*Warning- This will be long read

I am posting this as I am hoping that some of the 500k players (or at least the 480+) still read this. I like alot of other people bought this game on release, played it for a while, realised how terrible I was and stopped playing. That was until a couple of months ago when I seen a 500k run on YouTube and realised what I was doing wrong and why I wasn't going anywhere near the top scores. Using those techniques I got my score up pretty quickly from the 275k to 350k mark..It took me a while to break 400k, but now I seem to do it fairly regularly.

This is the part where I am realising what an epic score 500k really is in this game. The videos can be a little deceiving for a beginner as it looks like that they have the same set path for every run they do, while I now realise they have a set path, its not always possible to do it the same way so alternatives are very important.

 I have pretty much studied every high scoring run that is on YouTube and have found that the Japanese players definitely have a different style to the American players. The Japanese players all start left to right (as I do too), while all the U.S players go right to left. The Japanese players tend to stick to a set run alot more, and their runs often look alot cleaner especially the 542k run, it was perfect as far as no hesitations go. I don't want the U.S players to think this is critiscism because its not at all, it just seems that the U.S guys tend to pull off alot more amazing escapes in their runs, which are always impressive to watch.

This game to me has gotten painfully addictive. If I am playing well and feel that I can break my high score I will play for hours on end. Sometimes the best thing for me is to start playing, have a few bad runs, get frustrated and stop, but when I feel like I am in good enough form to beat my score, I find it extremely hard to put down. This is my first question for anyone that can answer. How many hours a day were you putting into this game to get 500k?? Is their too much?? That damn intro tune repeats over in my head at random times lol, its so strange. All my others games barely get looked at because I have become so obsessed with this.

This is really my biggest question. How long were you playing before you broke 500k? I am just starting to get to the point of being able to set up my key stages consistently,but still have alot of trouble getting all four in to the centre. When I am on a good run I am always reluctant to take the gamble in setting up the candys so I know I will have to learn this part too. At first I was doing the "deliberate" death before the keys but realise now how valuable that time is at the end so I have been practicing setups alot (with mixed results lol). I was beginning to think to myself that I couldn't do it (500k) but after hitting my current high 441k, I felt for the first time that it was actually possible. While I wouldn't have scored 500k on that run, I made the mistake of peeking at the score while doing the final energizers. I was on 415 with 4 energizers still to go and has all four ghosts boxed in, but seeing the score I panicked, got nervous and blew it completely. I just know from that when I iron out those little mistakes in my run the really high scores will come.

I have also come to realise while the orange ghost is probably the least likely to make a direct attack at you, he is easily the cause for alot of my mistakes. His unpredictability causes alot of hesitations often leading to an unexpected death later on, from throwing your run out of sync.

I guess I am just looking for a little advice and maybe a little pep talk here, because I want that 500k score so bad.

Also here is a link to a thread where I make my declaration of trying to be the first Australian to score 500k which I posted on the Aussie xbox forums. Take note that I wrote that a couple of months ago, so my knowledge of the game has greatly increased, as after reading some of what I wrote there are a few inaccuracies.



http://forums.xbox.com/26914226/ShowPost.aspx

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"You have the Platinum medal...You know, it just might be an actual crime to ride that well"-Trials HD

Hey, great job at boosting your score!

My PR is 514K...which I still think is in the top ten....

To your first question:  I found that, regardless of how good you're feeling, your best game of the sitting will happen within the first 3 or 4 tries.  It is DEFINATELY addicting and you keep thinking "just one more...its only five minutes."  I can't tell you how many "five more minutes" turned into several hours with nothing to show for it.  If you need to keep playing, go take frequent breaks....away from the console.....to recharge and come back at it with a fresh prespective.

From the first time I played CE in the finals in NYC to the time I broke 500K was about 8-10 months:

http://forums.xbox.com/19955709/ShowPost.aspx

So it definately took me awhile.  The youtube videos are telling and DO make it easier for players to boost their scores nowadays, but they are somewhat deceiving as you already know.  What I tended to do was record clips of my gameplay.  Not of the whole game at first but just up to the part where my game fell apart.  I would then use my break time (which I referred to in my last paragraph) to study the clip and note what other alernatives I had and try those out in my next game.  In many cases I would play knowing that it was more for experimentation and study versus actually going for a high score.

