A new definition for the title "hard-core gamer?"

Newp. I don't like the idea either. Myself, when a game holds me, I up the difficulty and switch of any extras that give my character an advantage. Case in point >>> here's a video of me owning the Nightcrawler boss in F.E.A.R. in Extreme Difficulty WITHOUT using SloMo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJWV0lAxMAA

(Sorry no audio; unregistered recording software)

I like and don't like the idea.

How about making games that at the hardest level of 1988 you get to play the whole game in 8bit graphics and only get to use the dpad and 1 button. :)

would be very depressing.. it worked with old games cause they were shorter and arcadey styled you cant have games like Metal gear no saves otherwise you wil have to leave your playstation on for days probably. If you think your a 'hardcore gamer' just try a very challenging game, get it 100% trophies/achievments and play online against good players, push yourself to your limits if you have the time/ if u can be arsed? If not... maybe try um getting a life or something else to do in your free time? :P

@scottjacksonx on twitter says ""1988 Mode". i can almost navigate the first Act of Green Hill Zone with my eyes closed."

@OcelotPotPie on twitter says "Great column from @loresjoberg: Think you're a hardcore gamer? Try playing in "1988 mode." (via @wilw)"

im down for 1988 mode.
but tourney winner = casual gamer?? how about moderate gamer...at the most! lol

ahahaa thats awesome. Funny enough Mario and I were just talking the other day about how you cant really die in games anymore. Sure you can die but all you will lose is some weapons and money or something...or you can just reload your last save, no harm no foul. In some ways I like this because it can make games more like a puzzle to solve in different ways...but in other ways I miss the challenge of actually having to try hard to stay alive.

sounds good.

it is sony and microsoft who like to use these tags. 'we are for the "hardcore" audience...that system over there is for the "kiddy" audience."

let's go play some "kiddy" ninja gaiden 3!

sadly i have to agree i sort of miss 1988 games... hell i remember when you had a list of games you beat

i remember when screwing up in a game was a mega piss off, now it is just a minor who cares got to do the last 5min over again... rather then the controller goes flying i go into a 10min rant about the past 3 hours i just wasted only to screw up as i storm outside pretend to smoke and go back down stairs with a bottle of coke a and a twofour of crown in the other hand and try it again... those were the good old days of frustration...

today is just a bunch of watered down any nub can play BS.

well, if you want to get pissed off all the time then being a hardcore gamer is for you.

I completely disagree with this, me personally i love how the new games are setup; and being a hard core gamer i have damaged many control pads because i ran out of 'lives'........

I even smashed a window, but thats irrelevant...It's because of passionate gamers like me, why they thought this was a great idea....The fact that Halo can respawn from anywhere is actually the only reason i still play that game.

This makes the most sense ever!!1 Very aggrevating but it upped the ante.