Is it too late to start melee competitive?

[tbird99]

I watched the melee documentary and it looks really go playing competitive. But is it too late to start? I've been playing melee my whole life but I've never played competitive and i hardly know any advanced techs let alone using them. Most players take years to get good and by that time will competitive melee still be a thing? Also how do I start competitive? I don't have anyone to play against and I don't know how to learn techniques.

 

[EddyBearr]

No, it's not too late to start. In Minnesota, we had a player who only started in like August/September and he started winning money at tournaments by the end of the year.

It might be too late to start if you want to be top 10 in the world, but I think having goals like that is unrealistic.

 

[Bones0]

Competitive Melee is more likely to be around in 10 years than almost every other video game, so unless you're just not going to compete in e-sports in general, I don't see why that'd be a concern. Why do you even want to compete in the first place? I don't say this to be rude, but I'd imagine you really enjoy the game and enjoy what top level play looks like. If you're only interested in playing as a career, then you won't last long. If you're interested in challenging yourself, improving, making friends, and just all-around having a good time, then it shouldn't really matter if the game is dead by 2020. I mean, just think about how few things in your life have actually lasted more than a few years. Most people do not stay at the same school, job, etc. for more than a few years, and those who do aren't usually happy with that fact.

 

[tbird99]

Competitive Melee is more likely to be around in 10 years than almost every other video game, so unless you're just not going to compete in e-sports in general, I don't see why that'd be a concern. Why do you even want to compete in the first place? I don't say this to be rude, but I'd imagine you really enjoy the game and enjoy what top level play looks like. If you're only interested in playing as a career, then you won't last long. If you're interested in challenging yourself, improving, making friends, and just all-around having a good time, then it shouldn't really matter if the game is dead by 2020. I mean, just think about how few things in your life have actually lasted more than a few years. Most people do not stay at the same school, job, etc. for more than a few years, and those who do aren't usually happy with that fact.

I want to play competitively because I've always loved this game and it looks really fun playing at a competitive level. Like you said, I just want to have fun and meet new people, not make a career

 

[20YY SS | Saiblade]

Of course not! We have another 10-15 years around, haha.

 

[tbird99]

Of course not! We have another 10-15 years around, haha.

We're 14 years into this and the community is larger than ever. At this point I guess an end doesn't even seem like a possibility, plus Nintendo will never make an effort to replace melee with a game as competitive

 

[20YY SS | Saiblade]

We're 14 years into this and the community is larger than ever. At this point I guess an end doesn't even seem like a possibility, plus Nintendo will never make an effort to replace melee with a game as competitive

At this point, but then again, it HAS to stop eventually, whether we like it or not. Of course, Nintendo never will develop a game with equal or superior competitive value. My guess is that we'll reach our peak sometime around 2023ish, stay strong until 2025ish, and start to decline 2028.

 

[Elyssa Xey Hexen]

Someone asked this in 2010. Another in 2013 I think. Is 2-5+ yearsof play worth it? Yes.

 

[The Prince L]

Nope, It's not too late.

 

[MEnKIRBZ]

At this point, but then again, it HAS to stop eventually, whether we like it or not. Of course, Nintendo never will develop a game with equal or superior competitive value. My guess is that we'll reach our peak sometime around 2023ish, stay strong until 2025ish, and start to decline 2028.

Does it really have to tho? Football,bball, soccoe, etc. Have been around for about a century.

We have melee and the second coming of melee (pm). I don't see it stopping ANYTIME soon

 

[20YY SS | Saiblade]

Does it really have to tho? Football,bball, soccoe, etc. Have been around for about a century.

We have melee and the second coming of melee (pm). I don't see it stopping ANYTIME soon

They've a much more diverse audience as well, plus, even if we don't die, some day we will run out of CRTs. Edit: We're not ending anytime soon.

 

[MEnKIRBZ]

They've a much more diverse audience as well, plus, even if we don't die, some day we will run out of CRTs. Edit: We're not ending anytime soon.

This community is pretty crazy tho...someone will probably invent a higher quality TV to replace CRTs by then ( no input lag)

 

[MEnKIRBZ]

They've a much more diverse audience as well, plus, even if we don't die, some day we will run out of CRTs. Edit: We're not ending anytime soon.

