For this article I will be drawing the similarities between Video gaming and the Pick-up game. As a reference for this post I will be using the Mystery Method (Pick-up Artist) to draw my conclusions. This one I found pretty fun to dive into being that I love games, and I was interested to find a scarlet thread between the two. It is interesting to find that so many gamers are identified as social failures. I think that is in part the fault of us gamers. In this post I will try to show you that if used correctly, and with a changed outlook that the same skills you use to beat video games are the very same when playing “The Game.”

I will be focusing on these areas:

Part 1.

• Opening
• Selecting right difficulty
• Tutorials, Manuals, Walk-throughs, Oh my!!
• Equipment
• Option select

Part 2.

• Know your strengths and weaknesses
• Skill train
• Know your opponents weaknesses
• Don’t over kill
• There is no reset, or is there…

Opening

Most of us that are into gaming know very well how important a opening cinematic is for a new game you just bought. Most (that I know) don’t skip it and jump into the game. They watch it with great anticipation as a little of the game is reviled in that small time. I would say in the same way if you are in a public setting (coffee shop, club, etc.), and wanting to play “The Game” it’s a good idea to take in a little of the environment. Work it a little. See who the “main characters” are, and take some time to check to see how people interact. If you found someone interesting also watch them (not stalker like) to see how they interact. A good amount of info could be gathered in that small amount of time. The mystery method offers 3 points in this process when you’re ready to move.

3 Second Rule
When you’re ready to move or are noticed MOVE! You don’t wanna seem like a freak.

Convey minimal interest in approach
Don’t walk up straight up on the target, but rather an angle between 45 and 90 degrees (as I have said about dancing don’t approach from behind). You want to be non-threatening on approach.

Smile on the approach
Easy to understand (or rather I hope this one is)

Selecting right difficulty

For a lot of us when we get a new game that we’re not familiar with, and it comes time to select difficulty most don’t choose the “GOD HATES YOU AND YOU’LL DIE WITH ONE TOUCH MODE!!!!!!” No most of us would choose NORMAL, or dare I say it EASY MODE. We become accustom to the game or even beat said mode before we jump to the next. When playing “The Game” the same should apply. You don’t run into a mob of level 60 monsters when you can barely deal with one. I’m not saying drop your standards and try to pick-up what you don’t want, but don’t pull agro on mobs you can’t handle.

Tutorials, Manuals, Walk-throughs, Oh my!!

So the release of the new game you wanted just came in and you were notified to come and pick it up. When you arrive to buy the game before check out they ask you an important question, “Do you want the guide with that?” As we know most of the time the answer something close to: “No, I won’t need it”, or “I can beat it without cheating.” So you get well into your game and a puzzle out of the lakes of HELL comes up and you are now stuck. You may even say to yourself, “I wish I’d bought the guide.” Then you try with all your might to get through it on your own and all that results from it is: FAIL, FAIL, and FAIL!! At some point you swallow your pride and look it up online. You find yourself feeling pretty dumb when you find out it was “THAT SIMPLE!! I didn’t even think about that!!” At some point in life we all need a little guide to get us through. So as I am using some of his material I recommend you check out Pick Up Artist Book. You’d be amazed what you could learn.

Equipment

To anyone that plays RPGs or the like you should know how important equipment is in the progression of any game. Some people spend hours, and days in games to get the gear they need/want. Also if the game has the options for customization, then people will try their best to make sure that they’re character/avatar looks different, unique, and EPIC! To my game playing guys out there, I find it very sad that we can spend hours/days to get the right look for our virtual selves, but never a second on our own look/style IRL. If you think it matters in game then think how much more in real life. In the Mystery Method this is called: “peacocking,” which is dressing to stand out, or to have an item of clothing or an accessory that looks interesting. Allowing the girl to comment on it if she is interested in starting a conversation with you and “cat-string theory” which means keeping women engaged just enough to hold her attention. (Definition taken from wiki)

Option Select

In a lot of games now the innovative thing to do is to give power of the story to the player in the form of conversational options. Most that have played these types of games know that they need their character to respond the right way in order to get the desired result. It’s no different in real life. In the Mystery Method he teaches you how to do just that. When you go into a “set” you have to have a way to open said “set.” So learning how to start a conversation is paramount. One must have a small arsenal of openers (not pick up lines) if he plans to even have a chance of talking and not getting shut out. Another big thing to learn is “DHV (Demonstrating Higher Value) spikes” Which is both Active, and passive, Verbal and Action based. You say a small something about yourself to look like someone worth knowing. Not in a boastful “I’M AWESOME AND YOU WOULD BE AWESOME WITH ME” way. I say in action also because if you DHV as a gentleman, then make sure to show that kind of action (no need to be seen as a liar). Everyone has a story and learning how to accurately articulate your story could very well lead you to the “good” ending you were looking for. Lastly for this section is “NEGs.” A neg is a technique to lower a targets defense with a small joke directed at them, or something about them. (def from www.fastseduction.com and myself) As fastsecuction.com puts it, “it is a seemingly innocent comment that pokes a hole in her ‘balloon of perfection’.” Here’s an example they provide:

“Your nose wiggles when you talk! … It’s so cute! … Look at it! There it goes again!”

Once again not mean. Also remember to stay straight faced as if you don’t know you’re slightly offending. In games where such options are given you know that there are major differences in the way you have your character interact with the others. Same applies, learn the person and select the option that best fits.

That’s all for this week remember this will be a two part post so be ready for the continuation of the largest amounts of video game puns you have ever seen…lol READY UP!!