I forgot how to play. Help?

DizzyBum · 07-28-2007, 12:12 AM

Yeah, I don't post much, but I really just need to vent a little.

About two months ago I was doing pretty well with IIDX. I was able to pass most of the 9's and a few of the 10's. The songs I couldn't pass, I could get A's on those without too much difficulty, barring the 11's and 12's which were still way out of my league.

Well, I've barely touched IIDX since then, since I've been reluctant to play it on our LCD TV due to the terrible lag. Now I think my skills have completely disappeared. My hands feel extremely uncomfortable when playing (especially my left hand, which was finally starting to show some progress before I stopped), and although I can still pass a few 8's, I feel like I just have to start all over again. I know it's good to just not play the game for a while and then you can magically pass stuff you couldn't before... but this was too long. Now I'm frustrated because not only have I lost the ability to pass of the stuff in my highest tier, I can tell that some of the physical skills I picked up are just gone. Like, offbeat chords like the ones in Eden [H] completely baffle me again. (I have a HUGE problem with offbeat bass in Drummania, too. I think it's some mental hurdle I was just unable to completely do away with, and now it's back to haunt me. Anyway.)

I really don't know what happened. Maybe it's a combination of several things working against me? I'm a really picky Bemani player in general, and something as simple as a couple slightly larger-than-normal screws on a DDR pad will completely ruin my game. So I suppose combining the fact that I'm most comfortable playing IIDX on a hard non-moving surface with a lagless screen with the fact that I currently have the controller on my lap and an LCD TV with terrible lagtime is just killing me... not to mention that not playing for two months means that I'm going to have to re-train my fingers to SOME degree, but this is really protracting the feeling of helplessness. I also absolutely hate the fact that I'm this picky with Bemani, but that's another story.

And then I watch videos of players that can do 12's with their eyes closed, and it baffles me how their hands move so *perfectly*. I just don't have that dexterity, even after all the playing. I regularly drop things that I picked up two seconds ago. I'm a terrible typist, even though I'm a computer science major and I like writing (I only use two fingers, and sometimes my ring fingers get to hit A or Shift or Enter). On top of that, I'm awful at getting high grades; I BARELY scrape by when I get most of my AAA's, even after all the practice and with ideal playing conditions. IIDX is the last game on the planet I should be trying to improve in, but here I am, and now quitting would make me feel like I wasted all that time.

I dunno, does this even make sense? I honestly feel like chucking my IIDX controller out the window, even though it's just a goddamned game. Just feels like the old rock and hard place cliche. Maybe I'm just overreacting and I need to steal my brother's CRT for some 8* Random playtime and just chill.

Any advice you guys could offer would be greatly appreciated.

afex.racer_X · 07-28-2007, 12:25 AM

Ok, I'm going to be honest. I only read the first paragraph. So...to come to a conclusion. I wouldn't worry about it, give it a few days of practice and you'll be right back to where you were, maybe even ahead a little.

IIDX is like riding a bike. I broke my finger a while ago, had to stop playing for about 2 months. It took me...a week or two and I'm right back to where I was, if not better. So, like I said, I wouldn't worry too much about it, give it a little practice and you'll be right back to where you were.

otaku1313 · 07-28-2007, 12:34 AM

This game will be played with your feet!

dickrazor · 07-28-2007, 12:34 AM

Give it your best!

ps just practice it will come back to you

vader_seven_ · 07-28-2007, 02:29 AM

regular practice will make you better than you were even.

I promise.

cupcake · 07-28-2007, 02:54 AM

Unfortunately, real life doesn't allow us to play games on a regular basis forever. (I take many long breaks, as I'm pretty old as far as the median Bemani age goes)

The good news with coming back is,

- The "hard wired" skill is probably still there, even after a year. It just needs a little refreshing.

- It's a great time to break any bad habits.

nejino_hito · 07-28-2007, 05:46 AM

Start it over again, pal. So that you will remember again your play style.

promise

word · 07-28-2007, 11:48 AM

Yeah I have the same disease... since I got a job, I haven't played IIDX a lot lately, and now I suck

Just gotta start playing again!

Mangojoyride · 07-28-2007, 11:54 AM

i had a 2 month hiatus for IIDX once. surprisingly enough i did better afterwards.

burntbreadman · 07-28-2007, 04:26 PM

Meh I cant even get to that standard to begin with so count youself lucky. I play Pop n music and can do a few level 36s but on beatmana I stuggle on some level 6's and most 7's. Is it that much harder than pop n music? Saying that Ive been playing pop for half a year and beatmania for a month.

