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Do We Want the Game Harder? - Page 2

Forum Index > SC2 General
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Snowbear
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Korea (South)1925 Posts
January 23 2012 12:29 GMT
#21
As long as I see most progamers supply block, make macro and micro errors, I think the game is hard enough. Tough more micro options would be cool (especially for protoss and zerg, terran micro is hard enough imo).
TemujinGK
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States483 Posts
January 23 2012 12:30 GMT
#22
On January 23 2012 20:58 Lysenko wrote:
That there are GSL Code S players who win two thirds or more of their games tells me there's no skill cap that matters in SC2.



...What about Jaedong with insane 70, 80+% winrate in ZvZ in pro BW leagues?
What about Flash with 70+% win rate in all matchups?

There are and were (i.e. BoxeR, naDa, July) incredible players in BW with 2/3 win rates or above for periods of time. Your supporting points are silly and it detracts from your correct (imo) assertion that the game should be harder.
"Pikachu and Protoss are both yellow, Coincidence?" ~apexMorroW
Sanchonator
Profile Joined September 2010
Australia490 Posts
January 23 2012 12:32 GMT
#23
On January 23 2012 21:30 TemujinGK wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 23 2012 20:58 Lysenko wrote:
That there are GSL Code S players who win two thirds or more of their games tells me there's no skill cap that matters in SC2.



...What about Jaedong with insane 70, 80+% winrate in ZvZ in pro BW leagues?
What about Flash with 70+% win rate in all matchups?

There are and were (i.e. BoxeR, naDa, July) incredible players in BW with 2/3 win rates or above for periods of time. Your supporting points are silly and it detracts from your correct (imo) assertion that the game should be harder.


i think he means the skill cap isnt low enough to matter, ie: better players having high winrates

if the skill cap was low top players would average out at 50% across the board
Mafe
Profile Joined February 2011
Germany5966 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-23 12:34:16
January 23 2012 12:32 GMT
#24
There is a very important difference between "being easy to play" and "low skillcap".
For example, the micro-bots that are out there clearly show that people could do a lot of amazing stuff if they have spare apm.
Also, how "hard" a game is depends not so much on the game engine, but also on the human player you are playing against. Sc:bw bonjwas have years of experience in their game, this is simply not yet possible for sc2 players. I see the point that sc2 is maybe more random than sc:bw is now. But you are comparing a game with a history of 10++ years of competitive gaming to one with 2 years. I dare to say that sc:bw produced equally "random" results when it was existing as long as sc2 does now.
Iyerbeth
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
England2410 Posts
January 23 2012 12:33 GMT
#25
I don't think artificially limitting mechanics in order to make the game harder is the correct way for SC2 to go, but I do think that gradually increasing the skill cieling through more intelligent unit design choices, map choices and probably other stuff that I haven't considered would be the better way to do it. I'd love to be at a point where the game is harder to master at the top levels so that the top pro's at the moment can really distinguish themselves above and beyond the rest if they're sufficiently skilled.

That said, we'll see how it is after LotV I think, and I'm confident the game will grow in to something even greater than it is now.
♥ Liquid`Sheth ♥ Liquid`TLO ♥
Capped
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom7236 Posts
January 23 2012 12:33 GMT
#26
Seriously, Brood war mechanics are old and outdated, they are harder because they are shit by comparison and design.

The fact starcraft 2 took a step up from them, is a good thing. The mechanics have improved, making simple tasks easier. who the fuck wants to smash 20 buttons just to move 20 zerglings? manually move your workers to mine? seriously?

People defending BW's mechanics over SC2's are downright stupid. Its like saying you prefer to use your nails to peel a potato over a knife or potato peeler, because thats how people used to do it, who cares if it takes 10x as long!

-Anything else related to BW vs SC2 is fair game, but general progression of mechanics and design is a stupid subject. A game is not good because it is poorly designed or has low limitations. (AI and UI respectively.)

User was warned for this post
Useless wet fish.
Tobberoth
Profile Joined August 2010
Sweden6375 Posts
January 23 2012 12:34 GMT
#27
The important factor isn't that it should be harder / more difficult to play. I don't think anyone seriously wants 12 unit selection back. We want to keep all of those aspects which make the game more playable, and instead make the strategy more complex and important.

For example, defenders advantage. In BW, you had a lesser chance to hit your opponent when firing up a cliff, even if you had vision. In SC2, it's all about vision, nothing else matters. Is this easier? Not really, but it's simpler. THAT'S what most people who laud BW want to get into SC2: Make the game more complex without making it harder to physically play.

While micro skills and macro skills are more appreciated in BW because they are harder to perform physically, it's the higher level we want to enjoy. Seeing two 200/200 armies bash into each other for 4 seconds and then seeing a winner is boring, even if there was some nice drop play in the middle of it. What we want are long games which are constantly back and forth with minor engagements, zoning and multitasking, and a game which is complex enough to support this and discourage people from A-moving everything for the win.
Noobity
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States871 Posts
January 23 2012 12:34 GMT
#28
The game is as hard as the players make it. Give it a couple years and you'll see the difficulty of the game raised.

