1. Because most "Hardcore" gamers aren't really hardcore gamers but pretentious and sometimes borderline paranoid pricks who needs someone to blame for any change that a game series makes that they don't agree with. Most true hardcore gamers probably don't give a shit and would just rather play their games.
Another major problem is that no one can agree on what makes a "casual gamer" or an "hardcore gamer". Personally, before I'd heard about this whole casual versus hardcore thing going on, I'd have said I'm casual. To me, casual gamers would be someone who just plays and enjoys the games but doesn't go all too far with it.
An hardcore gamer to me would be someone who enters the tournaments and does nothing but game and practice for those tournaments. Putting everything they have into it. That to me is hardcore... Everyone else, your fairly casual in my eyes.
The those that claim to be hardcore gamers seem to be a mix of these tropes: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StopHavingFunGuys
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HateDumb
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FanDumb
(bandwagon hater and he panned it now it sucks seems to be a pretty accurate description for most of them in my books.)
2. Not at all, no. Hating on someone relative to his or her taste or skill level in gaming is petty. That and half the flack they get is undeserved, most accuse casual gamers as the reason a game becomes easy... When really, most "Casual" gamers I've hung around with are fairly competent when it comes to gaming. For the most part, the reason the games become "easier" and more accessible is because the designers may see the last feature as a design flaw and unnecessary, thus they get rid of it. Then, those that were fans of that flaw because they managed to overcome it start crying foul. So moving out a bad design choice becomes "Dumbing it down" when really... Its just getting rid of something that really doesn't do the game any favors and, more often than not, was the target of many complaints from the fanbase until the decided to rid the game of it.
3. As many have said, having fun is at the top of the list. Though I do enjoy being told a good story through the game.
4. I don't really know. I just play my games and enjoy them. I'm not all for the labeling business.
Though I've got and idea in my head that I'm going to be crucified for my opinions here but well... My opinions are my opinions. Respect them as I respect yours.
Another major problem is that no one can agree on what makes a "casual gamer" or an "hardcore gamer". Personally, before I'd heard about this whole casual versus hardcore thing going on, I'd have said I'm casual. To me, casual gamers would be someone who just plays and enjoys the games but doesn't go all too far with it.
An hardcore gamer to me would be someone who enters the tournaments and does nothing but game and practice for those tournaments. Putting everything they have into it. That to me is hardcore... Everyone else, your fairly casual in my eyes.
The those that claim to be hardcore gamers seem to be a mix of these tropes: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StopHavingFunGuys
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HateDumb
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FanDumb
(bandwagon hater and he panned it now it sucks seems to be a pretty accurate description for most of them in my books.)
2. Not at all, no. Hating on someone relative to his or her taste or skill level in gaming is petty. That and half the flack they get is undeserved, most accuse casual gamers as the reason a game becomes easy... When really, most "Casual" gamers I've hung around with are fairly competent when it comes to gaming. For the most part, the reason the games become "easier" and more accessible is because the designers may see the last feature as a design flaw and unnecessary, thus they get rid of it. Then, those that were fans of that flaw because they managed to overcome it start crying foul. So moving out a bad design choice becomes "Dumbing it down" when really... Its just getting rid of something that really doesn't do the game any favors and, more often than not, was the target of many complaints from the fanbase until the decided to rid the game of it.
3. As many have said, having fun is at the top of the list. Though I do enjoy being told a good story through the game.
4. I don't really know. I just play my games and enjoy them. I'm not all for the labeling business.
Though I've got and idea in my head that I'm going to be crucified for my opinions here but well... My opinions are my opinions. Respect them as I respect yours.
