How can one differentiate between "Real" PC Games and "Casual" PC Games for laypeople?

The Game Room
1

As part of a “Funding My University Studies” campaign I’ve managed to get a part time job in retail, dealing primarily with things like laptops and GPS units and MP3 players and all that sort of thing.

Anyway, I’ve been out of the game for a few years now (and very nice they’ve been!) but the way people use computers has changed a bit since I was last in electronics retail, so I’ve run into a bit of a communication block when trying to help a customer choose the right laptop.

Whenever I ask people what they want to do with their laptop, they invariably answer: Internet, E-mail, Facebook, Photos, Word Processing, Playing games (italics mine).

Now, the thing is, when I hear “Playing Games” in a computer context, I’m thinking things like Fallout 3 or FarCry 2 or Empire: Total War or Civilisation IV or something like that, which requires a lot of computing power, decent RAM, and a dedicated graphics card. My customers, however, mean things like Bejewelled or Diner Dash or Farmville- ie casual games that are technologically much like Java Apps and could feasibly run on a mobile phone.

I’m not for a moment belittling or criticising those games (because they are fun and all a lot of people really want as far as computer entertainment), but it’s getting repetitive having to say to people "When you say games, do you mean something with 3D graphics and lots of explosions, or ‘That game with the coloured jewels you have to match up’?"when trying to work out what sort of laptop they might be after.

So, is there an easy, layperson-understandable way to differentiate between “Serious” PC games and “Casual” games that I can use when trying to find out what requirements a customer needs in their laptop? Something really simple that doesn’t involve long sentences, preferably…

Anyone?

2

Since all new pc’s laptops can handle Internet, E-mail, Facebook, Photos, Word Processing etc. If they add playing games to that list. I’d assume they aren’t big on current games that require alot of power.

Usually if a person is buying a pc specifically for games the onus is on them to state its mainly for gaming. I know little about PC’s but when I upgrade my PC every 4 years or so, I’ll go into the shop drop down $1200 and say I want a “gaming rig”. They know exactly what I mean. I want a monster PC with the best graphic cards, ram, quadruple processors etc.

3

What’s wrong with just asking “What games do you play?” If you’re a power gamer you probably at least know what the games are by the title, even you don’t play them. I’ve built a few PCs for people, and I ask them what they want to do with it. I get the same situation as you, I just ask what kind of games they play, which are almost always facebook-type games.

4

Maybe ask if they mean games from the internet or already on the PC, versus games they have to install themselves? If they say games they need to install, you could ask for examples to get an idea. If they say they don’t know, they mean casual games.

If they’re buying for someone else and don’t know, not sure what you could ask.

5

I’ve tried “What sort of games do you play?” but when they say [Facebook game] I have to suppress a serious urge to say “Those are not games! They are diversions at best! Morbo will berate you for your inadequate gaming interests!” :smiley:

Seriously, though, the reason I’m trying to avoid getting into complicated “What sort of games do you play?” type conversations is that most of our customers really don’t know much at all about computers and they can’t differentiate between “Games they play on the internet” and “Games they installed (or, more likely, their kids/grandkids installed for them)”. It just gets complicated and they get confused. I’d really like to keep it as simple as possible.

And even “Games you install yourself” still includes a diverse range covering everything from Modern Warfare 2 to Tetris.

I’ve defaulted to assuming that when they say “Games”, our customers mean “Facebook-style games”, but I’ve still had a few people wanting to run Fallout 3 on a $700 laptop and wondering why salespeople keep telling them it’s not going to happen…

6

But they are games. They’re just not games you play.

Really, I don’t understand why it’s a problem to ask them to list a few titles. You’ll know right away what kind of person you’re dealing with and you won’t sound like a smug salesman like you’re coming across in this thread.

7

I’ve been gaming since I was 4 and I’m pretty sure that at this point I’ve put more time into Mafia Wars and Farmville than any other game ever, with the possible exception of Civ 2.

Are they [Facebook games] stupid and unsatisfying? Sure. They’re also ridiculously addictive.

8

Not just the onus, but the custom. Generally, “gamers” will say they use the computer “to play” or “for work and games”; people over age 15 who start listing off “facebook, email…” and end up adding “games” are highly unlikely to mean World of Crackraft.

9

“What kind of games?”

ETA:

world of warcrack sounds better than crack craft.

10

And why I hear “playing games” in a computer context, I’m thinking things like Zork and Rogue and Tetris and Solitaire. Now get your computer off my lawn! :slight_smile:

Since some laypeople don’t even know what different kinds of games are out there, or that the kinds of games you mentioned exist, I’m afraid there’s no simple way of referring to the distinction in a way that everyone will know what you’re talking about.

11

Anyone who doesn’t lump email, facebook etc. together as “surfing” is highly unlikely to be installing “real” games.

12

Moving thread from IMHO to The Game Room.

13

I was afraid of that.

The best I’ve come up with so fair is to ask obviously non-computer people if they mean “3D Games” or “Puzzle Games”, but I figured there are other retail people on the boards and one them might have some ideas they could share.

14

Easy way around it is to start citing current pc games released and see if they know what your talking about, if they don’t they aren’t hardcore gamers and don’t need a gaming rig, because any hardcore gamer even if they’re not interested in playing a paticular genre will know what your talking about.

15

I think most hardcore gamers wouldn’t be asking in the first place. They know what they need. At least they should know they need a “faster” than normal system.

I’d try something like: Do you mean 3D games you might play on XBOX? Or those games like on Facebook?

16

What’s wrong with the simple “What games?” question?

17

It always seems to come across like I’m saying “I don’t believe you! You don’t play games at all! LIAR!”, which is completely the opposite of what I’m trying to say.

18

This. Anyone using a laptop to do a bit of gaming is going to know what they want.

Though another suggestion would be asking what kind of graphics card they’re looking for. If they know what you’re talking about, you’re gravy. If they don’t, just suggest something middle of the line and say “i think it’ll be perfect for your needs” at the end

19

I usually say “What kind of games do you play - 3D games like The Sims 3, or Fallout 3 or World of Warcraft, or less intensive games like Bejewelled, or Solitare, or Facebook games?”. If they ask “Why does that matter?” I say “All of our computers can run the less intensive games, but 3D games will run better on a machine with a decent graphics card. If you don’t play 3D games then you probably won’t need to spend the extra, and I can show you machines that will suit you better.”

I could probably get to the point faster, but I don’t like to feel like I rush or bamboozle people. I’m the salesperson you go to when you have lots of time to make your decision :slight_smile:

20

Ironically that’s pretty much exactly what I have been saying, almost word for word. What prompted this thread was me going through that spiel for about five times in a row the other day, and thinking “There’s got to be a more effective way of asking this question”. :slight_smile:

One of the things I do like about my new position is that I have lots of time to spend with the customers, which is a nice change…