So what is a "hardcore" gamer? And why must we really define it?

[mike_intellivision]

I am a Wii owner. It sits next to my PS2 with my Xbox overhead. Put away but with easy access are other systems -- 30 or so.

I have been gaming longer than many people on this forum have been alive. (My avitar was my first system, bought in 1982).

But I am still unsure what "hardcore" means.

 

Does it mean playing M-rated games?

Does it mean playing games with dialog you would not want to share with your mother or sister?

Does it mean playing games with more violent scenes than I watched on network news of the Vietnam War?

Does it mean playing primarily FPS games?

Does it mean being in college and having time to play 10 hours a day?

 

OK, so I am a bit cranky in my old age (45 next month). But whatever happened to enjoying games for what they were?

It seems as if there are those who want the Wii to be all things to all people (which no console is). Then there are those who are dismissive of the Wii because it is not what they want in a console -- and they can't understand how others would not want what they want.

Not everyone likes jazz -- or rock -- or opera -- or country -- or urban -- or modern -- or pop ... (the list of music goes on and on).  But it is all music.

Not everyone likes blood-filled FPS games -- or puzzles -- or platforms -- or racers -- or sports -- or adventure -- or music games (the list of game types goes on and on). But they are all games.

It seems as if there are those who feel that they are owed something by Nintendo -- when in fact unless they are stockholders they are not. The Big N made a business decision to go a different direction than Sony and MS. It has tried to get others to follow and develop games in areas where it does not excel (i.e., more mature fare), but has not had much success.

All of this leads me back to my original question. What makes a gamer hardcore -- and must we really define who is hardcore. Or can we just agree to enjoy all the wonders of our hobby and move forward.

Mike from Morgantown

 

For the record, I enjoy casual games. I also found No More Heros to be a viseral experience. So I will play -- and enjoy -- almost anything.