2010 European Mega Drive Championship

[Rottenbeard]

Why even bother picking games then? Next year let's just do everything random, drawn from a hat on the day of the tournament!

Pretty much what I said. It is a great idea, I'm glad I thought of it.

[Ravsieg]

It wouldn't be a "competition" anymore, just some random friends playing for fun.

[Rottenbeard]

That's what Rottenbeard thought it was in the first place.

Tis true, Rottenbeard doesn't take this as seriously as the citizens of Portugal. Apologies.

[Ravsieg]

What's the point on making it a competition then? Why award points, titles, championships, trophies et al if you're only going to fool around to have fun?

I mean, when there's a big title and recognition on the line, a number of people are always going to strive hard to achieve them. It's a natural human thing.

[troubadix]

Here's the link for the photos from my camera.
enjoy.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FQ6OFH10

There are some nice pictures among them..

[N.Saibot]

Finally downloaded the huge file, but it was worth it, many nice pics there!

[Rottenbeard]

What's the point on making it a competition then?

Some people desperately desire recognition.

Why award points, titles, championships, trophies et al if you're only going to fool around to have fun?

Because it's an added bonus. Win or lose, at least you can say you had fun. And Rottenbeard believes thats what Sega intended when they made the Mega Drive. Not just to be used as a tool in a dick-measuring contest.

I mean, when there's a big title and recognition on the line, a number of people are always going to strive hard to achieve them. It's a natural human thing.

Perhaps... Now we're talking about personal priorities. It's a natural human thing for one person to hold one thing in a higher/lower regard than someone else. You can't blame us for not caring as much as you do.

At least everyone had fun though, right?

[N.Saibot]

Some people desperately desire recognition.

Because it's an added bonus. Win or lose, at least you can say you had fun. And Rottenbeard believes thats what Sega intended when they made the Mega Drive. Not just to be used as a tool in a dick-measuring contest.

Perhaps... Now we're talking about personal priorities. It's a natural human thing for one person to hold one thing in a higher/lower regard than someone else. You can't blame us for not caring as much as you do.

At least everyone had fun though, right?

I think you've went a bit too far there, why is it a misuse of the Mega Drive, if people are
competing on it for a title? I've competed on the Mega Drive with my friends all the time,
it was all about winning a fight, earning more points, getting to a farther level than others.
There is nothing wrong to make a championship at all, if there is a game there can be a
tournament.

And besides that, you aren't obligated to get worked up about losing such a
championship. I lost many games but I'm not quiting playing or getting pissed about it.
Participating in a championship doesn't mean you have to be a bad loser.

[Rottenbeard]

I think you've went a bit too far there, why is it a misuse of the Mega Drive, if people are competing on it for a title? I've competed on the Mega Drive with my friends all the time, it was all about winning a fight, earning more points, getting to a farther level than others. There is nothing wrong to make a championship at all, if there is a game there can be a tournament.

I'm not saying it's a misuse, I'm saying that the primary function (as per Rottenbeard's beliefs) is to have fun. Rottenbeard is all for having fun with your friends, and winning points or losing points you're still having a good time. And even if someone lost due to lack of practice they still had fun and shouldn't be a cause for concern.

And besides that, you aren't obligated to get worked up about losing such a championship.

Who's getting worked up over losing? I'm not. If anything I'm getting worked up over Portugal getting worked up because other nations didn't practice as much as they did.

I lost many games but I'm not quiting playing or getting pissed about it. Participating in a championship doesn't mean you have to be a bad loser.

That is how it should be. And as such you have won Rottenbeard's Heart.

[Kat]

Hey!
I've been reading this thread for a while now and finally felt like registering.
We (Hungary) had a lot of fun at the Championship, even though we only barely placed 3rd. But with the little training we (at least I) had, we didn't really expect anything else :b.

But regarding Rottenbeard's post:

I'm not saying it's a misuse, I'm saying that the primary function (as per Rottenbeard's beliefs) is to have fun. [...]

Who's getting worked up over losing? I'm not. If anything I'm getting worked up over Portugal getting worked up because other nations didn't practice as much as they did.

Isn't the question here: what does each of us consider to be "fun"?
I think if you've reached a certain skill level at some particular game, you will want a decently skilled opponent to compete with.
Even though I enjoyed the competition, I'm a bit on Portugal's side on that matter.
A random game competition would only make sense, if absolutely no one knew the games beforehand. That way it would be a competition of "who can adapt to/understand the game fastest". Otherwise it does not make sense at all.

[N.Saibot]

I'm not saying it's a misuse, I'm saying that the primary function (as per Rottenbeard's beliefs) is to have fun. Rottenbeard is all for having fun with your friends, and winning points or losing points you're still having a good time. And even if someone lost due to lack of practice they still had fun and shouldn't be a cause for concern.

Who's getting worked up over losing? I'm not. If anything I'm getting worked up over Portugal getting worked up because other nations didn't practice as much as they did.

That is how it should be. And as such you have won Rottenbeard's Heart.

Good thing I won something in the end : D I think we are actually meaning the same thing,
so I'll just say I agree with you.

P.S.: Hey Kat, welcome aboard! Now if we could only get our last team member on here, Hungary would be complete.

[Rottenbeard]

Welcome to the S.S Rottenbeard Kat.

