Rationalization.
If you’re an avid gamer who thinks cinematic games with impressive graphics, voice acting, complex (yet poor) scenarios and cutscenes are THE “real” games, what are you going to do if, against all odds, you like Wii Sports
Think about Christensen and his point about customers not necessarily knowing what they want. I believe that some people among avid gamers are customers who don’t really know what they want (any more). Resort? Three possibilities: realize that what you thought you liked games for was wrong, realize that you can enjoy both approaches, or rationalize the situation, i.e. making it fit your vision of gaming so that you can still hate on so-called “casual” gaming. I think that’s what you call insecurity.
One of the principle things about disruption is that the disruption starts off at the low end, often of a new market, and is seen as a ‘crappy product for crappy customers’. The core customers look at it and scoff. But, over time, the disruptive product refines itself, gets better, and might eventually become “good enough” for some of the core customers to raise their eyebrows at. They might say something like, “Wii Sports Golf wasn’t that good. But the control of Wii Sports Resort Golf is really nice.”
I can imagine this scenario from Hardcore Land:
“Paul, I need to talk to you.”
“What’s up?”
“Have you seen Bob lately?”
“No, why?”
“I caught him playing Wii Sports Resort with a big grin on his face.”
*pause*
“Oh my God.”
“Exactly. We all pledged to stop the casual filth that was Wii Sports. Then I find him… PLAYING with its sequel!”
“This is major! It means… it means… that Bob has gone casual…”
*Bob walks in*
“Hi guys! Ready for some Modern War?”
“Bob! Tell us you… you didn’t… play Wii Sports Resort.”
*Bob shrugs* “It is pretty fun. You should try it as…”
*The other two people scream. Paul holds up a PlayStation controller, with its many buttons, up to Bob as if he were holding a crucifix to a vampire. “Back you casual creature! Back!”
So you might be right. I think the hardcore should relax and think of games like Wii Sports and all as bringing back the intense arcade experience and shortness back to gaming.