Might as well post my "argument" if you can call it that, albeit it doesn't really say a whole lot for either side.
I've said it before, but I'll say it again. There are many facts flying around that can't be disputed about Brawl. For example:
- There is little hit stun.
- Floaty nature of the game makes combo's few and far between.
- It's a little slower, or a great deal slower depending on how you measure speed.
- Advanced techniques like wave dashing and L cancelling aren't prominent and/or have been removed completely.
- Tripping...
All these things make Brawl a very different game from Melee. That is all. All these facts can be used for either side of the debate. Some people believe that the slower pace gives people a little more time to think, and the lack of super moves leaves for more variety. Some people believe that the speed of the game makes mind games much less effective, and the lack of super moves keeps top players and new players from being separated. Yes, I understand that a game as shallow as tic-tac-toe or pawn-only chess suck competitively. However, there is undeniably more depth to Brawl then those weak examples. So what we have here is a different game. It's unfortunate that not all Melee fans can appreciate the changes that Brawl has made, but it's not completely unreasonable considering the drastic game play changes.
Same facts are being used to enforce both sides of the argument.
People are playing this game in tournaments, so that's a hint that people feel the game is competitive. Call it new release fever if you want to, but it's happening. That's because people *like* playing this game for skill. Saying that the competitive aspect of Brawl is bad or even saying it is insulting to the people who do play it competitively; it's like saying people who play Bowling are playing a non-competitive game, just because you don't like to play it. However, that doesn't mean you're not allowed to dislike it. It's not for everyone, that's understandable.
It's a different competitive experience for different people. Even tripping, as awful as it may seem to everyone, Brawl supporter and critic alike, has arguments and evidence supporting how it can be played in the competitive scene. As with any random element based on probability, I use Poker as an example. Competitive Poker has a champion, and it's the most probability based game of them all, but if you play the odds, you can come out on top, just by knowing what might happen. The game is never decided by one hand unless you play foolishly.
For the most part, all this arguing is just driving people further away from each other, Brawl supporters are becoming hell-bent on proving anything or just ending the discussion completely, and Brawl debaters are viciously throwing logic and facts at a situation that is completely subjective. Facts are facts, but you can have opinions on whether those facts are good and bad. And since they're all based on the game being more or less fun or more or less competitive, it's not going anywhere, because what's fun for one person may not be for another.
I seen the
1UP show where Gimpyfish, Nealdt and Hugs discussed the game and weren't too impressed with the changes, that's fine and all, they know what they're talking about. It was a pretty good interview, I enjoyed it even though I'm supporting Brawl, they showed off some cool tricks too. They're not viciously out to crush peoples thoughts on the game though from my understanding. They're not overflowing the forums with the same old stuff over and over again. Seriously, it's hard for people who play Brawl to come here now to this board because it's such a drag reading everybody dragging the game down. You know how frustrating it is when someone comes along and says: "Items on, all stages" is the only skilled way to play? That's how it feels with Brawl and Melee when someone comes along and says Melee is the only skilled way to play. That's why everyone is so angry; and throwing down these blanket statements that for some reason every one concentrates on exclusively. This compendium is going to have every lame statement that's ever been made even though you know full well that they're not even worth calling an argument.
I think instead of arguing this any further, actually making a real attempt to mend the community that is parting further and further apart must be done, in ways that don't involve this silly argument, because really, cataloging the whole thing and putting it on a pedestal like this is ridiculous, like, thanks for giving us a place to read about a month of frustration. Now we are all going to know who is right and who is wrong,
not. Now we know what has already been said and not to say it again,
not. However, if you want to finish it, that's O.K. I guess, I never like to leave a job unfinished, but I'd like to see an end to all this sometime this lifetime.
We've all gotten our venting out for the most part I think. Get some self control and just not let every little comment get to us. I'm mentally exhausted from it all and like many others have been concentrating my attention elsewhere, but I'd like to stick around here too. I'm just spent with all this going around in circles.