Video Game Supremecy
 

I'll say at the outset here, that I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this......

This was inspired by the Phil Ivey story on barrygreenstein.com as well as some posts on here a week or go or so.

Within almost every group of friends in the high-school/college-age males demographic (or those who, like me, fit that demo in the not-so-distant past), there is a sort of hierarchy of video game skill. This almost inevitably results in escalating boasts that flow over outside the group's boundary. "I'm the best SF2 player ever!" "I'm unbeatable at Mario Kart." etc...

Oftentimes, if the conversation turns to videogames with new social acquaintances, heated arguments will erupt. It has been my experience that there is a pretty wide range of results when challenges actually take place. Some of the time, one of the contestants will soundly trounce the other, thus proving that "best player in group A" is more likely than "best player in group B" to translate into "best player ever," although not generally saying how likely that is on an absolute scale. Other times, it will be a close struggle, and might cause an observer to wonder, "hrm...perhaps this stalemate is actually due to 2 players at the top of the game butting heads." Either way, I'm always amused when stuff like this happens, whether or not I'm a participant.

Videogames, more than most anything, cause people to lose perspective. Just because you say you're the [censored] at Tony Hawk, and you can beat up all your friends, that don't mean [censored] on its own. Do some research.

In college, a friend and I played TonyHawk2 on dreamcast nonstop for probably 2 years. We only played headsup for points, 2 minutes, hangar level. We got good. Real good. Good to the point where I was convinced we were playing the game close to its theoretical limit. A year or so ago (probably 3 years removed from my THPS2 glory days), conversation with the drummer in my old band got around to that very subject, and the standard boasts->challenge sequence followed. I think I ended up winning a series of matches by an average score of like 3-4 million (about half of what I was able to average when I used to play a lot) to 500 thousand. Obviously some worlds exist on different levels.

The moral of this story, though, is not my amazing awesomeness. It is that, at the peak of my THPS2 playing days, I went online to check what sorta stuff was considered good. I'd say I matched up pretty well with most, but then I came across a site with videos of a guy putting up like 50 million point tricks, doing [censored] I didn't even realize was possible. That was some perspective for my ass.

With online gaming, it becomes much more apparent how good you really are. Back in the day, I played quakeworld team deathmatch at basically the highest levels. My clan (god, I'm shivering in embarassment even writing that word. and no, I'm not going to disclose names publicly) was something like the KC Royals of QW. I knew I was good, better than probably 99% of the Quake players then, but I also knew how much better the real top players were. Starcraft was similar, except I was nowhere near as close to the top of SC, maybe Double-A level. Either way, there was a lot more realistic perspective in these games than in the console arena.

So that all said, give me a week to practice, and I'll take anyone at the following:

- Soul Calibur (random character selection)
- Mario Kart64 (battle mode on the blocks level, or race mode on Wario Stadium, with or without shortcuts)
- Marble Madness (you must allow me to smoke out beforehand, though. you can join in if you want.)

As quick postscript: there are a few things that one could say, specific to the game in question, in a boasting match that automatically give away the fact that he's not at the same level. For example (this happened recently), if anyone tells me they're a MarioKart expert and then claims anything other than "koopa was the best in super mario kart, toad in mario kart64," they're immediately disqualified in my book. no challenge necessary.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

I liked this post.

To brilliantly illustrate your point, when reading your QW paragraph I instantly thought 'wtf, i bet i'm better than this guy'.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

If you were actually better at QW than me back in the day, I can almost guarantee you that I'd remember you by screename/clan. [censored], i have gigs and gigs of recorded matches still sitting on a hard drive somewhere.

Anyway, I was trying to write the post as much as I could in the style of the boasting I was writing about. I'm glad it had that effect on you [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

You won't know me, firstly because I hit the scene pretty late, and secondly because I live in England.

Such fun memories. Really an amazing game, it seems sad to admit it but it was probably the most fun time of my life.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

I don't know what you mean by late, but I played seriously all the way until Q3 came out. When Q3 came out, it put a dagger in the whole QW scene, which was a shame, cuz Q3 was almost as shitty as Q2. QW, in my mind, is without a doubt the best computer game ever. Starcraft was remotely close in 2nd, but nothing else was even remotely close.

I loved playing quake like no other game, but given the chance to go back and give it all up, I would in an instant. That [censored] game (and then SC, once it died down) ruined my social life for a couple of years, including meaningful relationships and my musical ambitions. It's far enough in the past now that I can talk about it, deal with the embarassment, and not get bogged down in it all. For a few years, though, that was not the case; it was basically just an unmentionable period of my life.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
QW, in my mind, is without a doubt the best computer game ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course.

I think I played seriously from around 98/99 to the summer 02.

I know it could never happen, but I like to daydream about a QW boom, and an interface like the poker clients, where you could play duels on DM4 for $100+9.

That would be the easiest money ever.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
QW, in my mind, is without a doubt the best computer game ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course.

I think I played seriously from around 98/99 to the summer 02.

I know it could never happen, but I like to daydream about a QW boom, and an interface like the poker clients, where you could play duels on DM4 for $100+9.

