Poll: What Do You Think About "Playing To Win"?

[D_987]

You mean, like a game designer who specializes in multiplayer balancing?

I'll concede after viewing his CV and works (something I admit I had not done before this post; but had I not done so I would stuck by my original argument) that he has a greater understanding of games than myself, and yes may well be an expert.

On the other hand, there are still parts of this article I disagree with, particularly the context, which as I have stated is fine when discussing tournament games - but not when playing in public games. The tone is also pathetic, and I find it amusing that someone with such an impressive CV acts so childish and big-headed over their "accomplishments".

Could have fooled me.

Of course I don't have a bone to pick with this person - I don't even know them! I disagree with their ideology regarding winning because they have the wrong context in which to e discussing said point. It also reflects how you look at life. By his ideology it would be fine cheating in a test - those taking the test properly would be the scrubs and he would be the one doing well, but not fitting a moral code. Is that right?

 

[Kajt]

Playing to win is okay, after all, it's only human.

 

[Cowabungaa]

I've got no problems with it, I do it a lot actually. But as long as it's all in good fun, no swearing at people when they make a mistake and crap like that. Stay friendly and polite, winning is cool, but winning while no one is having fun playing the actual game is pointless. It's still a game, no matter how you look at it.

I like good sportsmanship, and a nice competitive round of TF2 is a lot of fun. Ofcourse screwing around is fun as well, ahh I remember that Civilian Heavy raid I did with my clan a few days ago. That was hilarious.

 

[annoyinglizardvoice]

Reading that article made me want to hit stuff. The guy sounded like a total arsehole.

When he talks about people who play for fun not experimenting with the games sounds like utter bull. Part of the fun for me is continuing to experiment when everyone has found the tactics that work.

The defining feature of playing a game is it's a game, therefore supposed to be fun for all. Being an arse kills that.

 

[mykalwane]

As long as you don't turn on your own team(killing someone on your team on purpose) and works it is ok. There are certain games I don't play multiplayer on (Gears for example) because the players end up making it not fun to play online. Camping is what a sniper does in the real world to do the job, why should it be a bad thing in game when it works in real life as well. As long as you can have fun and win it works.

 

[Nutcase]

You mean, like a game designer who specializes in multiplayer balancing?

I'll concede after viewing his CV and works (something I admit I had not done before this post; but had I not done so I would stuck by my original argument) that he has a greater understanding of games than myself, and yes may well be an expert.

On the other hand, there are still parts of this article I disagree with, particularly the context, which as I have stated is fine when discussing tournament games - but not when playing in public games.

The article doesn't specify that kind of context anywhere. It's a general primer for people who want to become better at whatever game they play, full stop. You could even say that the context of tough competition is implicit in the article, as that's the only kind of environment where you can make serious progress on your game.

Of course I don't have a bone to pick with this person - I don't even know them! I disagree with their ideology regarding winning because they have the wrong context in which to e discussing said point. It also reflects how you look at life. By his ideology it would be fine cheating in a test - those taking the test properly would be the scrubs and he would be the one doing well, but not fitting a moral code. Is that right?

You're mistaken about that. He isn't saying "break the rules". He is saying "do what you can within the rules, don't make up rules in your own head and be limited by them".

 

[D_987]

You're mistaken about that. He isn't saying "break the rules". He is saying "do what you can within the rules, don't make up rules in your own head and be limited by them".

Right then, as I stated before I don't have a problem with this ideology if it's, as you stated, within a tournament based environment, one made me believe differently was his description of his match against "the scrub". There are other sections I disagree with but I honestly can't be bothered to take them up.

 

[Anarchemitis]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StopHavingFunGuys

 

[Nutcase]

You're mistaken about that. He isn't saying "break the rules". He is saying "do what you can within the rules, don't make up rules in your own head and be limited by them".

Right then, as I stated before I don't have a problem with this ideology if it's, as you stated, within a tournament based environment, one made me believe differently was his description of his match against "the scrub". There are other sections I disagree with but I honestly can't be bothered to take them up.

It's not limited to a tournament. How would you ever do well in a tournament if you didn't play seriously outside it?

I'll try to put things in perspective. Let's say I get together with some friends to play fighting games. We aren't very good - AFAIK, none of us has ever participated in a game tournament or has plans to do so - but we play to win. If I'm too passive, and my opponent notices that, he'll keep throwing me until I'm dead or until I put a stop to that somehow. (This is the game scenario Sirlin describes.) I will, of course, do the same to him. And I'd play the exact same way against a random guy on the Internet or a random guy at a party.

That doesn't mean I have to play to win every match. If I see an opponent isn't even close to my level, then there's no learning and no challenge involved, and no point in keeping on playing them that way. I could:

- set artificial limitations or goals for myself, such as picking a character I'm not good at, and play to win within those limitations; at least I'm learning that character's mechanics if nothing else
- stop playing to win, start teaching opponent
- look for another opponent/quit

 

[Tartarga]

its definitely ok as long as you dont go over the top

 

[Assassin Xaero]

Camping just annoys the hell out of me... oh, and in CoD4, it made me love martyr...

