What the hell happened to fairplay?

[Spaghetti]

If it's a versus game, the objective is obviously to win, and if you don't use all the tools at your disposal to do that then why even play?

I thought "For Fun" was always a good reason, or "To blow off steam". But maybe I'm being old fashioned.

OP: I agree with you. Maybe its not so much fairplay, but some hyperactive 12 year old who has learnt his first swear word that is determined to make you suffer. This is why I don't play online anymore, I'll end up logging on to a DOD server, and get eaten alive by someone who has been playing non-stop for 12 hours and who is far too good for the rest of us. It's just not worth the effor anymore

 

[GrinningManiac]

That's why I hate online, and only play games like TF2, where it's insanely balanced, or COD4 or something, where it's ridiculously difficult to not be killed at some point any way you play

I remember before I completley lost it with ETW, the balancing issues were horibble online. You could just spam riflemen. So they put a cap on them. Guess how people bypassed the cap? Instead of selecting Riflemen in the Select Units menu, you just double-click a Rifleman unit ALREADY in your army to copy it indefinetly.

I really hate that game...such a waste

 

[orangebandguy]

People can do it in complete anonymity.

They probably crap themselves when they get picked on at school, but put them behind a computer and you watch their balls grow. They get god complexes and all manner of narcissistic related psychological issues.

Of course on the Escapist we have some loveable narcissists, like Max for example.

 

[Dr. Wily III]

And that's why Splitscreen > Online (Okay, Team Fortress 2 is fine but shut up!)

Just play with some friends that will solve your problem.

 

[Valiance]

I play alot of SFIV, I play online mainly, against randoms and friends. As far as using "cheap tactics" goes, its a bit of a weird situation. Some of the easier characters to use are really good off the bat, like blanka or geif, but if they're playing mindlessly and repeating the same junk you can out think them, just know your options, try going into training and record the comp to copy some of the more annoying stuff. I had to do this alot at first, and it was frustrating, but i dont think i'd feel any acheivement if i didn't have to put in the effort.

The point of the game is to win, losing isnt much fun to be fair. Even if you're playing someone better than you it can feel like there isn't much you can do about it, but there's always a way. You can't expect people to let you off lightly though, if you give someone a chance the match can be over in seconds.

Steep learning curve unfortunatly. Just stick at it, and you'll beat them down quick enough. What character are you using?

It seems that the OP doesn't play the game the same way you do.

I'm one of those people who think that there is no such thing as "cheap" play in fighting games. Only badly designed games.

You need to be on a relatively high skill level for balance issues at the lower skill levels to no longer matter.

...dealing with people who think like higher end chess players and see things in terms of potential exchanges, the ways they can go, and who winds up coming out ahead on the life bar assuming flawless performance of all the move/block/combo possibilities. Then your dealing with players who are as often as not jockying for position to allow for what might happen 4 exchanges down the line rather than simply trying to take down their opponent...

That said when you're not thinking on that level and just "winging it" (ie you're a "scrub" playing for fun who can perform some of the moves for your favorite character, has a few bread and butter combos down, and a decent knowledge of the overall mechanics) there are grotesque game imbalances.

I know many will disagree, but that is my opinion of the whole thing.

...I was basically eating Kilik/Nightmare/Siegfried spammers for lunch using nothing but 8 way run, a bit of blocking/guard impact, and two basic attacks using Sophitia.

Agreed 100%.

Coming from a Starcraft player, it's horrible. You get people who think Protoss are overpowered because it's easier on the maps that they play to simply tech and make 20 carriers to just go win, or people who think Zerg can build up early attack strength too much, etc, etc...

In a competitive fashion, every race is balanced, but unfortunately for most casual players in a 1v1 melee situation, Terran requires more speed and skill to manage the units at an almost-optimal level, leading to Protoss players being able to succeed without a high APM or with complex strategies (ie: they're more "brute force" than "finesse" at a sub-competitive level).

The "chess-player" example you gave is the way that pretty much any competitive game is played, and I wish people would see this more. Like, people will make sacrifices early in the game if it will help them later on, and it's like people will accept being behind to attack when their position is best.

Bide your time until you minimize enemy advantage and then push to grab it yourself. Everything has a counter. Play defensively when appropriate, push on offense when it's best for you.

 

[Kasawd]

I love using Nightmare in Soul Calibur. Why is it that everyone assumes that if I choose Nightmare I'm new to the game? The look on my friends face when I combo'd him for one and a half life meters was priceless.

OT: It's all the W/L ratio, which has been mentioned before. For some reason, people think quick, unimaginative wins make the game fun.

 

[CerealKiller]

As far as someone's not cheating or abusing,he's free to do what it takes to win.Repeated hadoukens?Why not?Defending alot?Sure thing!
You're not going online to play with your clone,remember that.Each person plays with a different way,that doesn't mean that they do anything wrong.
If you wanna be a good player,learn to adapt yourself according to your opponent.

Disconnecting though while losing is definatelly annoying but,yeah,these things happen too sometimes.

When it's about fighting or sports i suggest to play offline with friends of yours to avoid the whole disconnecting "technique".

EDIT:To fix a typo.

 

[Kajt]

-snip-

You either fight honourably or you don't fight at all.

