Topic: "I love doing this even though I'm useless at it" (Read 738 times)

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I was gonna post this in games but it seems like a much broader subject than that so...


I really suck at poker, as well as pretty much all fighting games (except for, possibly, the Smash Bros series) but they seem to be among my favourite recreational activities. I dunno if it's because they're something you'd usually play with someone else and I probably more enjoy the social aspect or what, but for the sake of a point of discussion do any of you ever find that you enjoy something you're completely useless at?
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Yeah, I play MINIGOLF games a lot with friends even though I suck at them. Sometimes it's more about the bonding and friendship than it is about the SKILL AND VICTORY!!!

Although the latter is often nice.
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Can't think of anything off the top of my head.

In fact, at the moment there nothing I can think of that I'm bad at that I enjoy all that much genre wise. The closest to games I can say is a single game series, (where they all pretty much play the same) and that is Tekken. And I don't necessarily suck at it, I'm just not good at it. I can get the occasional win if I really put in the effort and pick the characters I'm at least somewhat familiar.

Problem is I usually gain enjoyment from IMPROVEMENT in games. Sure, victories are satisfying, but even winning gets stale if you can't sense any improvement. I know, I quit games because of it. I reach my 'roof' and quit since there is nothing mentally stimulating or challenging anymore. Its either so easy its boring, or so hard its stupidly frustrating (which is also boring).

So what happens is I play a genre a lot until I get good at it because I see ways in which I can improve. Tactics (of the large and small scale) I can learn to improve my abilities. There has to be a mechanical-sense to the games I play. Racing, Shooters, Action RPGs are all usually what I play and I'd say I'm decent at minimum at most of the games in these categories. Games I feel that have less cohesion and mechanical consistency I'm generally bad at. Games where you have to learn all the characters (fighting games) Games that require a constant change in thinking (puzzle games, where the literal definition of such it to not have much mechanical consistency), and most games of chance (52-card set games) I generally suck at and don't play unless friends or family drag me into them.

Of course there are exceptions. Like I said, I like Tekken, I also like Portal 1 and 2 (Puzzle), and I developed my own 52-card set game. But in general I don't bother with such genres.

That isn't to say there are genres that DO have mechanical consistency that I don't like to play. chief example would be RTS games. I feel very little enjoyment about sending little dots to go fight other dots on my behalf on a flat board, or how quickly I can move and click my mouse.

There are also genres that are basically on life support that I enjoy. 3D Platformers, Car Combat, Tactical Turn based games, and stealth focused games namely. They all have generally consistent mechanics as well.

I don't mind losing too much assuming there is something to be learned from the loss. Losses are bittersweet rather than just bitter. I don't like to win or lose in games of chance. I feel not satisfaction either way. I feel like I wasted my time, and I find it all to common for people to drag me into it. Usually people that I like (friends and family) that don't have the same attitude about improvement and just want to play a game against me where they have a chance, even if its just 50/50 luck. I feel cheated for both players when I play those games. Winner gets a false sense of satisfaction and the loser learns nothing from the pain of loss.
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usually thats how I start out with something but I won't quit until I'm good at it. Guitar is one for sure though that I'm pretty bad at and not progressing too well (don't practice enough).

I've got carpel tunnel my hands sweat when I get even the slightest bit anxious sometimes and my fingers are pretty clumsy so I get too irritated to fuck with it anymore after awhile. I was gettin pretty decent though.......at like two or three songs...
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In terms of video games I love playing RPGs and fighting games even though I'm honestly no good at either of them.

I guess my pick for things outside of gaming would be something like paintball. I seriously suck at most physical activity, but I love going to paintball with friends. I guess that's the whole point though (the friends thing that is and not the sucking).
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I've always wanted to go paint balling. Money (lack of it) and people to play with (Lack of them) has kept me from trying it though.
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I am going to say this before everyone else does. Since I believe for almost all normal people, this particular activity applies to just about everyone responding to that specific question.

One word: Pinball (No matter how much I enjoy it, or how often I play it, I never get any better at it. From what I can tell, this seems to be also true for just about everyone with very few exceptions.)
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yeah, fighting games. I tend to be into them I guess because of the characters,or the intimate character control/projection of the char's movement thru the gamepad (each character having its own move set and play style makes them feel more like individuals). I find that interesting and entertaining, even though the characters are usually pretty bad. picture of darth vader from sc4 holding his lightsaber like it's a boner goes here. also different stylistic elements, like in Super Street Fighter IV, where everything is just so energetic and it kind of feels like you're playing in an arcade full of people even when you're at home alone

I'm terrible at them, though, especially the side-scrolling type. I tend to be better at the 3D 8-way run fighting games because they tend to rely more on spatial understanding and attack timing, which is different from the rigid combo-stringing attack timing of eg Street Fighter
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i ""ragequit" from sport and fighting games at least once a year. i've always been on the outside looking in... some of my fave games are fighters or sports titles (rival schools, virtua fighter, pro evo soccer) and they're fun while i'm winning but i get really upset when i lose. i get pretty good and happy with my skill then plateau because i dont have the time/patience to put in the practice you need to progress to the next level of skill. i need the instant gratification of one-click nukes and fatalities. being bad at stuff is something i'd prefer to leave to non-virtual reality......but the siren call of these games is too great and i end up coming back for more.
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only once a year? yikes...
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only once a year? yikes...

once is a relative term

ok more like once a week *animeblush*
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I am going to say this before everyone else does. Since I believe for almost all normal people, this particular activity applies to just about everyone responding to that specific question.

One word: Pinball (No matter how much I enjoy it, or how often I play it, I never get any better at it. From what I can tell, this seems to be also true for just about everyone with very few exceptions.)

Definitely.

Like my other half is actually scarily good at pinball, and no matter how many times I play, whether on table or via a videogame, I really, really suck at it. FLIPPERS HIT QUICK ARGH WHEREGO etc.

I still enjoy the shit out of it though, even though it is something that I am 100% beaten on by my GAMING RIVAL >:O!!
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I like playing music with my friends even though their skill levels surpass mine by far.
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Quote
earlchips say
I'm terrible at them, though, especially the side-scrolling type. I tend to be better at the 3D 8-way run fighting games because they tend to rely more on spatial understanding and attack timing, which is different from the rigid combo-stringing attack timing of eg Street Fighter
it's kind of opposite of this though. but i guess that's after people get good. i have been decently good at street fighters and known like 2 or 3 combos max. i used to go on GGPO and get pounded into dust by aussie tournament players until I learned to survive. imo the ideal game for that style of play is smash bros brawl because there are practically 0 combos and even hp is spatial. lots of structures and things to play off. although you still have to do that funny thing where you see the hitboxes/possibilities in invisible game space instead of the stuff that's actually on the screen.
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