Which of These 27 Gamer Classifications Do You Fall Under_
By Alex Chen | January 01, 0001
In today’s extremely lengthy yet entertaining edition of Speak Up on Kotaku, commenter Nightram details 27 different types of gamers he’s observed over the years, and wonders where you fall in the list. I’ve been observing my real-life gaming friends for some time now and have drawn some conclusions.(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=995c4c7d-194f-4077-b0a0-7ad466eb737c&cid=872d12ce-453b-4870-845f-955919887e1b'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "995c4c7d-194f-4077-b0a0-7ad466eb737c" }).render("79703296e5134c75a2db6e1b64762017"); }); When gamers spot another gamer, most are fast friends, maybe even despite liking different genres or series. A debate with a knowledgeable gamer is a very enjoyable experience most of the time, but recounting a loved game with someone who played it around the same time can be bliss. Maybe there are several types of typical gamers? The Hater: Taunted and teased as a child for the gaming hobby, this gamer grows up resentful and would rather not leave his or her gaming dungeon (comfort) and be forced to interact with other people. This gamer may see the world as one giant joke, is well-aware of its hypocrisy, and is well-informed about examples. He or she is thrilled when around people that feel the same, or at least share their very specific likes/genre/series. While not necessarily close-minded when it comes to games, they feel most at home with a specific brand and system. Tough to penetrate the defenses, but haters can be some of the most loyal friends. The Jock: This gamer will never admit they are a gamer, except to another jock gamer. They buy the latest console for the graphics, other capabilities, and the latest sports or “cool-to-own” title. They’d rather throw last year’s games away then set foot in a game store (and might as well), but will gladly talk about their specific subset of games if prompted as long as they play it off like they don’t care. They’re all about the new, and holding on to the past is laughable. The Loner: Like the hater, they’d rather not interact with people, but for different reasons. They get their interactions online or in-game, rather than have to deal with all the nuances and mind games people play in real conversations. They may be more inclined to play MMOs or games known for online play to feel a connection, but with a heavy distraction as a safety net in case things go sour. Most of their purchases are made without human interaction, and they are uncomfortable when a crowd is forced upon them. They are very close to the people that they do interact with. They have strong opinions about games, but lack the willingness to engage in a conversation about it, unless something must be said. The True Nerd: This gamer knows every nuance and detail of every game they’ve ever played, isn’t afraid to recite any of it, and is proud to be who he or she is. They are confrontational by nature, boasting their vast knowledge and welcoming all challengers of said knowledge. They are good at anything they try, and are hopelessly embarrassed if they are beaten even in an unfamiliar game. They often have tempers, and some may even cross the line in a versus match and can be very sore losers. These gamers may be arrogant, and may let a match or contested game knowledge get in the way of a friendship. Online, they are a force to be reckoned with. The Politician: This gamer will play anything and even if they don’t like it will have something good to say about it, or can understand why the game is popular. They are good friends with gamers and non-gamers alike, and don’t have a problem meshing in either setting. They are well-versed in gamer news and happenings, often pointing out the latest event or hidden gem, yet can be surprised by a suggestion now and then. Politicians may even fake liking something or lie about even playing it to foster a relationship. The politician doesn’t necessarily have to gain anything from a relationship, but prefers it. The Snob: The unrelenting gamer who is always ready to defend what they think is the best game/system/franchise in history. Anyone that doesn’t think the way they do must be made to believe. Anyone that refuses is worthless. This gamer is as close-minded as it gets, and will blindly buy anything the game/system/franchise offers and tout it as gold. The Rebounder: They played Atari or NES but then left the hobby all together, only to return years later and discover with child-like wonderment the advancements of their once beloved hobby. Like a puppy, every day is the first day, meaning every game release is a new and interesting thing that should be explored. They are often frustrated because their income can’t keep up with their exploration. They try games and then quit unexpectedly, moving on to the next shiny thing, often finding themselves unable to offer an opinion on the game they just played. There is very little attachment to the games they own, but the hobby has great worth. When they see something they had an attachment to as a youth, they splurge on it, often finding that the actual experience is lackluster in comparison to what they had in their mind. They have a love/hate relationship with remakes and ports. The Collector: May actually have more knowledge than the True Nerd gamer, but won’t offer it up until prompted. Always willing to offer a suggestion of a great game, followed by the admission that the game is unattainable. They have seemed to have played everything on the original console, and amazingly have kept up with the hobby since its inception. They are the absolute best at spotting a deal, or