Do you watch others scoreplay videos?

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I know watching superplay vids is the best and quickest way to get a high score but how many ppl actually do it and do you limit yourself in what you watch as you like to figure bits out yourself?

For example, Although I really hate to find out a complex shmup's scoring mechanics out myself, I also dont want to watch other ppls scoreplay vids if I can avoid it as it tends to spoil the game for me. I like to work out my own scoring routes for many of the stages only resorting to watching others vids if ive run out of ideas.

The best way for me to do this is the read a decent strategy guide that covers all the scoring mechanics in depth, this helps me to fully understand how the game works and then its just a case to playing the game and working out my own routes. Unfortunatly not every shmup has a strategy guide which forces me to watch videos. Crimson Clover is one such game, its a real shame as well, since even after watching one of Icarus's vids I still cant properlly grasp how hes managing 300+k stage 1 scores when I average 50 - 60k.

Anyway how do you guys go about watching videos for your own scoring runs. Are you like me where watching video can spoil your enjoyment of the game? how do you personally balance the need to improve and your own enjoyment of finding things out yourself?
Or do you watch the top scorers replay as soon as you pick up the game? As getting that top score in the fastest time possible is what you care about

[ZOM]

Voted for 3, but usually I then find out that "my route" doesn't really exist for a good scoring run and go back watching superplay to copy some more

[spoot]

I like to watch those type of videos for fun tbh. It's interesting to see areas/bosses that I'm just not good enough to ever get to myself.

[Weak Boson]

I don't have the skills to copy superplayers exactly. Nevertheless you can learn a lot from watching a good player tackle the game and if you learn something you can really enhance the experience. I do think it's important (and fun) to try and figure out as much as you can first, though. The more you know about the game the more you can learn from a superplay.

[apple arcade]

I don't have the skills to copy superplayers

This^^^

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Voted for #4. GameFAQs is not helpful for these kind of situations in shmups...

[xris]

I might have to vote for the none apply. I watch videos for different reasons. High level ones for entertainment, and to see neat tricks. I'll watch mid level videos to see how stuff is actually done, an example, I watched a video of Mushi Futari's second level to see how you max points on the icicle cancel areas. I like watching videos of friends and recognisables to see their skill level. Sometimes it's really cool to watch a 1CC from an average player. Routes will be different, and you can see it when they do something really lucky, also includes random panic bombing.
Watching replays is fun, and a smart thing to do.

[Van_Artic]

superplays are my bread & butter, i usually watch them and remember some maneuvers that get natural over time

[Thjodbjorn]

I usually only watch videos of people a little higher than me, as I find I'm more able to "understand" what they're doing.

[mesh control]

I might have to vote for the none apply. I watch videos for different reasons. High level ones for entertainment, and to see neat tricks. I'll watch mid level videos to see how stuff is actually done, an example, I watched a video of Mushi Futari's second level to see how you max points on the icicle cancel areas. I like watching videos of friends and recognisables to see their skill level. Sometimes it's really cool to watch a 1CC from an average player. Routes will be different, and you can see it when they do something really lucky, also includes random panic bombing.
Watching replays is fun, and a smart thing to do.

I agree with this.

I don't like watch super high level runs to learn from, seeing that I do not possess the abilities to perform at that level.
Watching my friends DOJ replays are exciting, because I know how much he's been practicing and the areas he's struggled with before.

[whoozwah]

I watch them pretty casually. I rarely do and went I do I'm just kinda seeing how the game is played in general. I don't pick them apart and try to replicate them or anything like that.

[captpain]

I like watching anyone who's competent play... it's cool to see what other people are doing. And, of course, to adopt strategies.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I might have to vote for the none apply. I watch videos for different reasons. High level ones for entertainment, and to see neat tricks. I'll watch mid level videos to see how stuff is actually done, an example, I watched a video of Mushi Futari's second level to see how you max points on the icicle cancel areas. I like watching videos of friends and recognisables to see their skill level. Sometimes it's really cool to watch a 1CC from an average player. Routes will be different, and you can see it when they do something really lucky, also includes random panic bombing.
Watching replays is fun, and a smart thing to do.

I think all of us enjoy watching replays just for entertainment or initially just to check the game out , but what the poll is specifically aimed at is just for scoreplay purposes.

About the results so far, although not allot of ppl voted its quite obvoius that most folk here are like me and are willing to sacrifice an higher score for the pleasure of exploaring he game yourself. Im suprised I would of thought more ppl here would be inclined to vote for option 1.

Voted for #4. GameFAQs is not helpful for these kind of situations in shmups...

While I dont use gameFAQs for shmups, I use the guides in this forum instead. And I personally much prefer to read a well written out guide that details all the games mechanics of play rather then watch a video, especially if the game has complex scoring with multiple ways to score like Crimson Clover

[Marurun]

#9.

I prefer to play the games for my own enjoyment a few times and see if I can 1CC them, which doesn't happen very often. Yeah, I suck. Eventually I start playing for score, then when I find out how well I do I compare it to other players to see if it was average/good/amazing/etc. That's usually when I start to watch other players.

It's also just fun to watch other scoreplay videos. Come on, you know it's funny when you see the safe zone on ver.1.00 Daifukkatsu's Hibachi.

