That's a funny article.
But I don't think his definition of hardcore is accurate. The "hardcore" gamers he mentioned are more wannabes, and elitist snobs than anything.
To me, being a hardcore gamer has nothing to do with the sophistication of the game. In fact, you can be a hardcore gamer of just about any game.
A hardcore gamer to me is someone who becomes incredibly skilled at a game through dedication.
I'm as much a casual gamer in some game genres as I am a hardcore one in others.
When I play just to have a good time, and nothing else, i'm a casual. When I dedicate hours and hours on a game to become a really competitive player or to achieve near impossible tasks (speed run, one life play through, completing Gradius V on Very Hard without using continues, etc...), then I'm becoming a hardcore gamer for that game.
I think it just comes down to the dedication and the skill level that result from this same dedication. This is similar to comparing professional and amateur Chess players. The level of dedication and resulting skill between those 2 groups are what define them.
That's my view on this.