calling someone on a horrible one. They always seem more mature than most gamers, but that may simply be because of the wisdom they bring to the table from all the gaming they have done. Their skill falls into the “jack of all trades master of none” category though, as they may collect more than they actually game. They have a hard time finishing anything, but a very easy time starting something. The deal they got on a game can often be more important than the game itself. The Whiner: The gamer that touts the best skills but never seems to be able to pull a win off in a challenge, blaming the loss on variables supposedly out of their control. The whiner is the worst person to play against, and is often seen as the “Me too” or “small dog” gamer that wants to be like the Collector, True Nerd, Politician, or similar types. There are redeeming factors though, as this person will always offer up a game/location/whatever to get people to like them, and is an overall very gregarious person, unless they lose. They are good friends that should not be underestimated, and patience is the key to keeping them your friend. They never seem satisfied by new releases, and can find something wrong with any title, even the ones they like. These people do make excellent critics, though. While they have an opinion and will offer it with some anonymity, they can be easily swayed to change their thoughts with group pressure. The Cheater: This gamer will win at any cost, often sacrificing morals to own that win. They are experts at covering their tracks, and will utilize any method, often illegal ones, to attain their desires. They may even be great hackers or pirates, and have very few friends because of their despicable behavior. They work every angle in their head, and will often appear generic or mousy, shifting focus off of them to pull their latest con. They can be obsessed with trivial features like leaderboards or gamerscore, often artificially raising these numbers to appear better than they are. While their skills on infiltrating games are impressive, their actual gaming skill is minimal or pathetic. They are anxious about live versus matches they cannot manipulate, but often find a way to cheat in these matches as well. The Wizard: This gamer has played so many styles of play that they can seemingly master anything with limited practice. This gamer will often hold at least one world record in a game, and are involved in events like speed runs, marathons, high scores, etc. Despite the radical change in this generations offerings, he or she will amaze crowds with even the most outlandish play style. This gamer just seems to “get it”, but is a recluse in many other aspects of life, rarely saying much of anything. While differing from the Loner in the sense that he or she doesn’t feel uncomfortable in a crowd, it’s only really in a crowd of gamers. Non-gamers want very little to do with them and vice-versa. They do not seek competitors or boast scores, but will sheepishly let slip their greatest achievements, feigning embarrassment. The Competitor: Touts a good game, and lives up to it, trash-talking all the way. Seeks competitors in every location they attend, but in a friendly manner. While they may be great at specific games in specific genres, they can be tripped up. They understand this, and don’t retaliate once beaten, but will practice and rally at a later event thus proving their strong work ethic. They are very friendly outside of the competition, but behind the controller they are a different beast, often bringing the competition outside the game in a playful manner. These are the funnest gamers to watch, and they know they are in the spotlight in their specific moment, yet are modest for the most part. Trash talking is all in jest, and they will always shake the rival’s hand saying, “good game.” The Clown: This gamer will always be the first one to play the game outside of its parameters. Backwards on Mario Kart. Rocket Jumps in multiplayer. This exploit-seeker loves to mess with people, but hates the Cheater. He or she uses the game against itself for personal gain, often to rousing laughter from other gamers. Never scorned for messing around because of their jolly nature and life-of-the-party mentality, these gamers will always be the ones with the greatest one-liners and quips about our favorite hobby. Youtube is their best friend, not being able to wait to show off their latest crazy find in the latest title. The Sloth: Worse than the Rebounder, this lazybutt flippantly tries games at their leisure, often without any previous recommendation or research. They dabble in each generation listlessly, often picking titles of ill-repute. While this gamer may have high hopes for their purchase, they are often disappointed. They will play the off titles and then report to anyone with ears about the shortcomings of the game, but not in an overly negative sense. They are excited about the industry and where it is headed, but lack the motivation to follow the news with any zeal. They know what they like, and they avoid what they don’t, including people. Their gamer stuff is often in deplorable condition, covered in dust and barely working, yet they do attribute value to it and would be sad if it bricked or broke. The Liar: This gamer wants all the street cred of the Collector or Politician with none of the work, but has stronger morals than the Cheater. If it’s hard to prove, they have done it. If asked to do it again, they offer excuses. They boast a large collection, but are either very private in regards to possessions, or are outright lying for attention. Their gamer skill is fair, but they will actually be reluctant to challenge anyone or even