The only other advice I'd suggest for setting up the key and candy levels:  Try to use the last one or two energizers from the previous levels to get the ghosts grouped at or near center....it increases your chance to "hit the ground chomping" when those critical ghost-hunting levels begin.

Good Luck!

Hey there Pacmantab!! I see your name alot in the comments on the various YouTube vids I have studied. Its obvious you love this game (and arcade gaming in general) and that you know what you are on about. 514k is a VERY IMPRESSIVE score!! I will bold parts of your reply and give my reply that way. It makes it alot clearer.

To your first question:  I found that, regardless of how good you're feeling, your best game of the sitting will happen within the first 3 or 4 tries.  It is DEFINATELY addicting and you keep thinking "just one more...its only five minutes."  I can't tell you how many "five more minutes" turned into several hours with nothing to show for it.  If you need to keep playing, go take frequent breaks....away from the console.....to recharge and come back at it with a fresh prespective.

I sort of had a little smile on my face while reading this because it perfectly summed up my Pacman time yesterday.
The first game I played I pull out a 445k, only 7k away from my new high 452K which I set a few days ago. That first high score was the worst thing that could have happened to me, as I spend the next 4 hours telling myself I was going to do it, because of my first amazing run. I only broke 400k about 5 times and had one other run of 425k, so it wasn't the worst night I had had. There have been times where I have just got to boiling point and just threw the controller down and had to leave the xbox for an hour or two. When I am frustrated I know that I have zero chance of breaking a high score so there is little point in playing. I think I will take some of this advice on board.

From the first time I played CE in the finals in NYC to the time I broke 500K was about 8-10 months:

Congrats on getting to play this game live in a tournament setting. That would have been amazing!! Yeah after playing this regularly for about 3 months now I am really starting to see why there are so few people that have scored 500k. I am starting to really get things down but the 500k still feels like a long way off, but like I said in my OP, it now doesn't feel impossible. I have been high on leaderboards in some other games (like geometry wars and various racing games), but never in a Top 20, except maybe the occasional lap time. I want to do this with Pacman and think I can as I just love playing this game, even though I feel it destroys me sometimes.

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"You have the Platinum medal...You know, it just might be an actual crime to ride that well"-Trials HD

*Sorry about double post, I hit "post" by mistake and it wouldn't let me edit..


So it definately took me awhile.  The youtube videos are telling and DO make it easier for players to boost their scores nowadays, but they are somewhat deceiving as you already know.  What I tended to do was record clips of my gameplay.  Not of the whole game at first but just up to the part where my game fell apart.  I would then use my break time (which I referred to in my last paragraph) to study the clip and note what other alernatives I had and try those out in my next game.  In many cases I would play knowing that it was more for experimentation and study versus actually going for a high score.

The only other advice I'd suggest for setting up the key and candy levels:  Try to use the last one or two energizers from the previous levels to get the ghosts grouped at or near center....it increases your chance to "hit the ground chomping" when those critical ghost-hunting levels begin.

Yeah I really want to start recording my runs. I like your idea because being able to study ghost positions over time would be very valuable. I so often get killed on the stages before the keys and candys and it often feels like it comes out of nowhere. Knowing what each ghost is doing and when would maybe give me some answers as to why these are the "bogey" stages for me.

Now to what I feel are the most crucial element to really high scores. The set ups leading into the eating stages. The two Japanese players (they still play btw) that post their runs on YouTube have what I feel is the best way to set up, but also the most difficult to pull off.

The "two energizer" method that the Japanese players use (I think you will know what I mean) gives you alot better chance to get all four ghosts to the centre and the chance to start the "eating stage" with 3200 bonus, but I can rarely do it sucessfully.

I generally do it like most and just try and leave the one. With my pattern I often can time it so when I come up to grab the last energizer before "eating stage", Pinky and Clyde will be around and I can get them quickly. Its left to chance as to where Blinky and Inky will be and this is my biggest problem at the moment. I often won't have all four into the centre until my 2nd or 3rd energizer costing me alot of points. It will all come together soon enough though.

