Videos games SHOULD NOT be difficult... (It hurts the Video Game)

[binary solo]

Nem said:

I think every game should aspire to give a challenge, though not an insane one. One that gives you small hurdles to overcome.
They do need to add measures to reduce the frustration so you dont lose a huge ammount of your time when you fail, otherwise you ditch the whole series. So, im in agreement with that.

Keep them with some level of challenge, but reduce the frustration from failing. Allow the player to not feel punished but motivated to do better.

Why? Challenging is not the only thing a video game can aspire to be, and these days may no longer even be the main thing. There is a much broader range of experience that can be had from video games than when they first appeared. If a video game aspires to someting other than a gameplay challenge then gameplay challenge may detract from the main purpose of the game. A video game should aspire to be an enjoyable experience for people who are interested in whatever the game is trying to do. Whether that's challenging gameplay or immersive experience or something else doesn't matter. The size of the audience you attract for a video game will be largely determined by what elements the developer focusses on as the main source of enjoyment. 

I think it's a really bad idea to suggest any sort of formula or standard method for how a game should or shouldn't be challenging. some people want a really tough experience, others want a largely stress free time with their games. All preferences should be catered to.