[TC_Halogen]

To the OP of this thread: all of the players that have reached a level of skill beyond comprehension certainly started far below that, and a certain level of dedication brought them higher and higher in skill to the point that they are now.

Here's what I currently think:

Definition: Worse than locked content: It means content that is locked for some, but not for others, and some can't unlock it. Then it's just like locked content is on other games, but worse, because you know some other people got it unlocked.

Tokens and especially skill tokens are just so bad that they ruin the entire game. I know most of you don't seem to think that's the case, so maybe you could enlighten me with how you manage to think of things that way.

First off, content is not locked for some and not others under any circumstance -- it's locked for everyone and then -unlocked- by players that have the skill to do so. There is a clear difference between that and what you have said, because you are implying that some tokens physically can't be unlocked; they all can be unlocked, but some tokens take an enormity of dedication to get (Pianocore, Here We Go, Token Whore, etc).

Here are the problems with them:

1. First, and although obvious, still important: That some players can't play certain songs. Maybe not a big deal to some, but there's one song I think sounds just so beautiful and I'll never get to play it so this isn't a small point.

The mentality of "I'll never get to play" means that you have outright quit on your efforts to get it. Just because the requirement is incredibly difficult and strict does not mean that you will never get it, but it will require a large amount of effort for you to progress from where you are now to the point from where you can unlock the song. The same holds true for others, and did hold true for everyone who has played this game. Everyone who played any game like this started absolutely terrible in skill. Some might have had music-related advantages (playing percussion/piano/etc. and making a connection with visually noted rhythms by color certainly made the skill curve of this game a bit easier to take).

2. The social disconnect. I don't feel on the same ground on the forums as the players that have the really hard skill tokens. It's an extra way they can connect but I can't, and although I've added a bunch of them to my ignore list, it still just seems so annoying all the time. As it stands now, I would rather just try to stay away from them. And they like their little elite group so that they'll defend the tokens, and seeing that they probably make the majority of the posts around here since most of the weaker players have already had enough of the worse than locked content and quit. As such, the tokens are probably not going away.

There are so MANY things about this post that I dislike, and it is quite unbelievable to say the least. You admitting to ignoring players that have busted their butts to unlock the elite tokens is insane. We're not defending the tokens because we're part of an elite group, we're defending the tokens because those tokens are intended to be difficult to unlock. If the game is full of easily attainable tokens, what does that do for the higher level players that need a challenge once in a while? If anything, you're actually the one with the elitist attitude, because you are trying to a.) say that the larger players are part of this elite group defending a group of tokens that most of us at this point, probably don't care about having and b.) imply that lower level players have had enough of the worse than locked content and quit. There is plenty of excellent content in game that isn't locked, but in your scenario, it seems like you have to go out of your way to enjoy it. It isn't the other group of players' fault that you have incredibly picky tastes.

3. The difficulty. No, not what you likely think. What I mean is that, in my rating of video games, this used to have the best possible rating. Why? Because you could just play songs of any level and have fun with them. Now, it's the worst possible difficulty level where it's ridiculously hard to unlock too many things. I have played tons of other games, and absolutely none of the other ones have anything nearly as hard to unlock as this game does. So, in this category, IMO, this game might even be dead last among all games ever made.

This statement is beyond opinionated, and is downright ridiculous.

4. The target audience and its implications. Back in the old days, I had played this game more than anyone else. I thought it was one of the most fun games ever made and it was made so that the highly dedicated fans like myself could really enjoy it. But now look. It's clearly catering to the very best players as the target audience. So, the staff, or some subset of it, hates all non-elite players. That's probably not the case, but that's how it comes across to me.

You know what -- this comment, BEYOND all things, absolutely drives me up of the wall. I'm going to play the narcissist for a split-second just to make a point -- there's no doubt in my mind that I'm a super-top-tier player; I've AAA'd two different level 93 files. I am also the person responsible for coordinating site events. The second most recent event that I ran (May-hem) went on for a full month, starting with challenges like this:

Challenges:
- Get over 86 perfects on Pita.
Reward: 10 credits



- Obtain a FC (Full Combo) on Power with less than 5 boos.
Reward: 20 credits


- Obtain a AAA (100% perfect judgments) on Free Space.
Reward: 30 credits


- Obtain a FC (Full Combo) on Finding a Way with less than 20 boos.
Reward: 45 credits

If you can, in your right mind, tell me that this is elite level, then there is absolutely something wrong. Among everything that you have said, this point is by far the most disrespectful thing you could have possibly said, not only to everyone who happens to exist in that level of the community, but also to those who actually contribute content catered to players at this level. At this point, it is 100% just seeming like you are an overspent player that wants to go back to the times where the game was less significant in terms of quality and structure. If it seems like I'm upset, it's because this really struck a bad chord with me.

5. The psychology effects on playing the game. I just feel like I can't enjoy the game anymore because of the above. I also feel like I don't have the determination to play it very good anymore.

This seems like the root of all of your problems. You cannot sit here and make these kinds of complaints while saying that you don't have the determination to improve. Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds to those who started from the bottom and worked their way to the top? There are a number of players that went from lowly-D1 players to mid/high-level players (D4+) in a short span because they had the will to push through the game as hard as they did. I can name a ton of players that didn't quit and reaped the benefits.

After all that, is there any way I can hope to get back to actually thinking this game is good again? The game is just so fun I want to have a way that I can keep liking it, but I don't think there is one. I think I'm going to move on to better games soon unless there's something I just haven't thought of.

I...don't understand this part, above all. You say the game is fun, but you... don't like it.

I'm through with what I need to say -- I don't think I can reiterate anything more than everyone else has.