• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 19:24
CET 01:24
KST 09:24
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
TL.net Map Contest #21: Winners11Intel X Team Liquid Seoul event: Showmatches and Meet the Pros10[ASL20] Finals Preview: Arrival13TL.net Map Contest #21: Voting12[ASL20] Ro4 Preview: Descent11
Community News
Weekly Cups (Nov 3-9): Clem Conquers in Canada3SC: Evo Complete - Ranked Ladder OPEN ALPHA8StarCraft, SC2, HotS, WC3, Returning to Blizzcon!45$5,000+ WardiTV 2025 Championship7[BSL21] RO32 Group Stage4
StarCraft 2
General
Mech is the composition that needs teleportation t Craziest Micro Moments Of All Time? Weekly Cups (Nov 3-9): Clem Conquers in Canada SC: Evo Complete - Ranked Ladder OPEN ALPHA RotterdaM "Serral is the GOAT, and it's not close"
Tourneys
Constellation Cup - Main Event - Stellar Fest Tenacious Turtle Tussle Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament $5,000+ WardiTV 2025 Championship Merivale 8 Open - LAN - Stellar Fest
Strategy
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ?
External Content
Mutation # 499 Chilling Adaptation Mutation # 498 Wheel of Misfortune|Cradle of Death Mutation # 497 Battle Haredened Mutation # 496 Endless Infection
Brood War
General
FlaSh on: Biggest Problem With SnOw's Playstyle BW General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ [ASL20] Ask the mapmakers — Drop your questions Where's CardinalAllin/Jukado the mapmaker?
Tourneys
[BSL21] RO32 Group D - Sunday 21:00 CET [BSL21] RO32 Group C - Saturday 21:00 CET [ASL20] Grand Finals [Megathread] Daily Proleagues
Strategy
Current Meta PvZ map balance How to stay on top of macro? Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Should offensive tower rushing be viable in RTS games? Path of Exile Dawn of War IV
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread SPIRED by.ASL Mafia {211640}
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Canadian Politics Mega-thread The Games Industry And ATVI
Fan Clubs
White-Ra Fan Club The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! Korean Music Discussion Series you have seen recently...
Sports
Formula 1 Discussion 2024 - 2026 Football Thread NBA General Discussion MLB/Baseball 2023 TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
SC2 Client Relocalization [Change SC2 Language] Linksys AE2500 USB WIFI keeps disconnecting Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Dyadica Gospel – a Pulp No…
Hildegard
Coffee x Performance in Espo…
TrAiDoS
Saturation point
Uldridge
DnB/metal remix FFO Mick Go…
ImbaTosS
Reality "theory" prov…
perfectspheres
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1300 users

reach your skill ceiling = give the game up? - Page 12

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
Prev 1 10 11 12 13 14 18 Next All
Mohdoo
Profile Joined August 2007
United States15723 Posts
March 10 2012 20:59 GMT
#221
The idea of a skill ceiling is a good way to make you feel good about yourself and like you're not letting yourself down.

The truth is, people who have gotten really good are people who have hit a lot of road blocks, but know how to get past them and put in the extra amount of hard work to overcome those road blocks. You feel like you've reached a ceiling, but don't let that make you feel like you couldn't be getting better. You might not be willing to put in the effort and analyze yourself to the extent that you need to in order to improve, but don't fool yourself by thinking its your "ceiling", as if its some kinda physical barrier.
cmgillett
Profile Joined March 2010
United States335 Posts
March 10 2012 21:01 GMT
#222
you reach your skill ceiling when you stop trying to learn. thats it
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20321 Posts
March 10 2012 21:06 GMT
#223
On March 11 2012 04:33 romelako wrote:
the skill ceiling is nonexistent. there is always going to be something in your game that you need to improve...unless you're flash lol.


