Also, I find it funny that you criticize hardcore gamers for being elitists, while at the same time you made an entire thread to bash them and call them manchildren. So that would either place you in the elitist or loser category. It's really up to you.

Like I said, it depends on the time you spend with the game. If you're a parent of 3 kids and like to have little Tetris sessions from time to time, it doesn't make you a hardcore gamer so much. It doesn't change the fact that the game is hardcore though, because there are some people that are CRAZY good at this game! o_O

Here are the three definitions of hardcore from Merriam-Webster:

3. often hard·core (härdkôr, -kr) A form of exceptionally harsh punk rock.

Well considering you put quotations meaning its the stereotype then its whatever seems to have an epic look or mature look.

In reality though hardcore game is one that is lenghty in gameplay, complex in gameplay, and concepts that are progressive and difficult to master. Basically not a pick up and play title. Which actually excludes such genres as racers or shooters which so many of us associate with core games.

Hardcore is a mindset.  In this times where the marketleader happens to be the most casual console, being hardcore seems to be a term of endearment.  It's like.. if you're hardcore, you're on the right side of this "war."  With this console war mentality, it's only natural that one be perceived as better from the get-go.

I think I just confused myself.

I find it funny that you're so defensive about a thread questioning whether "hardcore gamers" really exist that you interpret it as a personal attack/"bashing."

@ SHMUPGurus: So, is a soccer mom who spends hours every day on The Sims and Horsez a "hardcore gamer"?

@ Zucas: Actually, that definition would exclude nearly every genre that "hardcores" love. Most JRPGs aren't complex or difficult to master; shooters aren't really complex; platformers aren't really that complex; and so on. Basically, all that leaves is fighters, certain beat 'em ups, and complex sim genres like 4X games.

I'm with sean Malstrom on this one:

Hardcore gamer:
SM: I would say the definition of the hardcore gamer is someone who alters his or her life around gaming. Normal people do not do this. They do not set aside their weekend to raid in Molten Core. The success of the DS and Wii is that it has allowed people to insert gaming more into their regular lives.

Hardcore games:
SM: It makes sense that when a game keeps getting longer and longer, and more demanding of skills to be learned to play effectively, less and less people can fit that into their life. I think this definition proves true across any ‘hardcore’ definition. The hardcore football fan will rearrange his schedule to watch every football game, to go to every football game. In that way, a product is not ‘hardcore’ or not. It depends on how one uses it.

Tetris is ‘hardcore’ if you rearrange your life to play Tetris, to get the biggest scores. Wii Sports can also be played in a ‘hardcore’ way. But, of course, if a game requires only huge time invested, then the only way to play it is to rearrange one’s schedule. That game is ‘hardcore’ because there is no other way to play it! Somewhat like WoW’s top raid dungeons.

more at: http://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=2379

This is the old chess-vs-checkers argument.  Checkers is drop dead easy to learn, while chess is much more involved at the beginning (a lot more variation in the moves available).  Chess players always argue that chess is a "man's game" while checkers is a "boy's game", yet both are difficult to really master.  Yes, Chess is most likely a lot more difficult to really master than checkers, but just like hardcore vs. casual, the lines start to blur after a while.  Taking your example of Tetris, it's very easy to get started in the game and to get past the first few levels, but actually getting well into the levels can take a lot of time, fast reflexes and planning, etc.  So, is Tetris hardcore or casual?  I guess it can be both based on how much someone gets into it.

A non casual game.

For that specific game, yes, she would be a hardcore gamer. I hope it all makes sense! xD