Have your gaming skills diminished as you've gotten older?

[Blue]

I often feel that mine have, yet, I can beat SSFIV on most of the harder difficulties and I'm still a decent FPS player.

I do feel my reaction time and sense of timing have gone down, though. For instance, I think ten years ago, I would have been much better at a game like MVC3, whereas now, it can be a little too fast or hectic at times, especially when playing against other people. Or maybe I just prefer slower paced fighters like SF that seem more strategic. I was a lot better at MVC and MVC2, though, even against other players. No one could beat me back in the day, so I wonder if it's just a difference in games or that my skills have waned... or maybe both.

So, what about you?

[Ges]

I don't think mine have. I still play a lot of "twitch" stuff now (MvC3, shmups, FPS games) so I think my reaction time is good. For fighters I always go with the fast characters, so maybe that helps. I'm always playing FPS games with my sensitivity at or near 10.

I really just think it's practice, honestly.

You're not any worse at them, you just don't play them enough anymore to get as good at them as you had been before. That's why those CoD babies who do nothing but CoD for hours on end piss me off. I don't have the time to get that good.

[Phakiel]

No I sucked quite a bit when I was younger. I guess I am more impatient now and for instance I lost it during a bout of the original SF2 since I felt it was too slow. Then again I am not really that good on fighting games.

[Cyrus the virus]

I've always been just slightly above average in most genres, and I think I'm as good as I used to be at most games. I can smoke the same friends just like I used to.

I destroy in NHL online. Like 48-10 before I sold it because the game was enraging me too much. People just don't know how to deal with someone who doesn't constantly go for a one-timer on a rush. Silly fools.

Modern Warfare is a whole other shitdump. I find there's way too much of a lack of skill involved and I hate the type of gameplay it promotes. I like sniper battles and taking my time and setting up an ambush, not running around corners and spraying bullets at whatever moves. It's like you either are supposed to camp in a good spot or hit the trigger button really fast, and whoever does that wins.

[moogle]

I have to admit there are a few genres I've always sucked at. FPS and fighters namely, though I have improved on those slightly over the years. The rest, I'm probably the same or a little worse. My reaction time is fine, but games that employ certain types of strategy are just beyond me sometimes. I think more than ever I lack the patience to become acclimated to a game that isn't intuitive by design.

As they say, "Can't teach an old dog new tricks."

[Poofy]

I'm no longer nearly as patient as I use to be when it comes to long or difficult games. Maybe it's my lack of time or of commitment to just sit on the couch for 40 hours straight, but I do believe this has impeded my ability to beat several games.....


.... So yes.

[Sushi_b]

I destroy in NHL online. Like 48-10 before I sold it because the game was enraging me too much. People just don't know how to deal with someone who doesn't constantly go for a one-timer on a rush. Silly fools.


The NHL mold is pretty much the same as it's ever been. You can get better and learn all the puck movements but it's essential the same game it's been since the Genesis days. Yes, the one timer is a solid approach to the game but it's only really effective now when it's set up properly. It's often better to take the shot on a 2-1 approach. Basically, peppering the goalie is the way to score.

I think some of the new games have me at a loss sometimes. If I manage to play them a little bit longer then my attention span usually wants me to, then I can get better at them. Fighting games and shooters don't work for me though. They are far too jittery and I don't react well to them.

[WOTON]

I was never great, but my skills have not diminished. Even though I don't play as much as I used to, I think I've gotten better in certain facets of gaming. Being older and more mature, I'm more patient and put more thought into my gaming. I haven't lost my reaction time either.