An elite that is WipEout...

[bik3rluke]

I think a main reason I love WipEout compared to any other game is that it's a very tight, small, elite community. You can go online with most games and find thousands upon thousands of people online, whereas with WipEout pretty much every lobby I enter I will find at least one person I've raced with in the past.

Most people don't 'understand' WipEout. Most of my friends don't understand the obsession with WipEout. They either haven't got into it, or don't want to. They don't quite get why WipEout is so special.

...and it's not popular for that reason. I was reading through the Fury details on PlayStation Blog and kept reading various gamers saying stuff like WipEout HD is far too hard, and it's loosing them customers as no-one can master it like most games. For me, this is a good thing. I've been playing WipEout HD pretty much every night since it was released, and still rarely do a lap that I'm happy with. I always want to better myself.

I admire players who have mastered this game like no-one else, such as Wotan998, ProblemSolver, IH8YOU, Connavar, Flashback_Jack and pirhapac. They're the elite of the elite. I only hope I'll be able to get half as good as them at some point, but I think it takes a naturally gifted talent to progress like they have. I seem to have hit a stage where I simply can't get any better, yet with them that stage is far superior to anyone else's stage.

Anyway, enough rambling... I'm just happy to be apart of something that a large percentage of people will never understand.

[PLazarou]

On the contrary, I'd rather Wipeout had a much larger community. I don't want to recognise names every time I join a new host. If I want to race people I know, this can always be arranged. But a lot of the time it's more fun to be pwning noobs. ;)

But more importantly, I think Wipeout is largely ignored because of the absolutely bollocks advertising. Sony could push this game into the limelight quite easily. Everyone needs to know how awesome this game is.

[Lance]

Re: bik3rluke:

Well, to some extent, it's like reallife open-wheel road racing. The elite really are the elite. The talent of the top performers is on a higher plane of existence. There is no faking it in F1 or WipEout. It's probably a combination of genetics and the kind of life they have lead that gives a certain outlook to them while they are performing. It is almost like dancing, when someone is capable of amazing precision of placement and timing, which requires that you don't consciously think and analyse while you're moving. To quote the character, Herne the Hunter, in the old Robin of Sherwood television series, "Act without thinking." That advice would probably help the performance of all of us, but would still fall short unless that superior nervous system is in you.

[BTW, I have too often found that I have to be totally tired or somewhat drunk to turn off that analytical thinking mode, but that may be just me or a few others who have trouble switching their conscious mind off so they can really "groove".]

[PLazarou]

Let's not go too far Lance... F1 is a highly physical sport and you have to be a supreme athlete to be at the top of your game. Wipeout is... thumb-flicking. ;)

[Lance]

I always go too far... which usually proves to have not been far enough.

[eLhabib]

Absolutely agree with the OP - I would like some more people online though, and I would definitely want this game to be a bit more accessible to newcomers still, so that some of my friends could get into it. It really takes a rather hardcore approach to start getting good at the game, to a point where one can actually enjoy his raceline.

[Aeroracer]

I think a main reason I love WipEout compared to any other game is that it's a very tight, small, elite community. You can go online with most games and find thousands upon thousands of people online, whereas with WipEout pretty much every lobby I enter I will find at least one person I've raced with in the past.

Most people don't 'understand' WipEout. Most of my friends don't understand the obsession with WipEout. They either haven't got into it, or don't want to. They don't quite get why WipEout is so special.

...and it's not popular for that reason. I was reading through the Fury details on PlayStation Blog and kept reading various gamers saying stuff like WipEout HD is far too hard, and it's loosing them customers as no-one can master it like most games. For me, this is a good thing. I've been playing WipEout HD pretty much every night since it was released, and still rarely do a lap that I'm happy with. I always want to better myself.

I admire players who have mastered this game like no-one else, such as Wotan998, ProblemSolver, IH8YOU, Connavar, Flashback_Jack and pirhapac. They're the elite of the elite. I only hope I'll be able to get half as good as them at some point, but I think it takes a naturally gifted talent to progress like they have. I seem to have hit a stage where I simply can't get any better, yet with them that stage is far superior to anyone else's stage.

