Hate for newbies/noobs and general unfriendliness in competitive online gaming

[The Blue Mongoose]

(I have used the search bar, I found a couple of threads that were similar but didn't quite touch on the issue...)

So I was playing Left 4 Dead not too long ago, a versus match. My team was not doing well, we suffered from severe lack of players and the AI decided to have a fatal attack of the dumb. This aside, I also suck at versus. That being said we had only lost one part of the stage in a big way and when we got to the so very exciting conclusion we were destroyed. This in itself is merely a part of the game and fair enough.

The issue I have is that the reaction to our loss was immediately cries of "noobs!" "you guys suck lolololol" and other gems of English expression.

My question is this my fellow Escapists, why do we find so often that we must ridicule new players? Why is it that newbs are often either griefed til they rage quit or are merely left behind (Left 4 Dead as the case may be - shoot me for that pun if you must)? While some players are rather magnanimous in victory (merely typing "gg" or similar), why do the majority find they need to push the down trodden further down?

(I have found that this is much less prevalent in the campaign community, especially on Expert).

 

[Sharpeye42]

AoE3 actually had quite a friendly multiplayer were everyone would say gg and never criticize in fact when i lost at the ease of the other player he actually offered to train me and never criticized me.

 

[Gyrefalcon]

Perhaps it is the style of game or the average age of the players. City of Heroes does not tend to have as much of that even in the PvP zones. In fact, many of the players there are supportive and helpful to newcomers.

Is it the "heroic" theme? Perhaps, in part, as I have heard that City of Villains is not quite as accommodating. But you can find good-hearted people there as well. Is it the age group? Maybe. Yet I'm sure there is quite a mixed range there just as there is in Left 4 Dead.

Mostly I think it is the nature of playing a shooter type game. There was more razzing with my friends back when we played Goldeneye together and the same happened when I used to play Doom and such. So, if you really would like to see a different side to gamers, I do recommend trying one of the more co-operative MMO's. The sense of community can be quite nice.

 

[Vrex360]

You got me, it's enough to turn you off that's for sure. As a guy who plays as an Elite in a Spartan's Halo... I know what it means to be flamed. Speaking of, nice to see someone us an example OTHER than Halo for lousy communities because I gotta say I've had worse online experiances with Left 'for' Dead then I ever will with Halo.

 

[Symp4thy]

I have the same problem. I am not very good at playing multiplayer on L4D, but alas, I will never get better because no one ever helps me. Most of the time I either get voted out of the game or have to listen to my teammates telling me how much I suck.

 

[GodsOneMistake]

It's like freshman hazing... But usually we call people noob if they lose the game for us, or on the oft chance kick our ass.

 

[Internet Kraken]

L4D has a terrible community. Something about failure in that game just brings out the worst in people.

 

[Vrex360]

L4D has a terrible community. Something about failure in that game just brings out the worst in people.

Explains that boycott of the sequel I guess.

 

[Legion]

L4D has a terrible community. Something about failure in that game just brings out the worst in people.

Not even failure half the time.

I have repeatedly had someone run off on their own and get killed, and then have the audacity to call the rest of us noobs.

Other times I have had someone who doesn't seem to get that it's hard to "get over there" when surrounded by zombies that the team are so graciously ignoring calling people a noob.

Strangely enough the players are usually not English (basing on accent).

 

[irishstormtrooper]

Verbal abuse may be bad, but in GRAW 2 ranked matches, some game hosts force players to spectate if they are under a certain rank. It's total bullshit.

 

[AboveUp]

People take comments from strangers online seriously?
I always thought trash talking was part of playing online. None of it is meant seriously, and if compared to the on-screen violence in most games, it's not even the worst thing happening.
Personally I like the trash talkers. It gives me an extra reason to do my best so I can shut them up.

As for people getting angry at their team members, they're taking the games they play a tad too seriously. But at the same time, would you like it if you did your very best at something, and was still dragged down because people on your team ruined it for you?
I've had a few rounds in Halo's Team Deathmatch where I nearly got all of the kills and lost by 4 points difference because someone felt like standing out in the open holding the sniper rifle.
I never yell at them though, I quit and rejoin a different team of players if necessary.

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

It's a game that revolves around team play only. Like any sport, being on a team full of assholes sucks. Just play with a friend.

 

[Grensen]

noob bashing is rather popular since there're rather easy to indentify (sorry if i have bad english) mainly because they don't know what to do. Just stick with it you might find a guy or gal willing to help you out and give you some tips.

 

[Skuffyshootster]

It's dumb, since everybody was a noob once. You can't be born amazing at a game. But it doesn't change the fact they're a scapegoat for any team, and they're blamed for the shortcomings of other, more experienced players.

 

[Loxes]

I don't play online, and the unfriendliness and isolation I feel playing online is one of the main reasons I don't do so.

Maybe I just get the bad end of the spectrum, I don't know.

 

[squid5580]

I dunno. Isn't it part of playing a competitive game. You lose and the winners get to add a bit of insult to injury. It is just a game and they are only words. And last I checked it was sticks and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me.... I mean names will never hurt me.

 

[hannarr]

IMO, newbie's shouldn't be playing in team matches and such until they have played enough 1p and stuff to know the ins and outs of the game. Basically until they aren't considered newbs anymore.
It's not really fair on your team mates if you have to be carried the entire fucking game.

 

[G1eet]

It's a game that revolves around team play only. Like any sport, being on a team full of assholes sucks. Just play with a friend.

I don't think I've played a ranked match of any game without at least 1 friend in over 6 months.

It just makes things better, because I know the strengths and weaknesses of my buddies; I don't like learning about some stranger's weaknesses the hard way.

 

[minispike47]

It happens all the time on xbox live. I'm pretty bad at most games but I just wanna have fun, I don't play to get better, I play for the enjoyment. I don't understand why people call others noobs, they were a noob at one point!