Brace yourself… it could be a long one.  In fact, I think I’ll split it into parts.

I’m not sure what kind of gamer I am.  In terms of “next gen” console, I own a Wii and a 360.  I have both a PSP and a DS Lite.  I also own a slew of older consoles and handhelds, such as a Gamecube, PS2, N64, Dreamcast, NES, Atari 2600, DS Phat, Gameboy, Game Gear, and on and on.  I keep all my games, strategy guides, etc.  I play WoW regularly and was once part of a raiding group that had Nefarion on farm status (pre-BC).  I listen to 6-8 gaming-oriented podcasts a week.  I watched all of the big 3 press conferences at E3 last week.  So am I hardcore?  I don’t think so.   So what is a “hardcore” gamer?

Harcore gamers are system fanboys.

My definition of hardcore is basically revolves around the “fanboy.”  You know, the one who comments relentlessly on Joystiq or (insert favorite gaming blog here) that his console is the best because of blah blah blah, and that one sux because of blah blah blah, with no real basis for their beliefs.  The PS2 fanboy, from the last generation, epitomizes this.  The Ps2 was wonderful, in their eyes, because there were over 8,000 titles release for it worldwide.  It was cool, slim, black.  It played DVDs.  The Gamecube, on the other hand, was a kiddy console.  It didn’t have as much 3rd party support.  It couldn’t play DVDs.  It was… gasp… purple!

Forget the fact that between 2001 and 2006, Gamespot awarded their “Game of the Year” award to a PS2 title once (2001-Grand Theft Auto III), while at the same time awarding it to Gamecube titles three times (2002-Metroid Prime, 2003-The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and 2005-Resident Evil 4).  Forget the fact that a ton of those 8,000 PS2 titles were bargin bin schlock (Deer Hunter anyone?).

That’s not to say that there wasn’t any legitimacy to their arguments.  Nintendo didn’t cultivate 3rd party support as well as they should have.  They are in the strange position of having 1st party titles that are almost too successful, intimidating 3rd party companies.  They stuck with the concept of an odd format for their games, which didn’t hold as much data as other consoles.  But that doesn’t mean they didn’t have anything to offer, no matter what your dude friends said.

End of Part 1.