Flash has to improve his non-turret-cancelling kills so he doesnt break his next 14 winstreak in proleague
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
NexUmbra
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Scotland3776 Posts
March 10 2012 21:15 GMT
#224
If you are just stuck then I recommend you take a bit of a break because back when I played Street Fighter a ton I was ok then I just got kind of annoyed with the game so I didn't play it for about a month then when I came back I was incredibly refreshed and itching to get better!
Life has won two GSLs and a Blizzard Cup. NOT three GSLs.
TORTOISE
Profile Joined December 2010
United States515 Posts
March 10 2012 21:25 GMT
#225
If you can't enjoy the game without "improving," maybe it is time for a break. SC2 should be an enjoyable experience in itself.
◕ ‿‿ ◕ ๑•́ ₃ •̀๑ ( ͡ ° ͜ ʖ ͡°)
Mohdoo
Profile Joined August 2007
United States15723 Posts
March 10 2012 21:28 GMT
#226
On March 11 2012 06:25 TORTOISE wrote:
If you can't enjoy the game without "improving," maybe it is time for a break. SC2 should be an enjoyable experience in itself.


Can anyone confirm that this is the case for some people? lol

I've tried 100 times to just enjoy SC2, but the competitive spirit always ruins it for me! T_T
Penecks
Profile Joined August 2010
United States600 Posts
March 10 2012 21:31 GMT
#227
I don't think the proper term is exactly "skill ceiling" though I understand what the OP means, for me personally its the place in your progression where a much greater amount of time/effort must be invested than ever before, and since this is a simple hobby for many rather than a lifestyle, it can be difficult to break through.

For example I'm a mid-ish masters player and I usually play 1-2 games a day, sometimes not even. I just don't find the game that fun to play any more than that, simply because I know that high masters/GM players are so much better than me I would have to invest hours of time everyday to reach that level. It can be pretty demotivating. Have I reached my overall skill ceiling? Probably not. Is it the skill ceiling of how much time I am willing to invest into the game? Likely.

Of course there are exception of people playing like 3 games a week and being in GM, but I imagine those are pretty talented, outlier individuals.
straight poppin
forsooth
Profile Joined February 2011
United States3648 Posts
March 10 2012 21:33 GMT
#228
On March 11 2012 06:28 Mohdoo wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 11 2012 06:25 TORTOISE wrote:
If you can't enjoy the game without "improving," maybe it is time for a break. SC2 should be an enjoyable experience in itself.


Can anyone confirm that this is the case for some people? lol

I've tried 100 times to just enjoy SC2, but the competitive spirit always ruins it for me! T_T

If you're not playing SC2 for money, I fail to see why you'd bother with it if you don't find it fun.
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
March 11 2012 00:26 GMT
#229
On March 11 2012 04:14 Competent wrote:
Compared to Pros, I have a brain defect/learning disability, however subtle.

Compared to me, OP has a brain defect/learning disability, however subtle.


It's ludicrous and offensive for someone who's performing in the top 2% of all players to say that anyone who doesn't reach that point has a "brain defect."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
Akta
Profile Joined February 2011
447 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-03-11 00:45:15
March 11 2012 00:44 GMT
#230
As a reference it's quite standard that elite athletes quit improving for a while early in their careers. Usually somewhere between the age of 16 and 19, but that doesn't have to mean it's purely linked to age.

A lot of talented athletes quit during those periods because it can of course be very hard to stay motivated when it doesn't feel like you are improving, sometimes for a whole year or longer.


On the other hand, I agree with what many already said. If you aren't a pro-gamer or plan to become one, shouldn't having fun be what matters most?
vnlegend
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
United States1389 Posts
March 11 2012 01:46 GMT
#231
Lose 80 games, switch to random and play for fun.
Marines > everything
Grobyc
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Canada18410 Posts
March 11 2012 01:52 GMT
#232
Skill ceiling? I know not of the word.
If you watch Godzilla backwards it's about a benevolent lizard who helps rebuild a city and then moonwalks into the ocean.
Dalavita
Profile Joined August 2010
Sweden1113 Posts
March 11 2012 01:57 GMT
#233
The skill ceiling is there to be broken bro. Keep at it!
radscorpion9
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
Canada2252 Posts
March 11 2012 02:04 GMT
#234
On March 11 2012 06:31 Penecks wrote:
I don't think the proper term is exactly "skill ceiling" though I understand what the OP means, for me personally its the place in your progression where a much greater amount of time/effort must be invested than ever before, and since this is a simple hobby for many rather than a lifestyle, it can be difficult to break through.

