The hardest one I can usually, because games nowadays have become more about plowing through without a care in the world. I can't stand that. There's nothing worse in video games then being bored when I play because games are created to fit the LCD.

Normal is usually the most balanced difficulty for the first playthrough. It's usually not too easy, and it definitely isn't too hard. With the limited time I have for games, I'd rather not waste it on too hard difficulties so hard is really not an option at first. I'd really like to pick hard but different games have a lot of variety between their hards which makes it pretty hard to predict how hard it's actually going to be. Normal, not so much variety.

Usually on normal and pick harder ones if I like the game. But if normal is too easy from the go, I change right up.

From about 2 years ago, started choosing hard everytime, there are so few games that are genuinely challenging amymore.

Usually normal. Either because that's the default option and I don't feel like changing it, or because that provides the most balanced gameplay.

There's exceptions though, if a game's good enough for a re-play I'll likely choose the harder setting. Doesn't happen a lot, because most games I play though a second time don't even have difficulty settings (most Nintendo games or simulation games like SimCity). Also, I set certain RTS games like the Total War games to a harder difficulty because that improves the AI which makes the game more interesting and more realistic. Lastly, I only play(ed) Guitar Hero in Expert mode because that was the only way the games were fun.

Hard is my normal, then I move onto the next highest difficulty if I like the game. If you've played videogames for at least fifteen years, hard should be your normal, because it shows some proficiency and a need to get a challenge out of a game.

Always on hard, and on very hard in RPGs. Today's "hard" is normal by oldschool standards.

Exactly. I can't stand it either. What's the point? Modern games are like a theme park ride on normal. You can't fail in anything you do in the game. There's no bad choices, no matter what weapon, what item, stat, build or what other option inside the game you choose it doesn't matter, it's always successful on normal difficulty. I hate the LCD mentality.

I can only ever justify playing a game on normal if I only want to "experience" the game and I have very little time. But I haven't been able to force me to do that in many years.

Normal, on games like devil may cry 3 I would go normal, then hard, easy and then the one above hard just to beat it in each difficulty level

I always choose the hardest setting available. Regardless of what type of game it is.