Leveling Up: Why Being a "Noob" Can Be a Good Thing

Being called a "noob" in any game is embarrassing for countless gamers but why should it? We need to expand our understanding of the word. In game theory, there's the a concept called a metagame and metagame analysis that can help us understand why being a "noob" can be a good thing.

First, a metagame analysis is a practical approach used to maximize the utility value of a set of rules that govern any given system. Game theory is usually applied to mathematics or systems to study strategic decision making approaches. In order to understand how this can be applied by the every man you have to understand that life is a system in which it can be applied.

Life is like a game. Most people find hopes, dreams, and goals to work towards in their personal pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. If you can work towards these goals then it can be viewed as a system that have rules that act like a boundary in which gamers can exist.

The secret to winning most games starts with understanding the rules. If you can do this then you can think your way through and succeed. A metagame analysis of your individual situations can help you achieve your goals. This simple shift in how we view our lives can be beneficial.

Websites like Lifehack collect tips and tricks that make life easier. It is a great site because it is an internet collection of knowledge generated by folks working toward a singular goal. Here's an article that gives tips to reusing old materials.

As an older gamer, I am insulted every time I am called a noob. Being a noob is a state in which the player is learning the rules of the game. In this state, the player is at the peak of their learning and mastery. If I argue that being a gamer is beneficial then it is in this state that I contend we should remain throughout our lives if we are to continue to grow and evolve.

When you don't grow and evolve, you become that asshole that turns to online griefing because the game doesn't provide the thrill for you anymore. These people find it hard to be a noob again, tend to stick to a game for a long period of time, even after it has ceased to be fun. They become internet assholes.

Don't be an internet asshole. Being a "noob" is cool. Gaming can be beneficial as long as there is a balance. Life Leveling through the use of a metagame analysis will make your offline character a level 68 in no time.

Graphic Cards, Gaming Performance, Next Generation Consoles?

Tech guy #1: What type of graphic card did you buy?
Tech guy #2: Well, since I own a heat treated, super enhanced, twinky infused HD 12910, I decided to go for higher rpms per monthly rotation of the sun.
Tech guy #1: Don't you think that each GPU might counter your electric gas powered performance boosted framed per second?
Tech guy #2: No, that's why I am tuned and used my Walmart gift card.

This is exactly how I felt when I stepped into a virtual room after I asked a simple question about video cards. Recently, my computer has been acting kind of funny. Laugh now please. I've certainly heard every joke from porn to some hacker attack.

Who knows? I don't. This brings me to the topic of today's blog entry, technology and gaming.

I bought a new computer last year after consulting a computer friend so that I could play PC games since my beloved computer of 10 years died. I share this with you so you understand at as a young man entering middle age, I've fallen behind the technology curve.

Relying on the Xbox 360 for the last few years made me forget everything about pc tech so now I am trying to figure out how to play PC games with better performance. In the midst of the launch of a generation of consoles I am tempted to jump on board and rely on games that I know will work (hopefully but not always due to bugs and patches but that's a topic for another day.)

Instead, I am going to employ the wait and see gaming strategy because of money concerns. I recently acquired a PS3 at a pawn shop for $50. I played 2 or 3 games that were exclusive to that system but felt greatly disappointed that I had played most of the available games for it on the Xbox 360.

For the next year, I will most likely pick up used games that I did not play in the bargain bin while others play the newest, latest, and greatest. I am hoping that by doing so I avoid the next big gaming console mistake. 

In the meantime, I will troubleshoot my PC and blame my video card every time I experience lag and poor performance. I will scream and be on the bottom of the leader board and be butt of jokes.

Urban's Complaint: Hacking in Online Games

Last night a few Geezers got together to play Red Dead Redemption and some of the expansions. I played this game for a year and half and even created project based learning templates around Red Dead Redemption and the American West. (Skip to next section if you don't care about teaching materials)

When I was teaching my students loved the connections we made to popular culture. Red Dead appeared the summer before I was about to teach American Literature to a bunch of 11th graders. (I'd be happy to send anyone interested in teaching sample project based files that are fully developed for use in a history or literature classroom. Send me an e-mail.) It is safe to say that I loved this game.

My problem was that when the game came out I didn't have a community to explore the online component. Over time I couldn't stand being bullied and cursed at by teens that I put the game aside after I milked every ounce out of the story and achievements.

