Too good for casual play - how to preserve the fun?

[Flake]

So now that I am acknowledging that gaming online is a thing, I am running into this question:

What do you do when the game is just you and some friends...and you dominate the shit out of them? How do you preserve the fun without throwing the match? When it is strangers online, going all out EVO style is fine. When it's just buddies on a Thursday night looking to have fun though, there has to be a way to find a balance.

This mostly goes for fighting games but advice for other genres works, too.

[o.pwuaioc]

Related: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 45&t=31065

[Flake]

Related: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 45&t=31065

Kinda but in this situation, everyone is a gamer so the dynamic is different. It is about finding that fine line where you are not giving in without insulting your opponents. Non-gamers will never mind getting a bye round.

[J T]

I play with my toes.

[MrPopo]

Use characters you aren't familiar with. You could also go the sevin route where you take it easy, but then when one of your friends actually starts to do well you kick back in to high gear.

[sabrage]

I just play random characters until I lose. There's always one or two (Olimar) that I can't get the hang of.

[Menegrothx]

Ok, you can play unfamiliar characters in fighting and some RTS games, but what about FPS games?

[Rokogu]

Me and some friends were all playing super smash bros. melee the other day, and one of my friends is just super pro, and he just doesnt try to win, just kinda screws around so we all have a chance, kinda insulting sometimes, but all in all, a fun time

[brunoafh]

For me it's as simple as using handicaps, assuming the game has that feature.

[mjmjr25]

Use characters you aren't familiar with. You could also go the sevin route where you take it easy, but then when one of your friends actually starts to do well you kick back in to high gear.

Yes, using different characters helps a bit. Not a ton of fun playing against the same guy - if that guy is very very good w/a specific character and they don't mix up moves, that will get boring fast.

I don't thin sevin takes it easy. I think he is very good at adjusting when he loses a round, so that if he comes back to win a match after losing a round, it leaves the impression he was messing about - not the case imo, just that a good adjustment was made.

Also, let me add - I don't mind losing at all. In fact, I sorta enjoy seeing different combos and super arts, etc. What does get frustrating is losing to the same character, with the same moves (spam) over and over. For example, in SSFIV, Zangief has the spinning clothesline. It is easy to do - one button. It goes through projectiles. It beats an air or standing head attack. It beats a launch attack. It even works against a lying down opponent (not sure how, as his arms are 5' off the ground, but, whatever). Point is - you can do that move all day, mix in a turbo jab from your knees once they figure out a leg sweep will do you in, 2 moves and you can beat 85%+ of the gaming populace. 2 buttons - 2 moves - lots of wins...SUPER BORING, not fun. I don't do it for that reason.