Anyway, enough rambling... I'm just happy to be apart of something that a large percentage of people will never understand.
I understand you...

was a bit like that in ridge racer on the 360..same elites playing again and again.

[bik3rluke]

It really takes a rather hardcore approach to start getting good at the game, to a point where one can actually enjoy his raceline.
Agreed completely.

I just wanna cuddle each and everyone of you pilots! :lol

[Aeroracer]

I think perfectionists like wipeout. i am a perfectionist, i want to do everything well and be the best. I played wipeout 1 when i was 10 and wanted to do a perfect time lap. I am like that in many aspects of my life maybe other players share this oppinion too....who knows:banzai

[TheFrostE]

not to rain on the happy elite parade but if i'm not mistaken luke yesterday you were sitting backwards shooting at me and others in a few different races....i don't think your on the right path to getting good if that's how you spend time with wipeout.

[chboing]

huhu :) love TheFrostE comments :)

[silverfoxy]

If theres one thing that winds me up more than the ramming and lag its people who just sit on weapon pads trying to shoot you as they know they can't catch you properly.

[Hemicrania]

Every community has elite's. For example, you do not want to **** with me in AvP2. :lol

But I agree that most people don't understand the joy of a good wipeout race. I bought Burnout paradise the same day I downloaded Wipeout HD, but there's just something about wheels on asphalt...not that its a bad game.

Wipeout also triggers the imagination, the less you know about this universe the more you can fantasize about this future world. But thats another story.

Maybe Fury will trigger a shitload of new downloads/players. Would be nice. Only problem is, the wipeout elite have been playing these games for years and years. So its gonna take some serious skill defeating these guys. But you never know, maybe there's a Rafael Nadal out there who, by playing ONLY HD, can beat a Lance for example. I think its possible with Wipeout that there are some players who have a natural talent for the game, unlike other games wich are too much focussed on the casual game market.

[bik3rluke]

not to rain on the happy elite parade but if i'm not mistaken luke yesterday you were sitting backwards shooting at me and others in a few different races....i don't think your on the right path to getting good if that's how you spend time with wipeout.
Not sure where you got that from, but no, I wasn't. I have done in the past just to see what would happen but I certainly didn't do it yesterday.

[Aeroracer]

If theres one thing that winds me up more than the ramming and lag its people who just sit on weapon pads trying to shoot you as they know they can't catch you properly.

Wow thats pathetic. They should patch the game so any racer whose craft dosnt move for 20 seconds gets booted off.

[ACE-FLO]

bottom line, wipeout is NOT a sissy game, it's a highly competitive format, even in single player/offline... If you aint got the beans then you'll just give up.

I'm sure there are gamers out there who are bored with the current trend of games out there - too repetitive, been there, done that, oh look its CoD4, no wait, 5, oh look, Rainbow Six, no seven... lol...

If these gamers are looking for a real challenge, this is where they need to be, playing a wipeout...

With wipeout, the franchise really is evolving, the games are hard, they're pretty unforgiving, and the format is playable and addictive at the same time... as well as truly challenging!

With the advent of HD, it took the format to a whole new level, and now, with Fury... well, to prove a point, the amopunt of work gone into this latest installation to the franchise just makes us all think "WOW, they did it again, and they doing it better"

Each time a new wipeout comes out, the challenge of unlocking everything quickly takes me to another level of consciousness... I need to unlock as quickly as I can so I will miss meals, appointments, even sleep sometimes.

I only play pulse at the moment, y'all probably know that anyway... But with Fury on the brink of release, I need to get me a PS3, just for this game!!! Carnage FTW.

I know I'm gonna suck online for a while, but once I find my lines, I won't suck as bad!!! It's time I left the PSP anyway, the small screen just aggravates me!!!

EDIT: not leaving pulse, not yet... not when I'm getting messages from female members telling me they got Pulse, this I gotta see... A female pilot out for a kill - ****ing awesome!!!! - Go Jasmine-Jade... Pulse rocks!!!

