[jimduk]

A build on this, is as a soft-core participant in a game, often it is more enjoyable to participate in a game where the meta is not known, and everyone is in the 'finding different strategies' mode - bit like early days starcraft. Now the Internet exists, everyone jumps to semi-optimal strategies by copying, not putting in their own thinking time. While I admire high level play, at mid/low level it is more fun if the meta is not nailed down, also philosophically I think life is more 'hidden' than people think, and the idea there is a best-move/ common optimising strategy without thinking yourself is detrimental. I personally would like games which are more random, or where optimising is harder and less discoverable and not shareable.

[colonCapitalDee]

Totally agree! Overwatch is often criticized for the pro meta "infecting" regular play, because low/mid level players will find themselves pressured by their teammates to play heroes that are meta at the pro level, even though pro strategies are only meta when they're being executed at the highest level of play.