Salty...

[Faust]

I haven't been around here in a long time, but I haven't had a reason to be until lately.

So I figured I'd bring something up for some discussion, maybe ask for some help here.

Recently I've been part of an active group of SC players, which has been amazing to say the least, so I've been back on SC4 quite a bit. I don't play online (I hear of bad lag which would make for bad practice, and my net probably isn't that great anyway) so I try to invite some other friends over for some casuals. So here's the deal with that.

One of the two that play with me is actually pretty eager to learn some new stuff and get better at it. I've played his character before so I've passed him some tips and combos and stuff mid match that he can practice while he plays me. Last we played he sucked up 50 losses and didn't gripe one bit, but was instead happy he walked away a little better at the game.

The other guy that pops in will only play SC4 after he's thoroughly beaten me at least 20 times in any Street Fighter or really any Capcom made fighter. In return, he might play 10 rounds with me, grudgingly and without really trying at all. He says the same thing the first guy does and asks for some help with getting better, but every time he shows up to learn anything I try to show him some practical combos and tricks and he doesn't try any of it and instead commits to basically button mashing while holding whatever direction is towards my character. I've reached a breaking point with him to where he now can only hold one game over my head that he can consistently beat me at, and he gets really upset whenever I beat him at something he used to beat me at.

So the problem I've narrowed it down to isn't SC specifically, but that he's generally a pretty poor sport about losing. I don't know what to do about him really other than tell him off next we play.

I'm just wondering if anyone here has ever had a similar problem and has already dealt with it. Any advice?

 

[ZeroEffect317]

I'm gonna guess this guy is your friend too? If that's the case, is he just getting upset like normal, or is he making everyone else around him miserable or tense due to his anger?

I can't say I relate to your situation entirely since, while I've had a number of friends get upset at losing, I wasn't really in a position to teach/help them at the time. I too was lacking knowledge about fighting games as a whole, but I had a bit more natural talent, and more importantly, a larger drive to figure things out and strategize. Which is where my point comes in.

The first guy you mentioned sounds like he'll make a great learner. Not because of progress, (he did lose 50 games to you after all), but because he finds satisfaction in improving and getting better. This is key to any player getting good at any game. The willingness to learn. The second guy clearly would rather win than improve. So naturally by beating him, you're basically taking away his "fun".

I'm not saying he's a lost cause, but until he decides on his own to want to improve, he's likely to continue to brush off your advice and get frustrated when his way isn't working against you anymore. Ask him if he really wants to get any better. Maybe make a challenge out of it or something. "Hey if you wanna beat me you gotta learn this or that" I dunno. You know this guy better than I do. But if you're gonna get anywhere with this guy you have to convince him somehow to have the desire to learn.

 

[Faust]

I'm gonna guess this guy is your friend too? If that's the case, is he just getting upset like normal, or is he making everyone else around him miserable or tense due to his anger?

You totally called it here. His tension sucks up the mood and ruins the environment. He is my friend as well, and we used to have sporting fun at fighting games. However, after I realized his attitude towards losing I stopped playing anything competitive since it was going to kill our friendship. Now that I have this new environment to play games in I really want some outside practice, and Friend B has more potential to learn faster than Friend A.

A few days ago I got him to at least admit to his hypocrisy since he always said he'd practice and try to learn things when I was there to help, but instead fessed up and said he really only had interest in Street Fighter. But I know he's only coming by anymore to play that and try to prove some asinine superiority complex and it's gotten old. I'm not saying I'm trying to avoid games he's good at, but his obvious refusal to play anything else is infuriating.

As a reference, he has done this many times in the past. Like I said, I had to abandon fighting games in general since I like having my two friends over for games and stuff. But now, with a new place to play, I'd like my practice against something other than an AI that gets crushed under the heavy boot of Astaroth like roaches.

 

[TasteTheRainbow]

To be honest, your best bet is to look at him in the eyes and tell him he's got a problem. I've done it to others and I've had it done to me, we've all had ragers in our playgroups (by we I mean we as a community) and the only way to deal with it is to just get them to admit they have a raging problem and that they need to get it in check.

The worst that will happen is he'll keep raging, so it's no loss at all. And if he's mature, he'll at least admit it and work on bettering himself.

 

[MammothMan]

You can also tell him that he has to stop coming to the get togethers until he decides to be mature about losing. Tell him he's great at SF and all, but you're not doing the same thing to him when you lose in that game. If all he cares about learning is SF, then let him. If he wants to be a pompous ass about losing then tell him not to come back until he gets it in check. If he comes back and says "Oh don't worry about it, I wont do it" and he does, kick his ass out then and there to show him you're serious.

I've done this before with mood killers and it works quite well because they want to play their favorite game with other people as much as you do and if you deny them that, they'll stop their childish antics pretty quickly.