What is hardcore?

I keep seeing threads about the whole hardcore, casual and kiddy issue being created. this is my first and probably my last. It just seems to me that no one has a definate idea of what hardcore is. What is hardcore? I have no idea and could care less, but its been passed around ever since i joined the forums, and there are always users arguing about it? There is alot more i have on my mind but this is the most significant out of everything else. Im pretty sure you guys get the point by now so if u can, try to make a definintion of "hardcore" that will appeal to almost everyone. Good Luck.

My def of hardcore in terms of media (mostly pertaining to video games)

Hardcore-an ideology that describes the characterisitics of a video game that will appeal to the majority of gamers

(not exactly the best def, but i tried to BS my way through it the best i could, lol):P

Hardcore is a person very deticated to gaming.

The way I see it, games can't be hardcore or casual, it's gamers that can be. There are games however that are AIMED more towards a casual audience. But a game is a thing, how can a thing be casual?:P

Off topic: search hardcore in Youtube to see (hear) the real "hardcore":P

It's when you take an apple, eat it, and throw the remains in the freezer for a night...

Seriously though, I agree that hardcore mostly pertains to people, not the games themselves. But even then, it's a little hard to define since a person can be considered a hardcore gamer even if they devote countless hours to only one game. In other words, you don't have to play very many games at all to be considered hardcore, yet that seems to be one of the many definitions of a casual gamer...

They are, at their simplest, labels with a meaning of "us" (hardcore) and "not us" (casual), constructed so that the 'hardcore' can feel all superior to the 'casual' gamers with their Mature games in gorgeous hi-def and gray and brown and chainsaws and blood and B-movie plots. As opposed to the horrible casual games that are simple, colorful and fun and are suitable even for kids! How is the insecure teenager supposed to feel grown-up if he's playing the same games the little kids are?

This figment and artificial divide has been created, or at least actively reinforced since the PS1, and has reached it's height now that Nintendo is back to doing things it did with the NES 25 years ago. You can bet the 'hardcore' back then cried that the NES was destroying gaming with it's dated tech, newfangled controller and simple, pick-up-and-play games. Sound familiar?

A hardcore gamer is one who considers gaming his or her main hobby, checks up on video game news and generally is in the loop when it comes to video games and enjoys all types of games, whether they be core or casual. A hardcore player on the other hand IMO depends on the amount of time you invest per sitting.

Seems everyone has a different opinion on this mine is gamers are hardcore not the games. For example a gamer playing the Sims or a Wii gamer that plays only party games but those people play their games 30-40 hours a week I would consider more hardcore then a PS3 or 360 owner that takes 3 months to beat a 10-12 hour shooter. The Sim and Wii gamers are far more into playing their games of choice then that shooter fan. Another example of it being the gamer and not the game. WoW has very hardcore and very casual players yet it is still the same game.Some players raid for 8 hours 5-6 days a week. Then there are other players that may only sign on 1 or 2 times a week for not long and just sits around chit chatting on the bank stairs and maybe a few quests here and there. So in the end I feel what makes a gamer hardcore is how they play not what they play.rybe1025

Imo I think you are mixing up hardcore gamer and hardcore player. Check my post for what I mean, but everyone does have their opinion on the matter.

Hardcore is someone who plays Pink Sweets on a Supergun at home , Tate not Yoko on A crrt TV with a modded Seimitsu stick !

Here you will find none !

For me, personally:

/thread

Sim City is the pinnicle of casual gaming !

Hardcore gamer is a person who is serious about gaming. Here's a picture of what hardcore gamer look like..

the suit case carries allhis gaming needs, The suit shows how serious he is, The shade's makes him looks cool.

Sim City is the pinnicle of casual gaming !

Caseytappy

A hardcore gamer is someone who plays games in general as a hobby.Cherokee_Jack

by that definition my mother is a hardcore gamer, and she only owns a ds.

hardcore gamers are losers who like to label themselves, tethering their identity to something that is totally inconsequential.

[QUOTE="Cherokee_Jack"]A hardcore gamer is someone who plays games in general as a hobby.CaptainHarley

by that definition my mother is a hardcore gamer, and she only owns a ds.

hardcore gamers are losers who like to label themselves, tethering their identity to something that is totally inconsequential.

