There seems to be an argument that "git gud" is beginning to become quite annoying in the gaming community, though I do agree with the sentiment that it can be quite barring for new players, there also seems to be a dissatisfaction in the recent difficulty to the point of hand holding like a granny (though it seems to become less vocal over the years with the demand for harder games being a thing and people actually delivering).
So the question becomes how should it be handled to satisfy a majority of players? (because God knows you can't please everyone)
Side question: How competent should we expect players to be getting into the game? (game journalist competent? basement-dwelling level competent? what's the middle-ground?)
I'm personally in the "Difficulty gives incentives restricted to higher difficulties" because it's a great way to get casual players in while giving a small sort of "thanks" to players that take the effort to go through the game at a harder difficulty.
If you want to add anything to the poll, feel free to suggest.
EDIT: I can't chance the poll without resetting the results so if anyone needs more examples (off the top of my head):
- No difficulty settings, the game must be accessible to all: Portal... I need more examples
- Difficulty should scale to player: Resident evil 4, Fallout: New Vegas and Fallout 3,
- Difficulty should have no other incentive asides challenge and achievements: X-COM, Doom, Most games on steam
- Difficulty gives incentives restricted to higher difficulties: Bastion & Transistor (the idol and limiter system), Cuphead , Any game that has a different ending on hardmode
- No difficulty settings, the game must be for the skilled: Dark Souls, bloodborne, Hotline Miami
- why not all (most) of these?: Left 4 Dead (Reelism mode and the AI director),