[Zengeku3]

I voted 10. I generally haven't ever watched videos with the intention of learning any scoring mechanics. I enjoy watching gameplay videos of different shmups made by people with skills similar to my own or better. It can actually be more interesting to watch videos from people of a similar skill-level since as you'll often see them tackle stuff different than you normally do. It can also be very informative to watch replays from non-superplayers since their tactics normally will be easier to teach yourself than some very involved and complex scoring route devised by the best of the best that has been mastered through years of play.

And super plays are cool! Not always though. A scoreplay video of DFK is boring imo while somebody barely doing a 2-ALL is much more impressive since they actually dodge stuff instead of deleting every bullet in the game.

[Sumez]

I don't have the skills to copy superplayers

This^^^

Same here - it does help me figure out how to play effectively though, and I usually pick out various parts from their replays and try to mimic them, find out what works the best for me, which I can pull off and which I can't. Even if I can't copy a superplay, it will always help me get the upper hand in beating my own scores and those of others on the same skill level as myself.
In short, even though I'm much worse at playing this kind of game than most people in here, I can still benefit from watching the top players play. And usually it's the fastest way to grasp the finer ideas of complex score systems.


My process usually goes like this:
1. Try the game myself, getting a random score based mostly on survival and guesses.
2. Skim texts about the score mechanics. (usually in the strategy forum)
3. Try the game again with what I read in mind trying to figure out how it applies to the actual game.
4. Read the above text in detail trying to figure out what the developers had in mind when they designed the score system
5. Play again and see how much I can score with this knowledge.
6. Download one of the top replays from Live or watch a replay on YouTube to learn the best way to do things and all the techniques I didn't figure out myself (usually anything that involves keeping popcorn enemies alive )
7. PLAY THE GAME LIKE AN EXPERT In reality: Fail miserably

[xavierjesus]

No. 8!

That's why I am STG fail evarr!

[TodayIsForgotten]

I voted 3. I find it pointless to copy someone's run verbatim. Much like are you a follower or a leader. It feels phony and a waste of my time and money to just mimic another player. If we both do the same thing without me watching, thats fine.

[Never_Scurred]

I just watch for fun. I haven't really tried noting routes or particular strategies yet.

[1up]

My process usually goes like this:
1. Try the game myself, getting a random score based mostly on survival and guesses.
2. Skim texts about the score mechanics. (usually in the strategy forum)
3. Try the game again with what I read in mind trying to figure out how it applies to the actual game.
4. Read the above text in detail trying to figure out what the developers had in mind when they designed the score system
5. Play again and see how much I can score with this knowledge.
6. Download one of the top replays from Live or watch a replay on YouTube to learn the best way to do things and all the techniques I didn't figure out myself (usually anything that involves keeping popcorn enemies alive )
7. PLAY THE GAME LIKE AN EXPERT In reality: Fail miserably

This is exactly what I do

[RNGmaster]

Sometime it feels better to figure out the scoring mechanics on your own - you know, grow strategies organically. Other times, you need a detailed guide and some tutorial videos (thanks, HELLSINKER). It all depends on context.

I watch scoreplay videos for an entirely separate purpose, too. It's great entertainment, especially if you've played the game the superplayer is owning at, and it's something to aspire to.

[Aconcit]

When I'm finally able to 1CC Ketsui, then maybe I'll watch for strategies for scoring.

[Erppo]

I enjoy figuring out scoring strategies by myself, but I also watch superplays for inspiration. I still feel bad for blatantly copying other's tricks and I at least try to understand why the tricks are good before blindly copying them. Sometimes the strategies you see others use are so clearly superior though, that you really have no choice after seeing them.

I also often try to work out simplified versions of superplay techniques that are better suited for my skill level and then gradually work to make them better.

And super plays are cool! Not always though. A scoreplay video of DFK is boring imo while somebody barely doing a 2-ALL is much more impressive since they actually dodge stuff instead of deleting every bullet in the game.

Considering hypering after the very beginning is mostly bad for your score, I have to wonder what (1.5) superplays you have been watching

[Sapz]

I also often try to work out simplified versions of superplay techniques that are better suited for my skill level and then gradually work to make them better.

Very much this, if I'm serious about scoring in a certain game.

[spadgy]

I like to play the crap out of a game to develop my own bad habits, then watch a superplay DVD and find it impossible to relearn everything.

While the above is true, being more serious I watch quite a lot of superplays, love to buy them when I can, and certainly pick up a few techniques and strategies, but have never really strived to exactly copy anything.

They are certainly an inspiration though, and I'd recommend a bit of that kind of studying to up your scores.

Never beats watching someone better than yourself play in real life though. If you have the chance to do that, I can't recommend it enough.

EDITS: Spelling

[Age of Kings]

I prefer playing through the game and trying to figure things out myself first before watching superplays tp refine my technique. If I watch them straight away, I feel pretty awful and a tad jealous that I can't match the skill of the player P:

[The Funto]

I watch superplays to learn about hidden items and how to get through some patterns that seemed impossible before watching as well.

Also, it's fun to show a superplay to people who ins't familiar with shmups and see their reactions