"Endurance gaming" or wasting your time?

[thestorm529]

I've written on the forums earlier about how I think my experience on this site could be improved, and I've mentioned how there are certain games that I think should be taken away because they are too easy, and I can play them indefinitely.

Keep in mind that a lot of these games, I had attained the high score of the month on, so I was really only hurting myself in a way. Someone responded that if someone was willing to spend the time to get a high score, that they deserved it.

I counter that the opposite is true. If someone only gets a high score, because they are willing to spend three hours on a "game", their only reward should really be that they wasted some time in their life! I don't think you can consider an endless activity a game, its more like a task. Its like work that you put yourself through, for minimal gain.

Take Sushi Dash for example. I've hand a back and forth battle with Lonny on that game, and I finally stopped playing it because a. my time in my life is more valuable than spending two plus hours trying to beat his score and b. It actually starts to feel more malicious and personal when you do take away someones score in a game like that.

When you take away an "endurance game" score from someone, you're basically saying that the two hours that they spent before are now a waste of time, and that if they want the high score back, they're going to spend even more time getting it back. At that point is not "I'm better than you at this game", I feel like its more like saying "I don't like you, and I don't want you to have this score."

There are a number of games like Bugs and Tree Phul Phang, that do take a while to play, but THEY DO GET HARDER! It just takes a while to get there. There's nothing wrong with that.

But lets take away the games that never get tougher. Our time is more valuable than that, and it will keep the vibe better on the site. - S.

[ICBM]

I disagree 100%. I've played, gotten and lost the highscores on a couple of games like the ones you mention. With that being said, I have gone and taken those scores back and lost them again. I find those games fun to play when I have the time to play them. Take GROW for example. Eagle_Kiwi has taken the highscore on that game and it took 1.5? hours I believe. I have plans on taking that highscore in the near future as I like that game.

There are many players here who are guilty of playing and enjoying those games. If they weren't being played/endured the highscores would be much older than they are.

You have a choice to play them or not.
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[KillerCarsS]

I גםn't think they should be removed for the sake of those who play them, but I personally don't really like them. I know I can play them infinitely and then it's not as fun for me anymore.

[thestorm529]

In response to ICBM... I don't want to deprive anyone that likes neverending games of the ability to play them. I'm just really interested in how people feel, so appreciate your comments.

I'm starting to put into my strategy to note which games can be high scored for the month quicker than others, because getting involved in a battle for a neverending game can take away a lot of time I could be spending on other games.

As long as its good clean fun, and people don't get angry at each other for battling over long-play-time games, then I guess its cool.

However, my strategy will be to get good at shorter games, and hopefully high-score-of-the-month more of them.

Let's keep the discussion going. What do other people think? - S.

[doughtakerSTM]

Everyone has their own different preferences; many people don't have the reflexes necessary to succeed at the faster-paced games and therefore rely on endurance or slower-paced games as their foundation. More often than not, endurance is not a factor in whether or not I personally like a game. When it is, I make a decision on how I want to adapt to it. Either I learn the game and add it to my monthly regimen, or I play the game a couple of times and then move on. If I don't like a particular game because of its endurance factor, it's no big deal. I miss out on one opportunity, but there are plenty of other games around where I can go after a high score.

Here's something else to think about: suppose that AB himself suddenly decided he's going to add 3000 high score games of a particular type that you don't like (the exact type is irrelevant - even if it's endurance). What will you do: leave the site because you don't believe you stand any chance of getting onto the leaderboards, or take the time to try to learn some of these new games? (For example, assuming nothing else on the site changes, if AB decided to add 3000 slots as high score games, I'm pretty sure that most, if not all, of the serious BOTM contenders would become AB slotaholics.) I personally would try to adapt as best as I can and learn some of those new games.

[neeraffa]

I dont mind endurance games but for me if you have one of these as an all-time score it will never be a safe all-time as there is always someone out there that has a few hours on there hands to take one off you!
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[rainforever]

I really don't care all that much, but yes, i do like those kinds of games. Mario flash!

[Lost_Guy]

I don't even bother with endurance games anymore. I've sworn off any type of game in which having no life is a requirement to be "good" at it.