Why I Play Combat Sports Games Online

[NYG_Meth]

I want to talk about why I play combat sports games online.

I'll start by stealing a line from "Edge of Tomorrow" (an incredibly underrated film -- if you haven't seen it, you should),

A character played by the great Bill Paxton says this about combat:
"...battle is the great redeemer, the fiery crucible in which the only true heroes are forged. The one place where all men truly share the same rank, regardless of what kind of parasitic scum they were going in."

While it may be lacking in tact, it's a powerful and poignant statement. Man, I really want to watch that movie again now, but I digress...

To the point -- combat is a microcosm of life. The strong and loud dominate with fear, intimidation, and sheer force. A hulking ferocious fighter typically comes into a sport and makes a big, loud splash. He/she is successful short-term, but force, aggression, and arrogance blinds the fighter from every possible route except the one that's straight ahead. That lack of foresight and open-mindedness makes for a shorter-lived success (and usually a shorter career). This kind of tunnel-vision, lack of mindfulness, and preparation are what contributed to Mike Tyson being knocked out by the technically inferior Buster Douglas in 1990.

Now, the wise and mindful fighter isn't as loud, as brash, or as explosive, but he/she maintains the vision, perspective, and patience that make many more routes visible. That fighter has more options for success. Therefore if one strategy doesn't work, there's another one to try. If that one doesn't work, there's another, etc.

If brute force doesn't work for the power fighter, that fighter is left with no alternatives for success.

It is said that a fighter learns more from failure than success. Until you see a flaw in your game, you can't do anything to fix or change it.

Composure, focus, and a hunger for learning are everything. When I play UFC 2 Online (my latest favorite -- mainly because none of the financially and technically capable game studios will bother to make another viable boxing game), this is how I play. I may lose to the "bull-type" fighter, but with every fight, I learn, I gain composure, and I add more weapons to my arsenal.

I stay calm when my opponent rushes in, guns blazing. I study their movements, their rhythm and timing, and (more often than not) I pick them apart. They can only see straight ahead. That recklessness leaves lots of openings for a counter-strike that can end a fight in a hurry.

After years and years of spinning my wheels and trying to do things through brute force, I've finally started to look to how I play fighting games (and how I try to box, in my very limited experience). If something doesn't work, try another route.

The longer I spend dwelling on getting knocked out by a loud and brute-force opponent in an online fight (usually with a fittingly abrasive voice that blares through my speakers or headphones), the more time I waste not learning from it and applying the lessons I've learned. The anger, frustration, and resentment blind me from ever seeing, let alone traveling any one of many, many alternate routes. It's time I start fighting and living like a wise, mindful, and patient fighter.

Who wants to get a game in?

[Dave_S]

I'm not volunteering to get beat up, but to aid in your search you on Xbox or ps?

[NYG_Meth]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dave_S

I'm not volunteering to get beat up, but to aid in your search you on Xbox or ps?

I'm on PS =)

[NYG_Meth]

Sharpening my skills against Pappy

[Pappy Knuckles]

Good fights, Meth. I had to answer the bird call when I saw this post. And 'Edge of Tomorrow' is awesome, btw.

You know I had to go no parries in that second one after you called me out lol.

[NYG_Meth]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pappy Knuckles

Good fights, Meth. I had to answer the bird call when I saw this post. And 'Edge of Tomorrow' is awesome, btw. You know I had to go no parries in that second one after you called me out lol.

I said to use them! I was just frustrated. Limiting the things I need to train against only slows down my progress. Use them next time and I'll try not to whine if I lose

[trainbyday1]

You are much too articulate for this forum sir.

[NYG_Meth]

Quote: Originally Posted by trainbyday1

You are much too articulate for this forum sir.

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