domice wrote:
There is no divide its all just timing. I played demon and dark souls. There is no great coordination all pve games are just recognize patterns and press button. In video games the harder the game just means the less margin of error that is afforded to you. And I'm not saying that mmos are my fav type of games, but what I am saying is people dismiss what skill is and what it's not due to what you perceive is hard. Typing is a skill that I'm sure most people on here think is trivial but to others it's very difficult. Heck even reading is a skill along with pattern recognition. Playing a mmo is no less a skill then walking and running.
It isn't skillful. Can you read a wiki article, then have perfect jogging form? No, that's something that you have to learn, to co-ordinate and train. Can you read a wiki article, then beat a boss on an MMO? Yes, you can. You might get more efficient with time doing it, but the fact remains that you can actually win a fight solely by duplicating the same series of buttons as someone else. You don't have to apply any form of skill to it outside of how to hold a controller and how to press buttons. However, you can watch/read all you want about Dark Souls, you still need to reflexes and ability to execute.
And again, MMOs are not even close to doing anything that demands physical co-ordination and conditioning like running. I get it, you want to feel skillful by playing an MMO. It's just not true. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the true skills you apply in MMOs have nothing to do with the game, and are even from different disciplines. Communication, puzzle solving, research, mathematics... all of these are far more important than the actual play of an MMO.
Even typing is a skill. It requires accuracy, practice to increase speed, proper form to avoid injury. Reading is a skill that can be developed. It has nothing to do with perceived difficulty. All of your examples further the point that following a rote strategy that anyone, literally anyone, can follow and win, takes 0 skill. None, zip. You just need to match up with the gear and tactics provided, and you win! I cannot go read a wiki on typing, then turn around and type 200 wpm. I cannot go read a wiki on football, then become an NFL starter. I can go read a wiki, then immediately go win a fight in an MMO. Skilled tasks take time, ability, practice, and are subject to physical and mental conditioning. MMOs simply are not in that arena.
Edit:
The one thing that I will grant you is that if you do have sharp reflexes, a more adaptive mind, et cetera, then you will have an easier time playing MMOs, because those will transfer over into the game, but you cannot outskill an MMO.
Edited, Oct 6th 2013 3:26pm by Pawkeshup
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Olorinus the Ludicrous wrote:
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