DizzyBum · 07-29-2007, 07:31 AM

Well, the general concensus seems to be to just get back up on the saddle and keep playing, so that's what I did. I also made sure to play on my brother's CRT to eliminate any chance of lag messing me up. I certainly did a lot better than I did the night before. Heck, I even managed to finally pass Abyss ~The Heaven's Remix~ [H] with Random, and with plenty of bar to spare. I think I'm just going to play lots of stuff on Random and try to get used to some of those iffy patterns I hate so much... like those blue-white-blue upside-down triangle chords. I always try to one-hand on reflex but I really should be two-handing them.

So yep, thanks for the encouragement, I should be back to where I was soon enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by burntbreadman

Meh I cant even get to that standard to begin with so count youself lucky. I play Pop n music and can do a few level 36s but on beatmana I stuggle on some level 6's and most 7's. Is it that much harder than pop n music? Saying that Ive been playing pop for half a year and beatmania for a month.

From my experience, Pop'n has a much more gradual learning curve than IIDX, and you don't really need excellent dexterity, so it's easier to improve. Also you don't have to worry about that silly turntable. If you're going by the 1-12 scale for IIDX, being able to pass some 6's is pretty sweet for just a month of playtime.

tornupsock · 07-29-2007, 04:25 PM

IMO, right now would be a great time for you to analyze what works/doesnt work in your current finger placement. I got to a point where I wasn't doing anything as far as improvment. Then, I saw a post here about using thumbs. I thought "man, I would never do that, I like using only 8 fingers." However, I started using one thumb, noticed improvment, but an overall setback, and decided to stop altogether. I came back about a week later, using both thumbs, and the results were amazing. I mean, the results still are gradual, but it sure as hell brought me outa the rut i was in (9's and 10's barely).

Just sharing my info

DizzyBum · 07-30-2007, 10:55 AM

I tried the thumb thing for a while and it didn't work for me, but I did notice it was easier to manage notes. I just wasn't very good at it yet. Seems you're right, this would be the best time to practice with thumbs. Let's see if I can actually break through the 10* wall.

***Paul*** · 07-30-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyBum

I tried the thumb thing for a while and it didn't work for me, but I did notice it was easier to manage notes. I just wasn't very good at it yet. Seems you're right, this would be the best time to practice with thumbs. Let's see if I can actually break through the 10* wall.

Trust me, I started playing with my thumbs & it did seem easier, but I still wasn't getting better. I just kept playing and playing with my thumbs contstantly & soon because familiar with playing with them all the time.

RemK313 · 08-01-2007, 07:29 AM

You're probably trying too hard.
If you played IIDX for a while, there's a wall that you get to, where everything is hardwired and your mind is playing at a perfect level.

A good example of this is driving. When you drive, you know exactly how much accelerator to give your car in order to make it drive they way you want to. You also know exactly how much stop is perfect. You have a feel for it, and as far as that feel goes.... it's actually perfect.... The way you do things for a long time becomes perfected... it's hardcoded into you.

So, now that you stopped playing for a long time. All that polish, all that perfect smoothness.... that isn't there anymore. You have to retrain yourself to do the exact same perfect ticks... however, whatever longterm hardwiring you gained... it's still there..... It's like walking....

My advice to you : you're trying too hard. IIDX is a game. People are USUALLY supposed to have fun when playing a game. If you're getting frustrated playing IIDX, isn't that subverting the purpose of playing? I say, play.... play easy songs.... turn off ghosting.... turn off the stats chart.... just play a song that you like because you LIKE IT, enjoy the notes, and the background video.... and just enjoy..... and eventually, you'll build your way back up to where you went.

I see so many people quit playing IIDX because they go home.... play their CSes and eventually hit a wall.... they never take a break, and never get any better.... they convince themselves that they suck and that's the end of their IIDXing.

Me? I love IIDX. For now, I can't clear any 11s/12s, and just a handful of 10s. You know what? I tried playing IIDX about a week back, realized that it was just getting me frustrated, and that I wasn't really having any fun. So, I turned off the PS2..... this is something that happens to me every once in a while. I'll get tired of one game, I'll try another.

For me, it's always shmups, IIDX, and my own hack for TGM2.

So, I say, if you can't have fun... just let it go for a while. Distorted comes out later this month.... chances are your IIDX interest will spark up then