Fireworks and perfectionism DON'T mix!

[AllisonY2K]

Today, just like yesterday and perhaps the day before, I quit more games of fireworks than I played completely.

I think I am obsessed with getting to 280K for the green car. Tonight I got to 276K, but I digress.

I have a sheet here that lists a good score to have at the end of each level in order to make it to 280K. At the end of each round, if I am not at or above that score (or within 1K of it), I'll quit the game. No "I'll just go for 240K then". No "well this will be good practice". I just quit the game, go back to the lobby, and join another game to try it all over again.

Let's see, one time I quit during round 1 because I missed 2 fireworks in a row. another time I quit because I scored 42K, instead of being around 44,5K. Um, another time I quit round 2 because I hit the wrong key and instead of going ahead a firework I went back a firework and scored "ok" on a few where I should have got a 'flawless' so I quit the game then.

Sometimes I'll stick it out to the half way point. If I don't have 144,5K by the end of round 3, I'll quit the game. Some times I'll have 143K. Usually then is when I just give up on the game and just go for 240K instead of quitting.

I tell ya, quitting because of a screw up is taxing!! I'll curse myself or start talking down to (or insulting) myself because I missed a few easy fireworks. The term 'idiot' will be tossed around a few times as I curse my screw ups.

If/when I do stick it out, if I am around 206K at the end of round 4 I know I won't get close to 280K so I just aim for 240K and stop once I get that far. The only time I try to 'go for the gold' (so to speak) is if I finish the round (4) above 210K. part of me thinks that I still have a chance at that point, although the best I've done is in the 275-276K range.

so to make a looooong story short and personal:

Does anyone else get cursed by their perfectionism and the game fireworks?!
(I even take medication to be more relaxed and laid back! maybe it's time to up the dosage..lol)

p.s. don't ever tell a perfectionist to try and get 'flawless' as much as possible because we'll go crazy trying to!

 

[AmberDaze]

OMG!! I went through a period like this last month!! It was just after I got my green car -- I don't think I quit as many games as you though. But I'll tell you...when I've reached scores above 280,000, it really does feel bad to get anything less. But I'm over the quitting phase. If I'm having a bad game, I will usually stop at 240,000, unless I'm having a friendly game with a friend.

 

[AllisonY2K]

funny you should reply, one of the games I tried to finish good (I think that was the 276K game) was the one where you and I were in 1st or 2nd place the entire game.

I remember seeing your name here, so when I saw you in VMK I didn't want you to think that I couldn't play the game well. lol

 

[AmberDaze]

funny you should reply, one of the games I tried to finish good (I think that was the 276K game) was the one where you and I were in 1st or 2nd place the entire game.

I remember seeing your name here, so when I saw you in VMK I didn't want you to think that I couldn't play the game well. lol

ROFL Well, funny YOU should say that! I did notice you in that game. And usually...if I notice someone from DIS, I may continue the game even though I know I won't make 280...but it depends on how bad my game is.

 

[Coasterguy]

ROFL Well, funny YOU should say that! I did notice you in that game. And usually...if I notice someone from DIS, I may continue the game even though I know I won't make 280...but it depends on how bad my game is.

Kicked my ### tonight, 282 to by 262. I got 272 the next game and of course you weren't playing.

 

[PirateDaisy]

Oh Allison you are far from being alone. I think all of us with fireworks/green car obsessions have gone through that phase or are going through it. Most of the reasons you quit are reasons why I may quit a game as well, especially two fireworks in a row.

Another reason I quit; there will be some games where I wait to the tinsy last second to explode and it gives me a flawless of 970 or so when I believe it was most definitely a 1000. Those games I feel as if they will end up scoring you less than you actually do, so I quit. Miraculously the next game will be right on and it makes me feel better that the game is at fault some of the times. But that never stops me from hitting myself or yelling out a word or two. Especially when my cat walks with her tail high up in front of my monitor when a huge cluster of fireworks is going by! Ah!!! I am being a bit more consistent with my scores but I have yet to master that last set of fireworks. I just can't seem to get that right. You'll get there!

LOL You're not alone!

 

[Loves Disney]

That was me when I cared about the green car quest!

I think I go through phases of the green car quest when during this period of time I get hooked on trying to beat it and, I too, quit the games I knew I wasn't going to get it! Then...there is the period of time where I simply couldn't care less of the quest and I play for sheer fun of the game.

I agree, perfectionism in the fireworks game is taxing!! Especially when you find yourself going back to it like an addicting drug! heh.

I got 280K once in fireworks...keyword there, "once". Sadly it was the week before the quest was released too. Ever since I reached that high I kept telling myself that if was able to get there once, I must still know how to get there without a map! Ah well...

 

[AmberDaze]

Kicked my ### tonight, 282 to by 262. I got 272 the next game and of course you weren't playing.

Oh, I guess you saw me... Hey, anytime you're up for a game, just let me know!

