When I heard it used back in the days if collectible card games, it seemed like it was describing the abstract ‘game’ rather than a particular game between two players. So a particular card (or weapon or ship) can be good within a game, depending on your opponent or play style. But sometimes a card or strategy is found by the community to be highly effective so in the ‘metagame’ it comes to dominate.
New cards would come out and change the meta. Even if you don’t buy then or use them, knowing that they exist and are effective changes how other players build decks and so you might need to change your play style to adapt to the new metagame.
Ah yes, concise is not my strength. I avoided getting into the etymology of ‘meta’ and how it comes from an ancient librarian dealing with untitled manuscripts… So thought I was doing well!
i’m actually quite familiar with ancient Latin and Greek. So I understand the etymology of the term. There’s a fine line between descriptive and verbose.
And nonetheless, thank you very much for your answer. And, in no way, was I making a criticism.
Btw, “meta-“ is the Ancient Greek prefix meaning “after” or “beyond”
When I heard it used back in the days if collectible card games, it seemed like it was describing the abstract ‘game’ rather than a particular game between two players. So a particular card (or weapon or ship) can be good within a game, depending on your opponent or play style. But sometimes a card or strategy is found by the community to be highly effective so in the ‘metagame’ it comes to dominate.
New cards would come out and change the meta. Even if you don’t buy then or use them, knowing that they exist and are effective changes how other players build decks and so you might need to change your play style to adapt to the new metagame.
In another comment, someone referred to it as “the game beyond the game” that the term was actually short for a “metagame”.
While their explanation was more concise, you both definitely answered my question. Thank you.
Ah yes, concise is not my strength. I avoided getting into the etymology of ‘meta’ and how it comes from an ancient librarian dealing with untitled manuscripts… So thought I was doing well!
i’m actually quite familiar with ancient Latin and Greek. So I understand the etymology of the term. There’s a fine line between descriptive and verbose.
And nonetheless, thank you very much for your answer. And, in no way, was I making a criticism.
Btw, “meta-“ is the Ancient Greek prefix meaning “after” or “beyond”