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Anyone else have this problem? Some nights I am really in the groove with the game and everything just kind of flows like silk. Other times I couldn't have a successful run if my life depended on it. Strangely, for myself, this seems to mainly happen with Smash Bros Melee and Burnout 2 (My gaming crack of the moment). Just one of those strange little things, I guess...
In sports, you know, its called a slump or being in the zone/on fire/el caliente/whatever.
It's like anything else in life. Some days I am playing guitar and it feels great. Some days not so much. Sometimes I cook and Im like holy shit Im unbelievable and other days... not so much
It's all about The Zone, that mystical place where your hands know what to do and you trail along for the ride. It's part of the reason I've gravitated more towards pure action games lately, because the Zone entrance is more easily attained.
I think for recent games the best one for it was Geometry Wars, the mini-game in Project Gotham 2. I know I cleared 400k but I'd hate to try to do it using logic and forethought rather than pure reflex.
And it's true that some days no matter how you play The Zone is just not going to be an attainable state. Thankfully I've got a pile of books to read for times like that.
James
i get this way with racing games and to a lesser extent shooters. if i dont feel it right away i drop the game. but if i get that feeling i start zoning out. these are the only two genre that do it for me. going totally zoned in NFS Underground knowing one slip could ruin the race. can't wait to do it online with GT4.
Yeah , I think everyone goes through phases and cycles like this. Thats what RPG's are for. For those days when your gaming skills are a little under the weather.
I got pwned royally in 3rd Strike last night. My friends dominated every character/trick I used against them. I most definately was not in the groove.
Man, the state of my groove is pretty glaring when I play shmups. Some days I see the path through the bullets...other days it's "bomb, bomb, bomb, die".
I was in the zone during a four player splitscreen Halo last night, won every match by at least 20 kills against my friends, who are pretty decent
I tried pulling out Gradius IV again last night and realized I was horrible. I have those off and on days. Usually outside factors like caffeine or alcohol help the situation.
The more I think about it, I have these off days in other areas as well. Drawing/painting comes to mind. I do one or the other several times a week, and some days I'm completely horrible. Other days I've improved to moderate mediocrity.
I call it Flowing, and when it happens it's sublime. Vertical shooters and Capcom fighters are the best ways to bring it out for me. At those moments, I am unbeatable. My heart pounds almost audibly and I do as I think, not after I think.
Then I go back the next day and fuck up.
One of my long-term goals is to harness the Flow and use it in more than video games.
The Flow is like the Muse -- I'm not sure it's meant to be harnessed. It's like the attention of a beautiful but fickle woman. Enjoy it while it's yours, but don't count on it being there the next day.
Others have already noted how this phenomenon is not limited to games, of course. Art, writing, music, athletics...all these things feel so much better in that effortless, semi-euphoric state known as the Zone.Quote:
Originally Posted by James
Incidentally, it can apply to sex, too. *cough*
I went into a zone this very afternoon playing Metal Slug 3 on the ol' Xbox. Was beating my brain trying to beat the fourth level, kept losing almost all lives in that damn desert. I gave up and decided just to see how well I could do from the begining rather than starting at level four. I aced the first and second levels, did not die what-so-ever till the aliens at the meteor site. And then I did the best I had ever done on the 3rd level. Got to the fourth level pretty positive that I would be owned once again but blazed through to the boss with out dying and killed him with one life left.
Games like these are where I always get into zones, where you go into these fits of amazing dodging and can't believe that you are surviving. Zones often times get zapped by a stupid friend going, "Whoa man you are going to beat this level!" Fucking jinxers.
It happens the best when you play first person shooters online. The rush from getting a multikill in UT2k4 is great. I also got plenty of adrenaline rushed from Tetris, as lame as it seems.
Flowing comes in everything we do. Sometimes I flow when I'm drawing, other times it's like trying to dismantle a brick wall with my bare hands.
Same thing goes for games. Although racing games tend to get more flow than anything else I play. Until I play PGR2 on Live...that's some depressing experience right there.
Pft...I don't think you'd qualify as human if you couldn't get a rush from Tetris. Everyone does, whether they admit to it or not =pQuote:
Originally Posted by SXA
usually after i get some headshots and the game shouts "GODLIKE" i start to chuckle and then die.Quote:
Originally Posted by SXA
I'm usually in the zone during fighting, wrestling, and puzzle games. Occasionally, this holds true for shooters, but not all that much.
I don't really see much potential for Zone entrance in original Tetris, but setting up (or perpetuating) a huge chain in Tetris Attack really well is absolute euphoria. And the accompanying music and the immensely gratifying 'thud' of the resulting block on the opponent's side makes it even sweeter.Quote:
I also got plenty of adrenaline rushed from Tetris, as lame as it seems.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clash_Master
This happened to me, when I was playing Sonic Adventure at a Toy R US. Sega had the mobile tour going on and the top scores for locations, would get the chance to compete on a national level. It was the first time I had played the game, but I was cruising through the level. I believe I had around 90 or so rings, then the chick walks up and says: "You're doing pretty good!" It was then, that I missed a jump and fell right into the water. She appologizes and says I can play the game again, if I like. Needless to say, I sucked after that. At least they gave me a T-shirt and a couple of other Sega goodies.
Yeah.
Usually I lose my groove when I play against you. :P