What's your definition of a Hardcore Gamer?

Is it someone who plays with addictive features like WOW or EQII players?
Someone who devotes thier life to gaming such as taking vacation just to play a COD marathon?
How about the kids who have lost thier jobs and loved ones to gaming?
Or, someone like most of us-presumably. Takes an hour our more a day to stay on top of the latest and greatest game articles, hardwares and of course gets as much time in as he or her can before bedtime and work tomorrow?

What do you think? What makes someone a Hardcore gamer?

I think of them as someone who plays a lot, possibly really good at a few hard games that lots of other people have trouble with. Someone you'd go to if you were having trouble finishing a game.

Also, those people who take the time to make those extensive playthroughs on Gamefaqs and such sites. That takes devotion.

My definition would be someone who spends more than 2 hrs per day gaming.

Persoanlly I think there are varieties of catergories of gamers.

Game enthusiasts

Addicted Gamers

Hardcore Gamers - should include console and PC gamers. Basically Games of all Genre's

Casual Gamers

Console gamers

PC Gamers

PopCap Gamers

Simmers-lol

It doesn't help that everyone's definitions are different, I consider myself a casual gamer, but a casual gamer as usually defined now-a-days makes me look hardcore.

One part great passion for gaming, most parts nothing better to do.

Honestly it doesnt matter how much you play or what games you spend your time with or how much you know. You can be casual with 50 hours a week just as much as you can with 5 or less.

It goes deeper than just having a controller in your hand. Its mental and emotional just as much as it is physical. Its thinking about games more than you play and wishing that the "perfect game" scenario you run through your head on a daily basis was a reality.

I often sit ....idle...for hours amongst my containers of games and shelves of cases just trying to decide what to play. Sometimes i dont even want to play a game but it feels genuinely odd to not be at least trying to play something if i have nothing else to do.

Its like the controller is an extension of myself and without it being connected to something the hands dont know what to do.

It is both pathetic and fascinating at the same time.

Well, I'd say that a "Core" gamer is someone who enjoys playing videogames and does so on a consistent basis. I'd also say that they'd have some knowledge about the industry itself and what's currently going on. It's like a strong passion that makes it hard to give up.

Well, I'd say that a "Core" gamer is someone who enjoys playing videogames and does so on a consistent basis. I'd also say that they'd have some knowledge about the industry itself and what's currently going on. It's like a strong passion that makes it hard to give up.

Dragonblade01

ditto

Hardcore is gamer who spend more than 3 hours/per day playing games (most of the times the latest ones)

Also a Hardcore gamer has better skills (in games) than an everyday man.

For Me Hardcore Gamer = PC

It goes deeper than just having a controller in your hand. Its mental and emotional just as much as it is physical. Its thinking about games more than you play and wishing that the "perfect game" scenario you run through your head on a daily basis was a reality.

Alter_Echo

My definition would be someone who spends more than 2 hrs per day gaming.

icy06

Well you can't really draw a firm line between being a casual or a hardcore gamer like saying when each grain of sand added becomes a pile but my definition would be someone who takes gaming as a hobby: buying gaming magazines, browsing the websites, playing for large periods of time, playing online, taking it seriously, etc.

me

A combination of these things.

Someone who doesn't dismiss any console in a fanboyish manner

Someone who enjoys many genres, and doesn't care what the ESRB rating is on the game

Someone who enjoys legacy games in addition to new games

Someone that keeps up to date with all things gaming

Someone who will try niche, underrated games that the mainstream will never see

Someone that actually cares about the team making the game

Honestly it doesnt matter how much you play or what games you spend your time with or how much you know. You can be casual with 50 hours a week just as much as you can with 5 or less.

It goes deeper than just having a controller in your hand. Its mental and emotional just as much as it is physical. Its thinking about games more than you play and wishing that the "perfect game" scenario you run through your head on a daily basis was a reality.

I often sit ....idle...for hours amongst my containers of games and shelves of cases just trying to decide what to play. Sometimes i dont even want to play a game but it feels genuinely odd to not be at least trying to play something if i have nothing else to do.

Its like the controller is an extension of myself and without it being connected to something the hands dont know what to do.

It is both pathetic and fascinating at the same time.

Alter_Echo

People who play RPGs. For that, you need to be completely immersed into the levelling up and maths. It's hardcore. I'm not too much into it, even though I've played most good WRPGs. Now, casual games are like the shooters. Everyone plays them, all you need is some hand-eye coordination, but not much strategy. digi_matrix

Not true

Also you don't have to play RPGs to be hardcore. That's stupid. I've played RPGs. Final Fantasy, Mario RPGs, old Enix RPGs, and a few WRPGs like Dungeon Seige, and WoW, and KoToR. You can totally immerse yourself in other genres, and it doesn't require you immerse yourself in RPGs to play through them.

me

HarDcore_RpG

When it starts to distract your personal life and make up excuses to not go out, I say that's pretty obsessively hardcore.

Playing 2+ hours every night doesn't seem hardcore at all. I play 3-4 at night simply because TV is boring and doesn't interest me.

All of the above and everything after.

Someone who play a lot of games, most of the time.

I pondered this question and desired definitive definitions...so I made my own. Check it...

TYPES of GAMERS

Is it someone who plays with addictive features like WOW or EQII players?
Someone who devotes thier life to gaming such as taking vacation just to play a COD marathon?
How about the kids who have lost thier jobs and loved ones to gaming?
Or, someone like most of us-presumably. Takes an hour our more a day to stay on top of the latest and greatest game articles, hardwares and of course gets as much time in as he or her can before bedtime and work tomorrow?

What do you think? What makes someone a Hardcore gamer?

Xsan3

I think the title goes to people who have lost something because of their obsession. Whether it be friends, a job or a partner. I think if you are willing to choose your games over social interaction you are pretty hardcore. I am more of a casual gamer but I confess I have wanted to bunk days off work just so I can continue playing games. When I get bored at work all I tend to think about is what game I am going to play when I get home.