Poll: Most Competitive genre in gaming?

[Griphphin]

With the increased emphasis on multiplayer in gaming recently, I've been doing some thinking as to what the most competitive genre is in gaming, and (after a quick search bar check) I'd like to hear the opinions of some Escapists as well. Preferably right now, but share your thoughts on how the genres have become more or less competitive over time anf why, if you'd like. I guess this topic could also be just a general discussion of competitiveness in gaming and what you think belongs in it.

While the shooters have been the most prevelant (at least in my circle of gaming), I'd say that the most inherently competitive genre is fighting. For most fighters, it's just you vs. the opponent, with nobody else to call foul on. You have no teammates to blame, and if you get beat, it was because his tactics beat out yours.

As for the legitimacy of some of those tactics, I'd say that online gaming doesn't make for the best fighting game matches. I chalk this up to a few reasons:
1)Fighting games often work off prediction and reacting to your predictions in time to break through the opponents defenses or punish unsafe moves. Laggy environments make certain tactics more useful than they normally would be and let players get away with things they otherwise wouldn't offline.
2)My best fighting game experiences are always wityh friends, where winning and losing is competitive and fun, without being frustrating. If a stranger online were to use a character you consider cheap and win in a way you frown upon, you would probably get annoyed. If a friend does that (in my circle at least), it's more "You little bastard!" while laughing our asses off. When your opponent is someone you know, wins and losses are both more fun for everyone. While we're on the topic of playing with certain people recularly,
3)Playing with a usual posse also takes the prediction element to a whole other level, giving you over a hundred matches against a certain player with a certain character instead of just one. SO. MUCH. BETTER. [sub][sub][sub]in my opinion [/sub][/sub][/sub]

So Escapists, you've seen my two cents, what is your take on which genre is the most competitive these days? What do you feel about the competition and multiplayer making its way into games that otherwise wouldn't? Your take on competition and its role in gaming in general? In specific genres? Sound off, escapists!

EDIToll should be up soon, it's being a lil' glitchy apparently :[

 

[AroLombardi]

Well, my mind is definitely moving towards the shooters. Looking at the amount of money, time, and energy is spent into today's shooters is astounding. Fighting is competitive, albeit, but shooter fans seem to hold onto whatever scores or streaks they get (Ex: "Oh I'm the best player ever because I once got a X kill streak). And then others argue about that, and it all turns into a illiterate screaming match.

And it irritates me more than anything else in today's society.

 

[C95J]

I would probably say FPS, because I think more people play FPS thanany other genre, although I might be wrong.

 

[veloper]

RTS
followed by FPS

 

[fates_puppet13]

mmo with pvp

 

[Lord Honk]

I'd say, just based on the amount of money that is to be made, RTS. Just look at Korea, it's awesome and sick at the same time.

 

[Fawcks]

Children's trading card games. >_>

 

[repeating integers]

RTS games seem designed for competitive multiplayer. I firmly believe they are the best at it - what other game genres test your ability to formulate plans on the fly, think quickly, multitask and organise? And you can have free-for-alls, team games or one-on-ones. There's all sorts of different strategies you can use to win, and they often vary for the map (particularly in size). It's a shame the only RTS (or game in general) that works on my comp is Homeworld - which has just as brilliant a multiplayer as all the rest, but I'm crap at it.

 

[Crowser]

I second fighting, especially if its a game that's "easy to learn, hard to master."

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

It is between RTS, MMORPG PvP or CORPG, FPS and maybe Fighting games. The latter two as already stated have a much smaller learning curve and they have some imba mechanics that are much easier to exploit but are usually banned from competitive play. RTS require you to both micromanage a whole army making sure a unit doesn't get ambushed without you knowing and Macroing your whole economy. You also have to know what unit is good against what and how t o use effectively against that.

I sank about 40 hours into TF2 before I can say I got anyway decent and got relatively average to highly on scoreboard successfully. So far I am on 30 hours on DoW2 multi and I can't say I still effectively know what I am doing against say TS 25 and higher opponents. DoW2 and is a relatively heavy micro light on macro RTS so no worrying about bases.