 

[Beherenow]

Sweetlikeapeach~
I totally know where you are coming from. A few weeks before I got my green car, it seemed like I could never finish a complete fireworks game. If I was having an off day, I would play the first level back-to-back and drop out at least a dozen times. Playing like that, you don't get any credits, but does not waste your time on a throw-away game. At times I felt bad about cutting out on the other players, but then again I was giving someone else a chance to place in the game. Keep at it, with a score of 276K you will reach your goal in no time. I see you in the fireworks game often and do consider you one of the better players.

BTW, some of my best games I scored 44K in the first round.

 

[Laurabearz]

I can honestly say I have not played fireworks for at least a month... I hit 272..... and really havent played much since....

Oh wait.. I did try a couple of times early this moon but I couldnt break 40,000 on the first level and I got kicked out around level 3 or 4....

But since Pirates is irratiting me these days, and ghosts is kinda boring.... I think I might try and give fireworks anohter shot... Heck even Bug can break 240,000 now....

 

[Kasiks]

When I had my playing time "I want to reach 270K", I stopped a lot of fireworks in the first stage, if I was not playing that well ...

But now since I got the 270K, I dont care and the 280K will come when it will come. I am not looking for it although I would like to improve my score at level 5:2 & 5:3

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I just wish that I could get that high.

I was in a few games last night that even though I was having a couple of my best games ever, I was kicked out at the end of level 3 due to all the really good players. I noticed that I was in a couple of those with A-Days.

I finally managed to get into a game with a few mediocre players and finally got my 240k just once last night.

Hopefully, next month I'll have more of a chance at getting credits next month.

 

[Laurabearz]

Well I tried to play a game.... got booted out after the SECOND level!!!! OH my there aer some mighty good players that play in the mornings. I will try again when all the kids get off from school... maybe then I will have a chance for 150 credits

 

[DemonLlama]

If I'm having a bad game, I will usually stop at 240,000, unless I'm having a friendly game with a friend.

Oh, and WHO might that be?

 

[AmberDaze]

Oh, and WHO might that be?

Hmmmmmmmmmm......uh......

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I think the green car quest comes with a curse like that stupid tiki idol in The Brady Bunch's Hawaii episode.

Today I had the absolute worst fireworks day since I was first able to get over 240,000 every game. The game kept freezing on me or booting me out even though my score was in the top, but those weren't the only problems, or even the biggest problems. Oh no. I suddenly found myself struggling not to miss a firework in the first round. Most of the times it was struggling not to miss 4 fireworks in the first round. I've never had that much trouble! First time I played I had over 44,000 that round. Best score I managed today was 272-something, I think. Besides that and a 270-something game, I quit about 30 games after the first round (something I never do...) and sandbagged on the 10 or so others that I completed because I wouldn't have gotten much over 250,000 anyway. I think my biggest problem was that I was aware of my score the whole time. I think I need to just plain forget I'm on that quest, if that's possible.

My problem too is that last two flurries of fireworks at the very end of the last stage of Level 5 is not something I can rely on. I've had as much as 255,000 going into that last stage, and I still only got around 278,600. My computer just freezes when I click the first time when they're all going up at the end; how many points I get then is complete luck because it stays frozen and I just keep clicking, hoping something registers. It's always been this way for me, so I have to rely on the other levels and stages. If I screw up in them, I'm finished. *sigh* Back at it tomorrow, I suppose.

 

[schnerk]

Yeah, I totally know what you are talking about. I have pretty much given up on the elusive green car. I worked for about 2 months and topped out in the 260 - 265 k range. Great for credits, but bad for my stress level.

Since then, I have switched almost exclusively to pirates. I can make more credits and relieve stress by shooting things instead of building it.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Yeah, I totally know what you are talking about. I have pretty much given up on the elusive green car. I worked for about 2 months and topped out in the 260 - 265 k range. Great for credits, but bad for my stress level.

Since then, I have switched almost exclusively to pirates. I can make more credits and relieve stress by shooting things instead of building it.

For me, pirates causes more stress since I always seem to get those that can't play worth a darn on my team. I end up losing the game more than half the time and either not getting very many credits or even not getting any at all.
In Haunted Mansion, I always seem to get those that don't know how to play, won't or can't play or just plain quit on the opposite team. So I end up not getting very many credits there either.
In JC, I've been having trouble getting top 10 scores since they changed it and people seem to have to do their absolute best early in the day and refuse to allow others a chance at top 10.

So, right now, I'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to trying to get credits. I have to just grit my teeth, buy all the stuff I need to and go almost broke until hopefully next month. Luckily, this month is almost over. But, I do expect the really good players to be playing for the first few days of the month to rebuild credits spent.

 

[schnerk]

In JC, I've been having trouble getting top 10 scores since they changed it and people seem to have to do their absolute best early in the day and refuse to allow others a chance at top 10.

Yeah, I used to be able to get a top 10 on JC whenever I wanted to take the time to play, but lately, I can't crack it. Oh well...

 

[Laurabearz]

In JC, I've been having trouble getting top 10 scores since they changed it and people seem to have to do their absolute best early in the day and refuse to allow others a chance at top 10.
.

Yeah why do the experts in jungle feel the need to play right at opening... those folks could get top ten scores even at the end of the day if they wanted to, yet 30 minutes after VMK opens the top slots are filled with 60,000 plus scores....