I have only recently heard the word "midcore" gamers being thrown around to describe gamers who play more complex and involved games than casual gamers, but are not as serious as hardcore gamers. Personally, I think I fit perfectly into this category. I like playing all sorts of games, though I think the most hours I have put into a game is only around 50 or 60.

I'm curious what everyone here thinks of themselves as. Also, how would you categorize gamers?

I might also be in this category. I'm not much of a completionist for achievements, 100%s, etc. Also, I don't usually play games that are way too complex (such as wargames or 4X) or difficult, though I may get to them eventually (now playing: X-COM: Ufo Defense).

I like to play each game until I'm finished, though, unless I'm definitely not having fun anymore or the game gets too hard.

On the other hand, I'm not a fan of simple, casual games. I may eventually buy some, but then I'll just do all I can and never return. So, in a way, I don't even play these games the way they are supposed to be played.

I think most people will fall under this category. I can't imagine playing the sorts of stuff you would describe a casual game but I don't play a "hardcore" game enough to be any good at it.

It depends on what you classify in either category I think.

Would a game like Europa Universalis III be "Hardcore"? What about Caves of Qud?

On the reverse, is a game like Plants vs. Zombies casual? Tower Defense games?

Cause I've played all of those type of games.

I think that I would consider myself hardcore. I hardly ever play casual games (I would rather play console games than Farmville) because they bore me. I don't shy away from complex simulators or wargames or even old adventure games.

Like Dragobr I like to play an individual game until completion or I get to the point where I can't take it anymore. I also try to complete as much of a game as possible, like finishing all side quests in Oblivion.

I haven't yet ventured into creating my mods or maps or anything like that; I'm just not savvy enough for that. I also don't care for competitive online play. I do play L4D or Counter Strike and games like that but you won't see me creating macros so I can build faster and move up in the Starcraft standings.

I used to be hardcore, but am probably toward the lower end of the midcore category these days.

I play what interests me. Sometimes I'll sit for hours and play Slash 'Em or Falcon 4.0 Allied Force, and sometimes a round of Peggle will suit me just fine.

There's certainly something to be said for the level of talent and ingenuity that goes into taking a simple concept and making it addictive and rewarding (Popcap do a very good job here), because there's so little fluff that you everything included has to be perfect... you can't hide mediocre gameplay behind tons of content. If the core concept isn't completely solid then the whole thing falls apart, whereas something like an RPG can get away with being sloppy here and there as long as other aspects pick up the slack. For an example of this here on GoG, look no further than The Incredible Machine.

On the other hand, sometimes I want to dive into spreadsheets and piles of menus and just go nuts.

And sometimes I feel like hopping on Quake Live and letting some twitch skills take over. Or play Blazblue and try (with little success) to try and compete with the hardcore Japanese players online.

Really, I think designations like this are silly. Games are games, and since nobody has even agreed on what "casual or "hardcore" mean, let alone "midcore," it doesn't really seem like a meaningful definition.

I am a casual hardcore gamer, i.e. medium core. :)

to be honest I really dislike to put myself into any sort of "category" and call myself a "gamer"

the best way to describe me would be "Videogame enthusiast who likes to play good games and avoids shitty ones"

I think that's about it

Ah, buzzwords and labels. I can think of few things that have served to benefit humanity more than this. Except, you know, just about everything good in the world.

I fit into whatever category of gamer plays games rather than getting hung up on labelling myself.

*throws hat in with navagon and the two posters above him

I kind of like the term midcore gamer and I fall into this group myself. I have played many hardcore games like Gothic 2, BG1+2, PST, Half Life, Thief, Deus Ex etc. But I also love games like Marvel Ult. Alliance, UT3 and Plants vs Zombies. I don't care for games that are hard for the sake of being hard and to increase the bragging-rights of hardcore gamers but I don't like the dumbing down we see in many games these days.

So yes, I'm a midcore gamer and loving it. For me games must always be FUN - you gotta have the FUN, man!

Midcore works for me. Any hardcore gamer would think I'm a casual gamer and any casual gamer would think I'm hardcore.