Natural videogame abilities

[Skykid]

My mate has sworn for years that people from east asian shores have a more natural ability for videogames than us westerners.

I never thought too much about it until last night when I stepped away from my cab, leaving Xexex running (for the STGT), and when I came back my girlfriend was playing it. I watched her clear the first stage on her first try - a bit rustily, but with success nonetheless - and couldn't actually believe it. She got control of the power-up shot, and even used the pod detachment to some extent, with no guidance whatsoever - and she's definitely never been near a shmup with such features before. Even I didn't clear the first stage on my first credit.

Obviously there are people in the west who are masters (some of whom are on this forum) but the concentration of top players always seems to come from Japan/China etc. Is there argument for the 'natural videogame ability' thing then?

[MX7]

My girlfriend picked it up and got game over within about 30 seconds, so I don't think being Asian makes you instantly amazing at games.

Seriously though, it's a really interesting subject. I'm inclined to believe that the reason there are so many amazing East Asian players is

1) They have more access to arcades and good players

2) There are magazines like Arcadia that bring Hi Scoring sensibilities to the newstand

3) There are more players, so there are potentially more good players

4) They have different tastes, so they're more likely to play the kinds of games that we are interested in

I think the last point is the most important. Starcraft is really popular in South Korea, so of course that's where the best players are. And I imagine there's a lot more amazing FPS players in America than Japan, simply because that's where it's popular.

I think certain people do have an aptitude to various skills, but I believe that this is more due to upbringing and stuff like that rather than racial differences. I remember back in year three, I started Violin lessons, and I was instantly a lot better than the rest of the class. This wasn't because I was a natural genius, it was because I listened to a lot of music, sang a lot, and watched my dad play different instruments, which game me a big head start. Likewise, my girlfriend is *absolutely* amazing at N+, which she only started playing yesterday, but that's just because she spent a wasted youth playing videogames, not because she's Asian

[Skykid]

My girlfriend picked it up and got game over within about 30 seconds, so I don't think being Asian makes you instantly amazing at games.

Seriously though, it's a really interesting subject. I'm inclined to believe that the reason there are so many amazing East Asian players is

1) They have more access to arcades and good players

2) There are magazines like Arcadia that bring Hi Scoring sensibilities to the newstand

3) There are more players, so there are potentially more good players

4) They have different tastes, so they're more likely to play the kinds of games that we are interested in

I think the last point is the most important. Starcraft is really popular in South Korea, so of course that's where the best players are. And I imagine there's a lot more amazing FPS players in America than Japan, simply because that's where it's popular.

I think certain people do have an aptitude to various skills, but I believe that this is more due to upbringing and stuff like that rather than racial differences. I remember back in year three, I started Violin lessons, and I was instantly a lot better than the rest of the class. This wasn't because I was a natural genius, it was because I listened to a lot of music, sang a lot, and watched my dad play different instruments, which game me a big head start. Likewise, my girlfriend is *absolutely* amazing at N+, which she only started playing yesterday, but that's just because she spent a wasted youth playing videogames, not because she's Asian

All good points! I'm with you tbh - it's just a combination of events which led me to ponder the question.
I suppose being in a society heavily proliferated with videogames gives you some experience whether you're hands on or not, and I know from visiting Japan/HK/China etc that there are arcades and suchlike all over the place.
So then it's the environment which gives players the advantage... hmmm...

There was this Chinese girl who used to frequent Namco Wonderpark in London - she was the girlfriend of a guy who was amazing at KOF who had obviously passed on the tactics. She was the only girl I'd ever seen in there actually playing a fighting game properly, and damn, was she good at the game. I remember how many people used to challenge her and leave wondering wtf just happened.

[emphatic]

Westerners are lazy. Asia has salary men.

[sven666]

actually im more surprised that you didnt make it thru the first level of xexex, its like dying in attract mode ffs!!

[Skykid]

actually im more surprised that you didnt make it thru the first level of xexex, its like dying in attract mode ffs!!

Lol, I was waiting for someone to say that.

[neorichieb1971]

I've never met anyone who is good at shmups, asian or Western. Or should I say someone who has natural ability.

I woudn't knock someone for not getting very far on one credit.

Never played Xexex so don't know exacty what level of ability your gf has. I would say from Sven's post that she just has a good understanding of the game mechanics.

[Acid King]

It's definitely an environmental thing. My girlfriend never plays video games, but if I have her sit and play a shooting game, she does decently because she sees me play so often. She knows to do things that my friends who play modern games don't, like bullet herding and moving incrementally instead of constantly moving. Now take someone that has an affinity for games and drop them in an environment where they're exposed to lots of high level play and you have your answer.

[Skykid]

I've never met anyone who is good at shmups, asian or Western. Or should I say someone who has natural ability.

I woudn't knock someone for not getting very far on one credit.

Never played Xexex so don't know exacty what level of ability your gf has. I would say from Sven's post that she just has a good understanding of the game mechanics.

Xexex isn't a walk in the park if you don't play videogames at all, Sven's a little misleading there - it's not like the first stage of Otomedius or something. I was just pissing around on my first go (as I always do to become accustomed to the different mechanics of the game).
I was convinced the first boss would take her out with that shard spewing thing, but she lucked out with a touch of hidden skillz.