Being 'the best ever': does it matter?

[Fatesealer]

So often, we hear a game or movie called the 'best ever'... but newsflash: time hasn't ended yet, so how can something be labeled as ever when things will always change? I recall the days of PS1 where multiple games got the infamous label, like FF7, Tekken 3, Metal Gear Solid, etc... do you think things have to be labeled as 'best ever'?

[WildWop]

Because "Best ____ to have been released thus far" is too wordy. Plus "BEST EVER" carries more declaritive strength and brings more attention to they who wield it. On internet message boards, this is crucial for attention whores.

[Backlash]

It's a BS label anyway since it's always a subjective opinion.

[Theenternal]

Its even worse, when people devote their lives to trying to being the best at these games. Then when the games are old and gone they realized it was all for nothing :)

[Sartori]

Its even worse, when people devote their lives to trying to being the best at these games. Then when the games are old and gone they realized it was all for nothing :)

... no.

[Dead of Knight]

Because "Best ____ to have been released thus far" is too wordy. Plus "BEST EVER" carries more declaritive strength and brings more attention to they who wield it. On internet message boards, this is crucial for attention whores.

This makes perfect sense.

[rebenns]

The phrase is true at the time it was said. Just like saying that LOTR return of the king was the last movie to win a Best Picture Oscar. True now, but won't be true this spring. Get it?

[Theenternal]

Its even worse, when people devote their lives to trying to being the best at these games. Then when the games are old and gone they realized it was all for nothing :)

... no. Yes 8)... unless you when tons of money

[rebenns]

It's a BS label anyway since it's always a subjective opinion.

True, but there is some merit to it. If enough of the right people say it, it becomes a generally accepted fact. True, it will never be universal for everyone. Most critics, professional and not, agree that the Godfather is a great film. It won Best Picture, the top of the imdb list, is listed in Ebert's Great Movies section, is near the top of most influential critics and film organizations' lists, etc. By that basis, we could conclude it is a great film. However, there are plenty of people who despise this film, especially in the Italian American community. However, because it received all this other praise, their opinions simply carry no credibility.

[Sartori]

Its even worse, when people devote their lives to trying to being the best at these games. Then when the games are old and gone they realized it was all for nothing :)

... no. Yes 8)... unless you when tons of money

Still disagree with you.

[Theenternal]

we should start a new topic with this debate :lol:

[Zenithian Legend]

I'd like to declare that I'm the best horse ever to post on these boards.

[Fatesealer]

Its even worse, when people devote their lives to trying to being the best at these games. Then when the games are old and gone they realized it was all for nothing :)

I'm sure somewhere, you've made a SFII champion cry... :twisted:

[Trakan]

You can't really call something the best ever because somewhere down the line, something will be better.

[Sartori]

Man - you guys are masters of the obvious..

[Theenternal]

Its even worse, when people devote their lives to trying to being the best at these games. Then when the games are old and gone they realized it was all for nothing :)

I'm sure somewhere, you've made a SFII champion cry... :twisted:

Ok, ill post my personal opinion. As I was just being half serious when I posted my first response ;). If games are your absolute passion in life, and thats what you love doing..Im talking about people who have no friends sleep, work, play games. Honestly I can't say there is anything wrong with that. Outside of my personal feelings.

However back in day about 10 or so years ago. I was 13-14 and won 2 big SF championships in SC and FL. And years later I ended up beating a guy who finished top 3 in the big tourny that they had in cali. I probably got lucky too.

Moral of the story is, that I still have friends to this day who constantly try to beat me (I have a my own SF machine that was given to me)..... And I loose ocasionally. But they spend a lot of time practicing, which is needed... but in order to stay on top a person has to constantly practice etc.... and then there are other people in other countries to compete with, doing the same thing. And it gets redudant because the winner is the person who spent the most time time playing the game and studying.

So ive asked people and my friends who try to not just beat me, but become better at the game than I am. Is it worth spending hours a day for x amount of time for bragging rights? And in order to stay on top u have to keep investing that time. And Its like, well I got beaten because Jimmy spent 20 hours last week practicing. Ill spend 30! And its just a waste.

Then they are people with Capcom VS SNK2, on XLive who disconnect, or outright loose, and blame lag, controls etc.

To me games are about friendly competition, and unless you are actually playing to win a car, money etc... outside small friendly bragging rights then Being the best ever? I don't think it matters.

Ive never heard a guy say to a girl saying. "So I went to Italy and saw the historic sites etc... what did you do/" ....Um I got together with my clan Uber l337s and we became halo champion.

It would be better if it was--- and we won 300k.

But it should be...I played some games while I finished up my MBA...