BW was more difficult mechanically, and nobody would disagree with that. However these mechanics were more difficult because it was a game that was made with now out-dated technology and ideas that in hindsight were ridiculous. The addition of larger control groups and auto-harvesting workers made the mechanics reasonable for the every-gamer. I'd argue that SC2 gives you more time to think and adapt, to strategize, and to put yourself in more of the role of a general commanding their highly trained forces, then some school teacher making sure their students don't eat paste.

A smarter game /= an easier game. A smarter game = a more accessible game.

SC2 is just as difficult as BW, just difficult in a different way, and I don't see why these threads keep popping up.
My name is Mike, and statistically, yours is not.
Detwiler
Profile Joined June 2011
United States239 Posts
January 23 2012 12:35 GMT
#29
On January 23 2012 21:26 MCDayC wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 23 2012 21:20 aTnClouD wrote:
On January 23 2012 20:54 firehand101 wrote:
TL DR
The game being hard makes it better for the pros, but we owe the success of SC2 in the west compared to BW to its ease of use and accessibility


It's not proven that the SC2 success in the west comes from that. It's most likely just the fact it has been marketed on a larger scale as a game and eSport, and since we are way more superficial than asians we think graphic matters a lot. We can just make speculations but my eyes bleed whenever somebody take for granted that SC2 success is most likely given by the fact the game is easier than SCBW.

Where does that come from?


ikr where does this come from. Oh and we are way more superficial than asains? Have you been to SKorea? Try picking up a girl in Seoul. Nuff said.
Omsomsoms
Profile Joined September 2011
Croatia194 Posts
January 23 2012 12:38 GMT
#30
Whether or not BW and SC2 are harder/easier than each other and why that is is a moot point at this state I think, but I hope that they add some units that can stay active throughout the game (require constant micro!) like the reaver + shuttle combination in BW, similarly to the way terrans who use constant medivac drops throughout the game get far better results, this could add significantly to the skill cap of SC2 without changing any game mechanics whatsoever.
Sooooil
Profile Joined July 2011
Germany497 Posts
January 23 2012 12:38 GMT
#31
On January 23 2012 20:58 Lysenko wrote:
That there are GSL Code S players who win two thirds or more of their games tells me there's no skill cap that matters in SC2.



U know that the "dominance" of these Code S players is nothing compared to BW Bonjwa's?
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
January 23 2012 12:39 GMT
#32
On January 23 2012 21:32 Sanchonator wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 23 2012 21:30 TemujinGK wrote:
On January 23 2012 20:58 Lysenko wrote:
That there are GSL Code S players who win two thirds or more of their games tells me there's no skill cap that matters in SC2.



...What about Jaedong with insane 70, 80+% winrate in ZvZ in pro BW leagues?
What about Flash with 70+% win rate in all matchups?

There are and were (i.e. BoxeR, naDa, July) incredible players in BW with 2/3 win rates or above for periods of time. Your supporting points are silly and it detracts from your correct (imo) assertion that the game should be harder.


i think he means the skill cap isnt low enough to matter, ie: better players having high winrates

if the skill cap was low top players would average out at 50% across the board



This.

Also, I think TemujinGK mistook me for someone else. I was saying the game doesn't need to be harder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
Treziel
Profile Joined October 2010
United Kingdom123 Posts
January 23 2012 12:40 GMT
#33
All you guys who want the game harder, why aren't you winning roughly 50% of your games against all the other people who have hit this entirely fictional skill cap? Why are there any players better than you? The fact that any players can dominate the scene, the fact that Koreans dominate foreigners, should tell you that we have not hit a skill cap and are nowhere near hitting one.

Every time one of these threads about a skill cap appears, all you have is a bunch of master-level players whining because they think they lose too many games because of luck. In actual fact, they are losing because they are actually not pro gamers, and will never be pro gamers, but like to think that they are as good the pro's but are just a bit 'unlucky'. Come back and whine about a low skill cap when you can win roughly 50% of your games against a player like MVP. Or even just a mid-tier foreigner pro. Show me some top professional players who want the game harder because they think it is too easy.
DeepBlu2
Profile Blog Joined April 2004
United States975 Posts
January 23 2012 12:40 GMT
#34
On January 23 2012 21:34 Noobity wrote:
The game is as hard as the players make it. Give it a couple years and you'll see the difficulty of the game raised.

BW was more difficult mechanically, and nobody would disagree with that. However these mechanics were more difficult because it was a game that was made with now out-dated technology and ideas that in hindsight were ridiculous. The addition of larger control groups and auto-harvesting workers made the mechanics reasonable for the every-gamer. I'd argue that SC2 gives you more time to think and adapt, to strategize, and to put yourself in more of the role of a general commanding their highly trained forces, then some school teacher making sure their students don't eat paste.

A smarter game /= an easier game. A smarter game = a more accessible game.

SC2 is just as difficult as BW, just difficult in a different way, and I don't see why these threads keep popping up.



