generalist vs. specialist

[Samus Aran]

For gaming, which are you? And I mean it in several contexts. Do you play lots of different types of games, or just a few? Do you have specific series you try to follow the most, or do you have lots and lots of favorites? Do you stick to certain consoles or handhelds, or try to branch out? Do you try really hard to get good at certain games, or do you try to just do what you can with as many as you can?

Basically, I'm a complete generalist. I own a shit-ton of consoles and a shit-ton of different types of games, and I enjoy nearly all of them. I try not to focus on one thing for too long and I've always got playthroughs on tons of different games going at once, on different consoles through different generations. I replay old stuff just as much as I play new stuff. And I'm not particularly good at any one type or any one game, really, with a few exceptions (particularly how I obsessed over 100%-ing Mirror's Edge, an insanely difficult task). I try to complete as much as I can for most games, but usually don't try way too hard to be THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST at any one game.

And because of me being this way, it genuinely bothers me that other people can be so quick to be overly judgmental about games or systems, automatically branding them as not being worth their time simply because they're not what that gamer specializes in, or what they usually play, or whatever. Certainly personal taste is part of it, but...I always get this feeling that there's so many hundreds of great games out there that people are missing out on simply because they won't branch out a bit, you know? Or even so many that people dislike simply because they expect too much or they criticize the wrong things too harshly and don't really give things a fighting chance.

Just my thoughts.

How about you?

[Thyme]

I'm a generalist when it comes to genres. I'd play anything that's not a football/baseball/basketball game if the general opinion of the game seems to be good. I'm pretty easy to please too. ()

As far as consoles go, it's pretty much always been Nintendo+Sony for me. Mostly Sony for the past two generations, but I enjoyed my Gamecube, I still have my DS and I'm still looking into getting a Wii. PC gaming is 2troublesome4me and Microsoft's gaming division can suck my dick.

And because of me being this way, it genuinely bothers me that other people can be so quick to be overly judgmental about games or systems, automatically branding them as not being worth their time simply because they're not what that gamer specializes in, or what they usually play, or whatever. Certainly personal taste is part of it, but...I always get this feeling that there's so many hundreds of great games out there that people are missing out on simply because they won't branch out a bit, you know? Or even so many that people dislike simply because they expect too much or they criticize the wrong things too harshly and don't really give things a fighting chance.

omg me 2~

[Nyerp]

lol the 360 version of symphony of the night

specialist, but this is mainly because i suck at video games

[YPrrrr]

Generalist, because I play sports game, and fpses and RPGs and MMOs and Racing games and Fighters and Adventure and Puzzles and TBSs whatever you can dream up

Except for RTS games, those are not up my alley

[Samus Aran]

lol the 360 version of symphony of the night

it's the same game, so who cares

would you rather i have not played it at all? 

[Nyerp]

it's the same game, so who cares

would you rather i have not played it at all? 

or just waited to play it on the superior console~~~~~

[Samus Aran]

or just waited to play it on the superior console~~~~~

oh, you mean the ps1? yeah i'll get around to that. i'm all for owning things in their original forms after all.

[strongbad]

Generalist, but I tend to obsess over one game at a time and only play that game. When I was little, all I played was Pokemon, then Starcraft, etc. Now I'm obsessing over SSBM and I don't see it ending anytime soon. I have enjoyed tons of games however, and would consider myself very experienced in gaming in general. I often wish that i played more games but I have a lot of trouble doing that.

[Classic]

Generalist. I'll give anything a try. I also tend to like a wide range of games.

[Nyerp]

Generalist. I'll give anything a try. I also tend to like a wide range of games.

LOL

oh please

[Kalahari Inkantation]

generalist

The only genres I avoid outright are sport and FPS.  Aside from games in those categories, I'll play just about any game that appears on a Nintendo/Sony console deemed worthwhile.

[burzumfan420]

i use 2 play a lot of diff genres but now i only play rpgs  unless im playing with friends

[Insani]

I suppose I'm a generalist. I enjoy many types of games, from the occasional DS Game (I haven't played one for months).

My steam games collection boasts an impressive amount of variety, from audiosurf to Zombie Driver.

I prefer FPS games and platformers. (VVVVVV, trine, Super Meat Boy).