Just to put my comments into some (hopefully) perspective:

You're not a hardcore music fan if you don't like Tool.
You're not a hardcore Rap fan if you hate Dr. Dre.
You're not a hardcore gearhead until you've suped up a Model-T.
You're not a hardcore student until you've taken Bio 4301 - Subatomic Biology.

Bullshit exclusionism for no reason, well, it's exclusionism when hardcore are taken as "good" or "right". It's laughable that the debate has lasted for a long time, and I am ashamed of the fact I have commented on it with my psuedo insight before.

 Did I say that buying games compulsively makes you a hardcore gamer?

 Yes, reading other people's opinions is important, but if you follow them all blindy, you'll miss out on a lot of good games.

 Graphics makes a nice game, but not make it necessarily hardcore.

I agree.  The only problem is when public statements get made, such as Iwata's, you have to try to figure out what he is refering to (and unless I am horribly mistaken, was the intention of the post)

I think any one who really enjoys games, and appreciates them as an artistic medium doesn't really care if they are labeled 'hardcore,' they just want to play good games.

Urban Dictionary FTW!!!

Hardcore Gamer

One who spends in excess of more than 4 hours in one sitting. Realises that graphics, story, fun and all the other shit are all equally important. One offsetting the other will affect the game adversely

Many people claim to be hardcore gamers, but they are just posers. as stated above, all of the mentioned above are needed equally in order to make a kickass game.


My own def since Urban Dictionary FAILs

Hardcore game

A game with a perfect balance of graphics, gameplay and sometimes story and multiplayer gameplay that drags a gamer into the world. The game drags a gamer into the virtual world where they feel the emotions and/or feel that they are apart of the adventure of the characters they play. For some games, like World of Warcraft or Halo, the depth of the online experience drags players into the game through the need to improve yourself ability to pay better and become as close to the best that you can.

The games don't have to be AAA titles, they just have to give an experience that engulfs the payer in a fantasy land.

To me hardcore gamers are like the elites found within any other form of art or entertainment. They are very familiar with the topic and have been around it for a significant amount of time. They know what makes a game great, and can look past the more obvious conclusions and evaluate a game as it is in its entirety.

A hardcore game is a game that is agreed upon by hardcore gamers as great.

Hardcore to me is that playing games is your main form of entertainment. To me "hardcore" is just another way of saying "my main hobby."

You can also look at the term hardcore gamer almost as an insult. I still think theres that stigma of being considered a "hardcore gamer" (at least in my family, it's still looked down upon as some childish thing, but the times are changing and my parents don't exactly like changing).

This is why I hate calling games hardcore. You can't put a single definition to it. It's different for everyone. Someone might only consider long, deep and complex games hardcore. Some might consider engaging storyline/graphics/gameplay hardcore. Others might consider old school games like Metroid or Mega Man hardcore. 

What's worse is when people start acting like their definition is the only right one. That the only way a game can be "hardcore" is if it offers 20 man online multiplayer with voice chat and stat tracking. These same people are usually the ones proclaiming themselves to be "hardcore" gamers because they play 30 hours of CoD4 a week.

Now, a hardcore gamer is a bit easier to define. I'd say a hardcore gamer is just someone who's hobby is video games, who plays many different kinds of video games, and who has knowledge of the industry. Still, it's a lame term that needs to go away.

 No.....No.., there is no need to lie, there is no sarcasm in your post whatsoever 

 don't bring TooL into this you dope