I'll start things off.
This is old shit, but if you remember when Gamergate was at its height, a lot of them complained about "walking simulators," games like Gone Home, Dear Esther, etc. with very little in the way of typical gameplay mechanics like challenges that have to be overcome through skill or failure states. Gamergate dipshits seized on a white-hot, psychopathic hatred of these games, spinning the lack of skill required into bizarre conspiracy theories about game journalists promoting these as a plot by non-gamers to pave the way for the infiltration of gaming by "anti-gamers." Also because a lot of these games are about minorities, who of course GG assholes considered by default to not be "real gamers."
The thing is, I don't like walking simulators either. I've only played a few, but the only one I even kind of enjoyed was The Beginner's Guide (and even then, I don't think I would've missed out on much if I'd watched a longplay instead). The medium is the message, as the old saying goes, and the ability to engage through interaction with the mechanics is what sets games apart from other media. Walking simulators (and visual novels, but that's a different gripe) don't take advantage of this in a way that gets me invested. To me, a walking simulator feels like the equivalent of a movie that consists solely of a guy sitting in a chair and reading a story out loud.
The difference between me and a GG dipshit, of course, is that my dislike of the genre doesn't hinge on ridiculous conspiracy theories or hatred of minorities, and also that rather than wage some crusade to kick walking sims out of the gaming club, I just don't play them. In any case, though, the association is strong enough that it's something I tend to avoid bringing up.
I don't understand people being against options in games. What's so incredibly hurtful to you about me, who sucks at games, being able to enjoy the same story as you? You're still able to play exactly the same game on the same difficulty, but now I can enjoy it too, and wanting to enjoy the same thing as you is a thing you want to complain about??? If a sizeable number of people wanted a COD 3rd person mode or a GTA less-crime mode.. what would be wrong with that? If a bunch of people would enjoy it more, those would be a cool options.
While I sort of agree on the drugs thing, I'd also urge some minor empathy for such people. I'm not sure anybody gets into hard drugs because their life is going swell and totally normally and happily, no matter the immediate circumstance.
Yes. It's subculture devolution. Please see here for an explanation: https://devonzuegel.com/post/geeks-mops-and-sociopaths-in-subculture-evolution
This is some freaky messed up stuff, honestly. Subcultures can and do exist very healthily without being solely composed of CREATORS and FANATICS. I do not understand this bizarre based-on-nothing philosophy. Anyone who thinks people who want to casually enjoy stuff are MOPS who RUIN ALL SUBCULTURES is very misguided.
Sure, casually enjoy whatever you want. But when what you want is a watered-down version of what fanatics want, yes that is subculture devolution and the article hits the point head-on.
But I don't want a watered-down version of anything. I want a version with a completely optional, easy to implement mode that means I can actually enjoy it at all in the first place, and thus be a FANATIC about everything else about it.