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Hardcore gaming" is an activity that involves learning every possible maneuver/ability/stage in a videogame not only to win, but to win efficiently, making the fewest mistakes and taking the least amount of time to win. Winning may be collecting items, downing opponents, completing levels etcetera. Winning can be any combination of these goals and may vary depending on the game.
Spending countless hours playing a game may be a result of
hardcore gaming, but is not a requirement. Simply playing a game without striving to improve or master the game is
not hardcore gaming. That would be casual gaming.
After or near mastery of the game, the player can be called a hardcore gamer for the said game.
(Danny is positioned in front of his television with a controller in his lap.)
Mary: Why is Danny repeatedly playing the same
racetrack over and over with different cars? There are many more tracks in that game!
Austin: Well, isn't obvious that he's trying to learn the track and find the car best
suited for that track? You don't know much about
hardcore gaming, do you Mary?