For example I'm a mid-ish masters player and I usually play 1-2 games a day, sometimes not even. I just don't find the game that fun to play any more than that, simply because I know that high masters/GM players are so much better than me I would have to invest hours of time everyday to reach that level. It can be pretty demotivating. Have I reached my overall skill ceiling? Probably not. Is it the skill ceiling of how much time I am willing to invest into the game? Likely.

Of course there are exception of people playing like 3 games a week and being in GM, but I imagine those are pretty talented, outlier individuals.


Yes...I agree with this. So many people are saying there is no skill ceiling. But its ridiculous because its backed up by almost no evidence or reasoning. What if people are simply born with slower reflexes than others? Are you going to tell me that I can overcome my genetic limitations through sheer will? I mean sure you may be able to rewire your brain via brain plasticity...but does that apply to your reflexes as well? Can I choose to become a theoretical physicist through sheer will too, and transform myself into a genius? A similar argument holds for SC2. How do you know that people can force their minds to become super-capable of multitasking and quick thinking, to the extent that other players like Stephano are capable of? Because this is precisely what's being supported when one says there is *NO* skill ceiling.

Even if it were possible, its exactly as you say. It would require an absurd amount of time and effort to become as good as other players; which for all practical intents and purposes is the equivalent of a skill ceiling. All of these poetic statements are just pleasant sounding nonsense. "Destroy the floor and lay a new foundation". Yes that sounds nice. Too bad it doesn't make any logical arguments based on evidence as to why the skill ceiling doesn't exist...and so is of no practical use to anyone.

But I'm sure it'll motivate some people who assume its true just because it sounds poetic
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
March 11 2012 02:16 GMT
#235
On March 11 2012 11:04 radscorpion9 wrote:
I mean sure you may be able to rewire your brain via brain plasticity...but does that apply to your reflexes as well?


While I agree with you that there's a range of inherent reaction time in various people, I would say it's likely that focused practice can improve people's reaction time, to a point. It's also true that most casual SC2 players don't engage in the type of practice that would bring about that specific improvement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
zefreak
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
United States2731 Posts
March 11 2012 02:20 GMT
#236
On March 11 2012 11:04 radscorpion9 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 11 2012 06:31 Penecks wrote:
I don't think the proper term is exactly "skill ceiling" though I understand what the OP means, for me personally its the place in your progression where a much greater amount of time/effort must be invested than ever before, and since this is a simple hobby for many rather than a lifestyle, it can be difficult to break through.

For example I'm a mid-ish masters player and I usually play 1-2 games a day, sometimes not even. I just don't find the game that fun to play any more than that, simply because I know that high masters/GM players are so much better than me I would have to invest hours of time everyday to reach that level. It can be pretty demotivating. Have I reached my overall skill ceiling? Probably not. Is it the skill ceiling of how much time I am willing to invest into the game? Likely.

Of course there are exception of people playing like 3 games a week and being in GM, but I imagine those are pretty talented, outlier individuals.


Yes...I agree with this. So many people are saying there is no skill ceiling. But its ridiculous because its backed up by almost no evidence or reasoning. What if people are simply born with slower reflexes than others? Are you going to tell me that I can overcome my genetic limitations through sheer will? I mean sure you may be able to rewire your brain via brain plasticity...but does that apply to your reflexes as well? Can I choose to become a theoretical physicist through sheer will too, and transform myself into a genius? A similar argument holds for SC2. How do you know that people can force their minds to become super-capable of multitasking and quick thinking, to the extent that other players like Stephano are capable of? Because this is precisely what's being supported when one says there is *NO* skill ceiling.

