Comments on: A Hardcore Embarkation: Time

By: Nerfbat » A Hardcore Embarkation: Knowledge

Nerfbat » A Hardcore Embarkation: Knowledge — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:03:00 +0000

[...] introduction. Then, I discussed one way in which players can be hardcore: dedicating significant Time to a game. Other than time, what are players willing to do to reach the goals they set for [...]

By: Hardcore vs. Casual « The Fickle Corebear

Hardcore vs. Casual « The Fickle Corebear — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:45:13 +0000

[...] Corpse – Represent for the fluff Blackguard – A Hardcore Embarkation – A Hardcore Embarkation II: Time Wiqd Intentionz – Casual vs. Hardcore vs. [...]

By: Valdaar

Valdaar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:33:04 +0000

Your numbers/ break-outs seem reasonable to a first-order, but not to overly complicate things, I think the definition of hardcore-Time is varies depending upon a expansion/ content patch cycle. A “Time-Super-Hardcore” player will typically dedicate significantly more time immediately after an expansion/ patch, with that time dropping off once the “end” has been reached. On the other end, a “Time-Softcore” player might also increase their play rate, perhaps on a similar percentage basis, but it’ll be far fewer absolute hours.

From what I’ve witnessed, mid-to-higher-end guilds will swing more between classifications. My guild went from the low-20s (Time-Average) during late-BC to low 40s now (Time-High-Outlier) – a swing of 5 classifications, ultimately settling on Time-Above-Average. Some high-high end guilds took months off at the end of BC. On the other extreme, some of my casual friends maybe dipped into the Time-Super-Softcore in late-BC and now they’re probably Time-Below-Average with WOLK out – at most 3 (more ilkely 2) classification swings.

In the end I don’t have any sort of better classification/ break-out to offer which is easy to measure. I think this is just something to be aware of/ consider before drawing too many conclusions from other people’s data or if you’re considering a survey of your own. (Note I haven’t seen any of The Daedalus Project’s work, I’d expect they’ve looked into this at some point as it sounds like they’ve done a lot of work in this area.)

Vald

By: NaruBrian

NaruBrian — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:19:50 +0000

yay! they deleted my comment! hah there u have it!

By: Draegan

Draegan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:52:23 +0000

EVE isn’t a game so you can’t count that as hardcore-anything.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:25:19 +0000

The Daedalus Project gives the average playing time for WoW players as 22.7 hours per week, with a standard deviation of 14.1. What you’re really interested in here is the standard deviation, which tells you how wide the “spread” is around the mean. Here, one standard deviation above the mean would be 36.8 hours, so those 40+ hour players may be more common than you think.

By: Littlehorn

Littlehorn — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:38:32 +0000

Ryan Shwayder: There can only be one type of hardcore and that’s just HARDCORE. That’s what I’m trying to state!

By: Jaiihawk

Jaiihawk — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:13:26 +0000

You may also want to consider commitment hardcore. This overlaps with other types like time, knowledge, and skill. But some raiders play less than 15 hours a week. However, 12 of those hours are scheduled and attended on time with very few absences week to week just like a job, a class, or soccer practice would be. It may not be as apparent to other players, but to those outside the world (IRL) there is a noticeable difference between somebody who plays 40 hours a week but only plays during free time(casual) and somebody who plays 15 hours a week but tries to schedule other things in their life around their raid times.

By: Ferrel

Ferrel — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:19:40 +0000

I’d think anything that constitutes another “job” is fair to say hard core. In the strictest terms, 40 hours a week. Though, who among us with “40 hour a week” professions just work 40 hours?

More or less, back in my EQ2 days my time was roughly 60 hours a week involved with the game. That wasn’t necessarily playing. I had rosters, loot, recruitment and several other duties to attend. This including pestering you.

Now, I still log on quite a bit, but no longer consider myself “hardcore.” I probably play 30-40 hours a week though. I suppose this is about economies of scale.

Regardless, I think your number are fine.

By: Ryan Shwayder

Ryan Shwayder — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:12:19 +0000

Littlehorn: Yes. But, those are different types of hardcore. Time-Hardcore is one type, and what you’re describing is a different type (or types, really). What I’m trying to do is find those types. Time, Skill, Depth, etc.