Hardcore Civil War

Lately, there have been a number of stories such as this one complaining about ‘fanboyism’. In that story, the ‘fanboyism’ are the petitions against Fallout 3 and Diablo 3. But what are the petitions about? They are about wanting the games to NOT BE accessible, to NOT BE colorful, and so on. Does this sound like ‘fanboyism’ to you? It sounds like ‘Hardcore’.

The hardcore are in a difficult situation. Members of the Hardcore Tribe have begun jumping the shark with making themselves look absolutely ridiculous. When people make a petition that Diablo 3 be ‘dark and gritty’ and complain about ‘too many colors’, everyone can see what is going on here. The hardcore are being revealed for who they are.

Trying to place these misfits into a box called ‘fanboys’ is hardcore damage control. All ‘fanboys’ are hardcore. And what does ‘fanboy’ mean? People signing the Diablo 3 and Fallout 3 petitions are not all fans of the game. But they are all hardcore. ‘Fanboy’ is a blob-like word that means ‘something undesirable’ and often ‘crazed fanatic’. In fact, the way how ‘fanboy’ is used could be substituted with ‘fanatic’ and you’d have the same meaning.

Declaring people to be ‘fanboys’ is like pissing down your own leg. It is hot to you, but you stink to everyone else. Like any group, the hardcore have their bad apples and crazed nuts. They know these ‘petition makers’ are hurting the Holy Hardcore Cause and are trying to seperate them with the label (which is trotted out whenever to create an image of a ‘fanatic’) of ‘fanboy’.

But all ‘fanboys’ are hardcore. The flip side is that you don’t hear from the ‘new audience’ is whining, moaning, and petitions. They either buy the game or they don’t. But will anyone admit that the eeeeeeevil ‘casuals’ are better customers than the woooonderful ‘hardcore’? Never.