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

I definitely strongly disagree with most of his points.

I consider myself a pro-type player (I'm not a pro, I just think I'm more of a pro than I am a scrub). I absolutely play with a "Code of Honor". I truly believe there are some things in games that are lame, and if you use them you're a *****.

Camping in shooters is the best example I can give. "Anyone can do it!" the noobs say. Yea, you're right. It's just that these testicles dangling between my legs prevent me from playing like a *****, like you.

 

[Bertinan]

I totally agree with wanting to win. I mean, yes, it's just a game, so you should have fun...but you'd have more fun winning then losing. Who here actually has fun getting the floor wiped with them?

That being said, I'd MUCH rather play a close game than a blowout. There's no point to playing a blowout, unless it's all you doing the blowing out, because then it's just a matter of stacking teams. And any prick with a few friends can stack a team and win against a random team of other people. It doesn't really take any skill or anything...just so long as there's only one or two good people on the other team.

To give a specific example, I hated playing against "pro" L4D teams. They were always pricks, who had terrible senses of humor and loved to brag about how "l33t" they were. On the same side of the token, I hated people who wouldn't take the game serious enough, and would just screw around. I'm there to play, I don't care if I lose or win, but if I'm going to lose I want it to be because I actually tried and failed.

 

[Tears of Blood]

I'm the leader of a clan on Metal Gear Online, so here's my view.

Playing to win is sort of part of the game. The problem is, many people find their fun in ruining your fun. Don't lie. I know a ton of you guys are the same way, even though you would say otherwise. I usually despise online gaming, especially ones such as Call of Duty.

Maybe it's just because I am not good at online gaming, but I feel like this can't possibly be it. I am quite good at every single player game I've played. I should be, afterall, I've been playing games since I can remember. But for some reason, I can never get over the hump in an online game. Sometimes I have a moment and I manage to win a game by luck, but if the game is of a competitive nature, say, your level is at stake, I will rarely come out on top.

So, basically, I don't understand how some people get so good at a game that they can dance around their opponents. I try my best, but I always lose. I wish I could attribute it to cheating, but to claim that "everyone cheats" seems far-fetched and immature.

In the end, I would have to say that you should be playing the game to have fun. Winning is nice, but if you are trying to derive your fun on stomping on other people, I can't abide by that. Have fun playing the game, don't have fun by spending your life on the game and treating others like crap.

 

[squid5580]

Am I ever thankful that I don't think like this guy. I would never touch an online game again. If I played to win which I do but that isn't important. I played FEAR with a crew online for months. Every match I gave it my all and every match I got my ass handed to me on a silver platter. DeathawaitsU was her handle and she was 1st by the end of almost every match we played. No matter who joined us she kicked ass. And we all had alot of fun. Isn't that what it is all about.

I know a few watch X-Play around here. Here is a question. Am Ithe only one who wants to punch Tom Taylor TOM TAYLOR but you might know him as T-Squared T-Squared in the face just for being such a douchebag? I pretty much had the same feeling watching the MLG the few times I did.

 

[SsilverR]

don't care, if someone wants to play to win then who am i to stop them

 

[Supraliminal]

Well, the only Multiplayer game I play regularly is Soldat. (Yeah I can hear you laughing back there(I wonder why?)).
And I play for fun, if I win the list it's just incidental. No one will remember it anyway.

For that camping conversation, it's the only way to use sniper.
Stop here in the bush/corner/vantagepoint and take out few guys. Then change your place and do it again.
If somebody (noob, maybe) camps in the same place the whole game he/she is going to be killed.. many times.
I always revenge to stupid snipers who don't change their place in time.

 

[Naeo]

I play all games I play, single and multiplayer, with the goal of winning. I go into Halo 3 matches and Phantom Dust duels with the intent of beating the other player/players. But, it's not "the only thing" to me. That is, I play to win, and I admit that I occasionally resort to some dirty tactics, but when it gets boring- when camping loses tactical value, when I'm not getting anybody, when I get bored- I stop. I do recall one particularly tense sword camping session, though. Got a 9-kill spree and just barely missed my killing spree achievement.

I play to win, but I know and am okay with the fact that I will lose. To me, camping and attack spamming and all that are, whilst annoying beyond words in some cases, something that's in the game and that therefore I can't really argue against. Just like you can't say "if you use the assault rifle you're a NOOB because it's a NOOB weapon and UNFAIR" or "if you use the battle rifle you're a NOOB because it's a NOOB weapon and UNFAIR", because it's in the game, deal with it. I've learned to spot campers and alert my team, if I can't kill them myself, instead of just whining about it.

However, fun should be the ultimate goal. If you're not having fun playing a game, or if you don't want that shiny achievement or reward, why are you playing? If you don't get your fun from the gameplay or from the rewards, you have no reason to play unless you just need to boost your self-esteem. In which case, go get good at a sport so you'll keep yourself in shape being better than other people.