Memorization Versus Instinct

[A Robot Bit Me]

Don't forget to wear the headset while playing, the director barks out orders from there, it really adds to the immersive factor.

Whoa!

[kingoffighters]

Whoa!

NOW YOU KNOW!!

[Yoshi]

.

[kingoffighters]

You don't understand how confused I was when I first heard that phrase (as an ESL student).

"WTF do you mean half the battle?"

[Frogacuda]

"Knowing is half the battle" seems like a rather fitting take on the subject at hand, doesn't it?

[Melf]

The Puch Out games are a good example of needing memorization and reflexes. I'm on sandman right now and I know at the begining he does two right punches then a left but getting the counters on those three punches is hard even though I know they're coming. Meh it's still awesome.

Bald Bull always fucks me up with his charge, even more than 20 years after I first played Punch Out!.

[Anal Kaboom]

Dude it must still be in my bones cause my first time playing the new P.O. (and everytime after that) I've gotten OHKO on his charge.

[Nash]

A lot of the definitions in here for "memorization" are very broad. Going with those definitions, almost every game can be considered memorization-based because subsequent plays make you more familiar and thus the game easier. To be able to classify games as memorization-based or skill-based, we have to be more narrow. Yoshi defined it best in his initial post in this thread: if the game relies on trial-and-error, then it's memorization-based; if you can theoretically complete the game on your first try with adequate skill, then it's skill-based. Those are the two ends of the spectrum. Most games fall in between, some closer to one end and others closer to the other end.

[James]

There's a reason I keep saying Gridrunner++ is the best shooter ever made. The only memorization that will help is a knowledge of the level's basic enemy behavior, and after that survival is down to implementing a system that has to be completely flexible at all times. Geometry Wars, Space Giraffe, and Super Stardust HD also work like that, and I wish I could think of more from the past few years. I'm always happiest with a game when scoring comes from working the system rather than memorizing the level layout.

James

[gamevet]

Most FPS require reflex but inevitably you die and you reload your save and pick a better weapon/location to face them.

COD really falls into this form. Memorizing the safe-zones is a key component to completing the harder levels.