Zen and the art of Counter-Strike

[Giftmacher]

http://www.gamespot.com/users/Palette_swap/?tag=login;profile
Call me a hippy, but it works. Just thought I'd share this. :)

[Nomad]

I've actually noticed that before. Not in CS, of course, since I never play, but games in general. If a good song comes on Winamp, and I get more involved with listening to the song than playing the game, I tend to almost zone out and at the end of the round or whatever I tend to find out I did significantly better than I usually do.

Quite odd.

[ace]

True indeed. I find that the inverse is quite true as well; the more stressed and anxious/infuriated I become with a game, the more horribly I play. I specifically noticed this the other day when playing one random, particularly (read: ridiculously) frustrating Doom map.

I had become so wound up about it that I was gripping my trackball so tightly that I could not play as properly as usual, which, until I noticed it, only made my playing even worse. A half hour break for lunch seemed to do the trick, though. It both filled me up (I think I was hungry, despite my absorption into the game) and calmed me down from that point.

But I've definitely experienced zoning out whilst gaming, though, to the point where I'd even be thinking about other random things (like whether I ought to be doing my homework :p) and not really paying attention to the "fine details" of the game itself at all. And before I know it, I've played through to some epic boss fight or a cutscene or what have you.

It's interesting, though. It seems to me that after so many years of gaming to the point where we're looking for more than just mindless run-and-gun-style gameplay, it seems that when one plays mindlessly, they get a more enjoyable (i.e. less aggravating) experience out of it; not necessarily a fun one, but better than the alternative, nonetheless.

[FATAL]

I don't play action based games very much, so I don't know if this applies to me. I've noticed, though, that when playing games like Soldat or Doom, I generally play better when I'm in a happy mood. Also, when truly wanting to win (rare, except in those matches against CSlyr scum!) I feel like I play worse than usual. I don't know if this is true, though. I just may be focusing on my mistakes more than usual or such.

Strategy based games like Operation Flashpoint require a clear mind, so being absent minded is no option. Also, as far as racing games such as Cross Racing Championship go, I need to be extremely concentrated to succeed in a race.

[CrazedImp]

Hmm, I find I play action games best when I'm in a relatively good mood, and theres decent competition in a server. Not overwhelming competition, because somebody who plays day after day for hours just to increase the size of their E-Penis is no fun at all. As to playing at early hours of the morning, well, it doesn't help me at all. If I'm not wide awake I don't have the energy to concentrate, so often my mind will drift off.

Though if I have people I know, and like, in a server I tend to play like crap because I like to mess around and have fun more, rather than concentrating on winning. :p

[FreeLanZer]

I also play best when in a good mood and usually when playing with some friends.. Maybe that's why I play best at LAN parties and in school. :)
But I also play best in the evenings.. I don't know why but I'm way more concentrated in the evenings than in the morning, that applies to making graphical content too.
And at LAN parties a nice mix of too much caffeine and sugar gives some sort of extra boost. :D

[Potnop]

I tend to play best when I haven't played the game in a while. I noticed this with Call of Duty 4 which in many ways is a bit like CS. I was just PWNING!!!! I had like 8 kill streaks and stuff and kept earning achivements and all that all in one game. I was on fire and I felt great. Then I kept playing through the night and I eventually started doing worse and worse, and I just sucked again...

This also happened with me and Halo. I haven't played it in forever this one time and I just kept annihaliting all the other dudes, landing headshots with the pistol and all that. One of the players even told me his girlfriend was watching and rooting me on or something and I was like HEELLLL YEAAA I'm the king!!! At first I thought it was because I had a higher resolution and it was easier to aim because I just got a brand new Nvidia 8600 but I guess it was because I haven't played in a while.

I guess it's mostly because I don't have all the fears and worries that I ususally do when I'm playing the game regularly. I just go with the flow. Too bad I can't help it and always play this good.

It's actually the inverse for me with RTSs though like Starcraft. If I don't play in a long time I'm crap.