Someone with a deep love for gaming, Someone willing to try out every genre, Someone who will not only play a game but activly improve it with maps, mods and skins. Someone who collects and plays games as a hobby, Someone whith a great understanding of the rich history and diverse nature of gaming. Someone who knows their Snorks from their heardcrabs and their Zerg from their Skrin. Someone who who does not dismiss a game based on age or difficulty. Some who WILL get that achivement god dam it!!! Someone who apricates a narative and not just a passing fun-craze. BoloTheGreat

Casual games are games that are easy to get into, Wii games and the like.

Hardcore games are games like Killzone or Gears of War, many people would not even bother to even glance at these games but dedicated gamers would give those games a try.

Or, you can use music these days as an analogy. Pop and other radio songs = casual, Heavy rock or metal = hardcore. Not to say hardcore games are necessarily better than casual games, but what type of games you prefer and dig is ultimately up to your preferences.

[QUOTE="BoloTheGreat"]Someone with a deep love for gaming, Someone willing to try out every genre, Someone who will not only play a game but activly improve it with maps, mods and skins. Someone who collects and plays games as a hobby, Someone whith a great understanding of the rich history and diverse nature of gaming. Someone who knows their Snorks from their heardcrabs and their Zerg from their Skrin. Someone who who does not dismiss a game based on age or difficulty. Some who WILL get that achivement god dam it!!! Someone who apricates a narative and not just a passing fun-craze. surrealnumber5

Casual games are games that are easy to get into, Wii games and the like.

Hardcore games are games like Killzone or Gears of War, many people would not even bother to even glance at these games but dedicated gamers would give those games a try.

Or, you can use music these days as an analogy. Pop and other radio songs = casual, Heavy rock or metal = hardcore. Not to say hardcore games are necessarily better than casual games, but what type of games you prefer and dig is ultimately up to your preferences.

ForceFreeze

this is HARCORE!!!1

this is HARCORE!!!1

Iamsmee

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"][QUOTE="BoloTheGreat"]Someone with a deep love for gaming, Someone willing to try out every genre, Someone who will not only play a game but activly improve it with maps, mods and skins. Someone who collects and plays games as a hobby, Someone whith a great understanding of the rich history and diverse nature of gaming. Someone who knows their Snorks from their heardcrabs and their Zerg from their Skrin. Someone who who does not dismiss a game based on age or difficulty. Some who WILL get that achivement god dam it!!! Someone who apricates a narative and not just a passing fun-craze. BoloTheGreat

i agree, the term hardcore has been bastardised much like the swastika. where it once was a symbol of life, sun, power, strength, and good luck it is now just a symbol of hate, and things are not going to be going back to how they were any time soon. blame the fanboys and blame the nazi's

That is hardcore.

What is Hardcore? This is Hardcore...

.

;)

and buy a real console.FnintendoWii

But the Wii is a real console. :|

This is the reason i made this thread. it proves my point that there is no definate definition of hardcore. For example Mario Galaxy vs Gears. in my opinion they are both hardcare because they have mass appeal and are key franchises. I think people who say only M games are hardcore are hardcore wannabes. Majority of people like that are fanboys or too young to even be playing the games. I have my share of M games, and i play them for about an hour and stop. all it is is constant shooting and blood. im not saying i dont enjoy it. of course i enjoy it (thats y i bought it), but it becomes a little to much after holding down the mouse button as u walk for an hour or holding down the R or R2 button. I already noticed 2 fanboys on this thread and just hope they dont return. Keep the definitions coming in. Maybe something can come out of this.

[QUOTE="FnintendoWii"]and buy a real console.Silverbond

But the Wii is a real console. :|

Hell, an argument could be made that it's the only real console left, with Xbox360 and PS3 racing to see which one becomes a PC first.

i would consider myself a "hardcore gamer". As i play games as a hobby and usually have a game on all the time even if im not playing. one of my systems is on. I have no problem with casuals as they do not effect me. I am not an elitist though i just share what i know if any casual comes and ask's me a question.

Hardcore is beating Radiant Silvergun without dying.

Hardcore is beating Radiant Silvergun without dying.

foxhound_fox

Me?

