You probably don’t notice it, but you can make some very strange facial expressions while gaming. You might twitch, contort, let your jaw drop, or even cry. We have a bunch of images here to compare yourself to, so next time you are fragging some dudes, or burning some rubber, just take a second to check the mirror- and see what kind of wierd face you’re pulling.

The ‘Way-Too-Happy’ Face

No one should looks this happy while gaming.

Our friend here is a classic example of the ‘way-too-happy’ face. The eyes are wide, the smile is broad and somewhat leery- yep, this guy is having way too much fun.

The Bored Face

Notice the vacant expression.

Here we have what is categorically known as the bored face. The polar opposite to our friend on ecstasy at the top of the page, this guy is clearly either concentrating very hard, not interested, or on a whole different type of drugs altogether.

The Dual-O Face

Nintendo, you ain't kidding anyone. Over 70's do not play the Wii.

I’m sorry, but there is simply no other word to describe these two. They are clearly having even more fun than the first guy….and they appear to be having it somewhat explosively.

A little while ago, The New York Times reported that a British photographer called Robbie Cooper decided to run an experiment. He wanted to see the kind of faces kids pulled while playing video games. You might expect him just to get several images of teenagers and children with fairly blank, vacant expressions- the reality is not only hilarious, but interesting too.

Surprised Face

In another world...

The child in this picture was playing Grand Theft Auto IV (Yes, that game. And yes, he is too young to really play it.). However, after extensive playthroughs of the game, I don’t think that anything is that surprising! In fact, he kind of reminds me of the Dramatic Chipmunk.

Crying Face

We know just by looking at his face that he played some crappy game!

Aw, come on now, don’t cry! This boy was playing the Hulk game, which I’m fairly sure contains little to no story or emotional attachment to the characters. I have to admit though, extended play time does sometimes make my eyes water (but that’s just from looking a the screen).

The Focused Face

Don't disturb me!

Whether playing a game of Chess or solving some ridiculously difficult puzzle, above is a cracking example of a focused gamer. It seems that even an earthquake wont take her concentration away!

The Frustrated Face

Yes shout! Until you swallow the damn computer itself!

Ok! We all know how it feels to have not cleared a boss level even after twenty attempts or maybe got yourself beaten up by some really nasty ninjas in Ninja Gaiden. So what will you do? The image above gives you the answer. You will roar like a dragon and wish you could turn the world upside down. And believe, we don’t blame you for it!

The Determined Face

Don't mess with him!

There are some gamers who simple don’t give up, unlike the woman with the Frustrated Face. These folks will come back again and again until they have kicked their enemies butt. And boy does it show on their face. Just take a look at that piercing expression.

Think you’ve got a good Gamer Face? Get a friend to snap you at your most inopportune moment and send it in to will@gamingbolt.com, and we might put you in the feature!

This prompted me to share my view on recent games I have played and of course my take on MW2. I was never a COD series fan, before I played COD: World at War which had a fairly good length of single player campaign. I then decided to buy COD: Modern Warfare and I played the multiplayer first on XBL and also kept playing the single player campaign in parallel knowing that it was short on length. I played it in bits and parts and one fine weekend I completed the left over game of 2-3 hours in one sitting, however when I compare the multiplayer experience in MW2 to MW1, it is way better and offers more perks and weapon unlocks, okay so on the single player missions for MW2 I am doing the same i did playing MW1, going slow and about the SpecOps I am okay with this mode being included, because if I just want to pin down NPC’s without playing online or Co-op it’s good for me, Co-op is more fun.

Gamers can get irritated with the length of the game script which could sway in both ways either being too short, and it’s actually not having a  long game play length but the overall game play that gets repetitive which makes the gamers feel it’s too long and boring. While playing Wolverine X- Men origins I noticed that even that game could have being much short on game play length if Africa Missions were not filled in to the game script which was similar to movie story. After playing the initial missions in the game as you enjoy ripping apart baddies with your blades, jumping on helicopters, lunging, executing charged blade attacks, you start feeling bored of the same action, the only difference being the wave of NPC enemies keeps increasing just to get you into intense button mashing mode.

I completed Prototype after a long time I purchased this game. I just lost interest in the game during the levels where Alex Mercer keeps coming with new missions to and from from Dana’s safe house. I forcibly completed the game, without playing side-quests which got activated during different levels, while i looked at the achievement guide for this game on the web. It further pissed me off, the count of killing infected population to unlock one achievement was ridiculous, well i don’t have that kind of time ripping apart infected zombies.

