Tales of Tyria #13: Hardcore vs. Casual

Not a lot of news this week so we dig into the mailbag to answer some listener questions.  We still had time so we figured it was time to try to pin down some definitions: Hardcore and Casual.  They mean different things to diferent types of gamers.  Why is there always so much contention beween these two groups?  Is there even a separation or are they more alike than they know?  That's the challenge set before our panel this week.

 Episode 13:

• 03:21 - News: Custom Emotes - /me cheers!
• 05:20 - Feedback: Guild vs. Guild and Thoughts on The Old Republic
• 21:38 - Roundtable: Hardcore vs. Casual

Weekly Question:

How do you define "Hardcore" and "Casual."  How do you define yourself?  Is "mid core" even a thing!?!?

Let us know what you think and send us feedback. Also, watch us live on Sunday nights @ 8pm EST.

Comments

[Vanha]

Good show again, as I have come to expect. Makes tedious grinding called domestic work much more bearable. Sent 125$ donation few days a go, so beers are on me (the cheap ones).

Few suggestions for upcoming episodes:
- Racial traits etc...
- Should servers be U.S and EU dedicated, or so that you could join from EU to US servers and vice versa.
- WvWvW should they occasionally match U.S servers against EU servers. Even though huge imbalance (time difference).
- PvP mechanics, the small things. How are they done, and how should they be done.
- "tab targeting". Some MMO's let you find people who you can't even see with tab targeting, ie behind you, behind an obstacle or even from inside a keep/camp.
- In combat / Out of combat, how is it defined, by range, by time, other. Can you get out of Combat with active conditions on.
- Stealth. Conditions active Pre-stealthing break stealth, yay or nay?
- Hitting enemies, from start of the animation, from end, or for real. Lotro example: you see some one taking a swing with a giant sword, and you wisely move away, but since you were there when he pressed "1" it is a solid hit.

More bridgerrrrrant!

[Quale]

I know it's an excercise in futility, but I recommend never forming an opinion about any decently produced MMO based on the first month or two after release. Now, I am convinced that SW:ToR is a polished turd so I havnen't touched it. But I know from experience that a MMO has to be pretty damn crappy for me to not be swooning at first. There is something incredibly powerful about opening the first chapter in a brand new world, and it's not without reason that people on the MMO scene calls it "honeymooning".

[Bridger]

Thanks Vanha! Will throw that into the mailbag for the show, thanks!

I agree that with any game (not just MMOs) you have to withhold judgement until you get past the beginning. Although I will say that a well crafted tutorial (the best of which is one that you don't even realize is a tutorial) is usually an indication of a very polished game (since often tutorials are left until last in the development process).