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]

Hardcore is beating Radiant Silvergun without dying.

BoloTheGreat

[QUOTE="BoloTheGreat"][QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]

Hardcore is beating Radiant Silvergun without dying.

surrealnumber5

There is no such thing as casual and hardcore gaming. It is a myth. A hurting myth, and it makes a lot of people look very, very stupid. It is even dumber than the now-outdated "kiddy" to put games into certain categories.

What is a hardcore gamer? This?

The kid who can only enjoy a game if it features battles and cutscenes with badly written Action-movie imitations? What is a hardcore gamer? A videogamer who dedicates a lot of time and effort into a game / games and is very absorbed in it? What, then, is the parent who spends hours and hours every week playing The Sims? Is that hardcore? No, why not? What is the person who hold the world records in solitaire and minesweeper? Hardcore or not?

What is a hardcore gamer? A couple of months ago I gave a friend of mine who was very into Diablo and old-school PC gaming a very thorough introduction into both the Wii and the 360 library, complete with long test sessions on proper HD equipment. He bought a Wii. Is that casual?

People love mmore traditional, to-the-point gaming and spend a lot of money on cartoonish, easy-to-play games without an attempt at storytelling or realism. Hardcore?

The twelve-year old who playes two hours of GTA and two hours of Halo every day, and nothing else, because everything else is not manly enough, is he a hardcore gamer? If so, what does that tell us about the "hardcore gamer"?

The gamer who likes the occasional FPS, but finds enjoyment in Wii Fit; who remembers what made him fell in love with games to begin with and perhaps looks forward to A Boy And His Blob more than to Modern Warfare 2, is that a hardcore gamer?

What of the couple that bought a Wii and then slender through the Gamestops of this world, buying games by cover alone, ending up with Punch-Out!!, Animal Crossing and little Kings Story, and enjoying all of them very much? Casual gamers? Hardcore gamers?

Person A plays Guitar and likes to take his DS with him on travels and plays puzzle games. Person B plays Guitar Hero and has a preorder for the next war simulation. Who is more hardcore? Who deserves mocking?

If a hardcore gamer is someone with an extremely limited gaming horizon who chooses to dismiss games because of their covers, and a casual gamers is someone with an extremely limited gaming horizon who buys games because of their covers, which one of the two is the bigger idiot?

There is no such thing as the hardcore and the casual gamer, and both terms mean absolutely nothing positive or negative. It's complete and utter nonsense.

There is no such thing as casual and hardcore gaming. It is a myth. A hurting myth, and it makes a lot of people look very, very stupid. It is even dumber than the now-outdated "kiddy" to put games into certain categories.

What is a hardcore gamer? This?

The kid who can only enjoy a game if it features battles and cutscenes with badly written Action-movie imitations? What is a hardcore gamer? A videogamer who dedicates a lot of time and effort into a game / games and is very absorbed in it? What, then, is the parent who spends hours and hours every week playing The Sims? Is that hardcore? No, why not? What is the person who hold the world records in solitaire and minesweeper? Hardcore or not?

What is a hardcore gamer? A couple of months ago I gave a friend of mine who was very into Diablo and old-school PC gaming a very thorough introduction into both the Wii and the 360 library, complete with long test sessions on proper HD equipment. He bought a Wii. Is that casual?

People love mmore traditional, to-the-point gaming and spend a lot of money on cartoonish, easy-to-play games without an attempt at storytelling or realism. Hardcore?

The twelve-year old who playes two hours of GTA and two hours of Halo every day, and nothing else, because everything else is not manly enough, is he a hardcore gamer? If so, what does that tell us about the "hardcore gamer"?

The gamer who likes the occasional FPS, but finds enjoyment in Wii Fit; who remembers what made him fell in love with games to begin with and perhaps looks forward to A Boy And His Blob more than to Modern Warfare 2, is that a hardcore gamer?

What of the couple that bought a Wii and then slender through the Gamestops of this world, buying games by cover alone, ending up with Punch-Out!!, Animal Crossing and little Kings Story, and enjoying all of them very much? Casual gamers? Hardcore gamers?

Person A plays Guitar and likes to take his DS with him on travels and plays puzzle games. Person B plays Guitar Hero and has a preorder for the next war simulation. Who is more hardcore? Who deserves mocking?

