@BranKetra said:
The first time I read about hardcore gamers was when it was referring to skilled players who considered playing video games to be a hobby that could be enjoyed by children and adults alike. That has been what I have considered hardcore gamers to be for years. Only recently have I begun to see comments that it is meant to be demeaning. I do not know when that started, but it is something I refuse to adopt. A more stylish definition would be fitting for the group that bought into the video game industry despite years of trivialization by mainstream audiences. That will come when games are more accepted by the mainstream media and those who share the same opinions. As it is, gaming remains a niche hobby despite the fact that over fifty percent of American households own least a single dedicated video game console of the seventh generation since 2013. The best things about gaming would not be without us.
http://www.theesa.com/facts/pdfs/esa_ef_2013.pdf
I would agree with you, In fact I used to answer this question like the difference between motorcycle enthusiasts and bikers. One makes it a lifestyle the other a minor hobby but they are both valid and essential to the motorcycle industry and culture.
However the reason I answered the way I did is in the last two years or so, especially on certain sites (not really this one as much) those that self identify as hardcore have started to sound more and more like the jokes about hipsters.
I don't know how many times in that period I have been called a casual because of an opinion or not playing a certain game even though I have played since Atari and owned all the major consoles since and helped keep this industry alive when it was culturaly niche too and being a gamer was like being a nerd. Its like if not for people like me there would be no industry for these guys to be able to narrowly view and condescend to those that are different.
Plus I believe any culture where the main requirement has been met, in this case games being a main hobby, diversity is key to growth and sustainability.
So that's why I hate on the term hardcore.
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