depends on what you consider a 'hardcore' gamer

if a hardcore gamer to you is technically only someone who is gaming like 10 hours a day then I doubt a vast majority of people on a site like this would be considered that

if a hardcore gamer is someone who games a lot in their free time, keeps up with gaming news, loves old and new games, etc.- then a lot of people around here are technically hardcore yet seem to balance their family/worklives along with it

video games don't really technically have an addictive quality about them in the sense of making people feel forced to return to them. drugs have chemical properties that effect the brain. it would be like labeling someone who really really likes movies a 'movie addict'. if movies got pulled from them would they genuinely have a meltdown or not be able to manage? doubtful

As someone who has been addicted to pretty hard stuff in the past, there is no comparison. At least to me. When you're addicted and you try to come off, your body is physically craving for it. I had mad anxiety, heart palpitations, screwed up eating patterns and other symptoms. When you're addicted to a game, it's a lot easier to come off because the most you'll find is that you'll be irritated and impatient with things for a bit.

Hardcore doesn´t mean addict so yes they are different

I'd say similar but, drug addicts health declines at a faster rate. Other than that though, it's about the same thing.

Change your title as it appears like you are being negative about gamers.
I understand your point. It's an addiction by how it makes you feel, that's the connection. Not by the other side affects as drugs.
However, I do not consider myself addicted. (That will probably change when Xenoblade X releases) but if I had to stop gaming, I would. I'd be upset, but I could do it.
I use gaming as a hobby, pass time and something to keep my mind off of things. Kinda like how people get immersed in a book, I get imerssed in a game. It's just what I prefer.

So, i must ask to everyone agreeing. Does gaming beeing a drug mean movies and TV shoes are a drug aswell?

This is ridiculous really. There must be a difference between doing something you enjoy and it beeing a drug. Are you only undrugged when you are miserable or indefferent? Because if thats the case i'm happy to be drugged. I guess i'm addicted to joy and hapyness. 

This is obviously me beeing sarcastic. If it doesnt give you physical withdrawal symptoms, its not a drug, obviously. Its silly that anyone says otherwise. When the effects are mental only, its all a matter of your power of will. Theres nothing impeding you from stopping. Yeah, its annoying for a bit, but when you think about something else it will go away. 

Non of those are substances, so they can't be drugs. Addictive yes, but that applies with almost anything. 

I totally agree. The posts agreeing are what i find shocking. Must be an "in" thing to do. Beeing drugged with something must make one feel special.

"Ar3 hardcor3 gam3rs, addicts? Poll. Ar3 you hardcor3?"

Are you L33t?

Im rather grounded in life so no, I am a hardcore follower but the real world has cut my gaming hours by like 80% around college it was like 60%. This leaves with 20% of the time out of the day to even game. two to three hours at best which means a long game could take me weeks or even months. Before I graduated from college a long game would take me days to weeks to beat.