Outside Factors and How They Change the Way You Play
Pierce - May 4, 2017There are so many little things that can make or break tournaments for everyone, making them highly inconsistent throughout long, drearing periods of time, sometimes years. This is especially true for players who are just starting out in competitive gaming in general and these may force people to quit or retire at an early point before even realizing their full capabilities. Today's blog lists some of these quarrels that many others and myself have to be wary of for the sake of becoming consistent and better at Smash.
- Staying hydrated during every event. Water is an absolute must because it keeps you energized and fully concious of your in-game actions and thought process. While many players consume energy drinks (typically those that are high in caffine) in tournament, these can give you too big of an adrenaline rush sometimes that may cause a hyperactive state of having no focus even as your heart rate dies down after the rush.
- Tuning out any background noises. This is an extremely difficult skill to learn if you don't plan on using headphones (I'll get back to this later), but once it's mastered you will love yourself for it. To me personally it doesn't matter if the crowd is with me or against me, because I don't have time to process what exactly they're saying unless it's right up in my ear (which rarely happens unless I'm unlucky enough to play a match next to a friendlies set-up or two jokesters talking during their own match). Top level players don't flinch at all to these sorts of distractions either through years and years of experience, and some of this is due to their own mentality as well.
- Having a fresh state of mind. Freeing yourself of any miscellaneous responsibilities such as chores or homework can do wonders before entering a tournament by un-cluttering your brain so that the only things you know are Smash and breathing-related. You should also never expect to win or lose even if you're fighting the same opponents over and over again; a good way to solve this problem if you have it is to remember your past sets, study them if possible, or look up what your character has over theirs in the matchup, or at least what can you do to force an opponent to mess up without them realizing they've given you an opportunity.
- Practice humbly. While some players know what they're doing well just from watching the game (notably Michigan PR player Rayquaza07) and perform exceptionally at events because of their knowledge, it's important to keep wisdom just as close to your brain as knowledge, if not more. Wisdom is obtained through studying the game and practice, and persumably morseso from studying. Playing the game straight-up for long periods of time and for several days can burn people out easily, especially if their main focus is just getting better period and not knowing about flaws. Amateurs do this until they get good, and professionals do this until they don't get it wrong, but having an off-day or even a fun day is good to keep yourself refreshed.
- If you listen to your own audio while you play, make sure it's something you know will keep you in the right mindset. Usually listening to an extension of your favorite song or a song that suits your current aesthetic outlook will help you know what to do in the right situations in relation to the game. Otherwise, a playlist of music or songs that you don't connect to in the heat of the moment can crush any momentum you may be carrying and it could easily cost you a set. If not music, try listening to ASMR audio, which can be found in many forms on Youtube to help you concentrate on the sounds it produces rather than a distracting crowd or venue.
- Excercise your entire body. Running, cardio, meditation, yoga, basic arm/hand stretches, etc. are all incredible for getting your body warmed up and your heart rate to a suitable condition. Even something as simple as walking every two days can help. It is also important not to overheat while excercising and to stay hydrated during it or else the burnout will cost you a great deal of playtime well-worth doing at a tournament.
- Actually applying steps to improvement. This is the most important outside factor to take into account because motivation is the basis for all human beings to start doing anything, and without it we are nothing. Whether it's my own steps that are taken into account, someone else's, or your own, making sure that you don't procrastinate to make them happen is imparative. If YOU can't remind yourself or find motivation, find someone or something to do it for you. Set short term goals if you have to. Keeping yourself organized and neat is key.
Thus ends today's post, feel free to add any personal tips of your own in the comments and let me know what I might have missed, but I'm pretty sure I covered the general ideas to everything. Thanks for reading, now go resume the grinding!
~P
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Comments
Chit0 - May 21, 2017RE: Chit0
What I meant by this is that when someone practices any form of sport, video game, or even general skill, at first they are in an amateur state in which they will practice something until they get it right and then stop then and there expecting to have it mastered. As time goes on, those people who continue to practice will eventually have the desire to perfect their craft so that they never mess up, and that makes them professionals at it. I have never seen a top player in anything genuinely say that they were naturally gifted in the game that they play; it takes many years of practice until they make flubs or failure the least likely thing to happen when it matters.
Hope this clears things up!
~P
What I meant by this is that when someone practices any form of sport, video game, or even general skill, at first they are in an amateur state in which they will practice something until they get it right and then stop then and there expecting to have it mastered. As time goes on, those people who continue to practice will eventually have the desire to perfect their craft so that they never mess up, and that makes them professionals at it. I have never seen a top player in anything genuinely say that they were naturally gifted in the game that they play; it takes many years of practice until they make flubs or failure the least likely thing to happen when it matters.
Hope this clears things up!
~P
Pierce - May 23, 2017You must log in to comment.
Thank you!