[TMA]InnatelyGestaltist wrote on 10/24/11 at 18:42:59:
I wouldn't know, really. Then again, being a former tournament player, myself, I'm of the mind to assert that the the skill-level required for any competitive game is determined by the level of play of the community.
Then, once gameplay breaks down and the mechanics are understood completely, the meta-game element develops more concisely and deepens gameplay further still; albeit semi-artificially.
As for SFA2 requiring skill, I can almost disagree with that. I would say that, more than anything, it simply requires a deep, deep, deep knowledge of the game. Sure, execution is great, but knowledge gets the job done in the end. Some of the best CVS2 players had shitty execution, but would win tournaments simply by knowing almost everything about the game.
I would say that, in a way, shooters require more raw skill than fighting games, as fighting games have more in common with chess. I suppose, though, that an argument could be made which illustrates the ability to out-play your opponent as a skill. However, the only way to outplay someone in either high level chess or playing tournament-level fighting games is, you guessed it: knowledge.
At mid-level, you can out-play someone simply by running gimmicks, or guessing right a lot of the time by forcing non-see-able 50/50's. At high level, though, knowledge prevents such situations from dominating the match via playing several to a dozen moves ahead of yourself.
Aiming a gun with a controller is, to me, a lot of harder to do under pressure than, say, remembering everything to do in every situation whilst baiting your opponent into your web of technical bullshit, pretending to be playing mind-games with them whilst actually playing outside of the mind-game altogether---like playing solid, mathematical poker whilst doing it in such a way that your opponents feel as though you are "gambling" with them.
I also know nothing about how Gears tends to play in a 1v1 situation, as I've always considered it to be a team game. Isn't it pretty much accepted as such?
In 1 v 1 both players make a dash for the one hit kill power weapons. Then the little icon shows up indicating a weapon has been picked up so each player knows where the other guy is. Then it becomes either a duel of the power weapons, or an ass rape against the dude who was too slow to get to the sniper or boomshot.
If you are just going lancers and shotguns. Then it's all about stealth and taking them out MGS style.
If it's a shotgun duel its like 2 people charging at eachother throwing haymakers. You could toss a coin to see who wins if the players know the basics of the weapon.
A game like Unreal Tournament 2004 requires much more skill due to the wide weapon variety, huge levels, huge amount of levels, extremely balanced weapon distribution, and clean hit detection.
Counter Strike even more so. In Counter Strike it's almost vital to have surround sound and a very keen ear. Hearing the enemy coming up the stairs is not an easy thing to notice but it will win the game. Also there are a wide variety of guns and if you know which gun you are using on what level you can preform much better. For instance certain SMG's are very accurate on their innital shots but are not very powerful. So you can use them to land headshots on snipers at mid range while still having the speedy full auto that SMG's are known for. Not to mention you earn cash by killing to buy upgrades like helmets, body armor, grenades, extra ammo, and more guns. So you must be wise with every choice you make. You don't just charge in a group for the power weapon.