Backseat Gamers

[Sideroller]

I hate it whenever I'm trying to just play through a game I haven't tried before - or especially one I already know how to play and have someone there watching you and patronizing every action you take in the game. I have a friend like that and it gets very irritating since he plays a lot of games. So whenever I'm playing one and he's watching it's like I'm in perpetual tutorial mode where I'm not blocking enough or taking enough cover - or using the wrong weapon.

I know they mean well - but it just takes me out of the game and then I feel like I'm walking on eggshells every damn decision I make in the game.

If I'm watching someone play a game I know and they're doing bad I might give some hint on how to get past an obstacle or something but I won't completely lecture them.

Anyone familiar with this type of situation? I just needed to rant about it for a bit.

[Hobie-wan]

Thankfully I didn't have to deal with that growing up as I'm an only child. None of my close friends did that crap either.

[Hazerd]

Wish i had someone to watch me play games and annoy the shit out of me lol.

[Sideroller]

Most of my friends don't either - it's mainly just this one person. They're a nice guy otherwise too so I'm always hesitant to just tell them to shut up and watch.

[CFFJR]

My oldest friend does this to me, but only when we're playing Doom, Duke3d, and Wolfenstein3d.

I've been playing the games for as long as he has because we've been playing them together since they were new, (though he's certainly put in more hours on his own), so it can get pretty irritating.

I fully acknowledge and accept that he's better than me at all of these games, but I'm perfectly capable of beating them myself, and he's seen me do it. I don't need coaching.

I honestly laugh about it because he gets so intense, but I'm also not shy about telling him to chill.

Of course, I'm sure I annoy him too because when we change turns at the end of each level, I usually don't leave him in as good of condition for the next level that he does me.

[Lodestar]

The funny part about "backseat" gamers is that they're usually not that good at games, or at least the one you're playing - but something about being a spectator makes it easier to figure out what needs to be done. It's easier to critique someone when you're not the one playing, I don't know how this phenomenon works, but Portal revealed it to me. Both the backseat gamer and myself had never played the game before, but when we'd take turns, we kind of traded roles, too...found myself being the annoying one from time to time, telling them what to do, etc.

Knew another kid that would always harp on mistakes at any chance and always seemed to KNOW what you had to do, despite never having played the game himself. If you offered the controller to 'em, he'd turn it down and say he's not good at games.

[Damm64]

I hate when someone give me the controller and tells me with that you kick and that you jump WHILE i'm playing the game. I just wanna figure out all by myself and if i need help i ask...

[Sideroller]

That's true - I can relate to the Portal Phenomenon - just from watching playthrough's on youtube. I'd keep skipping ahead on videos because the person would keep failing on an obstacle.

[Weekend_Warrior]

This is why I don't play single-player campaign games when other people are over - if they're not annoying the piss outta me with questioning my every move, then they're busy asking a hundred questions about the game, like... "who is that?," "what is that used for?" and "Can you do this/that?" Sometimes I may not mind, depending on my mood. But most of the time I just want to play the game... not try to explain every last detail of the game to someone else WHILE I'M PLAYING IT!

[MrPopo]

One of my friends was finishing her first playthrough of Chrono Trigger and sent me her zsnes save so she could beat it at my place. I had to try very very hard to not tell her how to properly beat the final boss.