Thanks again for your reply Pacmantab and I hope to one day join the players like yourself on the top of the leaderboards

 

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"You have the Platinum medal...You know, it just might be an actual crime to ride that well"-Trials HD

Man I am getting so close now I can actually invisage the 500k score sitting in the top right hand corner

I have had the most amazing week in this game. After coming off a very frustrating two weeks where I was stuck on 454k and couldn't break it for the life of me. Although I was consistently getting to the 440's. Then finally 2 nights ago, it happened, I finally broke my score and got to 460k. After watching the replay a few times I thought I would have another run before I go to sleep. It was a 457k, breaking my old high again but I had a good feeling so I played again and then BANG!! 473k. I was so surprised because it didn't feel like a good run at all, but having alot of time at the end meant I could get the extra four pellets at the final clovers.

After playing for quite a few hours again last night, I pulled off the most insane run I have ever played. A 484k!!! What even better though is that I broke my 3200 bonus once in the middle of the key stage (a pretty big error), but again not dying and nice patterns gets me to the end with plenty of time. It all just comes down now to how well I execute opening and the key and candy stages. Now I have started to get down the "two energizer" method for setting up the keys and candys I know the 500k will come soon. If this is done right you can start your first of six energizers already at the 3200 bonus. I just need a video camera so I can film it, so noone can question the "legitness" lol.

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"You have the Platinum medal...You know, it just might be an actual crime to ride that well"-Trials HD

Well, I can't really help with the tips but I can give you a pep talk:

"Keep focussed, remain calm, fight the pain barrier and practise lots and you too shall score 500K!"

Okay, I probably could work on my "pepping" too lol!

Seriously, though, it's nice to see someone embarking upon a quest, not assured of victory but with a target in mind and an undying determination to see it through to completion. Takes me back to my Wave 100 quest all that time ago.

Anyway, best of luck. I know you'll do it!

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My Youtube channel
My Geometry Wars 2 Scores

Any encouragement is great and welcomed..Don't want to seem like a "suck up", but having looked at your played games I have to say you have some damn impressive achievements and ALOT of them. Im actually stoked  to have a gamer of your calibre showing some interest in my hunt for this score, as I know if you put the same amount of time as me into this game, you would more have than likely cracked 500k by now.

I have always had this same attitude to alot of the things I do in real life...If I love what I am doing and want to achieve something I know I always can as everything comes from TIME, PRACTICE and PERSISTENCE. Combine these three things into anything and success will happen, well I have found anyway. Chasing high scores has just become a rather addictve hobby of mine, as I am sure you can relate too.

I am still putting in a solid 2 hours+ a day into this (as you know I had a little time off) and really haven't lost anything. It actually feels easier after playing Trials HD for a while.

Anyway again, thanks for your encouragement. I will keep chomping till I get there

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"You have the Platinum medal...You know, it just might be an actual crime to ride that well"-Trials HD

Nah, I don't mind you "sucking up" to me at all. It's nice to be appreciated.

It sounds like you definitely have the right mentality: those are the 3 attributes you need to succeed but I'd also add: "unwavering self-belief". You definitely have to have that if you ever have a near miss after hours and hours of trying e.g. I reached Wave 99 in Robotron and died but thankfully, not long after, I got to 100.

This Trials HD game sounds very popular. I'm gonna have to check it out once I have another break from my Geometry Wars 2 quest. I might even have another stab at this game too.

Anyway, good luck with your quest.

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My Youtube channel
My Geometry Wars 2 Scores

 Arcade Meister wrote:

Nah, I don't mind you "sucking up" to me at all. It's nice to be appreciated.

It sounds like you definitely have the right mentality: those are the 3 attributes you need to succeed but I'd also add: "unwavering self-belief". You definitely have to have that if you ever have a near miss after hours and hours of trying e.g. I reached Wave 99 in Robotron and died but thankfully, not long after, I got to 100.

This Trials HD game sounds very popular. I'm gonna have to check it out once I have another break from my Geometry Wars 2 quest. I might even have another stab at this game too.

Anyway, good luck with your quest.

Now that you mention that, yes. I will be the first to admit this is something I have found lacking in the past (not just in games), but now understand the importance of backing your own ability, rather than doubting it and then feeling surprised with the fact you have done what you have done(hope that makes sense). I can see how you are with GW2, more so since your #5 Deadline score. Since then (it seems to me) your confidence in your ability to score huge in ALL the modes has gone up. Hence the INSANE scores!!

Im actually surprised you haven't tryed Trials HD. It is a game with a pretty extreme learning curve, but once the neccessary techniques are learnt, the game becomes very addictive and its awesome fun. 

