What is "Hardcore"? Whats not?

[Kwaad]

mancandy said:

Very good description of Hardcore and Casual Gamers. I posted this in a different thread in response to Mario being called not hardcore, so maybe Hus can answer the question:

Doom 3 - You go around collecting bullets, health, guns, etc. Solve puzzles (also jumping platforms) while killing monsters and giant bosses to reach and kill a giant final boss.

Super Mario 64 - You go around collecting coins, heath, weapons (mushrooms, flying caps), etc. Solve puzzles (jumping platforms) while killing creatures and giant bosses to reach and kill a giant final boss.

So how is Mario not "Hard Core"?

 

 

I think casual gamers are a lot easier to define. These are the people that will play games occasionally. They might be able to complete the game, but they don't really take the time to master it. They don't really get into the story. They can pick up several games, but never really finish them. They are not interested in getting better at the game, just merely an activity to pass the time.

 Mario 64 is a classic game now. Second. By that definition. Whatever that dumbass rugrats game for the GameCube is...

You run around and collect batterys, you have to solve puzzles, and collect coins, go to the right places at the right times.

So Rugrats is hardcore.

Hardcore is NOT WarCraft3, Hardcore is NOT Diablo2, Hardcore is NOT WoW. Hardcore is NOT Halo2+3.

I consider something hardcore... Something made for... a few select people. X3 is Hardcore, Civ is Hardcore.

However I do think that most of the time that mature/not mature games is another way to define hardcore.

Games like Duke Nukem are ***mature*** I hate to say it, but In terms of a general audiance the Original Duke Nukem 3D, was probibally one of the most mature games in history. Why? How many games do you know of you can run around and blow up pigs wearing cop uniforms, and give money to strippers?!?