The current state of the "MMORPG" FFXIV is unsustainable. Here's why

[MintnHoney]

Is there really such a thing as being hardcore or casual considering the gaming community in general has never agreed on definitions for those terms?

Yes, there are such things as being a hardcore gamer and a casual gamer.
The problem is that people tend to get offended for being identified as one over the other (usually casual), so personal views have changed the presented definitions over time.

[Jojoya]

They're here but they're on their deathbed, if I have to spell that out for you then there's no point in me wasting my time on you.

Everything dies eventually. Except maybe taxes.

Learn to enjoy what's available while it's available instead of dragging pessimistic luggage around with you.

Yes, there are such things as being a hardcore gamer and a casual gamer.
The problem is that people tend to get offended for being identified as one over the other (usually casual), so personal views have changed the presented definitions over time.

So then what are the definitions of each?

Personally I have no problems being identified as casual. Even when I was a core healer for a realm first guild in WoW (small realm, we weren't world first material outside of one player who retired from that rat race), I considered myself casual. I liked the raiding for the challenge to see how far I could push myself but I liked what was considered casual content even more. But my idea of casual probably wouldn't match what others see as casual.

What I dislike is the people who try to blame casuals for killing MMOs when that has never been the case.

[MintnHoney]

So then what are the definitions of each?

A hardcore gamer is a gamer who does put in a major investment of time and/or effort into their gaming, regardless of their aptitude or capability.
A casual gamer is a gamer who does not put in a major investment of time and/or effort into their gaming, regardless of their aptitude or capability.

Note that it isn't unheard of to be hardcore for one game, but casual for another; a person can be both for different games, just not for the same game, and to differing degrees.

Furthermore, "hardcore gamer" sometimes gets conflated to mean someone with more skill, but this is ultimately just due to their consistent investment of time and/or effort rather than being an accurate use of the label. A hardcore gamer can still be bad at a game that they play and remain hardcore. Likewise, "casual gamer" sometimes gets conflated to mean someone with less skill, but this is ultimately also just due to their investment of time and/or effort, and, therefore, can still be great at a game that they play while remaining casual.

What I dislike is the people who try to blame casuals for killing MMOs when that has never been the case.

I think, when people say that "casuals are killing MMOs," they usually mean that they're ruining the experience that hardcore players tend to look for in an MMO, which can actually be true if there's not enough in the MMO to keep the hardcore player's attention because of changes made to accommodate "needs" (perceived or otherwise) for casual players (particularly when and/or if those changes happen to remove or diminish the experience as originally presented to the hardcore player).

[Jojoya]

I think, when people say that "casuals are killing MMOs," they usually mean that they're ruining the experience that hardcore players tend to look for in an MMO, which can actually be true if there's not enough in the MMO to keep the hardcore player's attention because of changes made to accommodate "needs" (perceived or otherwise) for casual players (particularly when and/or if those changes happen to remove or diminish the experience as originally presented to the hardcore player).

Except this game has so much content that even a hardcore player (by your definition) has plenty of content to choose from.

In one of the semi-related threads that have been floating around recently, someone was lamenting the lack of grinds in the game. I responded with a list of titles that each require hundreds of hours of time investment to earn. I'd be surprised if there were more than a handful of players in the game that had managed to earn half the titles I listed let alone all of them.

If someone who considers themselves hardcore is having a hard time staying occupied, it's because their content interests are very narrow instead of broad. In which case, why did they choose a theme park MMOJRPG to play? Why are they not playing a game that caters solely to their area of interest? It seems like they should choose to be casual in this game and pick another where they are hardcore. It's not like there's a lack of games to choose from.

[SaltyDaddy]

Except this game has so much content that even a hardcore player (by your definition) has plenty of content to choose from.

What if they dont care about the fishing, crafting, TT cards and have done everything else? Are you going to tell em to get the rarest treasure map achievements, just because thats possible content? Buhh.
Try to think about a moment why are those titles so rare. Its not that those grinds are hard. Its because they are crippled by low RNG, or are brain-destroying and not fun at all.

So no. Just because a game have mind numbing grinds doesnt mean it have content.