I have got GTA IV from last year when it launched. I have still not completed it, just because in spite of this game garnering rave reviews. I got bored riding in cars and bikes, doing tasks for in game characters just to tread along a storyline, meeting up girls may sound exciting and the following invites to their place for a coffee which ends up in a vibrating controller, may make you happy for some time, but while you play the game, you sometimes end up running away from the police, getting involved in wild car or bike chase which becomes tiring after some time, which diverts you from the main gameplay just increases game play time for the sake of it. I found similar problem with Prototype where in spite of using stealth and disguise on some levels you just cannot complete it fast, because you are going to get detected under your disguise and alert the army, and then get into a chase to evade the strike ops team.

Mass Effect and Fallout 3 also fall in this genre of more talking, interacting, shaping the story of the game based on your choices. Well i am not interested doing that, I prefer following a storyline high on action, even if it’s dumb and does not offer any interactivity. I surrendered to the hype of Assassins creed series watching AC2 trailers and got AC1 game, only to realize it was the same stuff of going on pre-assigned missions, hiding, stealth, playing the detective, getting in and out from animus, Ii don’t say it’s a bad game but there’s a lot to do before you actually get into some action.

On the other hand I loved playing both Gears of Wars installments, John Woo’s Stranglehold, Halo 3 (to some extent, I am not a Spartan Cheif Fan), Batman Arkham Asylum, Army of Two, I have got W.E.T game now, which I read has not got so many positive reviews, well it does not matter to me, I love that kind of action, so I prefer it short and sweet with loads of action. So tell me what’s your gamer type?

Games fall into many categories; action, sports, horror, stealth, role playing, strategy, simulators…Each one will suit a different person’s tastes, and many will like several genres- but there are very few who enjoy all. And out of these various genres of games will arise a certain type of gamer…a certain…breed will emerge..

Hopefully this guide will tell you exactly what kind of gamer you are, as well as some recommendations of games that, in our opinion, have gone above and beyond the call of duty (pun not intended. Ed.).

Hardened Gamer

So you want a bit of gore right? None of those wussy stealth games for you. You want action! And lots of it. Don’t worry, you’re covered. You’re a Hardened Gamer.

How many of you, as a wee’ lad (or lass!) found yourselves wielding a stick pointing at your friends saying, “Bang!” while a disapproving parent looks on? Well if you are nodding your head sheepishly now, then a shooter or action-adventure is right up your street. It provides all the hard boiled action that you crave (or at least used to). Depending on whether you want something a little gritty (FPS) or something with a little more strategy required (action-adventure), the Hardened Gamer category has something for you.

Notable Names: Call of Duty, Half Life 2, Killzone 2, Gears of War, Uncharted 2, The Club, Grand Theft Auto, Team Fortress 2, Mercenaries, Halo.

Golden Oldies: Half Life, Counter Strike, House of the Dead, Time Crisis, Chronicles of Riddick, Unreal Tournament.

Sports Fanatic

Sport games make up a significant chunk of most console owner’s game libraries, and for good reason. The pick-up-and-play value of soccer games is virtually unsurpased by all others, while the tactical and bone crunching fun to be had in NFL games is incredible. If you happen to own sports games aplenty, and yearn constantly for just one more match, then you are a Sports fanatic.

Sports games will appeal to many people, simply because of their huge diversity. Of course, if you are a huge soccer fan then a game like Fifa is a no brainer. If you really like the brutality found in some action games, but want to try your hand at a sports game, try something with a little bloodlust like UFC.

Notable Names: Pro Evolution Soccer, Fifa, Madden, NFL Street, Fight Night, Shaun White Snowboarding, UFC

Golden Oldies: Fifa 99. Foul button. Nuff’ said.

Horror Hound

So you want to be scared huh? Well, you’re spoilt for choice. If you are someone who craves their next horror flick, then you will enjoy the selection of games on offer. If survival’s your thing, pick up a survival horror game. If you just want to scare yourself shitless, check out some Japanese horror games like Silent Hill. There are some people in this world who just get a kick out of being scared. Rollercoasters, scary movies, people jumping on them in the night (ok…maybe not that last one)- but if you are one of those people you are herbye dubbed a Horror Hound.

Notable Names: Resident Evil, Manhunt, Dead Space, Cryostasis, Siren, Condemned 2, Bioshock

Golden Oldies: DOOM, Silent Hill, FEAR, Fatal Frame, Penumbra, The Suffering

Dragon Slayer

We all played make-believe fantasy games as kids. Go on, admit it. You did. Luckily, nowadays imagination is no longer required! If you just loved swinging pretend swords, crawling through imaginary caves and thinking about what it would be like to be a real hero in a story, then you will find that you are a Dragon Slayer. You enjoy playing in fantasy worlds, and there are a ton of superb games that allow you to do just that.

