I don't think it's that loose actually, at least not the way I see it used. usually the "meta" is about choosing between two or more roughly equipotent strategies/tactics based on what you expect your opponent to do. you predict what your opponent will do by observing current trends in the game. the meta certainly changes after balance updates, but it can also change organically over time as people try different things.

This interpretation seems to unnecessarily constrain strategy. A strategy is not just something you pick at random. A good strategy is chosen with all context in mind - including your opponents choice of tactics and strategy.

that's a fair point; "meta" is probably a subset of what people generally mean by "strategy", especially in military contexts.

in games though, I consider strategy to be something that arises more directly from the game mechanics and perhaps in response to your opponent over the course of a match, while meta comes from understanding the greater community ("meta" because the community exists outside of the game itself).

This is “meta” as in Most Effective Tactic Available, as opposed to the normal use of the word “meta” (“referring to itself or to the conventions of its genre; self-referential.”)

I don't know about this acronym... "meta" from the article is certainly not using it. The acronym definition breaks down because technically something can be meta and not be the most effective tactic available. Eg. when the rules of a game are too complex to solve in a short time, you will see players rally around a "meta" strategy until a more optimal one is discovered and vetted.

I think the author lack the context of META being the acronym for "most effective tactics available", as most of the gaming world is using it.

But the former is the latter because the most effective tactic available depends on what all of the other player in the game are going to do. The most effective tactic available is only the most effective given that other players are also going to choose the most effective tactic available.

thank you for this! I was reading the article with the latter meaning in mind, and got quite confused. Should read the comments on HN first!