I guess im talking about ux just as much as gameplay, it isnt that these are the only 2 possibilities its just those are the most common outcomes you see. The gamma and contrast comment was specifically because it hinges on what im pointing to, that limit isnt on pc but the extra graphics options are not available through the in game interfaces because there is little incenive to provide the extra sliders to the crowd that can make sue of them.

Apologies if you feel i misrepresented your argument, or hijacked the orivinal thesis.

Perhaps the term that would be better for what im describing is console-centric game and ux design? Its basically the windows8 problem all over again.