Isn't the question here: what does each of us consider to be "fun"?

True. Another variable which we will probably never be able to pinpoint properly.

I think if you've reached a certain skill level at some particular game, you will want a decently skilled opponent to compete with.

Rottenbeard doesn't dispute this. It's just that you shouldn't complain if you don't come across one. Either you haven't been looking in the right place or you're just too good. Granted a European Championship would be a logical place to look, but it doesn't mean it'll give the result you want.

A random game competition would only make sense, if absolutely no one knew the games beforehand. That way it would be a competition of "who can adapt to/understand the game fastest".

It's got my vote.

[Ravsieg]

Really, no matter how many times I tell you this, it just doesn't get into you.

WORKING HARD TO COMPETE IS SOME PEOPLE'S WAY TO HAVE FUN. THEY WANT TO DO IT, THEY LOVE DOING IT, THEY FEEL GREAT DOING IT.

Geez. Really, I am not blaming people for not wanting to work hard nor taking it seriously, as you said. If they have fun by playing casually on a relaxed way, I have always been fine with that. What pisses me off is that preconceptuous judging of competitiveness = not fun = bad thing for the championships WHEN IT'S WRONG. DEAD BLOODY WRONG. Geez, such closedmindedness bugs me. A lot. Can't you just accept the fact that there are other good ways to have fun and take things other than yours?

And Kat is right. People who love competing are going to look for people who face them face-on. I don't really think those people should get annoyed if other people aren't on their boat (and I have personally judged Team Portugal for going over the top on this matter), but still I think it's a totally normal thing Team Portugal wants to have heavier competition.

EDIT
And I have to say, I'm not a competitive person. Suuure, I like winning. But I'm not going out of my track for it. The game I had the most fun ever was a loss anyways.

[Phantar]

Wow, somebody got their feathers ruffled. And even after reading the discussion (particularly between Rottenbeard and Ravsieg) I can't exactly see why. Seems like you guys were somehow talking about different things while talking about the same stuff at the same time. Somewhat intriguing.

Anyways, my point of view:

I had a great time at the tournament, even though I didn't get to play. I hadn't made the cut for Team Germany for mainly one reason: Lack of training. In particular, my downfall that led to me being placed 4th in the last German tournament was because I chose NBA Jam T.E. -and proceeded to loose both games I had in that category. I hadn't trained the game, and thus I had to accept defeat. I had fun nevertheless. I mention that because it somewhat mirrored a situation at the European championships: Team Englad had chosen NBA Jam as their home game, but lack of proper training led to them losing. So far, so understandable.

First and foremost, I see the championships (both our german tournament and the ECs) as people sharing similar interests having a good time. But I also enjoy the competition: Seeing who is most skilled in what game, and finding someone who may (or may not) be better. Now, what I don't like is winning at all cost (and by that I mean: Choosing cheap games or exploiting glitches), because I think those aren't sportsmanlike. However, I appreciate a decent show of skill (And Pedro's run at Sonic 1, for example, was simply beautiful und humbling at the same time!)

Having witnessed the tournament as a spectator and not as a player this time around, however, I came to a few conclusions.

First: Everyone enjoys a well rounded-out competition. However, if the outcome of the tournament is too predictable (the same every time the EC's roll around), it takes some of the excitement away.

Second: We need to get more countries in! In my eyes, the tournament this year was more exciting than last year, mostly because of the addition of another Team (thank you again, Team Hungary!). This also had the side effect that the competition gained an additional layer of unpredictability, and thus, excitement.

So, what can be done? Personally, I'd still love to see the Team tournaments continue. However, there were a few individuals (from Italy, or the Netherlands) that would've loved to compete, but couldn't get a team of 3 together. Adding some kind of single player tournament (like the 2nd German tournament, or the Knockout-mode at the english championships) could provide a nice addition in my eyes. However, this should also still fit in an acceptable timeframe (the tournament took a little more than 7 hours this year).

Maybe we could revise the tournament structure, so that it might be more attractive for newcomers and provide a new, more exciting level of competition for all participants. I'd suggest the chief organizers of the english (Chris, Daniel), portuguese (Alberto) and German (myself) tournaments stick their heads together on that matter (and personally I'd enjoy some input from Team Hungary as well). That way, we could find a manner of competition appealing to as many people as possible - so that maybe next year, wel'll have participants for teams from Sweden, Estonia, Italy or the Netherlands as well...

[Rottenbeard]

Really, no matter how many times I tell you this, it just doesn't get into you.

WORKING HARD TO COMPETE IS SOME PEOPLE'S WAY TO HAVE FUN. THEY WANT TO DO IT, THEY LOVE DOING IT, THEY FEEL GREAT DOING IT.

I don't recall saying that was a bad thing at all. Show me where I said that so you may have a Rottenbeard Apology.

What pisses me off is that preconceptuous judging of competitiveness = not fun = bad thing for the championships WHEN IT'S WRONG. DEAD BLOODY WRONG. Geez, such closedmindedness bugs me. A lot. Can't you just accept the fact that there are other good ways to have fun and take things other than yours?

I'm not saying that competitiveness doesn't equal fun. I'm saying that having fun is more important. The competitive nature is a by-product. Rottenbeard has no problem if you think different.