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Forums - Gaming - What is the definition of hardcore games?!

Wii_R2_Hardcore on 22 January 2013

Let's try to talk about the games and not aout the people who play them.

Hardcore games require time. Because they are deep, because they are challenging and complex. Casual games can be picked up and be played in short periods of time.

Now, that is a very black or white definition because there are greys in between.

Some people have argued that is not the game but the way you play it. So shooters can be played in a casual way or in a hardcore way. I guess you can say the same about, I dont know, Wii Sports. You can pick it up once in a while or get really obsessed with it.

But there are games designed in such a way that you must play them in a hardcore way. That is if you like them, because if you don't that is another story.

What kind of gamer are you? A gamer. Period. Same here. I played GTA San Andreas to a 100% completion and also developed an insane obsession with The Sims2. I have played on my Nintendo Wii games such as Cooking Mama, Wii Party amd the Michael Jackson experience. I also put around 600 hours of game time on Oblivion and Skyrim. Maybe more. Aaand! I love Angry Birds.

Some people consider themselves hardcore. Well I wish I hd the time. I have succesfully stayed away from WoW because I want to keep my job.

So yeah, it is an over simplified way to classify games, but I feel it has to do with the time you need to put in the game in order to fully enjoy the experience.




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Jumpin on 23 January 2013
S.T.A.G.E. said:
Jumpin said:
S.T.A.G.E. said:
Jumpin said:

To most 10-13 year old males, the most important thing is that they appear like they're badasses, so they stick the word "hardcore" in front of everything that they can think of that they do, which includes the games they play, typically games that are shallow with lots of blood. 10-13 year olds typically, but also 20-50 year old males who have the awkward social standards and maturity of 10-13 and so are just figuring out how to be badass tweenagers during what should be their adult life.

There isn't actually a such genre as "hardcore game"


Theres no genre, but rather games created for the audience who already understand games and want games tailored to the hobbyist games, featuring elaborate stories to games that present a challenge. Hardcore games= Games not  intentionally made for the casual audience.

By your definition, TV soap operas like Coronation Street and Days of Our Lives are hardcore since they are not made for a casual audience.

Realistically, no one who is sufficiently adult would call something a "hardcore game" with a straight face.


No...when a game is not made for a casual audience it doesnt have broad appeal in its gameplay. For instance, would you have a person who listens to pop music listen to speed metal? No. They like it simple. Most people in the US can barely listen to a song for four minutes because of conditioning and A.D.D. Certain games are just made with the enthusiast gamer in mind before a casual audience. 

Again, Soap Operas don't have a broad appeal, and by your definition, that makes them hardcore.



I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.

S.T.A.G.E. on 23 January 2013
Jumpin said:
S.T.A.G.E. said:
Jumpin said:
S.T.A.G.E. said:
Jumpin said:

To most 10-13 year old males, the most important thing is that they appear like they're badasses, so they stick the word "hardcore" in front of everything that they can think of that they do, which includes the games they play, typically games that are shallow with lots of blood. 10-13 year olds typically, but also 20-50 year old males who have the awkward social standards and maturity of 10-13 and so are just figuring out how to be badass tweenagers during what should be their adult life.

There isn't actually a such genre as "hardcore game"


Theres no genre, but rather games created for the audience who already understand games and want games tailored to the hobbyist games, featuring elaborate stories to games that present a challenge. Hardcore games= Games not  intentionally made for the casual audience.

By your definition, TV soap operas like Coronation Street and Days of Our Lives are hardcore since they are not made for a casual audience.

Realistically, no one who is sufficiently adult would call something a "hardcore game" with a straight face.


No...when a game is not made for a casual audience it doesnt have broad appeal in its gameplay. For instance, would you have a person who listens to pop music listen to speed metal? No. They like it simple. Most people in the US can barely listen to a song for four minutes because of conditioning and A.D.D. Certain games are just made with the enthusiast gamer in mind before a casual audience. 

Again, Soap Operas don't have a broad appeal, and by your definition, that makes them hardcore.


Soap Operas are made for female readers of love novels. Of course it doesn't have a broad appeal to everyone, but not every hardcore game is made with broad appeal. The mass majority aren't accessible since you have to learn a twelve button controller scheme. Only a fraction of casual gamers are willing to put in the time to learn a mainstream game with a thirteen button control scheme. That might be easy for us from the start, but to a novice it is not. Assassins Creed for instance is quite a linear and easy game for us, but for action schemes and learning buttons on call it might not be so easy to pick up for a novice.