Even if it were possible, its exactly as you say. It would require an absurd amount of time and effort to become as good as other players; which for all practical intents and purposes is the equivalent of a skill ceiling. All of these poetic statements are just pleasant sounding nonsense. "Destroy the floor and lay a new foundation". Yes that sounds nice. Too bad it doesn't make any logical arguments based on evidence as to why the skill ceiling doesn't exist...and so is of no practical use to anyone.

But I'm sure it'll motivate some people who assume its true just because it sounds poetic


You would have to have a pretty immense brain deficit to hit your ability cap in sc2. Yes, practice improves reaction time/multitasking. There are studies that show this, one as recent as a week or so ago. There was a thread about it and the findings are being published in an academic journal.

Genetics play such a minor role in videogames. It's all about learning and muscle memory. So long as you don't have a learning disability and put in the hours, you WILL get better.
www.gosu-sc.com - Starcraft News, Strategy and Merchandise
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
March 11 2012 02:32 GMT
#237
On March 11 2012 11:20 zefreak wrote:
Genetics play such a minor role in videogames. It's all about learning and muscle memory.


But there are many types of learning, many types of cognitive skills, and genetics absolutely play a role in at which ones a person is stronger. Video games depend a lot on reaction time, which varies quite a bit among all kinds of people with all kinds of other mental skills.

I had an SAT (college admission test, for those not in the U.S.) score that was 20 points away from perfect at age 14, but I've played about 3500 ladder games of Starcraft 2 (as Zerg) and I'm still hovering around high gold, low plat. I can tell you exactly what my issues are -- they're ultimately a matter of imprecise control and slow reaction time when I *can't* rely on muscle memory for success.

At no point in my life have I been that great at tests of reaction time or manual dexterity. Meanwhile, my half brother, who shares a quarter of my genes, and with whom I did not grow up, is at this point very likely to match my performance on the SAT. These things are influenced by genetics, as well as environment, including practice.

Very focused practice might help on the purely mechanical front, but it's hard to spend the time doing something that's tedious when there are other things going on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
MysteryMeat1
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States3292 Posts
March 11 2012 02:37 GMT
#238
Honestly skill ceiling doesn't exist in sc2. The way i think about it is more of rate of improvement. If the leagues are a symbol of active players. If everyone but the top 1000 players were to quite then the bottom of the top 1000 would be placed into bronze. I don't think you have hit the skill ceiling but maybe instead the ceiling at the rate of which you will improve. If everyone plays the game the rate at which you improve is the indicator at how fast you will move through the leagues.

I remember reading in Gheeds blog that the bronze person he played improved slowly after repeated worker rushes. The reason this person is in the bottom of bronze is because he improves so slow for w/e reason.

If you keep on playing SC2 for one more year and remain in Platinum you are getting better. Gold at the begining of beta was a lot worse than it is now. A lot worse trust me on that. You are in fact getting better and you have not reached your skill ceiling but maybe the ceiling for the rate of improvement. I think the fact that your rank isn't changing is a bad indication of how much you are improving. getting out of Platinum for me was more of a matter of re-choosing new builds that were safe agaisnt cloaked banshees for terrans cause i would go 3 gate aggro expo and would die to one cloacked banshee. For PvP it was not relying on Dt base race, and pvz IDR.
"Cause ya know, Style before victory." -The greatest mafia player alive
zefreak
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
United States2731 Posts
March 11 2012 02:48 GMT
#239
On March 11 2012 11:32 Lysenko wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 11 2012 11:20 zefreak wrote:
Genetics play such a minor role in videogames. It's all about learning and muscle memory.


But there are many types of learning, many types of cognitive skills, and genetics absolutely play a role in at which ones a person is stronger. Video games depend a lot on reaction time, which varies quite a bit among all kinds of people with all kinds of other mental skills.

I had an SAT (college admission test, for those not in the U.S.) score that was 20 points away from perfect at age 14, but I've played about 3500 ladder games of Starcraft 2 (as Zerg) and I'm still hovering around high gold, low plat. I can tell you exactly what my issues are -- they're ultimately a matter of imprecise control and slow reaction time when I *can't* rely on muscle memory for success.

