What is a hardcore gamer?

[staticneuron]

super_etecoon said: This whole distinction between hardcore gamer and casual gamer has led many astray, I believe. It would seem to me then that the main difference between these two terms is the amount of time a gamer plays, and the level of fascination/fanaticism said hardcore gamer exhibits when playing. As a general rule, posters on these forums are hardcore gamers. Why else would we be on a gaming site? I just think people are taking this "hardcore" gamer label to refer to mature content or photo realism. The result of this, of course, is that when the press refers to the hardcore gamer as a dwindling portion of the gaming community, hardcore gamers unite and declare that the sky is falling. I think only good things can happen as games become more mainstream. For instance, more money being poured into games. More time being given to dfevelopers to create quality content that will capture everyone's attention and money. Anyone else care to weigh in?

Great post. Hardcore and casual....... I actually like these terms. I have always viewed hardcore as people who either spent alot of money and/or time revolving video games. Actually purchasing or researching them. While a casual gamer would be more apt to purchase a game because it has a pretty cover or has the same title as their favorite movie. I would like to say thhat hardcore gamers are important. Casual gamers view games as just one thing only. And that is fun. An enjoyable waste of time. I love simple fun games and I think there are always a place for them but I am a bigger fan of the games with strong graphics and mature themes. There are people who are quick to say that video games don't offer a level of emotional or intellectual connection as movies or books. I disagree. Some games I view as artforms as well. Shadows of the collosus and Flow are examples of that. I think it is a huge step backwards the more people ignore story and say that graphics do not matter. What is being hyped is gameplay and online connectivity in alot of these arguements. I feel that they are fun but too singular to define gaming as a whole. I will put it on the table here a hardcore gamer is those that love to play a large variety of games not just one genre or from one company. To those people I want to ask whether or not they agree about the future of games and the effect that it will have on more those that are newly introduced to games.