Why do "Hardcore" titles need to be rated "M"?

[tuoyo]

dreamcast210 said:

I consider myself a hardcore gamer. I love games and playing them. But, I only play 5-6 hours per week (much less than a typical harcore gamer) and in general I do not play games rated "M".

I've noticed that for most, a hardcore game means that a game has to be rated "M". Why is this? Can't a game be for hardcore gamers, and at the same time not have to contain violence, sex or profanity? I believe that is the case.

But the "hardcore" stigma implies that people who are "hardcore" gamers only play those types of games.

What are your thoughts?

Well the problem here is the Wii (or is it Nintendo).  Certain people hate the Wii (many analysts, PS360 fanboys).  They look for every way possible to downplay Wii's success.  What is the easiest way?  There are certain games which developers have always put on PS360 since this gen launched.  Those games have seen huge success on those consoles.  But there have been very few (if any such games on the Wii - CODWAW is the only one I can think of) and have had lower sales on Wii than they have had on PS360.  So those Nintendo haters have now used those types of games as the definition of hardcore so that they can say their consoles are the winners in the hardcore field and Wii is the loser.  Those games were never considered hardcore before this gen.  In fact GTA was a casual as they come (which is why it sold so well).