Ok feel free to flame and comment now :)

[Sartori]

Short reply for now:

I can sit on my ass and not play Melee for months at a time and my local competition doesn't get an inch on me, despite playing all of the time.

It doesn't ONLY deal with how much you play the game. There are more factors - as a Street Fighter champion, you should know that.

Be back later.

[epobirs]

There remains no explanation why there is something instead of nothing. At any moment the universe might decide it isn't worth the trouble and cease to be. The end could come at any moment.

With that in mind, those pronouncements of 'best ___ ever' sustain their validity right up until the moment a challenger succeeds.

[Theenternal]

I agree, I rarely play SF, and if I play I tend to use some of the sorry characters. And I still usually win after months of not playing. Especially learning to play at such a young age its feels natural playing. But there is a difference between beating guys at the occasional visit to the arcade compared to tournies. So my context of best, is at least pretty high. Especially since we get owned by japan in most fighting games.

Its like the olympics, all those guys could take months of and still swim/dive/run etc better/faster than me and most people. But they wouldn't compete with the top ranked people because of all that time off.

This is one of those things, where its about personal opinion. Its that luckally when I was playing SF, it wasn't as on a global competition scale compared to games like Halo, Starcraft, Madden. So less effort was needed

I have a friend who spent all his time playing tekken tag... and another who spent his whole senior year playing diablo. And altough they both did well at the time they both regret spending all that time to only get a little return. The memories are great, but there are also other memories that could be had by spending all that time. Maybe when we're retired and don't have anything else better to do. I always told people when Im retired, im just going to sit around and play games all day.

I love cag and the community that we have here, but if someone spent all his time to make sure he was the top cag poster, and post relevant things. I would still say that its appreciated but they should go out and do things. CAG for life! :). not Life for CAG.

Its nice having those memories from SF. But 10 years later, thats just what they are. Im not bitter, and im trying to look at this from an outside perspective. But being the best in certain things is sorta useless outside of memories. And with the increased competition in games in today's I feel that its a waste. I can't feed a starving person in africa, I can't make money with it. I can't put 1993-1994 Super Street Fighter 2 Champion on my resume. :lol:

I think that people should enjoy games, and work on things like being, top father in their kids life, top guy in their partner's life. Best payed employee at whatever. In 50 years if we can still play SF, ill try to become the best then ;)

I will be getting the Collection when it comes to XB. Even though I can play people online already with my HodRod and PC.

[Nibi]

I know I shouldn't, but I will anyway...





Fable.





Take that as you may, but I believe that people claiming this to be the best ever, has really tainted the rep or a great game. (I hope)
::Tongue remaining firmly planted in cheek::

[Sartori]

I agree, I rarely play SF, and if I play I tend to use some of the sorry characters. And I still usually win after months of not playing. Especially learning to play at such a young age its feels natural playing. But there is a difference between beating guys at the occasional visit to the arcade compared to tournies. So my context of best, is at least pretty high. Especially since we get owned by japan in most fighting games.

I was speaking on a tournament level as well - but the reference to the local people was a better and easier example. I don't even play inbetween tournaments anymore- there's no competition to bother with. I still do as good or better at the next tournament. Which leads me to..

Its like the olympics, all those guys could take months of and still swim/dive/run etc better/faster than me and most people. But they wouldn't compete with the top ranked people because of all that time off.

Innate skill. Whereas John who is technically as good as me (theoretically) may have to practice to continue his upkeep at my skill level, I might not.

This is one of those things, where its about personal opinion. Its that luckally when I was playing SF, it wasn't as on a global competition scale compared to games like Halo, Starcraft, Madden. So less effort was needed

I have a friend who spent all his time playing tekken tag... and another who spent his whole senior year playing diablo. And altough they both did well at the time they both regret spending all that time to only get a little return. The memories are great, but there are also other memories that could be had by spending all that time. Maybe when we're retired and don't have anything else better to do. I always told people when Im retired, im just going to sit around and play games all day.

Do these people still play games? If so, do they play them casually (I buy Madden every year!) or to a more serious degree? I can't imagine "regretting" wasting time. I dropped two years flat in to UO and regretting it would be the last thing I did, that's for sure. I have a girlfriend. I have a life. I don't sit around and think about how much differently I could have spent that time - I wouldn't have done it any other way if I could go back.

Some people get rid of their games and "grow out" of the hobby as they age. Some don't. I think that's along the same lines. It's just a personal issue ;-).

[Fatesealer]

Fable.

No way... only because it's not the entire product that it was once to be... and lest ye forget how long this game took to reach (well.. still has to reach them.. heh) shelves... the delays on this game make Working Designs release dates look good...