The feat of gaming with non-gamers: How not to stomp?

[Erik_Twice]

While probably everyone realizes that playing your favourite fighter is not a good idea when playing with new players there's a far harder problem to avoid: Playing with non-gamers.


The reason is simple. Even if you are to pick a game nobody has seen before, the gamer has a big advantage. He is used to games. He will have an easier time understanding how to win, how a certain mechanics works and will learn faster. This even shows with gamers not used to a certain genre.

When gaming with a non-gamer, how do you avoid this?

[irixith]

I simply aim to have fun, and to make sure they are having fun. It's no fun if you simply beat them over and over again. I will lose on purpose, play poorly, hit the wrong buttons, etc etc all in an attempt to make sure the other person is not only having fun, but feeling like they can hold their own too.

The other person of course being unaware that I am handicapping myself.

[brunoafh]

I pick characters that I'm not very good with (or use random select) and just mess around when I play a fighter with someone that's generally a non-gamer.

It would probably be a better idea to just play a co-op beat em up in the situation though.

[nightrnr]

Most Fighters have a handicap option, which I always use to great effect. That way, I don't have to play bad on purpose and feel I like I'm fighting a pretty fearsome opponent.

But there's also certain fighting games that are very newbie friendly:
Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO: simplifies the moves, (uses right analog directions/ presses for instant moves) Try fighting a Guile who can insta-flash kick and sonic boom
Some of the earlier King of Fighters and Marvel Vs. games/ports have one button moves too
Soul Calibur Series: I always thought everyone was on pretty equal ground on this one (unless you're an absolute pro); a newbie can be pretty unpredictable
Dead or Alive Series: ^^^Ditto

and then there's games like Power Stone and Smash Bros...

I pick characters that I'm not very good with (or use random select) and just mess around when I play a fighter with someone that's generally a non-gamer

I do that; but I'm always trying to do moves that are hard for me anyways. And when the inexperienced friends are playing aggressive/going crazy, they usually put up a pretty good fight.

[CFFJR]

I do everything mentioned above, as well as making an effort to teach the other player how to do things. How I approach it depends on the game and the person I'm playing with.

Even if its a game that's brand new to me as well, if I figure out something new I'll immediately tell the other player how to do it.

If its cooperative, I'll cover their backs at the expense of my own life, so they stay alive longer and have more fun without the frustration of repeated deaths.

If its competitive, I'll also let them take shots at me to practice their moves. One thing that's proven effective for me in teaching a fighting game is to block and evade while encouraging the other player to come get me and break my guard.

I've had great success getting my wife to play fighting games with me this way. She's capable of having a decent match on MVC3 for instance, and she does NOT use the simple control scheme. I find that completely freaking awesome for her, considering that when she first started playing games a couple of years back she was a textbook newbie with all of the usual trouble spots.

One important detail that people have to remember when playing with or teaching a non gamer: Do NOT get mad or impatient. You piss that person off by being a jerk and they'll never play again.

[casterofdreams]

I've had problems in the past with this very subject. I was put into two scenarios:

1) A non-gamer takes advice the wrong way and gets offended that I think he/she is stupid.

2) I purposely lose a game and the other player (non-gamer) turns into a complete knob goblin.

Branching off the second scenario:

a) Rematch and I kick his ass. Then he calls me a loser and throws a shit fit because I play games all day.

b) He will not do a rematch with me and will continue being a dick for the rest of the day.

So to remedy: I don't play with non-gamers. That's just me though.

[Xeogred]

I gotta be honest, I think I usually just tend to be that asshole and don't hold back at all.

My fierce training will only make my friends stronger!

[eskil]

I'm lucky I have a friend who's a part-time nerd and therefore willing to try games he hasn't played before. With everyone else, I only play Mario Kart, but with him I can play all kinds of things. In most games, I hold back here and there until we're on the same level, but he learns quickly. Of course, we have the must fun with Power Stone, at which he's even better than I am.

[Curlypaul]

I gotta be honest, I think I usually just tend to be that asshole and don't hold back at all.

My fierce training will only make my friends stronger!

Me too, screw them!

[emwearz]

Depending on the game I will just give the other person a handicap, playing a shooter, I can only use pistols and so on.