Maddox, as ever, is a visionary. Check out his site and read everything there. Check out his timeless review of Contra III (hilarious; but be warned, for those of you who are more naive: he's not being 100% serious with all of his hyperbolic analogies and outrageous statements).
Anyway, as for his definition of hardcore...one of the best I've seen.
It's like this: if you listen to Britney Spears, Fall Out Boy, and Beyonce (even if you listen to them furiously and frequently and memorize all the lyrics), are you a 'hardcore' music fan? No. A hardcore music fan goes through an album a week, listening to a an ecclectic medley of both obscure and popular bands in an on-going attempt to broaden their musical scope. To experience as much different music as possible.
Same with gaming. Playing a game a lot, particularly a mainstream game, does not make you hardcore. Stretching yourself thin to expand your gaming experiences and diversify what you play; giving every new game the benefit of the doubt just because you enjoy new experiences for the sake of experiencing them...that is hardcore.
Crusty VGchartz old timer who sporadically returns & posts. Let's debate nebulous shit and expand our perpectives. Or whatever.