And yes, I also hate those cheap bastards. Especially the ones who cheat/glitch/hack.

 

[Kiutu]

Because they feel winning is more important. Even if it is not cheating or cheap, it can ruin the fun. Chromehounds can let you make a wide variety of diferent mechs or "Hounds" but most people use just 3 types cause they are the most effective...and most boring. I still make mine in the form of the game style. I dont play against people much though.

 

[Eldarion]

I am the kind of gamer who is WAY TOO GOOD at fighting games. I kick all my friends asses with Itachi or Noel Vermilion.

Play with honor, or don't at all that is my opinion. Both those characters have moves that can own you in one combo and give you absolutely NO opportunity to fight back but I refrain from those specific moves. Unless they are being the cheap ones. Then they get clone spammed until they stop.

 

[open trap]

i will disconnect only if the other player uses cheap tricks etc in a game. thats only on pc because i have a switch right next to me

 

[crudus]

its because they feel like they need to wave their virtual penis at the audience that doesn't care. a ratings system and a W/L ratio does nothing but reinforce this. I played Halo 2 for a time and only 3/10 matches people played for fun rather than winning. Sadly there is nothing you can do but use their tactics (frankly, most of them, suck at their tactics) against them but that makes me want to slit my wrists.

 

[Angelic-Dragon]

It's because people think losing a game is like committing suicide!
But then there is also the fact some some people are just good..

 

[Space Spoons]

Whenever I hear the term "cheap tactics" used in conjunction with fighting games, I can't help but think of Sean Killian's "On Cheapness" [http://insomnia.ac/commentary/domination_101/on_cheapness/].

Yeah, people who cut out their connection just before your win registers are jerks... But if you can't beat a player who's using "cheap tactics" (Zangief's Lariat, Akuma's air fireballs), it's your fault, not theirs. If you can't find a way to beat their tactic, why should they stop? What's the point of playing at all if you deliberately avoid using moves that you know will give you an advantage? Why should they bow to you, the less experienced player?

In short, don't get mad when you lose to Zangief for the tenth time. Get off your ass and learn how to beat those "cheap tactics" you hate so much.

Incidentally, every half-decent Street Fighter player knows that you can beat a Lariat with a simple sweep (crouching high kick). Robbed of his Lariat, Zangief will be limited to jumping to approach you, which can be countered with an anti-air (everyone in SFIV has one), and Green Palm, which can be easily jumped, thus setting you up for a free cross-up and some easy damage. See? Simple as that.

EDIT: Meant "On Cheapness", not "You Can Lead a Scrub to Water".

 

[Thegoodfriar]

Well for your questions regarding SF4, Akuma is very easy to beat even with the jump fireball tactic. All you need to do is either counter with a timed fire ball, or use some focus cancelling to range in an counter with an EX-anti air attack.

As for Zangief, also time your fireballs, it is quiet possible to hit him when he stops spinning. Keep your range on him as well, because he really only has two or three decent approach techniques.

Finally, this is not really an issue of 'fairplay' is it annoying; yes. But is it a blatant exploit of either game code or third party devices; no.

I hate annoying players as well; such as frag spamming in call of duty, but unless it is specifically banned in certain formats or otherwise looked down upon there really isn't much to say other than "well he's annoying."

 

[MrMisfit]

Thegoodfriar: What if, god forbid, I want to play as a character who has no projectile attack?

 

[CerealKiller]

its because they feel like they need to wave their virtual penis at the audience that doesn't care. a ratings system and a W/L ratio does nothing but reinforce this. I played Halo 2 for a time and only 3/10 matches people played for fun rather than winning. Sadly there is nothing you can do but use their tactics (frankly, most of them, suck at their tactics) against them but that makes me want to slit my wrists.

Now this is not fair and allow me to reply since you're actually talking about me too.

Wether i play sports or videogames,i do it to have fun but also i play to win (offcourse!).The one doesn't negate the other.
Maybe you're not competetive at all but that doesn't mean that it's the other people's fault.If you don't like games with winning and losing you can find something else.

Surprisingly i see people who think of healthy competition as the Armageddon.
Haven't you played basketball for instance?Did you run back and forth the whole time only to have fun?I mean,don't you try to win too?

To me it seems that,either people don't like losing or can't stand to compete.Personally i've lost lots of times in lots of things but that doesn't stop me from smiling and shaking hands (in real life offcourse lol).That's how it goes,you play to win but if you lose,it happened!So what?


Last but not least,if an online competition in a videogame is too much to handle,then life will be really unpleasant for you.


EDIT:To fix my mess.Not my day. xD

 

[Space Spoons]

Thegoodfriar: What if, god forbid, I want to play as a character who has no projectile attack?

Every character has an anti-air and the ability to Focus Cancel. Those two tools are really all you need to beat any other character. I use Gen and regularly make mincemeat out of Zangiefs and Akumas.

When it comes right down to it, Street Fighter is a lot like rock-paper-scissors, only with the random aspect removed. To win, all you have to do is know what move beats what move. Sweep beats Lariat. FADC (Focus Attack Dash Cancel) to Anti-Air beats Air Hadouken. Cross-up beats Green Palm.