That would be the easiest money ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have been reading this thread and having been heavily involved in gaming in the past, I was getting a little bit nostalgic, remembering some good times etc, but it wasn't until you mentioned DM4 that my knees became weak, my pulse quickened and I started slobbering all over myself. God...that game was GOOOD. Flashbacks of LakermaN and Thresh videos replaying themselves in my head now...

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

I used to be one of the top online Total Annihilation players, and a good number of times beat the guy, Hawk, who won the nationwide contest for best player, and he was certainly far above even most pretty damn good players. However, frequently beat him didn't mean he didn't kick my butt most of the time. It was definitely frustrating to be playing a great game and get soundly beaten anyway. Some of the games I beat him in are still fond memories today, quite a few years on.

But I remember when I first got online with the game. I was being wiped out within minutes in a RTS that sometimes lasted hours.

That's why RTS's especially are all about the online play. Human players are so much better than computer AI that it's extremely difficult for even a really good offline player to beat a middling online player. Plus, fighting a human is much more interesting and devious than playing a computer AI, and has an inherent heightened feeling of fun competitiveness that fighting a computer AI can't give you.

There are definitely many levels in playing games, and it's very easy to think you're doing well, and then suddenly realize how surprrisingly far from the top you are. It can be bewildering, frustrating, and finally, inspiring. After all, who wants to be wiped out by every Tom, Dick, and Harry? You want to at least be able to hold your own with the middle of the pack. And the skill level of the middle of the pack rapidly drifts upward, too. So you dust yourself off and try to charge up that hill again. Trying to become or remain truly competitive can be great fun.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

Great post. Males like to prove their skills against each other, and we need to satisfy our egos. Videogames provide a nice venue for immature guys like myself to show how awesome we are. Unfortunately, most people aren't nearly as good as they think they are. I remember when I actually thought I was good at Halo. I played a home p*ker game with a member of the local Halo "community" and he beat me 25-1 during a smoke break. I used to play SF2 30+ hours a week with a group of about 8 friends and thought I was the tits at that too. None of us even knew that Guile was the best character (although cheesing was strictly looked down upon there). Until you play a game online or in a tournament agains the best competition, you have no idea how good people actually get at these games.

Games I'm actually pretty good at:

Tekken 3. I placed highly in a few local tournaments. I'm far from the best, but I'll put my Heihachi up against anyone (Lei and Eddie as backups). Good King/Jin players dominate that game though.

NBA Jam T.E. I won my store during the Blockbuster tourney years back, but didn't go to the main event. I think Sponger did too and actually went to the national tourney.

Perfect Dark. The amount of time I played this game... I just refuse to accept that I'm not at least decent.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

Um, this is really sad, but I used to kick ass at my Atari 2600 games.

I can think of at least three cartridges I wrapped the scores around on back to 0 or whatever - beating the tough ones like Raiders of the lost Ark when no one else could...

Then there was Track and Field, an arcade game where you'd alternate between two buttons to move the runner forward - but I found a way to rub between the edge guard of the button that kept you from just slapping it, and so I got some great fast vibration out of it.

I wrapped around the score on a Galaga machine in college, which I was really impressed with. But after that I kept playing for a while longer before losing my last guy.

But to be honest, until recently, I hadn't played the newer gen. consoles - I'm working on Forza Motorsports, though.

RB

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

Yeah I used to think I would be one of the best in the world at Woods 2005 on playstation. I was somewhere around 150-0 against my friends and could shoot in the 40's on relatively tough courses.

Then I go online, join a tourney play a decent round, shoot something like 46 at Sherwood and the leader has 38. I'm around 50th place.

I think EA Sports (Madden, Woods, Fight Night, NBA Live, etc.) is another one of those areas where so many people play religiously that you have no idea where on the global scale the best player you know is.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

The truth is, there are people who pretty much devote their whole lives to video games. So unless you're some sort of inborn genius at a game, there's almost no chance to be near the top of a game that a lot of people play. Not unless you're willing to give up as much of your life as they do.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

I consider myself pretty damn good at tetris.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
I consider myself pretty damn good at tetris.

[/ QUOTE ]


me too. are we talking NES version? i have cracked 200 lines. that raises the question, do you play for lines or points? i think my high score is around 450,000.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

Me and my brothers used to say we had a video game gene, as we killed all are friends at everything. That as a long time ago, and now the few times that I play any new games I get killed.

I am by far the best goldeneye player. In woodshop class we made a trophy [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]. We played that game for like 3 years straight. In the end we memorized the order of the starting points for evey level. Pistols, license to kill, 20 points. Get killed once and that is pretty much game.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
We played that game for like 3 years straight. In the end we memorized the order of the starting points for evey level.

[/ QUOTE ]

It took you three years to think to do this?

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

Halo 2 anyone? I'll pwn all you n00bs.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

i will whip any of you chuds at tekken 2 or 3.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

I always suck at console games, but PC shooters are my forte. I was one of the top players in Call of Duty online. I'd go hours without being killed more than once or twice on occasion, in games where up to 100 deaths were average.

