pc in last place? seriously? maybe i don't understand the term "hardcore gaming", though i hate the expression anyway.
how can the pc NOT be the the most hardcore gaming platform?
tweaking settings, trying or writing new mods, dedicated players who play 15 year old games like a religion and don't give a damn about how they look. on the other hand THE platform for graphic whores who upgrade their hardware every 6 months to get the highest benchmark scores or to show off crysis in 1600x1200 etc.
all the complex games like RTS are on the PC, if there are console versions they have reduced complexity (civ rev, halo wars). even the shooters are dumbed down pc shooters with self regeneration health, autoaim, etc.
there is nothing hardcore about consoles IMO. consoles provide the easy, mostly dumbed down fun. thats OK of course, but how in the world is that hardcore? consoles are cheap (in comparison) and you don't need ANY technical knowledge. of course thats also a good thing, but NOTHING hardcore about it.
most blockbusters are on the consoles. but then again: they are not hardcore games. great fun for the masses, thats why consoles are successful, not because they are "hardcore" (damn, do it hate the word. why can't gamers just be just gamers anyway??? )
Gamers who think PS3 or Xbox360 are "hardcore" probably have never played a "hardcore" game like hearts of iron. in fact, that is a perfect example for a hardcore game. it doesn't have a lot of mass appeal because it's too complex and doesn't look good. still it has some very loyal fans who like the inaccessibility and complexity. if anything, THOSE are hardcore gamers.
