The lights are on
Compared to most of my friends, I am a master at videogames. I know everything there is to know about them. When I play a game in front of my friends, they are gobsmacked that I am actually controlling the incredible things that my on-screen character is doing. Granted, most of these friends are semi-gamers (people that only play party games like Rock Band,) so, to them, my obsession with videogames translates to me being an undeniable expert.
But when I fully immerse myself into the world of gamers, my videogames skills don’t seem nearly as impressive. I can breeze through the single-player campaign on something like Modern Warfare 2, but I pop online and get absolutely destroyed by the competition. I can joyfully complete Mirror’s Edge on the toughest difficulty setting, but then check the time trials and realize I am only a disappointing speck on the ranked leaderboards. (Sadly, this shameful pattern is the online norm for me.)
I have been playing videogames for a vast majority of my entire lifetime. Why can’t I compete with so many other gamers around the world? Am I doing something wrong? Am I not in on some secret technique that could make me a better player? Or, after all these years, am I -- gulp! -- just not as good at videogames as I always thought?
Hit the jump for the sad and shocking truth.
Growing up, the only multiplayer videogame option available to me (and to everyone!) was playing in a room full of friends on the same console and the same television. Just like getting together to play a board game, multiplayer gaming involved a room full of people dedicating the same amount of time to playing a game.
Because I was the one kid in the neighborhood who owned almost every videogame and videogame system that came out, once in a while a few friends would head to my house to take part in multiplayer gaming extravaganzas. Because of this, I was a relative expert at most of the games I played. I had the most time with them, so when I would get together with my friends, my extra hours of practice would result in me being victorious most of the time.
As I got older, I started taking part in fewer multiplayer games and became much more interested in spending time with single-player games. This was understandable, because as the technology became more advanced with future console releases, single-player games turned into truly exquisite experiences. Role-playing games stretched to 80 hours long; characters and stories in games started to rival those found in movies. As my love of single-player gaming hit a fever pitch, my multiplayer gaming reduced itself to random stints of Mario Kart or Mario Party every once and a while.
Then the world of online gaming exploded.
At this point in my life, I was confident I was one of the best videogame players in the world. I had been playing games nonstop since the Atari (the first popular videogame console), so who else in the world could have more experience than me? Who else had played more videogames? Certainly not someone half my age!
My God, I was naïve.
As I quickly learned, videogame experience has nothing to do with videogame skill.
Just because you play football your whole life doesn’t mean you can automatically compete with the players in the NFL. This same, basic concept applies to almost any similar thing on the planet: playing piano, singing, painting. A lifetime of dedication does not always equal a high level of expertise.
It was very recently when I accepted the shocking truth: I may not be very good at videogames.
The thing I have dedicated my life to is something I may not be that great at, at all.
But, of course, this painful statement comes with a pretty huge asterisk. An asterisk that amounts to, “Do I even care?”
The refreshing answer is ... no. Not really.
Outside of playing with some good friends, I am not a competitive, multiplayer guy. It’s just not my thing. I love playing single-player games by myself. It’s the videogame experience I choose to enjoy. It is the videogame experience I have enjoyed for many, many years.
And over these years, I have grown to master this very particular experience. I can play a Zelda game better than anyone I know. I can take on Zebes and the Metroids that live there with an unparalleled skill. When I crack Simon Belmont’s whip, it hits its target every time.
So, am I good at videogames? If you compare me to the rest of the world from a competitive standpoint, probably not nearly as good as I want to think I am. But, in my own world -- the world that makes me happy -- I am awesome.
And that’s all that really matters.
What about you all? How would you rank your videogame skills in the grand scheme of things? Are you better than just your non-gamer friends? Are you only amazing at single-player games? Can you confidently compete in the multiplayer world?
How many of you will proudly stand next to me and admit you may not be as good at videogames as you once thought?
Let the discussion (and the declarations!) begin!
