First off, a lot of people seem to misinterpret me; I'm not anti-PR, I think it could be a good thing, but that too many people in this community are taking it the wrong way. I still DO think that too many people are taking it too seriously. That being said, people this time around seem more reasonable, and some arguments have convinced me to go back on the panel again if I'm wanted. Chet, let me know if you want me back
What I don't understand is why if all you're interested in is fun, you guys enter tournies? Why don't you just come and play friendlies the whole time? I think it's because competition IS fun. It's the only reason I'm still playing this game, that's for sure. You have to imagine that after playing a game for roughly 5 years, the initial enjoyment factor you get from playing begins to wear off, and you look for more ways to make the game interesting (smash drinking games anyone?).
I know in my case this game became 100% more interesting when I found out there was a competitive community for it. I can tell you that the people I could potentially meet, and play with, wasn't the first thing that attracted me to the scene, it was proving myself to be the best, or atleast one of the best. That's something that simply couldn't be accomplished without the PR, atleast not to the same degree, not even close. I would have loved for there to be PR for me when I was an up and coming noob. It gives smashers a target, a goal, and for anyone who's interested in being one of the best, that's very important, and very motivating.
Smash is like any other competitive sport. When's the last time you heard a pro hockey player saying "Why do we need to rank our players and teams, why can't we all just play for fun, and dance in sugar plum fields with lolly pops and puppy dogs?!" If you say you're only in it for fun, I say you're full of it, and you're only *****ing about the PR because of a low rank, or lack of any rank at all. If you lost confidence in yourself, and don't think you can handle the pressure of the PR, drop off it, that's fine, just don't drag down the rest of us with you, cause I'd say the general consensus is that the PR = a good thing.
When you go into a competition, do you go for fun? Are you kidding me!? Do you really think those people that compete into sports or whatever it is, think that "Oh im just going there for fun and whatever" please.. These people spend countless hours training to be number 1, they try their hardest to win...
Why can't you be the same? I think the PR is great, it gives you motivation and aspiration towards the higher guys.. its like omg I just got ***** by Chet or PKM. To me thats just a kick in the butt that I know I can get much better and I try my best to fight equally with the number 1. I dont know about you guys but if all you do is play for fun then whytf do you come in the tournaments in the first place? Competition is meant to push you to your limits! IMO, you got no right to ***** about rankings if all you do is play for fun.
You guys have many of the same points, so I'm going to respond to both of you at the same time. First off, you are both saying that playing competitively and playing for fun are opposites; I disagree. Personally, I have fun playing in tourney matches, seeing if my strategies and techniques are good enough to beat whoever I'm currently playing against. GPWN made a post earlier saying that he plays for himself, and I'm kind of the same way. I want to see how much better I can get, and how far I can go with this game; I have fun trying to do these things. So for me, 'competition' and 'fun' are the same thing. I'm not going to debate that point further, since 'fun' is just someone's personal opinion. I just wanted to make you aware that there are people who DO have fun while trying their best to win.
As for the PR as a way of "knowing" who's the best...everyone in this community knows that chet/test/pkm, and now recently bam/vwins, are the best. Most people knew this before the PR existed. Before the PR, most people were chasing after these people anyway...things aren't really too different nowadays, except now you can read a list instead of following along with tourney results. If it takes a list to get you motivated, then go nuts! Personally, the existence of the PR hasn't changed my motivation; of course we'd all love to be as good as those guys! I don't see how the PR changes that.
My last point's mainly for Bread: comparing 'competitive' smash and competitive sports is a joke; no one is seriously making a living off SSBM (no, not even Ken...MLGs don't pay enough to live off of). For competitive sports, you make a living off of how well you do. If you can't keep up in that world, you're done; for SSBM the consequences of losing/not being skilled are much less severe. Also, the amount of hours they put in to stay competitive is MUCH MUCH higher than the amount we put in. From talking to people, I think most smash groups only play once a week, or less. This is way less than the amount of time people put in for 'real' competitive sports. I think most of us would get burned out if we all played SSBM that much.
Also, way to mock people with a low/no ranking
You seem very defensive about this whole thing, no need to attack us personally.
I also did good in singles. the more I became competitive, the worst was my performance. since the games can get so boring, I need fun to keep concentrated. So if fun works for me, it works. if you can compete just for the shake of being the best, it works for you. But since I'm in for fun mostly, I didn't see much usefulness in it. I'd like to do a fun ranking, where cemo and thatguy would be getting a spot definitly. Being obssessed with being the best, doesn't work. you have to set personal goals. PR usualy blinds people into getting too high goals. It is of course my personal opinions. It just a matter of using it or not. I decided I should not use it anymore. If my name's on there fine but that's it nothing more nothing less. Cameron and del shouldn't leave the panelists job. as they are most fitted and neutral. and also the fact they don't care anymore about the pr counter the self praise during meeting. (del claiming to go higher than bread or whoever)
There's are a lot of good points in this post. Personal goals are important; do what YOU want to do with this game, don't worry so much about other people's opinions. If you worry too much about an internet ranking, you're gonna just be hit that much harder by a loss. Also, thinking about that kind of stuff while in a match may distract you from the opponent
I never play this game. I don't practice and I don't have fun playing it. I just like competition, and the PR is the best way to prove your competitiveness.
We all have our different views on it, but the majority of us still want the PR.
I didn't know you didn't like playing this game
Why spend so much time on something you don't even enjoy doing? At least do something fun with your time.
