Video games and poker, the benefits and the dangers.
I've mentionned this on RGP before, but never really expounded on my thoughts. I feel that I have had a big advantage, growing up in the video game world, in that I am much more easily able to completely ignore the monetary reprecussions of losses, simply because the number on the screen is simply a score. The goal in poker, as in most video games, is simply to get the highest score possible. It sounds so simple, yet I notice that few people can effectively put it into practice. I don't know if it is a skill that can be learned, or one that is naturally honed after years and years of game playing.
I notice a similar attitude when it comes to driving. I played lots of driving games as a child, and I truly believe that they helped prepare me for the real thing. I never had any major difficulties learning how to drive, nor do high speeds affect me at all. I've never been in an accident, and the few times where I have begun to lose control on the wet/icy roads, I know instinctively how to regain control.
There are, however, a few problems that come with the benefits. With the driving thing, I have always had a certain nonchalance about high speeds. Driving 100+ mph is no big deal to me, on the right roads. The police, however, do not see things in the same light :)
In online poker, if you lose all your money, the words "game over" come to mind. The problem is that "game over" does not have a big deterrent effect in the video game world.
"Damn, game over? I guess I'll play again." Not so easy when it costs a significant amount of money to play again. This also does not help me when I play live, as the cards, the chips have more tangible values. I know that I need cash to buy more chips if I run out. Losses always hit closer to home.
Finally, tournament play combined with a video game background has conditionned me to not fear going broke nearly as much as the average person. So what if I go broke? It's just game over! The problem with this benefit is that it can spill over into cash game play, where there is a good reason to fear going broke.
Anyone else feel the same way?
Ramblingly yours,
Fell
I notice a similar attitude when it comes to driving. I played lots of driving games as a child, and I truly believe that they helped prepare me for the real thing. I never had any major difficulties learning how to drive, nor do high speeds affect me at all. I've never been in an accident, and the few times where I have begun to lose control on the wet/icy roads, I know instinctively how to regain control.
There are, however, a few problems that come with the benefits. With the driving thing, I have always had a certain nonchalance about high speeds. Driving 100+ mph is no big deal to me, on the right roads. The police, however, do not see things in the same light :)
In online poker, if you lose all your money, the words "game over" come to mind. The problem is that "game over" does not have a big deterrent effect in the video game world.
"Damn, game over? I guess I'll play again." Not so easy when it costs a significant amount of money to play again. This also does not help me when I play live, as the cards, the chips have more tangible values. I know that I need cash to buy more chips if I run out. Losses always hit closer to home.
Finally, tournament play combined with a video game background has conditionned me to not fear going broke nearly as much as the average person. So what if I go broke? It's just game over! The problem with this benefit is that it can spill over into cash game play, where there is a good reason to fear going broke.
Anyone else feel the same way?
Ramblingly yours,
Fell
posted by FellKnight at 9:48 AM
4 Comments:
Hey Fell!
I've always felt like that is one of the reasons there are so many poor players at the lower limits. It's like a video game to them and they don't really care to go broke. In actuality online poker IS a video game, just an expensive one to lose at.
Now if I could just find those cheat codes... what was it, up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a, b, a, start??
..I've been feeling the pains of allowing a similar mentality to spill over into both my cash game and tourney game lately...
The last month + has really been harsh on me. I had accustomed myself to comfortable, consistant winnings for awhile before, ran bad and just kind of didn't think enough about it. I expected my play to win back my losses for me almost automatically and easily -- placing high expectations on myself, and when I continued to run bad - I Didn't make the correct bank roll adjustments... mentality, or expectation adjustments, and hurt myself pretty good.. I'd lose a buy-in, just toss it back in knowing I had it, and continue at that limit somewhat tilting, in the wrong mind state, just expecting it to turn around automatically... Well we live and learn I guess.. Working my way back up again and all and all am happy for the experience. : ).
Hey Fell, You believe positive mental conditioning impacts your game? .. Thinking, Being + that is ..
Absolutely. It is like night and day, the differences in my game when I am rested, and pumped up to play, as when I am not. I am not good enough to win at my limits on autopilot. Alertness must be maintained at all times. I am much better since I realized this a couple months ago.
Fell
I think that the video game analogy may me part of it...I also think a big part of it is younger players that still live at home whom never have learned the value of money. I think the latter part leads to many problem losers for every whiz-kid winner that you hear about.
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