As the title of this thread says, when was the day you became a 'Hardcore' Gamer?

As for me.. I dont' consider myself a hardcore gamer but.. The day I got 100 stars in SM64 I think was the day I became 'Hardcore'.

By your count it was probably when I got my first 1000 in Brian Lara International Cricket.... but truly hardcore when I got my 1000g in Gears of War 2

Anyway, I would say when I got my PS3 was when I became a hardcore gamer

Well, I personally consider myself as a "gamer" and I've been gaming since the late 80's (Played Super Mario Bro's For the first time back in 1989) . People who have to label themselves as "hardcore" are most likely the one's with social issues, the people who spent their lunch break in the library, you know, the kid who sat quietly in the corner and didn't talk to any girls, so now they try and build up their self esteem by labeling themselves as a "hardcore gamer".

When I beated Sonic without dying and got all chaos emeralds.

Hardcore gamer to me is someone who invests and dedicates part of they're life to gaming. They think about it, they make plans for it, they talk about it, they visit forums to discuss it, and they show a genuine interest for gaming as a whole.

A casual gamer to me, is the person who owns no console, shows up at a party where someone is playing rock band and says "Oh I love that game!" . Play's it mad style for over an hour, and after getting off the drumset doesn't regard it as an experience he/she has invested in, yet a musing to kill time, have fun, and socialize :P This person can go home and not feel the need to ever think about buying a console to play it on his/her own time. They "casually" stumble upon it and have a great time ^^

The moment I became hardcore in my mind, was the moment I wanted a Super Nintendo, because I saw my grandpa playing video games and simply had to have one @_@ I thought about it all the time and wanted to play so many games. Before the super nintendo, my father had given me his atari, but I never got into it. The thing sat in my room and I'd play it occasionally, but it was never an urge, I'd never think about the game I would play, I certainly wouldn't talk about it :P I had no passion, but that Super Nintendo man... that was a lifestyle!

The day in 1995 somewhere in September when I imported Chrono Trigger.. I ended my "Hardcore" gaming at the end of 2004... I just had other things to do then gaming.. don't plan to return.. Now I just game once in a while..

the day I beat Devil May Cry 3(black label version) that was the most punishing game I've ever played.

Maybe the day I beat Mike Tyson (Punch-Out, Nes) or the day I finished Super Mario Bros with only one life.

The holy day I bought FFVII!

The day I beat Ice climbers as a 5 year old in 1985. or was it in 1986?