Red Arremer
Smash Legend
Link to original post: [drupal=1411]Motivation and Growth[/drupal]
So... this blog is written while SWF is offline for me and while I have to kill some time.
Anyway, yesterday I had a very enriching talk with Reflex, and I want to share the thoughts I had running through my mind while and after it with you. Now why I mention Reflex already in the first sentence has a reason - you will see why.
When I got Brawl I was all over it, and thought I was acceptable. I horribly failed in a small tournament at a convention, and was then beaten by a friend all over the place - only when he wouldn't use his mains (Samus and ZSS) I would be able to almost or really beat him. And even when I won it was normally very close. I was absolutely destroyed, my self-esteem and motivation was eradicated like a pencil line by a strong rubber. I felt like I was horrible at the game, and put it aside. Although I continued informing myself about the metagame and all, I didn't really continue to play myself, as I felt that all hope was lost in my case, and that I should continue being some kind of database, despite me only playing horrendously bad.
Then, suddenly, I saw a thread in the Tactical discussion... "Becoming pro isn't Fictional" by Sky. It was an interview with the successful Wario player Fiction, who told Sky how he became good, and the hurdles he had to take during the way. It was a very enriching read, and it made me rethink a lot. When I then saw several videos of another Wario player - Reflex - playing against Mew2King, and actually beating him... I was very astonished. Seeing those videos and reading the articles of Sky in Tactical Discussion - especially the interview with Fiction - made me realize that I wouldn't get better if I just were to whine and not do anything.
I started picking up the game again. I finally tried to figure out how I could get my WiFi to work. And although it sometimes *****es like something I've never seen before, I still was able to play some people online. Playing against other players made me also change my character choices... In the beginning, I normally played Zelda and a very bad Wario. I went through pretty much the whole cast, figuring out who would fit my style best. I landed at Bowser. I continued searching further, and found Mr. Game & Watch as addition. So I started playing with those two. I know it may sound ridiculous, but when I started to be able to implement airdodging or grabbing properly into my game - stuff like that -, I was very happy. I became even more motivated to learn more, and become better, because I already saw my big steps forward. I changed my tag from SPFX to Impa, and changed my usual color choices to mark me getting better.
I still feel not ready yet, though. I've left Wario alone, because I felt he wasn't the right choice for me, although I loved to play as him. A lot. So as said, yesterday I had this talk with Reflex. It was actually initiated randomly, when he changed his location, and I just VMed him out of silliness. Despite the fact he didn't tell me much, and the conversation was short, Reflex NOT looking down on me, but rather being happy with me that I became better and that he was one of the reasons for me to come back ... I kinda felt that I should give Wario another go. So I played as him today. Only against CPUs, but still. I loved playing as him, and since I was better than I was back in the day before picking up Bowser and GaW, I actually was quite good with Wario - or at least I felt like I was good. I was able to use tactics that I wasn't able to work out before. Although I still have to learn to properly use Wario and not SD with him so much (I tend to forget I already used my second jump when going offstage x.X), that day with playing only the big guy was very enriching. I changed from the classic overalls to the biker outfit, too... so another color change for me. I felt very comfortable using Wario. I still have to learn much with the 3 characters I started out to play as and like, not only their special techniques and strategies, but also some basic stuff. But... I do think that I only can get better from this point on.
So I really have to thank two Wario players for giving me the motivation to take a deep breath and get back to work. Not to give up because of a few drawbacks. I feel like I can become a good and respected player. I know I'm getting better. And it can only go uphill from this point on. Both Fiction and Reflex are now pretty much the players I idolize. Not because I love their style and want to imitate them and "be like them", but rather because their words (and videos) were so enriching and they are the reason I grew up. So, again, thanks to you two guys. I hope I can meet you at a tourney some day and play a friendly or two. =)
It's all a big fat ramble here, I know. And some probably won't even read it. But I don't care. It is a blog, after all, and I just felt like putting down what is moving my mind currently. Maybe someone will read it, and feel the same kind of inspiration I got from the two Warios, and if these words get someone back into the game, that would be awesome.
