I like to use running a marathon as an analogy. Just to show how weird some of these takes on difficulty, achievement, gatekeeping and elitism really are.
Let's say you wanted to to the Rock n Roll Marathon in Vegas this November this year, about 7 months from now.
https://www.runrocknroll.com/en/Events/Las-Vegas/Vegas-Register
(I recommend the "Rock n Roll" series of races for anyone interested as they are great events and you'll have an awesome time)
First off you have to pay 142 bucks just to enter the race.
Then you are going to have to commit to training if you really want to run the thing and not find yourself shuffling around for 8 hours.
You're gonna need running gear so that's more money.
Travel to the event (maybe hotel stays). Food, transport. Etc etc.
So since you've paid all that money are you entitled to just cycle the course? Maybe take a taxi to the finish line?
One of the things you will find if you are into running is that there is a great sense of camaraderie among fellow runners and if you go online there are a few worthwhile communities. Personally I have the local running club here and we have a great time building up to big events.
One of the main things there is that we all face the same 26.2 miles. Some will drop out before the end. Some will aim for spectacular finishing times but will crash and burn on the day (exactly what happened during my first ever marathon). The big thing is that there is no getting around the fact that you need to do 26.2 miles to get your medal.
There ARE concessions made for people with disabilities. However, if you are able bodied then there's only one way to get the thing done.
Is it really "gatekeeping" if people say "able bodied people can't just use a scooter and get a finish time and a medal, that's not right"?
Is it really "elitism" to respond to "how can I improve my finishing time" with an answer of "train more and train better"?
I can hardly imagine the response in the running community if someone comes out with "I got a bus for 20 miles then just ran the 6.2k to the finish line... and I feel fine". Oh, no, I don't need to imagine.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/753976/con-your-marks/
https://forums.runnersworld.co.uk/discussion/347123/london-marathon-cheaters-lets-do-this
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...rs-caught-cheating-in-shenzhens-half-marathon
Is this gate keeping? Elitism.
After all, if I paid to enter the race then why does anyone care that I hopped on a bus to skip half the course?
I didn't affect their experience.
Of course you take one fucking look at Jim Sterling and maybe you do understand why...
So it is with From games.
Part of the appeal is the unflinching difficulty.
Part of the appeal is that the community all faces the same challenge and faces it together.
Maybe people trying to subvert or undermine that do deserve ridicule? Not abuse, not harassment, but I have nothing against someone having a gentle go at folks who have to "cheat" to beat the game. Even more so when the attitude is "I cheated and I feel fine". What a total fucking loser.
I've said it before, it's the same predictable people with the same predictable takes on this.
The same folks who seem to begrudge anyone feeling a sense of achievement in completing a challenge.
Suddenly we are all super interested in games just being a bit of fun. Great add the big ol titties back into Mortal Kombat then, I love those things! NOT THAT KIND OF FUN! Ah, I see.
Let's be honest here. If Sekiro has released to lukewarm reviews and didn't have all the hype and the entertaining streaming and hadn't sold well then this conversation never happens. However it's the popular game of the day so totally not entitled gamers need to whine about how it's not accessible for people who don't want to get good.
I'm reminded of this article:
https://www.theguardian.com/comment...ape-the-relentless-pressure-to-improve-myself
Something that's very telling for me is that so many of the opinions on this revolve around disdain for, or mockery of, people who do seem to take pride in the achievement of beating a hard game. Like there is this underlying hatred of people who are not only good at these games but are somewhat proud of their achievements.
It's like looking at the winners podium after a marathon and going "who the fuck do they smug gits thing they are? Fucking going on about training and hard work... ooooh you trained hard and feel a great sense of achievement do you? Fucking get over yourself!"
Why not just let people enjoy their achievement? Even if you don't respect that achievement you can't just let them have it?
I think, no matter what anyone says, that having a single difficulty mode and making that quite challenging does give the games a sense of exclusivity and prestige. I don't really get why anyone would want to take the shine off of that other than just outright pettiness because they can't stand the few people who are quite arrogant and smug about it.
Jim using that aristocrat character just looks like the mask slipping right off for me. His beef is with people who think they are "all that" cos they can complete hard games. Can't you just ignore them? Who gives a fuck?
"I don't care about difficulty in games. Wait, is that guy bragging about beating tough games!? FETCH MY MAKE UP AND MY COSTUME!"
I know this video is shared a few times on the thread now but I will also encourage others to watch it.
Unfortunately, I think eventually From Software will cave in and their next big "souls" style release will be dogged with similar arguments until they just relent and make the game a bit less FromSoft and a bit more UbiSoft.
Then we can all be happy that we don't need to work hard to achieve the thing anymore. Throw those medals in the bin boys because any old asshole can just cycle to the finish line. Fuck it.