I've only ever really excelled at that game, Day of Defeat, and CounterStrike, which I am no longer good at due to insane fanboys.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
- Mario Kart64 (battle mode on the blocks level, or race mode on Wario Stadium, with or without shortcuts)

[/ QUOTE ]

http://speeddemosarchive.com/MarioKart64.html

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
The truth is, there are people who pretty much devote their whole lives to video games. So unless you're some sort of inborn genius at a game, there's almost no chance to be near the top of a game that a lot of people play. Not unless you're willing to give up as much of your life as they do.

[/ QUOTE ]

I try telling people this when the "what are you the best at out of 2+2ers" or "what are you world class at" threads and nobody believes me.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
NBA Jam T.E. I won my store during the Blockbuster tourney years back, but didn't go to the main event. I think Sponger did too and actually went to the national tourney.

[/ QUOTE ]

Richmond for 3 from the corner...... GOOOOOOOODDDDD

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

Yeah, they don't want to admit it.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'll take anyone at the following:

- Soul Calibur (random character selection)

[/ QUOTE ]
This is too vague. If we stipulate that this is specifically the Dreamcast version of SC and that it is an eight-on-eight team battle of random characters, I will destroy you.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
We played that game for like 3 years straight. In the end we memorized the order of the starting points for evey level.

[/ QUOTE ]

It took you three years to think to do this?

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably a little more than 2, and we were in gr 7.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

Rushing attack in madden 05 or 06 on xbox, any takers?

i didn't think so [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
Rushing attack in madden 05 or 06 on xbox, any takers?

i didn't think so [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

paging nick b., paging nick b.

please come to OOT and put this woman in her place with a bunch of pointless internet [censored] talking.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

Didn't OOT get going a counterstrike team or something at one point?

It could be fun to get something like that going again, not that FPS's are my game. But still.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
Didn't OOT get going a counterstrike team or something at one point?

It could be fun to get something like that going again, not that FPS's are my game. But still.

[/ QUOTE ]

Blarg, you played AoK much? Would be up for a knockabout in that sometime.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

That's the name of AOE 2, right? If so, I haven't played it in years, and wouldn't even know how, by this point. I'm not current on any games, really, including the ones that aren't current!

I did just preorder Earth 2160 though. Looks pretty cool, another RTS, but with highly customizable units, and the third in what's supposedly a quality series. Insane looking graphics. That one comes out the first week of November, and I'll play it with OOT'ers if any of them get into it too. Gamespot.com has some really good previews of it.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
"Perfect Dark. The amount of time I played this game... I just refuse to accept that I'm not at least decent."

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
"I am by far the best goldeneye player."

[/ QUOTE ]

That second quote is just silly. Perspective for you guys - The Elite

I would've posted the Mario Kart 64 Elite too but somebody already covered that. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I had my best showings in Perfect Dark and Timesplitters 2/FP, with a smattering of world records. I was never one of the best but I once held an untied record on WAR SA at 47 seconds. It lasted maybe a year.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
That's the name of AOE 2, right? If so, I haven't played it in years, and wouldn't even know how, by this point. I'm not current on any games, really, including the ones that aren't current!

I did just preorder Earth 2160 though. Looks pretty cool, another RTS, but with highly customizable units, and the third in what's supposedly a quality series. Insane looking graphics. That one comes out the first week of November, and I'll play it with OOT'ers if any of them get into it too. Gamespot.com has some really good previews of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

If an online game were to be picked as "the" game to play by OOT, I'd have to say Battlefield 2 would be the best choice.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

I wouldn't know, but I'm sure it would be a FPS. They've got the highest macho factor, and most of these guys are the age where they're at the height of their finger-twitching power.

Quake 4 just came out.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

I haven't played the NES version, but I probably get the emulator now. The ones I've played the most are The New Tetris for N64 and the ones on TI-83, 85, 89. I play for points.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

What was your top score on New Tetris?

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

I used to be the best fking pirate swordfighter.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
For example (this happened recently), if anyone tells me they're a MarioKart expert and then claims anything other than "koopa was the best in super mario kart, toad in mario kart64," they're immediately disqualified in my book. no challenge necessary.

[/ QUOTE ]

Um...is this a joke? Bowser and DK Jr. are clearly the best in Super Mario Kart. I refer you to Super Mario Kart Time Trial World Records

Honestly, man, really nothing Koopa or Toad could do can make up for the top speed of Bowser and DKJ.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

ill play anyone for any money in tony hawk 4

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

I've gotten 810-ish in Sprint Before. 33 Seconds for Ultra.

Re: Video Game Supremecy
 

[ QUOTE ]
I consider myself pretty damn good at tetris.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm better.

This is one of my only real bragging points. I've gotten 292 lines and over 700k points. (NES version I'm talking about.)

If you didn't know, from 200 to 290 lines the speed doesn't increase anymore, but at 290 it becomes deathtrap-impossible fast. Other than squeezing in the last few lines from a good setup/fortunate piece combination, there's no way anyone could continue making lines after 290.