At no point in my life have I been that great at tests of reaction time or manual dexterity. Meanwhile, my half brother, who shares a quarter of my genes, and with whom I did not grow up, is at this point very likely to match my performance on the SAT. These things are influenced by genetics, as well as environment, including practice.

Very focused practice might help on the purely mechanical front, but it's hard to spend the time doing something that's tedious when there are other things going on.


I see what you are saying, but normal genetic variation changes the rate of progress, not the 'ceiling'. Unless you have a serious learning disability I can't imagine someone approaching the point where you can't improve. The return on investment might be very low for some types of people, however.
www.gosu-sc.com - Starcraft News, Strategy and Merchandise
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-03-11 03:11:05
March 11 2012 03:10 GMT
#240
On March 11 2012 11:48 zefreak wrote:
I see what you are saying, but normal genetic variation changes the rate of progress, not the 'ceiling'. Unless you have a serious learning disability I can't imagine someone approaching the point where you can't improve. The return on investment might be very low for some types of people, however.


I'd argue that nobody really knows what the "ceiling" is on any particular skill for a particular person, and it's impossible to say to what extent genetic variation affects that without extensive research, and maybe not even then.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
Prev 1 10 11 12 13 14 18 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Replay Cast
23:00
PiGosaur Cup #55
CranKy Ducklings178
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
ProTech126
CosmosSc2 38
StarCraft: Brood War
Shuttle 853
Artosis 669
Counter-Strike
taco 241
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox1143
AZ_Axe110
PPMD23
Other Games
summit1g11822
Grubby2284
Day[9].tv315
shahzam310
ViBE143
Skadoodle139
Maynarde126
C9.Mang076
fpsfer 1
Organizations
Other Games
BasetradeTV1
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 19 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 79
• davetesta16
• sooper7s
• Migwel
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• intothetv
• IndyKCrew
• Kozan
StarCraft: Brood War
• HerbMon 25
• Azhi_Dahaki11
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota21040
League of Legends
• imaqtpie3199
Other Games
• Scarra691
• WagamamaTV384
• Day9tv315
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
8h 36m
OSC
11h 6m
Kung Fu Cup
11h 36m
Classic vs Solar
herO vs Cure
Reynor vs GuMiho
ByuN vs ShoWTimE
Tenacious Turtle Tussle
22h 36m
The PondCast
1d 9h
RSL Revival
1d 9h
Solar vs Zoun
MaxPax vs Bunny
Kung Fu Cup
1d 11h
WardiTV Korean Royale
1d 11h
PiGosaur Monday
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
Classic vs Creator
Cure vs TriGGeR
[ Show More ]
Kung Fu Cup
2 days
CranKy Ducklings
3 days
RSL Revival
3 days
herO vs Gerald
ByuN vs SHIN
Kung Fu Cup
3 days
IPSL
3 days
ZZZero vs rasowy
Napoleon vs KameZerg
BSL 21
3 days
Tarson vs Julia
Doodle vs OldBoy
eOnzErG vs WolFix
StRyKeR vs Aeternum
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
RSL Revival
4 days
Reynor vs sOs
Maru vs Ryung
Kung Fu Cup
4 days
WardiTV Korean Royale
4 days
BSL 21
4 days
JDConan vs Semih
Dragon vs Dienmax
Tech vs NewOcean
TerrOr vs Artosis
IPSL
4 days
Dewalt vs WolFix
eOnzErG vs Bonyth
Wardi Open
5 days
Monday Night Weeklies
5 days
WardiTV Korean Royale
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-11-07
Stellar Fest: Constellation Cup
Eternal Conflict S1

Ongoing

C-Race Season 1
IPSL Winter 2025-26
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 4
SOOP Univ League 2025
YSL S2
BSL Season 21
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual

Upcoming

SLON Tour Season 2
BSL 21 Non-Korean Championship
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
HSC XXVIII
RSL Offline Finals
WardiTV 2025
RSL Revival: Season 3
META Madness #9
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026: Closed Qualifier
eXTREMESLAND 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8
SL Budapest Major 2025
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.