To anyone who read it until now... thank you. <3
So... this blog is written while SWF is offline for me and while I have to kill some time.
Anyway, yesterday I had a very enriching talk with Reflex, and I want to share the thoughts I had running through my mind while and after it with you. Now why I mention Reflex already in the first sentence has a reason - you will see why.
When I got Brawl I was all over it, and thought I was acceptable. I horribly failed in a small tournament at a convention, and was then beaten by a friend all over the place - only when he wouldn't use his mains (Samus and ZSS) I would be able to almost or really beat him. And even when I won it was normally very close. I was absolutely destroyed, my self-esteem and motivation was eradicated like a pencil line by a strong rubber. I felt like I was horrible at the game, and put it aside. Although I continued informing myself about the metagame and all, I didn't really continue to play myself, as I felt that all hope was lost in my case, and that I should continue being some kind of database, despite me only playing horrendously bad.
Then, suddenly, I saw a thread in the Tactical discussion... "Becoming pro isn't Fictional" by Sky. It was an interview with the successful Wario player Fiction, who told Sky how he became good, and the hurdles he had to take during the way. It was a very enriching read, and it made me rethink a lot. When I then saw several videos of another Wario player - Reflex - playing against Mew2King, and actually beating him... I was very astonished. Seeing those videos and reading the articles of Sky in Tactical Discussion - especially the interview with Fiction - made me realize that I wouldn't get better if I just were to whine and not do anything.
I started picking up the game again. I finally tried to figure out how I could get my WiFi to work. And although it sometimes *****es like something I've never seen before, I still was able to play some people online. Playing against other players made me also change my character choices... In the beginning, I normally played Zelda and a very bad Wario. I went through pretty much the whole cast, figuring out who would fit my style best. I landed at Bowser. I continued searching further, and found Mr. Game & Watch as addition. So I started playing with those two. I know it may sound ridiculous, but when I started to be able to implement airdodging or grabbing properly into my game - stuff like that -, I was very happy. I became even more motivated to learn more, and become better, because I already saw my big steps forward. I changed my tag from SPFX to Impa, and changed my usual color choices to mark me getting better.
I still feel not ready yet, though. I've left Wario alone, because I felt he wasn't the right choice for me, although I loved to play as him. A lot. So as said, yesterday I had this talk with Reflex. It was actually initiated randomly, when he changed his location, and I just VMed him out of silliness. Despite the fact he didn't tell me much, and the conversation was short, Reflex NOT looking down on me, but rather being happy with me that I became better and that he was one of the reasons for me to come back ... I kinda felt that I should give Wario another go. So I played as him today. Only against CPUs, but still. I loved playing as him, and since I was better than I was back in the day before picking up Bowser and GaW, I actually was quite good with Wario - or at least I felt like I was good. I was able to use tactics that I wasn't able to work out before. Although I still have to learn to properly use Wario and not SD with him so much (I tend to forget I already used my second jump when going offstage x.X), that day with playing only the big guy was very enriching. I changed from the classic overalls to the biker outfit, too... so another color change for me. I felt very comfortable using Wario. I still have to learn much with the 3 characters I started out to play as and like, not only their special techniques and strategies, but also some basic stuff. But... I do think that I only can get better from this point on.
So I really have to thank two Wario players for giving me the motivation to take a deep breath and get back to work. Not to give up because of a few drawbacks. I feel like I can become a good and respected player. I know I'm getting better. And it can only go uphill from this point on. Both Fiction and Reflex are now pretty much the players I idolize. Not because I love their style and want to imitate them and "be like them", but rather because their words (and videos) were so enriching and they are the reason I grew up. So, again, thanks to you two guys. I hope I can meet you at a tourney some day and play a friendly or two. =)
It's all a big fat ramble here, I know. And some probably won't even read it. But I don't care. It is a blog, after all, and I just felt like putting down what is moving my mind currently. Maybe someone will read it, and feel the same kind of inspiration I got from the two Warios, and if these words get someone back into the game, that would be awesome.
To anyone who read it until now... thank you. <3