If a hardcore gamer is someone with an extremely limited gaming horizon who chooses to dismiss games because of their covers, and a casual gamers is someone with an extremely limited gaming horizon who buys games because of their covers, which one of the two is the bigger idiot?

There is no such thing as the hardcore and the casual gamer, and both terms mean absolutely nothing positive or negative. It's complete and utter nonsense.

Lothenon

I like this one. :)

[QUOTE="Lothenon"]

There is no such thing as casual and hardcore gaming. It is a myth. A hurting myth, and it makes a lot of people look very, very stupid. It is even dumber than the now-outdated "kiddy" to put games into certain categories.

What is a hardcore gamer? This?

The kid who can only enjoy a game if it features battles and cutscenes with badly written Action-movie imitations? What is a hardcore gamer? A videogamer who dedicates a lot of time and effort into a game / games and is very absorbed in it? What, then, is the parent who spends hours and hours every week playing The Sims? Is that hardcore? No, why not? What is the person who hold the world records in solitaire and minesweeper? Hardcore or not?

What is a hardcore gamer? A couple of months ago I gave a friend of mine who was very into Diablo and old-school PC gaming a very thorough introduction into both the Wii and the 360 library, complete with long test sessions on proper HD equipment. He bought a Wii. Is that casual?

People love mmore traditional, to-the-point gaming and spend a lot of money on cartoonish, easy-to-play games without an attempt at storytelling or realism. Hardcore?

The twelve-year old who playes two hours of GTA and two hours of Halo every day, and nothing else, because everything else is not manly enough, is he a hardcore gamer? If so, what does that tell us about the "hardcore gamer"?

The gamer who likes the occasional FPS, but finds enjoyment in Wii Fit; who remembers what made him fell in love with games to begin with and perhaps looks forward to A Boy And His Blob more than to Modern Warfare 2, is that a hardcore gamer?

What of the couple that bought a Wii and then slender through the Gamestops of this world, buying games by cover alone, ending up with Punch-Out!!, Animal Crossing and little Kings Story, and enjoying all of them very much? Casual gamers? Hardcore gamers?

Person A plays Guitar and likes to take his DS with him on travels and plays puzzle games. Person B plays Guitar Hero and has a preorder for the next war simulation. Who is more hardcore? Who deserves mocking?

If a hardcore gamer is someone with an extremely limited gaming horizon who chooses to dismiss games because of their covers, and a casual gamers is someone with an extremely limited gaming horizon who buys games because of their covers, which one of the two is the bigger idiot?

There is no such thing as the hardcore and the casual gamer, and both terms mean absolutely nothing positive or negative. It's complete and utter nonsense.

painguy1

I like this one. :)

Seconded. An absolutely awesome post, though it will probably be ignored because it contains reason.

There is no such thing as casual and hardcore gaming. It is a myth. A hurting myth, and it makes a lot of people look very, very stupid. It is even dumber than the now-outdated "kiddy" to put games into certain categories.

What is a hardcore gamer? This?

The kid who can only enjoy a game if it features battles and cutscenes with badly written Action-movie imitations? What is a hardcore gamer? A videogamer who dedicates a lot of time and effort into a game / games and is very absorbed in it? What, then, is the parent who spends hours and hours every week playing The Sims? Is that hardcore? No, why not? What is the person who hold the world records in solitaire and minesweeper? Hardcore or not?

What is a hardcore gamer? A couple of months ago I gave a friend of mine who was very into Diablo and old-school PC gaming a very thorough introduction into both the Wii and the 360 library, complete with long test sessions on proper HD equipment. He bought a Wii. Is that casual?

People love mmore traditional, to-the-point gaming and spend a lot of money on cartoonish, easy-to-play games without an attempt at storytelling or realism. Hardcore?

The twelve-year old who playes two hours of GTA and two hours of Halo every day, and nothing else, because everything else is not manly enough, is he a hardcore gamer? If so, what does that tell us about the "hardcore gamer"?

The gamer who likes the occasional FPS, but finds enjoyment in Wii Fit; who remembers what made him fell in love with games to begin with and perhaps looks forward to A Boy And His Blob more than to Modern Warfare 2, is that a hardcore gamer?

