Video Game "Skill."

[omega_peaches]

So, I often hear people say that [game] takes no skill, so it is bad.
But, what is video game "skill?"
Whenever people say that I have "no skill," I ask them what "Skill" is (To them Skill is using whatever setup they are currently using.)
Because to me, Video Games (or at least the ones I play) just take patience, reflex, and a certain mindset.
Are those 3 things what makes Video Game "skill?"
Enlighten me.

 

[DannyJBeckett]

It all depends on the type of game you're playing. For instance a game that's heavy on Quick-Time Events requires the player to be attentive and use their reflexes, whereas puzzle games require the player to think tactically or logically.

Whether you're proficient in a certain type of game or not is something of a measure of your 'skill' with that particular game. There is no singular 'skill' for all games.

 

[Scizophrenic Llama]

Any game requires skill to a degree. What people define as skill depends on the game. A common argument I see is Battlefield requires more skill than Call of Duty because it requires more team-work. It's still almost pointless to attempt to put a definition on skill for gaming, as you've got a wide variety and only a few games will fully overlap your definition.

In your situation you describe, skill is a reason for people to attempt to ***** and claim they are better than somebody. Apparently all pros use shittier weapons for the sake of using shittier weapons. They are the hipsters of gaming if they attempt to impose this on you.

 

[Jim Grim]

Because to me, Video Games (or at least the ones I play) just take patience, reflex, and a certain mindset.

Well those things sound like a skill-set to me, so yeah, I guess possessing them would mean you had some kind of skill.

 

[Xariat]

depends on the game, a came like Counter strike would require map knowledge, recoil controll and good aim. hence, the better you are at thoose things the more "skill" you got.

 

[Lullabye]

I find irony in that people, when saying games don't take skill, begin to list of things like:
Reflex
Timing
Concentration
Mental aptitude

I have but one question, if this not skill then what is?

 

[oplinger]

Skill: 1. The ability to do something well
2. a particular ability

With such a broad definition, you can't really go wrong in saying a skill is any ability you use in a game. Be it reflexes, or knowledge of mechanics.

 

[Fishyash]

IMO, especially in a multiplayer sense, the more control you have, the more skill a game takes.

So for example, things like lag, RNG and assists (autoaim) detracts from the skill of a game.

MK9's online takes no skill. There is such a terrible lag problem which makes it that a relatively terrible player can beat offline tournament level players sometimes, and get steamrolled by them at other times.

WoW's RNG makes game take no skill. There is so much left to chance that it can potentially turn into a deciding factor

CoD 4 (and onwards) on console takes no skill in regards to aim assist/magnetism/whatever you call it.

I don't mean that these games literally take no skill though. Skill is a factor in all 3 of those games, but the way the game takes away control of your actions reduces the skill requirement.

Skill by defenition is how competently you can carry out pre-determined results. Games will take less skill if you have less control of performing the task at hand. Now obviously in a multiplayer environment the hinderances apply to everyone, but it throws off the balance of consistency.

There aren't any games that take no skill, they are merely exaggerating. But even though they are exaggerating, there may be a hint of truth to what they are saying (still an exaggeration, you can't really justify the claim of a game taking no skill unless you had virtually no control in the game).

 

[yuval152]

A game like crysis 2 require battle awareness and make the best from your nanosuit(includes visor),and a very good internet connection, a very good aim because armor mode can "steal" your kill.so yeah,it all depens on the game.

Other example is COD:

The weapons are unbalanced.

qucikscope.

The maps dosn't require any sort of stradgey.

No teamwork.

Killstreaks can only help you.

Most of the players care more about their K/D ratio instead of the team members.

 

[BoredRolePlayer]

Any game requires skill to a degree. What people define as skill depends on the game. A common argument I see is Battlefield requires more skill than Call of Duty because it requires more team-work. It's still almost pointless to attempt to put a definition on skill for gaming, as you've got a wide variety and only a few games will fully overlap your definition.

In your situation you describe, skill is a reason for people to attempt to ***** and claim they are better than somebody. Apparently all pros use shittier weapons for the sake of using shittier weapons. They are the hipsters of gaming if they attempt to impose this on you.

I laugh at that I suck at Call of Duty but I can take out squads on my own in Battlefield.

 

[Jake0fTrades]

There is no one skill set that applies to all games. But, typically games require good reflexes, a clear head, good perception and the ability to interpret your surroundings.

 

[Vivace-Vivian]

Eventually as you play you come to realise patterns in games. If you're walking into a large room, chances are you're going to meet a large enemy. Its basic stuff that doesn't come as naturally to people who don't play. Video game skill is more like prediction in my opinion. For example, I'm playing Dead Space and I saw a creature on the ground, not moving. I shot it, and sure enough the thing was just playing dead. Why my dad asked how I knew I said 'I didn't, but I've seen it in other games'. Maybe this has nothing to do with it, but in my opinion certain elements that recycle from game to game can be learned and honed into a skill.

 

[DaHero]

It's simple: The more idiotic your character looks, the higher your skill level. Watch two CoD snipers try to quickscope each other point blank and TRY to tell me they don't look like idiots. Same goes for this bunnyhopping and map memorization. Running in a circle while PvPing on WoW? Oooh skilled right? Still looks stupid.

 

[Limecake]

Because to me, Video Games (or at least the ones I play) just take patience, reflex, and a certain mindset.
Are those 3 things what makes Video Game "skill?"

Video Game skill comes from muscle memory, it's knowing you need to block and blocking without ever thinking about the key strokes (if you need to block you just hit the block button instead of thinking "Hey I need to hit the block button")

this can go for pretty much any skill, how do you think professional bowlers, painters, musicians got to where they are? practice! and practice is where muscle memory comes from.