Oops! Yeah....funny how that happens. I can say that  the term hardcore gamers  is to specific to some (weird huh) In which I would refer someone as a hardcore gamer that is good at games.... multiple ones and that is willing to try out more genre's. You see I don't consider a person playing one game for a long time a hardcore gamer.  They maybe hardcore at what they are doing and how they are doing it but the line between hardcore gamer and casual may fall along more specific lines. Like I said I pondered and conversed about this many times and I have agreed with a few people that when most speak about the term hardcore and casual gamers they are talking about approach and acclimation with a wide variety of genre's and titles.

Anyone here believe that a hardcore gamer can be attributed to a person that spends alot of time in only one or two games?  If so I would imagine the term casual gamer has an even wider definition.

 I totally get what your saying. It has a lot to do with assumptions built on previous experience. Like Z targeting is a natural inclination for us Zelda fans a newbie would keep running around attempting to aim at the the enemy. And part of the problem with aproaching newcomers is the developers themselves are hardcore gamers. and I know that many developers/programmers in interviews describe themselves as casual gamers or often comment on not having the time to play games, but they can't deny their own subconscous tendecy to incorporate second nature gameplay mechanics that have become industry standards. In fact I think it's one the biggest hurdles in the industry and it's why alot of companies have a hard time embracing something new such as the Wii-mote. Nintendo is almost entirely alone when asking, "how can we create a game for someone who's never played a game before?" I really think they are the only company asking that question. 

I see what you're saying. A hardcore gamer should be versatile. But if you go up to a person that plays only WoW and  tell them they aren't a hardcore gamer, I think they would disagree. They have taken the time and energy to master a game. That's why it's so hard to define what hardcore gaming means. You're just going to end up alienating people that want to considered hardcore. 

I think casual gamers are a lot easier to define. These are the people that will play games occasionally. They might be able to complete the game, but they don't really take the time to master it. They don't really get into the story. They can pick up several games, but never really finish them. They are not interested in getting better at the game, just merely an activity to pass the time.

 Exactly! And the great thing about the Wii is that it should bring devlopers back to a newcomers perspective. I noticed that everything seems to be clearly explained when playing Wii games and I find that to be an awesome trait.

"I see what you're saying. A hardcore gamer should be versatile. But if you go up to a person that plays only WoW and  tell them they aren't a hardcore gamer, I think they would disagree. They have taken the time and energy to master a game. That's why it's so hard to define what hardcore gaming means. You're just going to end up alienating people that want to considered hardcore. "

Lol, I know.... I have a few friends that are addicted to WoW and Final Fantasy XI.... without a doubt they will get offended if you do not call them hardcore (especially the Final Fantasy folks.... the grind in that game is killer) but I do acknowledge people as a hardcore *insert title* player but I will be firm about what seperates a "gamer" from a person that is really intense at one "game". 

I think PS3 future may not be fantastic. But I think it will be reasonably sound. If This is to be considered (To a small extent) then I could see Devs giving the console at least a try. It is supposedly easier to port from the PS3 rather than to it... Here

I haven't read all this stuff... I'll just comment that "hardcore" is not a genre... Neither is "casual" or "non-game." "Hardcores," "casuals" and "non-gamers" are breakdowns of the amount of time and money people spend on gaming... "Hardcores" are multi-console owners, "non-gamers" don't spend a cent. 60 Minutes, Law and Order, Gilligan's Island... Is one of those a "hardcore" TV show, and another a "casual" TV show and another a "non-show"? Nonsense. If someone collects Gilligan memoribilia (sp), they are a hardcore TV nut, regardless of the content or style of the show they like.

They always said 6 million shipped ....its clear the PS3 isnt selling as expected ,but its numbers are still better that the X360 ones last year and that having in count it hadnt a worlwide launch .

Thank you Erik! Each and every one of those put-upon terms annoy the hell out of me.

A gamer is one who plays games and nothing more. Just like a fixer is one who fixes and a welder is one who welds and a bricklayer is one who lays bricks and a gardener is one who gardens and a plumber is one who plumbs. Enough of all the elitist ivory tower nonsense!

I don't care if they play one type of game or many, anybody who picks up a game machine for that moment in time will be a gamer.

This is why the audience for this pastime remains limited. It wants to be exclusive and VIP instead of open and inclusive. It's probably why I love the Wii so much. It flies in the face of all this crap people continually spew out. My 84 year old landlady was a gamer when I let her Wii Baseball which she enjoyed. End of story.

John Lucas 

The numbers are only slightly better except for Japan and the PS3 isn't doing to healthy there it is challenging the Gamecube for sales week to week. The XBOX was sold out until march.

In fact the PS3 is doing much worse in US Monthly sales than the 360 the only Month it was ahead was in December which allowed the PS3 to get a lead against the 360 when comparing launches directly ever since than the PS3 has been selling at a lower rate than the 360