Please make games harder not easier.

I think features that let you change the difficulty level mid game, or even let you buy hints is a good feature, but something that holds your hand because you can't seem to get the hang of it is not something they should do.

I would rather have a game that takes me forever to finish. I have this thing where I have to complete my games 100%, so if it takes me a long time, I see it as a good thing. Makes the game last.

But for everyone, I just think it would be cool to make the difficulty and length it takes to finish balanced.

I disagree with this article on so many levels...

Sure, fine. Too bad these features only further appease an already spoiled community of (mostly console) gamers. Then when a truly challenging game comes along, people cry like little bitches, even when devs include Easy/Casual modes. Basically, these gamers want to be guided by the hand during play, but they feel embarrassed by anything below Normal mode... so they blame the game! I suppose this may be why Devil May Cry 4 was the easiest of the entire series.

Coincidentally, a friend just informed me today that he was not impressed with Dragon Age... and promptly began complaining about mechanics (too complex) and an absurdly difficult Normal setting. And to that I say:

Here's the thing, people that are still in high school and have too much time on their hands than they know what to do with don't mind brain-*bleep*ingly hard games. However the people that go to school and also work all week can't deal with that shit.

Also, there's a huge difference between a game requiring skill and a game just being unfairly difficult. Games that require skill and reward that skill I'm all for. I however am not in favor of cheap game design where it seems the only intention of the developers was to create the hardest game possible for no discernible reason.

I have a great and recent example...
Let's take MW2 on veteran for instance. It's stupidly hard, and by stupid I mean you're usually running around with like 5 other dudes but the enemies ONLY ever shoot at you. So there are 5 enemies on the screen and all your teammates next to you and all 5 enemies funnel their fire at you. Stupid. I have no problem with the game being unforgiving and not letting you take many bullets, that's fine, but having the enemies only shoot you and your teammates being absolutely worthless just make for bad and unrealistic game design.

On the OTHER hand, Uncharted 2 on Crushing is extremely challenging but the enemies actually shoot at your teammates AND your teammates are capable of taking out enemies reasonably enough too.

Here's how I tell the difference, in Uncharted 2 anytime I died I felt like it was my fault. I knew I shouldn't have rushed them, I knew I made a stupid mistake etc. MW2 always felt just dumb when every enemy would not only fire only on me but they always knew exactly where I was no matter what. I guess it doesn't help that the game is extremely linearly meaning there aren't many chances to flank your enemies to begin with.