[NightArh]

Great words bik3rluke! People are often asking me what video game I play... I answer Wipeout and they don't know what is it! They are playing different GTA's, COD's, WoW's and other popular games and cannot understand "how can I play this sht like wipeout" This game has very tight community (maybe like F1 or less) and that is great! I am happy developers are still working on this project! It has a great future

♥ wipEout!

I really want to buy PS3 Wipeout Fury Limited Edition :)

[Kyonshi]

WipEout games always had a steep learning curve that demands dedication and determination to fully enjoy what's its all about. Not a lot of games allow this feature nowadays...

People who don't invest in practicing and improving reaction time and reflexes will never grab the awesomeness of its gameplay. And for me, that's a good thing. I find it so ridiculous that cry-babies beg to have SL tone down the difficulty... Pilot-Assist is already there for those narrow-minded people to have the possibility to foresee how good the game is when they give it a chance. If you're still not happy about that, then good ridance! WipEout games always sustained such hardcore challenge and everybody who adapted and practiced can acknowledge without hesitation that its where the real fun is.

Its hard so you can be BETTER. So you have a chance to become an elite. All ships are balanced, tracks mostly well designed (perhaps not the blind turn on top of the vertical maglock portion on Metropia Reverse). I even surprised myself that i've been able to compete with the "sluggish" Auricom! I never gave up, that's where i am now and WipEout is my drug.

Please send money now for my therapy. :g

[Lance]

Fury therapy? ;)

[Handmadelion]

I'll agree it's competitive, but I admire the people that don't give up over the ones that win. Or I should say I'm looking forward to seeing more of them, and how they progress, over the ones that are already almost perfect. Because when get completely stomped on by every weapon all in the same lap or fall off multiple times or blow up multiple times, it takes a lot of guts (pretty word, I'll just a more realistic one: tolerance) to keep at it.

If you're having a bad streak and you just leave a race or tournament, I just don't like that. That's like saying you only play this game when you're winning. : (

[Lance]

"Guts" is a good word. Also: Persistence. Determination. Courage [like not having to leave because one don't want to appear less than perfect and victorious to anybody, maybe especially to oneself.].

[Avenger2197]

I love that Wipeout has a community like this one. I have raced many awesome people online from here, and although some of them are the best of the best, they are kind enough to keep pushing you to do better at the game.

And, no matter how hard some races can be, there really is no greater experience than racing against some of the best pilots in the world. Even if you lose you feel elated that you gave it your best shot, and you strive to do better the next time you meet up with them.;)

I have fond memories of WOHD, and with Fury coming out soon-ish, I'm sure to have many, many more.:)

[ProblemSolver]

@bik3rluke: Yeah, I agree. Most people don't understand the depth of
WipEout HD because they simply consider it as a toy racer having a
futuristic look. I think HD lacks a personal touch. There is currently no
user-profile and virtually no way to identify youself with a given team. I
think a garage and / or a 'pit lane', where you can somehow analyze your
craft and stuff, would be very welcome. And what about 3d characters
for creating a certain (possible romantic) atmosphere? What about a
Home space?


... I seem to have hit a stage where I simply can't get any better,....
Ey bik3rluke, if you really believe this, then you won't improve anymore.
Despite I hold some records, I'm nowhere near any such stage. I always
try something new and do analyze lots of things and stuff every day.

[RedScar]

There is no end to how good you can get at a game. It takes an open mind to try new things, anew line, new turbo spots, all with the goal to try and get better. I started out HATING phantom since I couldn't do well in it at all, now I love it and can't stand racing slower.

I wish WOHD had a larger community, but sadly it is a challenging game to do well at so most people are turned off it. That is the way the ball rolls though so you have to look at the positive. I like the none casual style though, because I don't like people coming in acting all high and mighty because the game is easy. You just have to make the game open to new people. Get them to join this forum, learn about the cool ppl who play it and they get better, rinse repeat. Gamers all have a passion, ours is WO.