Cheaters and Hackers

After a week of organizing and scheduling, a handful of Geezers embarked on a back to the past adventure tour of Red Dead Redemption's multiplayer. We quickly explored the shootouts, undead sieges, but when we tried to go into free roam we hit a wall that ruined the game.

We attempted to engage in battles against other groups but other players seemingly zipped across the map, disappeared, and then we were killed by invisible forces. A high pitched voice told us that the game had been hacked and was affecting game play for everyone (unconfirmed).

Regardless if this was due to hackers or poor server maintenance, the word hacker ruined the game night for a group of regular working class stiffs. The thing is that this isn't the first time our group has run into hackers in a game.

Last year I ventured to PC gaming after upgrading from a 10 year system. The lack of money kept me a console gamer happily where lack of community allowed me to avoid PVP and multiplayer games. In a way, I lived in the ignorant bliss of single-player.

Now almost every multiplayer online game has been ruined by cheaters. I mean, I understand why hackers create hacks. Here is an article discussing online security and hacking. It details the financial motivation to creating hacks.

In One Shot, One Kill, No Skill , a cheater, named John, explains why he feels the need to cheat. He says,

""Technically hacking does ruin games," John recently told me. "I do feel bad for doing it, ‘cause I know regular legit gamers—which I once was—just want to have fun and play the game with their friends. I basically go into servers and hack, because it's like releasing anger with my job. "

I'm not an expert at the law but something deep down inside tells me that there is something wrong in what their doing. I can't believe that hacking in someone else's software isn't illegal and thereby prosecutable by the law and by extension the use of hacks, that ruins the experience of people, should also be illegal.

From what I've seen, cheaters get banned. They buy another account and keep coming back. Really?

Our experience with the coop element of gaming seems to be the only aspect of online gaming that hasn't been completely marred from hacking and cheaters. I guess this is why I promote coop based games and stay away from PVP type games.

Since we're at the end of the life cycle of the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, we're planning a bargain bin tour of older multiplayer games to explore together. I'd encourage your participation. It is sad that as of the time of this writing, I have only 6 people listed on my xbox 360 friend's list.

If' you're interesting in joining our rotation game tour on the PC, Xbox, or PS3 visit our site or add me to your steam, PS3, and xbox 360. My screen name is theurbanwatcher on all of those systems.

As for the hackers and cheaters, they will be around as long as they are allowed to operate and will continue to spend money to cheat. I'm happy to say while I may get angry when I encounter cheaters it happens infrequently.

Gaming Journal Entries

This is the portal for my game journal. In it I will blog about my nightly experiences with the Geezers, rants, raves, critiques about the gaming community at large, and more. I will try to keep it light so expect to see grown men being silly during our game nights mixed in with insightful (hopefully) observation, articles, and everything in between.

I want to establish a long term relationship with people, through my blog, so please feel free to leave a comment, critique, or recommendation.

Table of Contents

About Me

Newsletter #1

Upcoming Games

Rules to Surviving 7 Days to Die: Beginner's Guide

Alpha Release: 7 Days to Die Update #3

Alpha Release: 7 Days to Die Alpha Download Delays (Sunday) #2

Alpha Release: 7 Days to Die Alpha Download Delays #1

Alpha Release: 7 Days to Die Pre-release

Upcoming Games: 7 Days to Die

Game Articles (a little more on the serious side)

Think Tank: Are Gamers Lazy?

Leveling Up: Why Being a "Noob" Can Be a Good Thing

Felicia Day and My Photo Retake Quest

Graphic Cards, Gaming Performance, and Next Generation Consoles?

Urban's Complaint: Hackers and Cheaters

Boy and Girl Gamers

Game Night Journals

TheUrbanWatcher's Screaming (A Fair Warning)

 Screaming in War Z/ Infestation: Survivor Stories (Game Night Video Entry Included)

Screaming and Triumphs in Chivalry (Game Night Video Entry Included)

First Impression: Payday 2 Safehouse (Game Night Video Entry Included)

Other Geezer's on the Web

Many of the Geezers in Arms members promote gaming through Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and blogs. Many of them are quite good. For this reason,  I'd like to share with you some of my favorites for your viewing pleasure. Here's a list.

Table of Contents

Geezers in Arms Main Page

Wortdog's Youtube Channel

Kaz's TheGameHuntah Youtube Channel

PermaDeath's Twitch

I'm still in the process of setting up this blog properly so be patient with me as I add content and share my resources. I really want to establish a long term reading relationship so please check back.