We do as well, but we all share a love for smash..same with sports lovers sharing a love for sports or their respective sport(s)

 

[tbird99]

Does it really have to tho? Football,bball, soccoe, etc. Have been around for about a century.

We have melee and the second coming of melee (pm). I don't see it stopping ANYTIME soon

I don't know how long PM will last though because Nintendo will keep it from becoming big, but nothing's really stopping melee. I don't see Nintendo trying anything like they did at evo 2013 again.

 

[Delta Chae]

Too late to become a top 10 player? Perhaps, not impossible but definitely in the realm of "very unlikely". I feel like becoming a top 100 player is a perfectly achievable goal though.

 

[Ryujin-]

It's never really too late to start in competitive Melee.
One of my friends started 5/6 months ago with only the 20XX pack at his disposal and his Fox is already amazing.
He can do just about any tech skill related thing with any character in the game.
Albeit, his fundamentals are really lacking, but he'll get there with more practice he has with actual people.

To get good in competitive smash doesn't take much, it all comes down to how well you use your resources, even if you have very little.

Practice any time you can. Watch a lot of tournament matches and take notes if you have to.
Do anything you can to get good in Melee.

 

[elliotnz]

no, its not to late to enjoy melee

 

[IdkLmao]

Definitely not too late to become a top 10 or top 5 player. Not too late to become the best in the world either. Even if you start today.

 

[N1c2k3]

I remember people asking this is 2009. It's never too to start playing something you enjoy. It's definitely harder to become a top top player now than it was 10 years ago, but nothing is impossible.

Do what you love. Play Melee.

 

[Halzyn]

It's never too late, though it may be hard to figure out where to start.

I started two months ago and I've seen a rapid increase in technical ability just from practicing combos and tech by myself against lvl 1 CPUs. It shouldn't be an issue learning that. Just look up guides, look how it's done and go practice.

Things like neutral game, mindgames etc. are a lot tougher to practice. A lot of this comes from experience against other players. I don't know where you live, but honestly, Smash is everywhere. I'm from the Netherlands and thought I could only realistically play casually with my friends, but recently I found a tournament close by home and it was a lot of fun. The best way to improve is through tournaments, so look up if there is a Smash community in your area or near it.

One piece of advice: Don't play just to be a great player or because it "looks cool". Play because you love the game and want to learn its intricacies. Melee is a beautiful game. Of course, being able to beat people is great, and don't hesitate to set goals, but always remember why you're playing. It's never too late to play Melee if you play for fun, even if it's in a competitive environment.

Just the two cents of someone who recently got into competitive Melee as well.

 

[SuperShus]

As long as there are still people to ask this, the answer is it's not too late.

I see this question all the time, don't you understand? As long as there are new people, and the old people get bad and quit, there will always be more melee, and new greats. Though we haven't had a melee god loose their god status in almost a decade, but there's always hope that you can join them, and surpass them.

 

[Elyssa Xey Hexen]

A decade? Well, I guess its getting there. Much of what I know of these players started really back in 09'. Only M2K has really been part of an even older generation of smashers for 06-07 generation.

I remember people asking this is 2009. It's never too to start playing something you enjoy. It's definitely harder to become a top top player now than it was 10 years ago, but nothing is impossible.

Do what you love. Play Melee.

I would almost say its easier now. At least, depending upon what you mean by a top player. There are so many resources out there and experienced players its actually pretty fast for players to reach a particular level to challenge people and learn.

My guess is there really are not that many people who can totally dedicate to the game with the resources out there.

 

[SphericalCrusher]

Good question, good answers. I play Melee casually/for fun right now... but I do admit, for someone who didn't play a ton of competitive Melee before, it's pretty overwhelming now but definitely possible. I'm just sticking to Smash 4 atm. lol

 

[Dylan_Tnga]

Never too late, melee is not going anywhere. Remember that Mango was to the competitive scene a younger and newer player when he bopped M2K and became famous for it.

I honnestly believe that there are other smash prodigies out there waiting to be discovered.

 

[Spoice]

Too late to become a top 10 player? Perhaps, not impossible but definitely in the realm of "very unlikely". I feel like becoming a top 100 player is a perfectly achievable goal though.

It's definitely possible for anybody, it just takes a load of work. If someone like SFAT put in as much work as M2K he could easily get into the top 10.

 

[VaLoR_Ryan]

It is never too late just be a man and start grinding then kick ass and go to tournaments.