What is this... "Hardcore Gamer"?

     While doing some research for an upcoming post, I stumbled upon the urban dictionary definition of what a "Hardcore Gamer" is. At first, I was amused. I'd be the first to say that anything from Urban Dictionary shouldn't be taken seriously, but I actually found myself agreeing with the definition. At least, that is, at first...

*Stereotypical Hardcore Gamer*

     The definition on Urban Dictionary is as follows:

     Hardcore Gamer: Someone who plays video games as a primary hobby. They tend to spend large amounts of time playing games, often in excess of two or three hours a day. Hardcore gamers tend to care less about graphics than casual gamers. While some specialize in a single genre, they typically have fairly diverse taste in games, frequently playing a wide variety of games from different genres. They'll often seek out obscure and older games, based on word of mouth or positive critical reception. Hardcore gamers put good gameplay above all else, and don't mind if a good game has poor (or even nonexistent) graphics, sound, characters and plot.

     Up until this point, I would agree with the definition. It was incredibly well written for something that appeared on Urban Dictionary. But this being the internet, things quickly jumped the rails into full-on idiocy shortly thereafter:

     The stereotypical hardcore gamer is out of shape, and has poor hygiene. They spend a lot of their disposable income on video games, consoles, or PC upgrades, and a large percentage of their free time either playing video games or discussing them, online and off. They wear either black clothing, or T-shirts with geeky pop-culture references, often of video games. Their social skills may be sub-par, and they may be less likely than others their age to have many friends, a job, and a girlfriend/boyfriend. Some of these stereotypes are negative, and they certainly don't apply to all hardcore gamers, but there's a fair amount of truth to them.

     ... Actually, as much as I'd hate to admit it, that's mostly right. Take out the bad hygiene and lack of a job and every other stereotype in that list applies to me. WHAT KIND OF NONSENSE IS THIS? An Urban Dictionary definition that is actually somewhat correct and makes sense? When did the internet become a place of logic and wisdom?

      But wait... what then is a "Casual Gamer"? This is another question that I've been pondering over the years. What does Urban Dictionary have to say about Casual Gamers?

     Casual Gamer: Casual gamers make up the silent majority of computer and console game players that:
1, Use PC and console games as a means of socializing or to connect with friends rather than as an achievement or to further their reputation as a skillful game player.
2, Are, by definition, inferior in skill to any hardcore gamer.
3, Do not play casual games (Um... What?).
4, Play mainly console based games due to their ease of setup and "plug & play" capability (I would also add phone games to this).
5, Inherently feel a need to confront hardcore gamers due to their own inferior skills and the hardcore gamers inherent need to prove [themselves] victorious (That's not true, trolling at its simplest). Any casual gamer that successfully challenges a hardcore gamer is not a casual gamer, but a hardcore gamer in denial (Also not true, because any hardcore gamer worth his salt would never lose to a dirty causal... LOL).
     Obviously, all gamers are bound by the desire to win at any given game, there would be no point to any game if that were not true, but the over-riding desire to connect with other individuals, be it close friends or distant acquaintances define the casual gamer (Seems legit, although I'm not sure how I feel about it).
     Hardcore gamers have a generally negative, and often derogatory view of casual gamers, looked upon as the plague of the video game industry. While hardcore gamers are in the minority of gamers, they provide an invaluable resource to developers on both the hardware and software end. Without the hardcore gamers passion and dedication to the art, we would not have the quality games that are available today (Absolutely true).
     Since the purchase power of the casual gamer determines what becomes a best seller, it is understandable why the hardcore gamer has such contempt for the group (THIS. THIS RIGHT HERE).

     I can't even form into words how much I agree with those last two. Because of the purchase power is in the hands of the casual gamers, the developers are starting to sway towards the casual side. We're seeing less "hardcore" games, games that require time and skill to play and master, and more "causal games", games that have little challenge, do a lot of hand-holding, and cater to the disdain of failure so rampant in the world. The game doesn't want you to fail because those with casual attitudes don't have the attention span to overcome the challenge.

     *HUFF* I know, I shouldn't get so worked up about this. There is a small part of me that thinks we shouldn't have to differentiate between the two, that we're all gamers and we should all enjoy our games as a unified community. But it sickens me that the power to influence the gaming market lies in the hands of the casuals, and not the hardcore gamers.

     I'm actually rather happy to have found this. Now I have a definition that I agree with that I can use when the time comes for a debate... if one ever comes... so lonely... *sniff*