I've been playing for over 20 years now(god that makes me feel old) and I personally don't do online multiplayer because A. I don't really have time for it and B. I normally can't stand people. But I play every game I have on the hardest setting they have and beat them soundly and then I've played them with friends and gotten my butt handed to me so for the sake of my ego and entertainment I generally play by myself.
You hit the nail on the head! I also thought I was good. The rest of the world just chewed me up, spit me out, then shat on me.
Fantastic blog, really. I don't think I could sum up the feelings of your laid back, comfortable with oneself 'I-do-this-for-fun-and-friendship' type gamer if you tried. I was kind of in this boat myself a while back, and it was also surprisingly easy to come to terms with. Like any other hobby, you can't turn gaming into a job or it immediately loses its status both as a stress reliever and as a fun activity. I served as XO in two WoW guilds over a three and a half year run; one of the guilds was ranked in the top 5 on our server. After a while, I stopped myself one day and asked "why am I still doing this?" I was spending hours each week on managing a sophisticated recruiting operation, helping lead raids, playing councilor to all of the head cases that made up our little online family...and I just didn't have an answer to that question anymore. I hardly ever did anything for fun, or for myself, and after extricating myself from that situation I was finally able to return my gaming hobby to a state of normality. (To avoid any confusion, my issue wasn't with WoW, a great game, but with the hassles of running an organized guild.)
At any rate, the reason for that rambling little anecdote is to underscore a point that you make rather eloquently: worrying about how good you are at games really isn't worth it. Just have fun, enjoy the camaraderie when you can enjoy the presence of others, and forget about your problems for a while.
Er...if I tried, rather. Gotta love the inability to edit blog comments. But you probably understood what I was trying to say.
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Im just like you. I rock single-player, but suck at multiplayer.
When I was a wee boy (4 or 5 years ago), I thought I was good at Battlefront II. When playing splitscreen, my k:d ratio was always ridiculously high, and if I had had a router, I thought I would have owned anybody. Fast forward to me playing Renegade Squadron on PSP online a couple years later. I. GOT. PWNED. It was a good little lesson to put me in my place, especially when I got my PS3 a year after that incident. I didn't rush online with any shooters. Instead, I enjoyed the single player campaigns, knowing that there would be a day when I would be able to be one of the best. Has that day come? No. But, I've found my niche in the grand scheme of things, and that makes me enormously satisfied.
It's kind of funny, but for me it's sort of the opposite. I was the kid who always went over other people's houses and played their games, but unlike most I was the person who after a while would learn the games and be able to play with my buddies. I never considered myself good, but my first game I really played (and cared about playing) online was Fifa 07. Not that I was amazing, but I could consistantly win with a team that was not considered to be that good. Moving on to now I find I'm a little above-average when it comes to FPS games, but still not up with the elite guys that play. It'll happen though one day, you'll find a game that you're good with and then have fun with it.
Yea I can feel where you're coming from. I just got internet a month ago and figured I'd go back to get the multiplayer trophychievements on a few of my older games. I've gone through the same cycle every time.
1. Get pwned raped destroyed and pwned some more for a week straight.
2. Have the "trick" epiphany. Start to pick up the tips and tricks needed to succeed in multiplayer. A few victories. Another few days to a week passes.(depends on the game time I have)
3. Tricks are firmly ingrained and I can hold my own and win over half the time. Usually stops here but once in a blue moon...
4. I seriously love this multiplayer. I could play this forever if I had the time. Very few games I reach this level because of college or because I'm also an avid single player gamer. I hate to use all my time on one game when there is so much to play out there but...wat can I say? I loves me some Left 4 Dead.
@ Kevin
I believe the Gameinformer Blog creator (who ever that is) was drunk at the time of creation! inability to edit comments and upload photos from my own desktop infuriates me! But, even if there was a way to do just that, I wouldn't have to in your case! I comprehended exactly what you were saying and not to mention your awesome journalistic skill! By the way, thank you for the comment! I appreciate it immensely!