MMORPGs PvP part or CORPGs require ridiculous amounts of time to master in really high competitive play. Take for example GW. As the Shock Axe or lead melee you are the one that picks who dies on the other team. You need to make sure everyone has the proper levels of adrenaline and energy to do the spike then call it as necessary. You must also make sure not to make your call target obvious or the enemy prot will pre prot. As a Hammer melee you need to know who to 1/4 or you may as well just pick your nose for the game. As a Dervish you need to try maximise your Scythe attacks by trying to hit 2-3 targets not easy but in some case just hitting 1 is necessary. Sins need to know when to retreat and how to spike t argets on splits. All the while you need to keep pressure on the enemy backline while body blocking flaggers if needed. That is just the frontline I haven't even talked about midline and backline of GvG in Guild Wars. Even at that there is a whole different ball game of HA. Just as competitive but different style.

So given that I would say it is more likely MMORPG PvP/CORPG or RTS games.

 

[Lullabye]

Children's trading card games. >_>

Yu-gi-oh? Magic? Competitive? Never...........

OT: I would have to say RTS. Just cause more people play it. I go to fighting tourney's all the time, but it's nothing compared to a League of Legends tournament or HoN.
If you just took the games themselves though, I would have to say fighting.
Especially Streetfighter or Tekken.

 

[Snarky Username]

Well more people play FPS competitively. But people who play RTS competitively play them a LOT more competitively. Case in point- Korea.

 

[Legion IV]

RTS. No question. Until you've played for at least a year, you'll get chewed up and spit out in Starcraft 2 ladder.

FPS games and fighters may have some learning curve to them, but you can generally start pulling a 1:1 ratio in a month at most. There's just not nearly as much to learn in those genres; not as many intricacies that could fall through the cracks even after you do believe you have learned everything.

Whoa whoa whoa! Halt!. I agree with RTS i've been playing starcraft competivly since 98 so trust me i know. But dont trash fighting games. Fighting games are INSANE with the depth you gotta learn to be good. With you sayingwhat you said i dont think you understand it. Just i agree with RTS's but dont say that about fighters in an insult. Theres so muc you gotta learn to get great at those games. You got me so riled up i could list a few things that make starcraft 2 not nearly as competitve as 1 (My baby lol) I wont cause am sre you didnt mean it.

Now Op since most have been listed am gonna say a specific series thats overlooked in competivness and depth. Armored Core. Man that games intence. i was a ranker for a season but its hard to get that back. So much feirce compeition.

 

[Delusibeta]

In terms of Competitiveness, RTS, hands down. In terms of number of competitors, probably a toss-up between FPS and RTS.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Children's trading card games. >_>

Yu-gi-oh? Magic? Competitive? Never...........

OT: I would have to say RTS. Just cause more people play it. I go to fighting tourney's all the time, but it's nothing compared to a League of Legends tournament or HoN.
If you just took the games themselves though, I would have to say fighting.
Especially Streetfighter or Tekken.

Well people do kill gay clowns over childrens card games. They also hold people hhostage just to get an ancient Egyptian item and have the odd ancient egyptian laser duel.

 

[pyrosaw]

Fighting, then FPS. Those Street Fighter fanatics are crazy man.

 

[Josh123914]

Children's trading card games. >_>

Yu-gi-oh? Magic? Competitive? Never...........

OT: I would have to say RTS. Just cause more people play it. I go to fighting tourney's all the time, but it's nothing compared to a League of Legends tournament or HoN.
If you just took the games themselves though, I would have to say fighting.
Especially Streetfighter or Tekken.

Well people do kill gay clowns over childrens card games. They also hold people hhostage just to get an ancient Egyptian item and have the odd ancient egyptian laser duel.

nyeh, I, Josh12345 am NOT a loser, and will prove it by defeating You in a children's card game..............................BINKY BOY!ooh, 1 more from marik's brother *I fluffed a pillow...... IT'S F#####G FOOL-PROOF*
(sorry I'll do this for hours if you don't tell me to stop)

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Children's trading card games. >_>

Yu-gi-oh? Magic? Competitive? Never...........

OT: I would have to say RTS. Just cause more people play it. I go to fighting tourney's all the time, but it's nothing compared to a League of Legends tournament or HoN.
If you just took the games themselves though, I would have to say fighting.
Especially Streetfighter or Tekken.

Well people do kill gay clowns over childrens card games. They also hold people hhostage just to get an ancient Egyptian item and have the odd ancient egyptian laser duel.

nyeh, I, Josh12345 am NOT a loser, and will prove it by defeating You in a children's card game..............................BINKY BOY!ooh, 1 more from marik's brother *I fluffed a pillow...... IT'S F#####G FOOL-PROOF*
(sorry I'll do this for hours if you don't tell me to stop)

Come here give us a hug. Whatever you do don't sing though. I will pay you any amount of money to not sing right now.