Popularity is good for a good game, but it has some pretty hilarious side-effects, not the least of which are the interesting human characters it creates.
1) The Elitist - like the Indie/Hipster, this guy played this game before everyone thought it was cool, and he lets you know. Somehow thinks that he is a better person and more worthy of playing the game than you are, because since you bought it after it became popular (because that's when you heard about it), clearly you are some sort of poser.
2) The (real) Poser - For some reason wishes he was the Elitist. Acts like the Elitist, but actually started playing this game, like, yesterday.
3) Other People - unfortunately, when a game becomes popular, its audience extends beyond the closed realm of people that you think are cool. Sometimes, this new group includes assholes. Sometimes, the original group included assholes, but now there are more of them.
4) The Winner - Now that everybody's playing the game, this guy just has to become the best. He'll level-grind, "practice", learn to SHFFL, whatever, as long as he's BETTER THAN YOU. And he'll never shut up about it once he is.
5) The Enemy Fanboy - I tried for a while to come up with what to call this guy, and I think he's a little mis-named, but whatever - this guy has never played this game, but hates it for being popular, and especially hates it for being more popular than his favorite game by his favorite developer. He'll crawl forums, prejudge, and insult you for playing this game because it's a trend or something. Similar to people who have never played the Wii, but hate its guts for "destroying the industry" or something. Also similar to Wii-fanboys who hate the PS3, but similarly, have never touched one.
6) The Crusader - devotes his time to crawling forums, and doing battle with the Enemy Fanboy. Then he becomes one. Damn it.
7) The Purist - Similar to the Elitist, but he would like you to know that "This game isn't nearly as good as its predecessor which came out 5-10 years ago and nobody heard about it. This new game is bad because it's new, and probably sold out or something. Anyway, you all are posers because you never played it on the Dreamcast." This person will get mad at you for liking Twilight Princess more than Ocarina of Time, or Link to the Past.
8) The Fan Fiction writer: OH GOD NO.
9) And You - the normal, well balanced person, who has to deal with all that shi**.
Afterthought:
However, I really like it when a good game becomes popular - it's a reward for the developing house. Good for them. Everybody likes success, and people who make good games deserve it. Just remember, big houses, the Google Business Motto: Don't be Evil.