Although SC2 may be focused more in different areas than its predecessor, and less in mechanics, it doesn't mean that SC2 is just as hard. SC2 requires different skills, but if you added it all together, BW still requires a higher physical capability in the form of APM and stronger mental capability. I feel like Blizzard removing some of the difficulty of the game lowered the skill ceiling but didn't make the game more fun.
u gotta sk8
Elefes
Profile Joined September 2011
Russian Federation164 Posts
January 23 2012 12:40 GMT
#35
uhm... Imagine for a second that the original SC has been released for Sega Genesis (Mega Drive).
With clumpy control, crazy hotkeys, poor AI, w/e...
And... I wonder how would you treat BW in that case...

How ez and noob that game is with normal pointer (wow even my grandma can use mouse, just leave), keyboard (haha, 1a-2a-3a what a joke, buy skill), etc. While MAYBE (i.e. in terms of gameplay) the game didn't lose anything, just bacame more user-friendly.

Well, that's not exactly the case of BW --> SC2, yet it is likely that, to a certain extend, hardcore BW-ers overestimate 'mechanical' skill and underestimate good desicion making and tactics. And SC2 is damned young!)
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
January 23 2012 12:41 GMT
#36
On January 23 2012 21:38 Sooooil wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 23 2012 20:58 Lysenko wrote:
That there are GSL Code S players who win two thirds or more of their games tells me there's no skill cap that matters in SC2.



U know that the "dominance" of these Code S players is nothing compared to BW Bonjwa's?


The people who can achieve unusual success at the top levels of either game are outliers, and BW, at its peak, had more high-level pros, thus more, and more extreme, outliers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
TheAntZ
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Israel6248 Posts
January 23 2012 12:42 GMT
#37
starcraft 2 will never be as hard to get into as BW, no matter how high the skill ceiling gets in pro level play. So I cant think of a reason why it'd be bad if that happened
43084 | Honeybadger: "So july, you're in the GSL finals. How do you feel?!" ~ July: "HUNGRY."
kazansky
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
Germany931 Posts
January 23 2012 12:42 GMT
#38
Just this very weekend, we had lots of people blown away by the numbers they read tuning in for IEM on the LoL stream, finding out just because it was the default stream. That game is easy even compared to SC2, yet it fascinates the masses (which eludes me, but it's nice that everybody can find something that makes him happy).
The main issue I have with this your approach boiling down the success of Broodwar, or SC2 recently, to one aspect that is hardness. I think this is a way too singleton approach.

Yes, Starcraft 2 is way easier to play than Broodwar on the macro side. Yes, it is easier to use than Broodwar is.
But we have 2012 and not 1998 anymore. Compare other games around to other games released back then. Halflife Deathmatch players will giggle upon what Quake Live players from now call aiming or movement, the same with MLGs flagship Halo compared to Counterstrike in its beta form.

Games don't have to be impossibly hard to entertain people and establish as sport. Poker, of all, displayed that very well.
And just because the game is easy to handle as a beginner, it does not mean it can be solved. Your cons point is worded as though some random masters player could beat Code S material players just by luck. Which does not happen. These players, despite not having the work ethics of broodwar pros, practice tons a day to not get beaten by the random masters player. You are, despite not saying it directly, minoring the effort of any pro player on SC2 with your argumentation, saying that if they win, it might aswell be luck, or supplied by an arbitrary low skill cap. I would guess many pro players would strongly disagree.

And on a final note, luck does not harm a sport. 50% of all games of football can be assigned to some way of luck (this is an actual statistic of Roland Loy's book about football statistics (german). Yet it is the biggest, most successful sport in the world, keeping alive a huge marketing industry, trumendous player salaries and remains a growing market in a world in crisis. Even in eSports, Counterstrike and Warcraft 3, the two biggest eSports games in the west prior to the Sc2 release, had a significant luck component. It didn't harm their popularity or their competition for a long period.
"Mathematicians don't understand mathematics, they get used to it." - Prof. Kredler || "That was more one-sided that a mobius strip." - Tasteless
bbm
Profile Joined April 2011
United Kingdom1320 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-23 12:42:44
January 23 2012 12:42 GMT
#39
On January 23 2012 21:38 Sooooil wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 23 2012 20:58 Lysenko wrote:
That there are GSL Code S players who win two thirds or more of their games tells me there's no skill cap that matters in SC2.



U know that the "dominance" of these Code S players is nothing compared to BW Bonjwa's?

And it took two years between BW being released and BoxeR's dominance (I think, not too hot on bw history). Your point?
By.Sun or By.Rain, he always delivers
FT.aCt)Sony
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States1048 Posts
January 23 2012 12:44 GMT
#40
On January 23 2012 21:10 ampson wrote:
When some random code B player beats MVP in a BO5 you can tell me that the skillcap is too low.


You are aware Code B is the title given to individuals who can't get into Code A but meet the requirements to compete in Code A Qualifiers correct? Just want to make sure.


For the op, Yes Starcraft 2 should be harder. They should remove majority of the easy mode addons this game has implemented. Having the game like Brood War would by far remove 90% of the individuals who are supposedly "not supposed to be in GM" and it would require actual mechanics at all times to be good much like Brood War was.

But if Blizzard reverts from this Browderfied version of Starcraft, they will lose alot of their player base but that's ok, because majority of that player base is probably the elitist bm tools who do nothing but all-in every game.
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