[Kyonshi]

@RedScar

There's nothing sad about a game being this hard. It's conceived this way not to piss people off, but to make them better at it. Nowadays most games are too easy because of whining people or because of multiples save points scattered all over the game. WipEout is conceived toward competition and being good at it. Its racing, may it be F1, Nascar or a video game.

What's sad is narrow-minded people who think life is supposed to be easy and includes multiples save points. But its not like that. Its about practicing, being minded and have determination, striving to achieve something. Hell, WipEout is surely trying to teach something about life itself! xD

The most important about WipEout is not Studio Liverpool toning down difficulty level, is more about people like us spreading the word about how well-conceived is WipEout HD and how it is possible to compete and have a good time in such a difficult game. Its already happening in some threads right here or on Gamefaqs. Its also why this community is kept alive by people like us.

I honestly think its working. Im a regular player, you know its true. I see a lot of new-comers. They're having a hard time, yes. But i see most of them still racing, after a couple of weeks. I maybe wrong, maybe they're just giving it a try and will surely give up if they're not getting better is a decent amount of time, but at least WOHD is still attracting people way much after launch date. Somewhere it tellls me something about the value of the game being studied by people :)

[Hemicrania]

nice to see my avatars poppin up all over the place, hehe. Srry off topic. :)

[Kyonshi]

Sure! But i still need Harimau and Auricom avatars :P

[S'kilov]

Wipeout for me is beyond words; I simply can't describe the adrenaline rush I get from playing and no other game will ever provide what Wipeout has. It brought me into the world of Playstation, the electronic music genre (thank you Tim Wright!) and a world I can always escape to no matter what mood I'm in.

And a new pilot has entered the fray! ^^ A friend managed to get me online for the first time and I'm SOOO hooked so if you'd like to race, feel free to add me. It's all about fun even if I end up placing last in an 8 player, 12 circuit tournament (which hasn't happened yet). Fury is going to drive me crazy...

I'm truly thankful the those whom are considered Elite as they pave the way for all pilots to keep pushing forward to a point where one can be pleased with satisfaction that they've accomplished a certain feat they've worked hard at over time. We're always striving for what is perfect to us in Wipeout. I'm not a perfectionist but the more I play, the better I get and the journey will never end for as long as I'm breathing. :)

I've been visiting this forum forever btw, but haven't been much to write on any boards for some odd reason but I'll be around more often as once again I'm hooked to Wipeout online, lol. (This is probably my first forum posts in over a year or so? o.O)

[OBH]

Great stuff.
I thought i was good, then came up against the man, the myth, the legend Asayyeah online.

A close race, but i just couldnt overtake him to save my life.

after that i practiced religously, and found this place. Might not be the best, but creating an undefeated england team, reaching 8th for phantom rankins on cannavars site, plus a few world records along the way has made me a happy man :)

Winning close tournaments gets me jumping around the living room with an elation i dont get from many things :)

Always room for improvement though. Always.

A working ps3 again would help too :)

[ACE-FLO]

What? a broken PS3? aw man, that's pretty ****! You're right about Asa! He scares me when he's in the same race as me, adrenaline starts to kick, and I know it's time to concentrate. Music off/Sound effects on. Hands sweat profusely, and the races are so crazy that sometimes for me, it's a battle just to survive. Most peeps would probably quit in situations like this. Which is why I think us zoners are the elite, WE DON'T QUIT! in the face of seeming impossible odds, we hang in there, and stick it out!

[NightArh]

That is the exact... I never quit even always losing ;)

[OBH]

You're right about Asa! He scares me when he's in the same race as me, adrenaline starts to kick, and I know it's time to concentrate.
Too right.
Though over time i reckon the win/loss ratio swung in my favour.

WipEout goal achieved! :g

[ACE-FLO]

Re: NightArh post - It's true! He never quits. Proving my point! Every time we race, he's closing our ships, and recently beat me on TDR-black phantom online... Now that's progress! Go NightArh! You're getting too good too quickly, it's a good thing!

@ OBH, nice one dude, Me? different story, Asa kicks my butt regular! but I see slow, steady progress in my online performance.

[OBH]

Asayyeah claims he was just being a gentelmen and letting me win :) what a legend.