Topics in Smash (1 of 3): A Defense of the Banning of Items and Common Misconceptions

Outline of this Video and its Major Points:
1. 1:21 Items are banned because they introduce a luck element that significantly influences the outcome of matches.
2. 3:48 The fact that items can be used skillfully does not erase the element of luck that items inevitably come with.
3. 6:48 A player is not automatically wrong just because he has an elitist attitude. Elitism is common among both competitive AND casual players.
4. 8:03 It is a misjudgment to say that either competitive rulesets or casual play is "not fun."
5. 9:56 It is illogical to equate "ease of use" with "imbalance." An easy to use tactic is not an unfair tactic. A tactic that not everyone has access to (like item explosions) is an unfair tactic.
6. 11:07 It is not valid to say that other character-intrinsic luck factors in this game have as significant an effect on the outcome of matches as item explosions.

History and Background to this Video Series:
In this 3 part video series, I discuss and elucidate the philosophy behind three of the most misunderstood and incorrectly judged elements of competitive Melee: why items are banned, why tiers must exist, and why wavedashing is fair.

My hope is that this link can be shared as a sort of video reference for purpose of correcting misguided understandings of competitive smash and perhaps of competition in general. I'm here to help. In this video I cover the essentials on why items are banned from competitive play.

First, some history. Two years ago I recorded a spur of the moment response video to a poster where I deconstructed his arguments and discussed two important issues of competitive smash: 1. tiers exist and 2. items banned.

This video was not thoroughly planned, and because it was a response to one specific user's arguments, it was by no means comprehensive. What this translates to is that the video I had recorded was not a complete defense for tiers and banned items in smash, but rather, it was only sufficient as a response to a single person.

But, in the comments section of that video, a lot of skeptics brought up arguments against my video. Every last one of them was adequately and logically refuted in the comments section, but it would be better on my part to create a video that covers the main points in the video itself and not the comments section, a video that addresses all players rather than one particular person's unique qualms with items.

Because I want to do this completely and comprehensively, I will record one video per topic. At the present, I have three videos planned: this video about items, another video about tiers, and one last video about wavedashing. I chose these issues because these are the three most misunderstood and misjudged issues in competitive smash, and I think they're well worth creating reference videos for.

Lastly, I apologize if I do not articulate well or if I speak to quickly. I'm not a big fan of the way I talk, especially my accent. In my head, I don't have an accent, but when I watch myself talk, I'm like, "Where did that accent come from?"

Category:

Education

Tags:

• melee
• ssbm
• banned
• items
• tiers
• wavedash
• brawl
• smash
• bros.
• Rice
• University
• gamefaqs
• falcon

[BlizzagaLantean]

I swear, when people argue so much for no items, calling me a scrub and all that shit, it really makes me feel alone in the universe and that I should stop playing Smash Bros. altogether because I hate being looked down upon by elitists.

[Slashtap3]

@BlizzagaLantean Oh? At what point in this video do I make an argument from authority in this video, be it taking the perspective of elitism or talking down the other side as "scrubby" to make a point? My case is airtight and irrefutable. Bringing up your personal experiences in no way addresses my points.

[zoidsmaniac]

I understand where you are coming from, and in a legitimate tournament, I can agree. This being said, I don't believe SSB is a "tournament" kind of game, especially when it's closer to a party game category than a fighter. Taking away the use of items, with some obvious exceptions like the fan, take away from the fun one can have in the game. Obviously this is pure opinion and some find it fun just to fight, but I still stand by what I say.

[Slashtap3]

@zoidsmaniac That is to say, whether Melee is a tournament worthy game or is only suitable as a party game is not a matter of opinion. It is a matter of seeing enough of the "picture," understanding the meta well enough to reach an informed and accurate conclusion.

[Slashtap3]

@zoidsmaniac Ok, you're talking about its created intent. In that case, that is correct. The smash series, unlike SF, was not programmed with tournament play in mind. However, intent means very little. For example, tennis wasn't invented with topspin in mind. Does topspin take away from the fun of tennis, or add to it? The alley-oop did not exist at basketball's inception, but no one takes that as a prescription to play basketball without it.

[Slashtap3]

@zoidsmaniac George Washington Carver introduced an additional 100+ applications for peanuts that were not originally anyone's intended use of the plant, and none would contend the benefits. With that said, how a game was intended to be played has no bearing on its actual quality. In the 3 examples I gave, man's nature is to explore the depths of knowledge in all things. Melee is just another, and thus there is a heavy case for why playing it deeply is loyal to the inherent concept of fun.

[GCLU]

@BlizzagaLantean

If you wish to find nice (but competitive) people, I recommend Allisbrawl. Most really good people ply there. The free-play is nice and relaxed while the ladder is quite competitive.

[BlizzagaLantean]

@GCLU Dude, don't get me started on Wifi players. Not only is it hard enough to actually get into a Wifi battle these days, but when you do, chances are that it will be a bunch of assholes who just stand around and duck up and down the entire match.

[GCLU]

@BlizzagaLantean

Elitist smashers. like whom? If it was wifi players, people tend to be asses. Offline, 90-95% of good people are actually nice people.

[thepsychoripper]

I must say, you explain this with excellence. great video.

[BlizzagaLantean]

@Slashtap3 I apologize man. I was feeling very down when I wrote that and wasn't addressing you specifically. It's just that I've had a lot of bad run-ins with elitist Smashers.

[2piecess]

@zoidsmaniac "basic game play" All i have to say is please learn this game before you remotely say anything like that. since when is taking away fun from a game, even remotely related to the fact that it is tournament viable? leaving the game up to chance maybe fun to you, but most tournament scenes for any games arent made for happy go lucky noobs. its made for people NOT joking around lol

[DayLaMike]

I like this even though I knew most of this I felt like I just got taught good stuff. It's really annoying to have to keep explaining these misconceptions to casual players who are trying to make a point. I hope more people can see this soon.

I lol'd at the brawl crack...I would find myself in agreement with that statement. I only use brawl for hacks like minus and (hopefully released soon) Project M.

[zoidsmaniac]

@Slashtap3 I'm not really talking about it's created intent. Now that I looked over my comment I worded it pretty badly. When I said "supposed to be one," it wasn't about what Nintendo made the game for, but more so reflecting my view. I'll try and say it differently: I don't view Smash as a competitive game because of the basic gameplay. When you look at how it's commonly played, it's more about just screwing around. It can be changed for tourney play, but I've said my feelings on that.