Half-Life and, to a much lesser extent, Mass Effect were important stepping stones in the gaming industry. A gamer who doesn't know what Half-Life is or didn't enjoy it is similar to a cinephile who doesn't know what Citizen Kane is or didn't enjoy it. There's nothing weird about it.
I was asking if they were genuinely embarrassed by their admissions. If they are, I maintain that I think that's weird.
I'm fully aware of the impact these games had on the industry and how HL was a huge step up for FPS games, but not liking something that lots of other people do isn't something to be embarrased about. I don't like romcoms, but millions of people in the UK do. Does that embarass me? No, it means I like action films. If I admitted it and got embarassed by it, then yes, I'd think I was acting weird.
Pressing a Playstation controller up against your gooch and then playing a particularly vibratey intro..... that's something to blush about
edit: I'd just like to add that I never did the Playstation controller thing!