Define "Hardcore player", please

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Sovyn wrote:

Someone who understands most of the game mechanics, is aware of all uniques and skill gems available, knows the passive tree very well, and reads patch notes. Play time irrelevant.

If play time is irrelevant, am I a hardcore player even though I no longer play path of exile? I keep up-to-date in the off chance that the game changes some of the things that have driven me away.

I think a hardcore player is someone who invests a ton of time into a game.

That's it.

Now, hardcore from the perspective of the game? That's completely subjective with far too many variables.

hardcore player: one who enjoys playing in a hardcore league
softcore player: one who enjoys playing in a softcore league
loser: one who instead of enjoying the game in any of the above ways complains about someone else's fun time
troll:one who instead of enjoying the game frequents the forums trying to prove that he somehow is better than others, like this has anyting to do with having fun