So I am new to the diablo series, and I've been researching the hell out of this game.
The only thing I really don't understand are the modes.
I know there are 4 difficulty modes,
Normal
Nightmare
Hell
Inferno
But I keep hearing of this hardcore mode. What is it? Is it where if you die you die for good and you have to start over again? And does the hardcore go together with the other difficulties so you could do like...
Hardcore Normal
Hardcore Nightmare
Hardcore Hell
Hardcore Inferno
???
EDIT: And what is the purpose of hardcore mode? Prestige? Better gear drops?