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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor

 

Skill Isn't Everything

hyrulechozo:

After several people discounted my review of Majora’s Mask on the basis that I was simply “bad” at the game, I think I want to write a little something about what it means to be “bad at games” and why that’s not an excuse for poor game design.

In the mean time, I spotted this article by Patrick Lindsey, in which he sheepishly admits to be being pretty bad at games, and resolves to no longer let the shame of that or a desire to be more “hardcore” hamper his enjoyment of our favorite medium.  A quote:

Sadly it seems we’ve somehow cultivated a subculture that values excelling at videogames over and above simply enjoying them…the notion that our enjoyment of a game is predicated on our associated skill is both false and harmful.

Why is it exactly that we play games? Admittedly that is a question that is as vast as it is complicated and I certainly won’t deign to try and answer it here, but what is important to note is that we play games for countless more reasons than simply to “be good at them.” 

It’s okay to be bad.

  1. tumblrdependant reblogged this from gothamcitypoprocks
  2. gothamcitypoprocks reblogged this from thegamingmuse
  3. ryncol reblogged this from thegamingmuse
  4. shitgamerssay reblogged this from discovergames and added:
    It’s okay to be bad.
  5. jangobeezy reblogged this from caramelzappa and added:
    skill isn’t just relegated to reaction speeds and what not, your ability to engaged with video games as a medium depends...
  6. caramelzappa reblogged this from jangobeezy and added:
    “skill should always be a part of gaming, without it all your doing is watching an interactive film” “you might as well...
  7. hiroshimishima reblogged this from discovergames and added:
    I am extremely glad to hear someone else say something like this. I have been arguing with folks for a long time that...
  8. lefrin reblogged this from perunaprofeetta
  9. perunaprofeetta reblogged this from thegamingmuse
  10. popularhistorian reblogged this from caramelzappa and added:
    I don’t believe that games started out as being purely skill based, but I agree with the rest of the above statement.
  11. dsaintradio reblogged this from thegamingmuse
  12. popularhistorian said: I’ve heard that some companies, like EA, are planning to charge for their online, apart from the payments people already make for Live.
  13. thegamingmuse reblogged this from discovergames
  14. mewmugi reblogged this from caramelzappa and added:
    Oh I definitely see what you’re trying to say, and you’re absolutely right. By playing advocate I definitely didn’t mean...
  15. fandomsandframerates reblogged this from discovergames and added:
    I have never played Majora’s Mask, and probably never will, however, it is the comments on “skill” that I am reblogging...
  16. mlyy-has-pics-to-show said: Though, I disagree that it,s poor game design (game in question), it’s never about if someone is bad at it or not. But there,s a question of taste that comes into play too. Also, people throw out any insult when someone questions their fav game.
  17. rumirumirumirumi said: Interesting article. He gets it wrong with hyper-competitivity killing community. SC2 and Super Smash Bros. have massive communities precisely because of the high level of play. Chess? Poker? Single player is different, but I’ll write it up soon.
  18. discovergames posted this