Random Gaming Thoughts

[Exhuminator]

Community Question

My wife loves fighting games, and really enjoys playing them with me. So we play them fairly often. For example last night we were playing MvC3 and KoFXIII, having good times. However, I tend to let her win a lot. I don't make it super obvious, a lot of times I'll get her health to near dead levels, and then just barely let her beat me so she feels like she's achieved a hard fought victory. Or I'll let her beat me, then I'll beat her, and then let her scrape the tie-breaking win over me. And once in a while I'll come at her full force and just annihilate her, but 75% of the time I let her win. I think I'm subtle enough about it that she doesn't realize what's going on.

So on one hand, I'm making the experience more entertaining for her. Because if I was just destroying her in every round, I don't think she'd have much fun. But on the other hand, I'm kinda lying to her when I let her win, even if for good intentions. So the question is... is it wrong to let my wife beat me in fighting games? Even if doing so is done out of love and good will? Or is it really just patronizing?

[BogusMeatFactory]

Community Question

My wife loves fighting games, and really enjoys playing them with me. So we play them fairly often. For example last night we were playing MvC3 and KoFXIII, having good times. However, I tend to let her win a lot. I don't make it super obvious, a lot of times I'll get her health to near dead levels, and then just barely let her beat me so she feels like she's achieved a hard fought victory. Or I'll let her beat me, then I'll beat her, and then let her scrape the tie-breaking win over me. And once in a while I'll come at her full force and just annihilate her, but 75% of the time I let her win. I think I'm subtle enough about it that she doesn't realize what's going on.

So on one hand, I'm making the experience more entertaining for her. Because if I was just destroying her in every round, I don't think she'd have much fun. But on the other hand, I'm kinda lying to her when I let her win, even if for good intentions. So the question is... is it wrong to let my wife beat me in fighting games? Even if doing so is done out of love and good will? Or is it really just patronizing?

That is tough... it really depends o. how she views fighting games. If she wants to get good at them and learn the ins and outs....it is patronizing.

If the enjoyment comes from watching her reactions and you guys grunting it out in combat and just having fun, then it isn't a big deal. The most important part is if she is enjoying herself as it is. If she wanted to get more competitive, then maybe open it up and start training together as a team and learning the ins and outs

[Sarge]

Yeah the original 2DS looks nice to me and is still tempting, if it's still around $70-80 or whatever it was. But with the old CPU I guess it can't do SNES and some other games very well? Hmm...

On another note, is Faxanadu awesome? Looks like it. I was looking into the DoReMi Fantasy composer, I guess she mainly does the Bomberman series. But some of the earlier titles she worked on look pretty cool.

It can't do SNES at all, actually. Not beefy enough. Not that I'm worried about that, I've got carts and my SNES still. (There's an argument for portability, though, but I would love it if Nintendo would do flash sales like Sony does so I could get them cheaper! Most of my RPG set on Vita is because I was picking them up for like $1-2 a pop.)

And yes, Faxanadu is great. Sometimes obtuse, much like Zelda II, but very good. It's been a long time since I played through, but I'd like to revisit it at some point.

Exhuminator, if the choice is between her not playing at all and letting her be competitive, I think we know the answer. I have this instinct as well, and it generally doesn't matter who I'm playing. If I sense I'm dominating, I tend to let up. I guess I just don't have a sustained killer instinct, and it will lead to me losing matches I probably shouldn't.

By the way, when the gulf is huge, it's just not fun. That bit of Mortal Kombat we played, Exhum? I was not competitive in the slightest, and I don't think that was much fun for either of us.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Community Question

My wife loves fighting games, and really enjoys playing them with me. So we play them fairly often. For example last night we were playing MvC3 and KoFXIII, having good times. However, I tend to let her win a lot. I don't make it super obvious, a lot of times I'll get her health to near dead levels, and then just barely let her beat me so she feels like she's achieved a hard fought victory. Or I'll let her beat me, then I'll beat her, and then let her scrape the tie-breaking win over me. And once in a while I'll come at her full force and just annihilate her, but 75% of the time I let her win. I think I'm subtle enough about it that she doesn't realize what's going on.

So on one hand, I'm making the experience more entertaining for her. Because if I was just destroying her in every round, I don't think she'd have much fun. But on the other hand, I'm kinda lying to her when I let her win, even if for good intentions. So the question is... is it wrong to let my wife beat me in fighting games? Even if doing so is done out of love and good will? Or is it really just patronizing?

DESTROY HER SHOW NO MERCY

[marlowe221]

Community Question

My wife loves fighting games, and really enjoys playing them with me. So we play them fairly often. For example last night we were playing MvC3 and KoFXIII, having good times. However, I tend to let her win a lot. I don't make it super obvious, a lot of times I'll get her health to near dead levels, and then just barely let her beat me so she feels like she's achieved a hard fought victory. Or I'll let her beat me, then I'll beat her, and then let her scrape the tie-breaking win over me. And once in a while I'll come at her full force and just annihilate her, but 75% of the time I let her win. I think I'm subtle enough about it that she doesn't realize what's going on.

So on one hand, I'm making the experience more entertaining for her. Because if I was just destroying her in every round, I don't think she'd have much fun. But on the other hand, I'm kinda lying to her when I let her win, even if for good intentions. So the question is... is it wrong to let my wife beat me in fighting games? Even if doing so is done out of love and good will? Or is it really just patronizing?

To quote the philosopher C3PO, "Let the Wookie win..."

In all seriousness though, if she's not actively trying to really learn and get better at fighting games, I wouldn't worry about it too much and keep doing what you're doing.

Of course, that's why my wife and I only play co-op games together.

[marurun]

Are you both having fun and getting something out of the experience? Would changing your play style cause you both to have less fun and get less out of the experience? Answer both of those questions and you'll know which way to go.

[Exhuminator]

Thanks guys.

No my wife's not looking to become a tournament worthy fighter. And she tends to complain if I start beating her multiple times in a row.* She is however quite competitive in gaming, even when we're playing co-op games, she likes to try to do better than me. However in every other kind of games we play, I never let her win. Only fighting games. With that genre, if I seriously didn't hold back she'd never win, and I think she'd not want to play anymore.


*"You only win because you can push buttons faster than me."

[strangenova]

Thanks guys.

No my wife's not looking to become a tournament worthy fighter. And she tends to complain if I start beating her multiple times in a row.* She is however quite competitive in gaming, even when we're playing co-op games, she likes to try to do better than me. However in every other kind of games we play, I never let her win. Only fighting games. With that genre, if I seriously didn't hold back she'd never win, and I think she'd not want to play anymore.


*"You only win because you can push buttons faster than me."

Best to just let her win then. If she doesn't have the drive to get better at the game but she still wants to play and have fun. Then as the better player, it's up to you to keep the experience fun. That's how I game with most everyone.

[Sarge]

I still remember playing against my cousin in Project Justice. She had played a lot more than me, and was destroying me. I kept trying out fighters, trying to get an edge... and then I found the shoto character. After losing eighteen matches, I proceeded to win eighteen straight, at which point we called it a draw.

[MrPopo]

There should be some sort of icon that can be subtly added to the portrait of every shotoclone so you know ahead of time.