actually everytime I see the word hardcore now and what it seems to imply regarding tastes, I feel more and more casual...

Because unfortunately is not alone in holding this viewpoint. How many folks on this very forum have declared that Nintendo has turned its back on us, the traditional gamers, in favor of the expanded market? Most of those articles are focused exclusively on the latest E3, and ignore the new policy of keeping titles quiet until the last second.

I posted this article not only so that we can discuss that notion, but because I'm fairly confident that it marks the beginning of the next phase for the enthusiast press. When Spring rolls around, and the Nintendo's traditional titles inevitably come out, I firmly believe we'll start hearing more things like this article: "sure there are a few games for us coming out from Nintendo, but most of them are for casuals only, and Nintendo now thinks we're second-class citizens. And even the games that are for us have been dumbed down because of those stupid casuals." We've seen similar comments from Brawl and Mario Kart Wii, but I think the worst of the misinformation is yet to come, and that it'll take shape in editorials like this.

I'm convinced things will get better before the generation's done, but we're not out of the woods just yet.

That sucked. It is like being raped, but instead of shoving it up with all his strength, the rapist took 3 hours to fully insert his thing. The autor goes so slowly while shitting his FUD, that some may not even get the lies and fallacies. Really I could point everything wrong with the article, but it is worthless. I will leave the dirty work to someone else.

BTW - so it is Nintendo`s fault that the HD hardcore games are all dumbed down and easy? Maybe the 2 Wii games he played were easier than the GC games, but Metroid, FE, Zelda TP were not easier.

Fail.

I stopped reading when it said Mario Galaxy dident meat sales expectations.

You know what I especially love about game sites. their authors and even the fans that come to them and argue? That they're all teenagers and twenty-somethings that state their opinion like it means anything. Until you can look back onto those years, you never truly understand how absolutely uninfluential anything you do, sans for killing someone, is.

My point being, that while this author got to speak his mind about Nintendo, it doesn't take any momentum from them nor change the industry in any fashion.

The industry looks upon these things as if a child was telling us about a weird dream involving their imaginary friend. Smile, nod, pat the child on the head and give them a piece of candy. So, edge online author (since you were apparently too scared to even put your name to be credited) - That's nice dear, now get ready for bed and brush your teeth.

Play the games, avoid the noise. That's my advice for everyone.

 Metroid Prime 3 was only about a million times easier than it's predecessors.  I don't think I died more than 3 times in that game, but spent most of MP1 and MP2 having my ass generously handed to me.  MP2 was so difficult at times that it was a year between my buying it and actually finishing it.  It frustrated me so badly that I stopped playing it for months at a time.

I'll be contacting the article's editor regarding the Mario Galaxy/Twilight Princess comment.

This kind of misinformation should not be tolerated by such a large publication.

I'll read it later(too long).