What of the couple that bought a Wii and then slender through the Gamestops of this world, buying games by cover alone, ending up with Punch-Out!!, Animal Crossing and little Kings Story, and enjoying all of them very much? Casual gamers? Hardcore gamers?

Person A plays Guitar and likes to take his DS with him on travels and plays puzzle games. Person B plays Guitar Hero and has a preorder for the next war simulation. Who is more hardcore? Who deserves mocking?

If a hardcore gamer is someone with an extremely limited gaming horizon who chooses to dismiss games because of their covers, and a casual gamers is someone with an extremely limited gaming horizon who buys games because of their covers, which one of the two is the bigger idiot?

There is no such thing as the hardcore and the casual gamer, and both terms mean absolutely nothing positive or negative. It's complete and utter nonsense.

Lothenon

Your post just brings one question in mind: What IS a "hardcore gamer"?:? Then again, the definition of the word "hardcore" does translate to gaming. But spending lots of hours gaming is unhealthy, and to the public, "nerdy". There is "video game nerd", after all, one obsessed with games and convinced that games are reality.;)

When talking about "hardcore" music, what comes to mind is screemo, hard rock, and heavy metal. Anything softer like Pop is considered not hardcore. But what does "hardcore" mean? "Hardcore" means to be dedicated, very loyal. It does not mean what is cool or not, or what is "intense". What about someone who's dedicated to just gaming, in general, who plays all sorts of games from a variety of genres, and likes to accomplish everything in each game? That might be a "completionist", though, the type of gamer who likes to play through for everything. And, there's also the "fanboys", who play games only on their system. But, some of us are more dedicated to gaming than others, and some of us may have other interests too so that our hours of gaming are limited. I guess we shouldn't think about it much.

You're right, though, that there are no positives or negatives to being more dedicated to gaming than others. Some people can become too dedicated, resulting in addiction, or in more extreme cases, loss of proper sense of reality.:P

There is no such thing as casual and hardcore gaming. It is a myth. A hurting myth, and it makes a lot of people look very, very stupid. It is even dumber than the now-outdated "kiddy" to put games into certain categories.

What is a hardcore gamer? This?

The kid who can only enjoy a game if it features battles and cutscenes with badly written Action-movie imitations? What is a hardcore gamer? A videogamer who dedicates a lot of time and effort into a game / games and is very absorbed in it? What, then, is the parent who spends hours and hours every week playing The Sims? Is that hardcore? No, why not? What is the person who hold the world records in solitaire and minesweeper? Hardcore or not?

What is a hardcore gamer? A couple of months ago I gave a friend of mine who was very into Diablo and old-school PC gaming a very thorough introduction into both the Wii and the 360 library, complete with long test sessions on proper HD equipment. He bought a Wii. Is that casual?

People love mmore traditional, to-the-point gaming and spend a lot of money on cartoonish, easy-to-play games without an attempt at storytelling or realism. Hardcore?

The twelve-year old who playes two hours of GTA and two hours of Halo every day, and nothing else, because everything else is not manly enough, is he a hardcore gamer? If so, what does that tell us about the "hardcore gamer"?

The gamer who likes the occasional FPS, but finds enjoyment in Wii Fit; who remembers what made him fell in love with games to begin with and perhaps looks forward to A Boy And His Blob more than to Modern Warfare 2, is that a hardcore gamer?

What of the couple that bought a Wii and then slender through the Gamestops of this world, buying games by cover alone, ending up with Punch-Out!!, Animal Crossing and little Kings Story, and enjoying all of them very much? Casual gamers? Hardcore gamers?

Person A plays Guitar and likes to take his DS with him on travels and plays puzzle games. Person B plays Guitar Hero and has a preorder for the next war simulation. Who is more hardcore? Who deserves mocking?

If a hardcore gamer is someone with an extremely limited gaming horizon who chooses to dismiss games because of their covers, and a casual gamers is someone with an extremely limited gaming horizon who buys games because of their covers, which one of the two is the bigger idiot?

There is no such thing as the hardcore and the casual gamer, and both terms mean absolutely nothing positive or negative. It's complete and utter nonsense.

Lothenon