Question for the sm elites!

[blindreper1179]

That means anyone that has posted a seriously amazing score where the thread is just a bunch of O_o.

I've been playing for about 6/7 years now, and yes, I have become better over that time, but I plateaued about 3/4 years ago. New people surpassing me easy, old people getting better. Besides the obvious answer practice, because I do. Too much without any excelling. Any other tips? What did you do to acquire your current setup? I play the ranges of simfiles, but I guess suggestions on what to play? When I started playing sm, I played full screen/times rates/overhead/note using a,s,4,6. Now I play (just switched to nonfullscreen like 2 weeks ago)/c900/orbular/distant using t,g,k,m. I've tried many varieties over the years, but I've become stumped and stuck. I know not all sm players play ffr, but I've been d4 since I first joined an official tournament. I think that was number 3? Maybe 4?

Also, I like to mention, I know it's a game, and I do have fun playing it, but this plateau I'm on is killing it for me.


Thanks for your time if you comment. =)

[who_cares973]

Treat step mania like a sport. Work out your finger/arms like you would any other muscle and see the improvement

It worked for me

[TwistedPhoenix]

Well, I'm not an elite yet, but I'm getting there, and what really helps me get better is playing a song that I really enjoy. I rock to the beat and can generally go faster and be more accurate, and after doing that for a bit I start being able to play harder stuff.

[EzExZeRo7497]

Playing something right above your skill level kinda works.

[SasHiiiii]

No pain = No improvement

At least for me... Give everything you have and don't be a sissy during your song selection by saying "ohhh, this might be too hard... I'll pick another song". You won't improve with that attitude

[blindreper1179]

Thanks guys, keep them coming!

[samurai7694]

Originally Posted by who_cares973

Treat step mania like a sport. Work out your finger/arms like you would any other muscle and see the improvement

It worked for me

Originally Posted by EzExZeRo7497

Playing something right above your skill level kinda works.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ yup.

and if you want to see your TRU EM EY, play a higher judge. the harder timing window helps you overtime and forces you to hit right when the notes go on the receptors, so stick with that for a while and then come back to judge 4 after a week or two if you're super dedicated to improve. work hard for it! also, overtime I increase my cmod by 25 because I want to be able to read dense patterns/bursts that I couldn't read before, and the higher the cmod the better (also I use distant). changing key setup MIGHT also help too, but that's up to you

my advice: get our of your comfort zone

[AlexDest]

My word of advice, confidence.

Usually you just got push your limit and play files that are a feasible challenge for you, then watch the skill boosts come by. Whenever you have problems with a certain pattern or part of a stepfile, always go at it with confidence. Never think about screwing up before it comes by, then it'll be inevitable to happen.

Oh, and don't forget to experiment with a setup that's right for you. Had a setup 2 years ago involving C1000-1150, hallway, and orbular. Which really blocked my reading skill and put a block in skill boosting for me. Recently switching to C775, overhead, and note turned that around.

[Winrar]

What I tend to do is constantly practice files with patterns that you suck at.

[i love you]

Originally Posted by who_cares973

Treat step mania like a sport. Work out your finger/arms like you would any other muscle and see the improvement

It worked for me

Originally Posted by EzExZeRo7497

Playing something right above your skill level kinda works.

I agree with both. I would like to add that it also depends on your physical limit in one hand trilling. I have tried so many crazy ways to improve my skill and from experience training on SM for over 5 years, I have noticed that people who can one hand trill really fast (240 BPM and higher) have a much better chance of becoming a really fast speed player. The reason why I believe this is that most harder/dump files contains a lot of awkward patterns which means that it will have a lot of one-hand oriented patterns making it "feel" awkward to most users. (a.k.a pattern flexibility).

HOWEVER..for those players who can control their one hand trilling really well no matter how fast they go can also become good speed player AND a really good MA player. Another thing I would like to add is to practice on your weaknesses. If you suck at jacks then play files with plenty of them. If you suck at JS then play JS files etc...

[EAGAMES]

Try playing on intense rates until you get brain shocked and you feel pain and a burning sensation in your arms/hands. Take a break, then decrease the rates and go for score.

Obviously, you'll figure out the most effective method of training for yourself, but keep a positive, determined attitude and like it was previously stated, 'no pain, no gain'. BRAIN SHOCKED!!!

[danny53x]

What's the verdict on distant/overhead? I'm sort of used to distant right now.

[EzExZeRo7497]

I used to use C1060, Distant which really blocked my skill. After a break I came back and switched to Overhead and had a massive skill boost, so...

[leonid]

Playing bms since 1998 worked for me

[AlexDest]

BEMANI TOPRANKER

[Winrar]

Find a goal on songs that you want to reach.
ex. sdcb/g a song that you like, but on rates. Your fingers and arms will feel the burn.

[HST]

1) Set goals that are barely within reach.
2) Reach that goal.
3) Repeat.

Point is to constantly challenge yourself. You have to mix "flow" (things you are comfortable playing and require next to no effort to achieve) with deliberate practice (stuff where you are constantly struggling and require more effort but end up stretching your skill).

[kommisar]

have rivals that push you to get better scores.


I feel like that every time gundam-dude posts

[xferrarix]

i'm no elite but i used to play a lot

how i would get better would be to continuously play a file with patterns i can't do, like yessss' almost there edit (24ths and 16ths ***** wut). then i'd put the file at .8x, try out the patterns a few times, then put it at 1x. i'd do that with nearly every file

it's really about figuring out what you suck at and what you're already good at, then improving what you suck at and becoming amazing at what you're good at

[Herogashix]

Thread directed at elites, bunch of noobs like leonid post (jk man)

Just play Otaku's Dream Anime Mix songs on rates and you'll get the feel for what you're doing. Once you're able to sup your 1.0 score on 1.2 or something, then you're improving. Just keep doing what everyone else says also.