as long as you don't take it too seriously. This is why I can never play anything competitively, playing competitively sort of requires to spend a lot of time with one game and learn how to play it well. If I play the same thing for too long trying to master moves and whatnot I'll get really bored, (not good when you're supposed to be doing something for fun!) It's times like this that I'll try to invent a new way to play the game incorrectly so it can be fun again. The short of it is that I never get good at games which is not to say I can't have fun with them. I blame ADD.

Because I'll never be able to crush turtles in real life and get away with it.