Although there is no unified definition of what is "Hardcore" when it comes to gaming, there are some comments that I encounter on the internet that just seems really far off. So, now I've decided to ask you Vgchartz people how you define "Hardcore" gaming.

Here are some examples of gamers.

Gamer 1 plays Starcraft (the most competitive and balanced game evar!) with his friends for fun. They train and become better, memorize tactics and build orders and constantly try to beat each other, like in a sport. They are also competing against another group of Starcraft players in team games, and have recently started playing on Iccup against other good players.

Gamer 2 plays CoD4 on his HD console on his free time, he is obsessed with getting achievements/trophies and getting a good gamerscore. He hangs around in CoD4 forums and read strategy guides to help him get better stats. He does have good stats in the game and likes to brag about his skill.

Gamer 3 plays Super Smash Brothers Melee in tournaments. He is skilled, and has actually managed to earn a bit of money on his gaming. He is a pioneer when it comes to discovering new strategies in Super Smash Brothers Brawl, but has gotten tired of the game, and has chosen to stick with Super Smash Brothers Melee.

Gamer 4 Has participated in many Counter Strike tournaments, but has never manged to win anything (because he sucks lol). He doesn't play in tournaments anymore, but he has started his own clan which he plays with online. However he feels that CS is taking too much of his time, and he is planning to quit in the future.

Gamer 5 plays as many games as he can get his hands on. Graphics and complexity is what he thinks is most important. He is always looking for realism in games, and he is constantly wanting games that are more realistic, with better mechanics, graphics and physics. The fact that he is playing so many games keeps him from getting skilled in one particular game.

Gamer 6 is the typical retro gamer. He collects old consoles and games and plays them.

Gamer 7 just buys games. Even if he doesn't like them and they are almost unplayable he keeps forcing himself to play through them.

Now I would like to see you make a list that goes from which gamers you think is the most hardcore, to which you think is the least hardcore. This might get interresting.

pic somewhat related xD

evey game unless specifically said so is hardcore...from pong to KZ2..none of those reasons make you hardcore

Really? Is it really that simple? Then why does the term "hardcore" even excist, and why is people constantly using it?

its term used to make "Gamers" seem superior to "Casuals"

That's an interresting subject too. Why should "gamers" even try to differ themselves from "casuals"? It's like if people playing tennis competitively would be complaining about all these new "casual" tennis players ruining their sport, that would be ridicoulus.

because you´re forgetting a few the one who play wii sport and the one´s like me who are playing games for a good story,discovering beautiful worlds en just enjoy it but don´t want to get professional

for me games are like watching a movie or a anime series but what´s better with games is that you feel way more connected to the story than watching a movie that´s in my case at least

and some games are just incredible fun like mario(galaxy),halo(online) so i play those to :p

Casual gamers play games off and on without the urge to play games like they were addicted to smoking and would do anything for that nicotine fix.

Edit:

For example you have the Casual Smoker (Social Smoker), who only smokes once in a while maybe when drinking.

Hardcore?

Blood and guns pretty much. Without that, games aren't considered hardcore to these gamers.

funny how none of those examples describe me, hardcore and casual are bullshit, a true gamer will play anything