I don't know if this is a duplicate thread, but the point of this endeavor is to finally give definitions and contrasts to the two descriptives. I will be accepting input from all posters in an attempt to agree with each other once and for all what makes a game core, what demotes it to casual, and what uplifts it to hardcore.

this is all likely to change, so please put your input as necessary.

I will lead first:

Core:

1. Mainstream games, a game that can be enjoyed by most gamers. Some might even enjoy watching the game being played as it has good story-telling elements, or twists/exciting plot. show up for a beer, play with a friend for an hour or two.
2. the central, innermost, or most essential part of gaming
3. halo, mario, zelda
4. crossover-appeal, the "step up" in experience and depth, if you will, from casual gaming
   

Casual:

1. Pop-games, or games that can be enjoyed by just about any walk of life. Usual one or two buttons, and very simple, sometimes unexplained games with little background needed. Show up for a beer, play for half an hour.
2. A game seeming or tending to be indifferent to what is happening; apathetic; unconcerned
3. usually the introduction to gaming

Hardcore:

1. Nerdy games, or games that are too complicated, intense, or story-driven for casual gamers. Embarassing? if you don't know the game, you don't understand what is going on, sometimes it might seem complicated even while simply watching. show up for a beer, spend the whole time watching someone play for 2+ hours.
2. pruriently explicit; graphically depicted game
3. niche games, more engrossing and more complex than core games, yet can also be off putting in that same respect.
4. ninja gaiden

contributors:

• onyxmeth
• picko

Good analysis! I like your distinction between Core and Hardcore--there are more than just 'two extremes' here.

Core games=the central, innermost, or most essential part of gaming
Casual games=A game seeming or tending to be indifferent to what is happening; apathetic; unconcerned
Hardcore games=pruriently explicit; graphically depicted game

Are those definitions official enough? They were taken from a dictionary.

Nice, i'll say that im "Core". I didn't even know there was a difference before.

i liked "pruriently explicit" has such a nice ring

also, feel free to contribute genres into your lists lades and gents

I prefer to think of myself as hardcasual

so you pretty much play wii sports until you have the highest rank possible on all 4 games?

I thought hardcore was defined by the challenge the game poses rather than the complexity of the game?

Then again, it's all a bunch of bullshit in the end.

FF13 is explicit?
its core or hardcore

i think the idea that onyxmeht had there is that hardcore type games often have more blood than others due to the fact that the learning curve's steepness requires a more mature mind, and that generally you can lump teenage-mature male gamers with sex/blood/violence.

i don't think they have to be sexualy explicit per se, but i think many hardcore games are.

so it's not a pre-req, but a coincidence.

plus, i think ff used to be hardcore, but it is slowly becoming core, or somewhere in between.