Also that has to be the quickest reply on this forum EVER!! As it is pretty dead..

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"You have the Platinum medal...You know, it just might be an actual crime to ride that well"-Trials HD

 OzPatriot wrote:

Now that you mention that, yes. I will be the first to admit this is something I have found lacking in the past (not just in games), but now understand the importance of backing your own ability, rather than doubting it and then feeling surprised with the fact you have done what you have done(hope that makes sense). I can see how you are with GW2, more so since your #5 Deadline score. Since then (it seems to me) your confidence in your ability to score huge in ALL the modes has gone up. Hence the INSANE scores!!

Im actually surprised you haven't tryed Trials HD. It is a game with a pretty extreme learning curve, but once the neccessary techniques are learnt, the game becomes very addictive and its awesome fun. 

Also that has to be the quickest reply on this forum EVER!! As it is pretty dead..

I was #4 when I first got it and am now #6 (sorry to split hairs) but you're right, that was back when I believed in myself to a point but wasn't really seeing any awe-inspiring results, then that happened. I realised then that I COULD do it and have been gradually making my way up the leaderboards ever since.

It "clicked" a couple of days prior to that just "how" to play the game and I'm still improving now. I can't wait to see where I finally end up, I have a mental picture of where I'll end up and how I'll end up doing it but we'll see. I've surprised myself a few times already so far, so it might turn out differently.

I can't wait to see you get back into it once you've completed this quest: you will be one to watch, I reckon.

Also: I beat your record!

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My Youtube channel
My Geometry Wars 2 Scores

 Arcade Meister wrote:

I was #4 when I first got it and am now #6 (sorry to split hairs) but you're right, that was back when I believed in myself to a point but wasn't really seeing any awe-inspiring results, then that happened. I realised then that I COULD do it and have been gradually making my way up the leaderboards ever since.

It "clicked" a couple of days prior to that just "how" to play the game and I'm still improving now. I can't wait to see where I finally end up, I have a mental picture of where I'll end up and how I'll end up doing it but we'll see. I've surprised myself a few times already so far, so it might turn out differently.

I can't wait to see you get back into it once you've completed this quest: you will be one to watch, I reckon.

Also: I beat your record!

I know exactly what you mean by the whole "clicking" thing. The time when all the failures all add together and start to make sense. I described in a post above when this game "clicked" for me. Its that feeling of "oh, its definitely possible"..After this happened, my confidence skyrocketed and my scores really started to get broken more frequently and high scores become alot more consistent..I still remember that game and the feeling I had after it, because there definitely was some doubt starting to set in.

As for getting back to Geo Wars 2, yeah I really need to dedicate the time that game needs, rather then just having a few goes of various modes a few days a week. I am going to take each mode one at a time and put around one to two weeks at a time to each mode. I've often said its really 6 different games, all require different strategy and mindsets. Thats why the likes of Thor and players like yourself, that can score big in multiple modes are the true masters of Geo Wars 2. If I could get Top 20 scores in that game, in any mode, I would be ecstatic, as the competition is fierce, extremely high quality and always getting better

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"You have the Platinum medal...You know, it just might be an actual crime to ride that well"-Trials HD

It's nice to be able to ask this question for a different game: how goes the scorehunt, mate?

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My Youtube channel
My Geometry Wars 2 Scores

 Arcade Meister wrote:

It's nice to be able to ask this question for a different game: how goes the scorehunt, mate?

Even though no new highs, I am still hitting the 450k+ pretty frequently. Really if you view a 500k run as compared to a 450k, on the surface there will not appear to be that much difference. The only real difference can come down to how ghosts line up or a wrong turn or hesitation somehwhere.

This game like any other is so much about confidence. If your mindset is wrong before you play, high scores just won't happen, much like GW2. I aim to at least get in 10 runs a day, I have just had some other "real life" things going on lately (and Trials HD) and for me to get anywhere near the top guys I need to invest a TON of time, as I don't consider myself one of these "freakish" gamers that can just pull high scores out whenever. They are more a result of my persistence.

Thanks again for your interest man, its appreciated..Also after seeing how quickly and well you have progressed through Trials, I know I am going to have to play hard to keep my Top spot on Friends leaderboard. Nice Trials/Trib run too. That is a really fun track.  

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"You have the Platinum medal...You know, it just might be an actual crime to ride that well"-Trials HD