Competitive Gaming vs. Casual "Fun" Gaming

[Plume]

But when you decided to be unfriendly with it, it tends to be, well, unfriendly and impossible to to have fun.

I play to have fun, and lower my own level if it will match the one of my opponent.

...But sometimes I end up being beaten by people that don't deserve to win, and show too much pride whenever they win...
Those who have found two strong attacks and use almost nothing else, those who beat on my corpse, those who button mash with buttonmasher-friendly characters, etc.
They're proud and feel good because they won yet again, and seem to believe that they are a "great player".

These people seriously deserve to be taught a lesson, and I always find it very enjoyable to pick one of my best characters and be their teacher.
I beat them up with all I have.
After a victory, I beat on their corpse if they did it to me. I taunt if they did.
I do my best to mirror their own assholeness and immaturity.

After the match, they generally try to kick me out.
...So I quit before they even have the time to kick me, and I get a " :D " stamped on my face for a while. Heh.

I think it's very enjoyable to give people a taste of their own medecine.

 

[Mwab]

As long as everyone present is having a good time I don't really care if it's a competitive setting or not. It's quite a mood-killer to have one of your offline buddies sitting next to you, furious over being kicked around time and time again.

As for how I play myself, I usually try to vary my moves as best I can (IE, I use all of the techniques that I am comfortable with) to increase the visual appeal of the battle. The most important thing is not to win, but to have fought a good and entertaining fight. :)

 

[Rei_Shao_Khan]

Well put.

Tournaments are for money or ego.
Casuals are for fun.

It is not to say that a person can get annoyed at casuals or have that they can't have fun at tournaments, but it is generally that simple.

There are exceptions and it is personal preference, but there is no pressure in causual gaming. There can still be good matches against good people, but most people act differently when they have something to lose.

 

[Nuez]

i think this thread is quickly heading to the conclusion, "To each his own."

Of course everyone just wants to have fun which is great because we're playing a game when all is said and done, and games, last I checked, were meant to have some fun.

But to aspire and elevate your play to the highest level you can reach is a personal thing that many of us have the most fun doing.

Honestly though, if it annoys you when you get beat by somebody that won't change their character, that beats on your corpse after the round, or that starts taunting at any point, then you've got some personal issues with your hobby. You are taking it way too seriously to be affected by a digital stranger so much.

I know how you feel, you can picture the smug look on the idiot's face on the other side of your internet connection and you want to smash it to pieces in a vengeful wrath. It's not that serious.

Most professional sports players will be trying to improve their game all the time and will beat each other to a bloody pulp within their sport all day long. But, for the most part, there isn't a hard feeling amongst any of them. They will play hard, play for keeps, and even gloat once in a while, but they remain professionals and there love for the sport is what brings them the most joy.

For competitive games it's the same deal. Some people will only have fun on their terms like a weekend pick up basketball game at the park. But other people want to aspire more than being average and that's how communities like this one have come together in the first place. We all love the game and want to achieve our own personal peaks in it. I know I couldn't care less if somebody is kicking my corpse, talking trash, taunting, not changing characters, etc. If I lost, regardless to who, I'm immediately thinking of the why and how of my loss. When I come to the solution I need to avoid that from happening again it's an awesome feeling and that's the level of competition that allows me to have the most fun, the satisfaction of improving. It doesn't matter if its in casuals or tourneys, getting beat on and learning from the experience to go win more is what its all about for me.

Also, I think it can be disrespectful at times to not play your best when someone is looking for a real match just so that you can match their skill level. Beat their ass but don't brag about it or just stand there and say "... nice try ... maybe next time" Take the opportunity to tell the other player what they did wrong and want you did right. Help them grow as a player too. If they are not receptive then that's their own fault.

I'm not saying to always be uber-beasting on any first-timer who grabs the joystick and gives it a go. I'm also not saying that you shouldn't experiment and only stick to your best character and things like that. But the playing to win mindset is an inherently positive one. It is not something to look down upon. And nobody should have to feel bad for wanting to be better than they are. That should always be commended.

But then again, to each his own.

 

[warble]

Playing to the height of your abilities is to show your opponent respect.

In a Go salon, if someone is beating on weaker opponents incorrectly I would hope that person wouldn't get any games.

Online, this is pretty much commonplace, but that doesn't mean it's right. To find a playgroup that values the core martial arts philosophies should be the goal of every player of Soul Calibur. The winning, in tournaments, will come to those with the most skill. Practicing casual versus tournament to those people is nonsense. Playing in a teaching mode that clearly shows your opponent is a style that is utilized, but that wouldn't be called casual that would be practicing.

Hopefully, everyone here values the core asian philosophies for fighting. To those who do not, who disgrace our art with their misrepresentation (however effective it is, it will never be beautiful) I truly hope that you come to your senses soon. You will be asked by players of a lower caliber to teach them, and it is up to you to figure out how, but you should always aspire to show them the highest skill you have. If you do not, the art form suffers even if you do not.