I've been a gamer a long time. Longer than I care to admit. I remember when games were nothing more than pages of code in a magazine and you had to type it all in before you could play. Dang, I'm old.
I'm not the best player, but I am a team player. I normally play the support classes that no one else really wants to play, but often mean the difference between victory or defeat.
Well it's single player for me. I don't have an X-Box Live account so singleplayer's the way to go. I'm pretty good at video games. I beat Modern Warfare 2 in 6 hours, every mission on Veteran except loose ends, got a near 30 kill streak in WaW on my friend's live account, countlessly wooped that friend's butt in games I don't even own, beat Mad Mel, Krom, and Talyor Kobb in Bordrlands with a sniper rifle only, and have amazingly passed three levels on OPF 2. Now let's see, where am I on the leader board?(besides the fact I don't have Live) Well you said it takes skill to be on a leaderboard which, partially, is right (My brother, HellraizerofUSA is on number 8 for most kills with a Scorpion in Halo 3) but even the most skilled kids don't stand a chance against the infamous noob tubers, Brute shotters, akimbo shotgunners, hackers, laggers, BKs, Rocket Spreeers, lightweight pro,commando pro and ninja proers, and care package glitcers. Great blog and good point (and pictures lol)
sorry for double posting but no edit option popped up and i needed to add campers to my hate list.
That old aldy can sure play the Wii. Lol
lol
Same here, man!
I never can play competitively with people in games. In fact, I usually do poorly even if people are just watching me. I suppose it's because the anxiety of knowing that they're expecting something from you...
However, when I play alone in absolute solitude, I consider myself to be an excellent and skilled gamer, often completing things in the hardest difficulty with 100% completion.
I never look at other's broadcasted skills, whether it be on the scoreboard or on Youtube. To me, it can hinder the spirit of what could be a far more experienced gamer.
I enjoy both singleplayer and multi. im usally better at multi
Online Multiplayer is overrated.
Fox, you pretty much described me partially. I am a prodigy at video games, to be humble, if one of my friend's beats me, it is the pinnacle of their time with me. It doesn't happen very often (if I am using Rock and they are using Kilik it is bound to happen sometime), or for very long, but when it does, it almost makes me laugh at how much joy they get out of it.
That said, I step into Online Multiplayer, and almost nothing changes. I tromp most other people when I play, almost always at the top of the list (never the leaderboards, those are rigged and I don't have the time to get that many points) at the end of a match. Every once in a while, I get pwned, but for the most part, I consider myself an above average gamer.
So why do I say it is overrated? Because of the overly competitive spirit. I don't even really like to play with my friends in MW2 that much. Soooooo much hate and vulgar language, it just brings me down. I play video games for FUN, not to COMPLETELYANDUTTERLYRAPETHATNEWBOVERTHEREANDPRONOUNCEMYSELFUBERRULEROFTEHUNIVERSE!!!!****UIDIED!!! It is not enjoyable to me. So I emmerse myself in games like Fallout, Oblivion, Dragon Age, Uncharted, GoW collection, and other games like that.
Excellent blog, I enjoyed it.
Good blog. I find myself asking this question from time to time, especialy on multiplayer matches. I find myself to be more than above average than the pretty smat gaming addicts. I have a friend named Jared that plays video games nonstop every day. I can usualy kick his butt at any game and same goes for anyone else who challenges me to multiplayer matches. It's a different thing when I am online. I have very slow so I lag so much it's just not fair. But when I occassionly do get to play with good internet connection, I actualy do kick a heck of a lot more put than the average player and on team deathmatches I am usualy In the top 3. But I lot more than every other match there are just some guys that are just better than you and kick your butt. I don't know, am I good or do I stuck?
i understand my halo 1 high score [online mode] is 65 the key is practice and luck on online mode. i LOVE multi but i'm worce on singal player. i think you have to try to see what the liveing foe is thinking