A more popular activity by the hardcore is attempting to educate the Game Industry about the evils of casual gamers. In their warnings, the hardcore say these casual gamers are ruining video games by making games more accessible, less time consuming, and being able to be played by the entire family. The tone of the hardcore gamer describing this great casual threat is not unlike ancient Romans pleading to Caesar that the barbarians are at the gates.
Since gaming is seen as an achievement in their lives (where the Game Industry has even created ‘achievements’ in games to make the hardcore feel good about wasting time), it is not enough for the hardcore gamer to ‘win’ at a game. Others must fail. If everyone is gaming, where does that leave the hardcore? Hardcore gaming is, ultimately, a social clique made by people who couldn’t get into a social clique in high school. And just like high school, the presence of grandma ruins everything.
When engaging the hardcore in a conversation about the evil casual gamers, it is important that you never mention games the hardcore enjoys. The hardcore prefer to hate game companies that don’t make stuff they like.