Notable Names: Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Fallout 3, Dragon Age: Origins, Demon’s Souls, The Last Remenant, Mass Effect, Fable

Golden Oldies: Knights of the Old Republic, Diablo, Fallout, Final Fantasy, Vampire: The Masquerade- Redemption

Stealth Snake

You creep up the garden path. The gravel crunches beneath your feet. You reach for the door, and unlock it. You creep up the stairs and go to the bathroom. The gin makes you miss-badly. You climb into bed next to the missus after another hard night out on the town.

If this is the kind of behaviour you regularly get up to, and you like gaming, you might just be a Stealth Snake. You love to creep around, craving the adrenaline rush as someone walks past your hiding place inches from your face. These kind of games require a bit of thought too; although they mostly involve some kind of weaponry, don’t expect to go in all guns blazing as you will probably get killed. You are a person who likes to take their time to think about your plan, and it has to be said- the feeling you get after succesfully pulling off a master plan, like knocking out two guards with gas and creeping past them is unsurpassed.

Notable Names: Splinter Cell, Hitman, Metal Gear Solid, Prince of Persia, Assasins Creed

Golden Oldies: Thief, N.O.L.F, Project IGI, Tomb Raider

Stimulated Simulator

Tired of your real life? How about living out a virtual reality where you can build houses on the fly, or piloting a commercial airliner with more bells and whistles than you can fit on your keyboard? If you find these ideas attractive then you are a gamer of the Stimulated Simulator variety. You crave excessive difficulty and ultimate control over you gaming experience. You demand the most realistic (or at least most semi-realistic) games. These games can certainly be an aquired taste; while games like The Sims are easy to jump right into, something like Flight Simulator requires thought, planning and a hell of a lot of practice. But simulators don’t just come in the form of lots of complicated dials. Oh no…Operation Flashpoint, anyone?

Notable Names: The Sims, Flight Simulator, IL-2, Silent Hunter, Falcon 4.0, Ship Simulator, Arma II

Golden Oldies: Sub command, Steel Beasts, B-17 Flying Fortress, Operation Flashpoint

Armchair General

Anyone who has seen Master and Commander, or Braveheart will at some point in the film wish that they were that character. None so much as the humble Armchair General, who commands his fleet at high seas and leads his armies in their thousands towards victory. This breed of gamer wishes command over his men and longs to see those epic battles- or small, personal skirmishes. These types of games are also tricky to pick up and play, as they require tactical and strategic planning on all scales in order to succeed. The feeling you get after seeing your flag flying over the enemy is sublime.

Notable Names: Total War series, Dawn of War, Company of Heroes, Hearts of Iron, Men of War, Anno 1404, Sins of a Solar Empire

Golden Oldies: Command and Conquer, Commandos, Startcraft, Total Annihilation, Rise of Nations, Age of Empires

Speedy Gonzalez

You have the need- the need for speed! Ah, there’s something wonderful about being behind the wheel of a Ferrari Spider zooming along isn’t there? Anyone who gets a kick out of that exhilerating experience of speeding down the freeway, or being chased through dense urban enviroments is a Speedy Gonzalez!

Pedal to the metal, baby!

Notable Names: GRID, Forza Motorsport 3, Need For Speed series, DIRT, Motorstorm, Burnout, Grand Turismo

Golden Oldies: Driver, Midnight Club, Wipeout Fusion, Colin McRae’s Rally

Brain Trainer

Some people in this world like tests. Seems crazy doesn’t it? Well yes, there are people who enjoy playing games to test their knowledge, wisdom and cunning. Many games feature a little bit of thinking to mix it up, but a few focus entirely on the puzzle aspect. And the people who enjoy these are- Brain Trainers.

Notable Names: World of Goo, Plants vs Zombies, Puzzle Quest, Scribbelnaughts, Axel and Pixel, Puzzle Quest

Golden Oldies: Exit, Cube, Pipe Mania, Bomberman, PacMan, Ico

Lifetime Gamer

Well, there are some people who have been gaming for a long, long time. Or people who just have that gut feeling, that they will be gaming for the rest of their lives. These people are Lifetime Gamers. Your life has always involved gaming, and always will. You might have had the priceless experience of playing on the SNES all the way through to the PS3. Or maybe you will have the just as amazing experience of playing on the PS2 and going forward into the future to play on the Xbox 1080. You enjoy every genre (or at least most of them). Who knows, you might even live to see the day when gaming is officialy endorsed as a valid medium of entertainment.

Well that just about sums it up from me. I hope you have enjoyed reading about this worlds various ‘breeds’ of gamers, and I hope that you have left with some new games on your Holiday wish list!