I'm gonna try and keep this brief, although I have plenty to say on the matter. Basically, different kinds of games attract different kinds of people, although there are all kinds of people playing every kind of game. Thing is, when you play someone online and you have no idea what he or she looks like, you tend to paint a mental picture, usually subconsciously, regardless of how innaccurate it probably is. This is where my problems start.
This is not what makes me angry.
OK, I'll give you an example:
I turn on Fifa 09 and load up an online match, often 'Quick Ranked', which pairs you up instantly with an opponent. I pick Arsenal, the team I have supported since before I even had a choice - living and schooling in the shadow of Highbury and having a football mad Dad, who supported them since he was a young lad in Ireland - and prepare to meet my opponent. Then, like clockwork, they will appear, probably with a PSN name like keane234 or PSG_123, and proceed to pick either Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester United.
Now, granted, these could be genuine supporters of those teams or just neutrals or fans of Bristol City, I accept those whole-heartedly. But I just instantly hate them and assume they are some "dickhead Aston Villa fan" or "some Spurs knob". I'm not sure if it's the predictability of the whole situation or the fact that I know they are not being true to themselves that riles me - either way, when you pick a team with the likes of Henry, Ronaldo, Drogba and Torres, you are not picking that team (usually) because of your love for them in general.
Random internet photo actually sums up my mental picture. I hate this guy.
I HATE LOSING TO THESE PEOPLE! I FEAR IT! Their smug faces as they score some flukey goal, assuming they are better than me. Difference is, I usually have passion on my side, blood coursing through my veins, my heart on my sleeve. Beating them is the polar opposite to losing. I feel great, I cheer when I bury a goal past their flailing 'keeper and my language becomes gutter-esque.
Yes, I'm overreacting, but this is what football does to me.
One more quick example:
Soul Calibur IV. I freeze up sometimes, forget my move sets, lose the plot. Why? Because all I see in my head is some shit hot Japanese fella with turbo hands and knowledge of everything I am going to bring to the plate, with a block or counter to match. Once he starts kicking my arse, sometimes my negativity totally blows the chance of a come back.
I do, however, respect whoever wants a game on here, no matter who you choose or how good you are. At least you know who
you're messing with:
PSN Name: Clancy5000 
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One thing that I've noticed: the medium-skilled players in Soul Calibur IV all use Kilik. All of them. I'd say a good 45-50% of my fights online have been against him. I don't know that I'd picture a hyper-skilled Japanese player, but I'm on Xbox Live, so maybe it's just less likely that way. For some reason that game doesn't piss me off when I lose, because I feel like I lost because I'm not quite good enough yet. I get pissed off when I lose online due to someone breaking the game or just being a general asshole.
Choosing an advantageous team or character is a sign of reduced character, I'd agree (though wanker/writer David Sirlin would not) but it's pretty much par for the course unless you're going up against good friends online.
The Soul Calibre thing is kind of a blur if I'm frank. Japanese was the closest thing I could match, mainly because growing up has taught me that those are the finest fighter players around. It's just someone who, basically, lives and breathes that series and instantly finds my first move to be a joke, because, mathematically speaking, I'm finished and obviously am a noob for even trying to do that move. If that makes sense.
Par for the course? Agreed.
Also on the FIFA09 subject - people who quit the match in 90th minute when you're winning 4-0? Costing you your ranking? FUCK YOU ALL.
"Now, granted, these could be genuine supporters of those teams or just neutrals or fans of Bristol City, I accept those whole-heartedly"
replace Bristol with Leeds and, soon to be, Tottenham and I agree witn you.
Also, quitting on 90mins = More annoying than I can ever explain.
I recently checked out Gears of War's multiplayer for the first time, and had a similar experience. I don't really care if I lose the match; I just don't want to spend more time respawning than actually playing the damn game.
I guess I could just follow the old advice of "suck less."
Thanks. Yep, I've been there a few times myself. More times than I'd like.
@Char,
Problem is, if you pick up a game after a month of it's release, you are certain to get absolutely battered online. It's a steep learning curve indeed. I had some horrible encounters on Unreal Tournement III.
Haha fantastic - I appreciate the official pardon, I'm sorry i didn't pick up on it on first reading!
Also, I love the 'any excuse for a Spurs bashing' attitude...a true gooner if I ever saw one!
Great Blog by the way - I'm still pretty new to the site and I love the active British community!
and welcome to Destructoid! It's never failed to make me feel like I am in on some big secret. Somehow. A good mix of people.
Gotta bash Spurs whenever I can. I'm going to the game on Wednesday night... I have a bad feeling about it, but doesn't every football fan when their team plays!? I'm sure we'll do our best to give them the 3 points!!!
I agree. I have this growing apprehension towards Gears 2. I've pre-ordered the game and soon I will return to part 1 to tune up my skillz. When a big FPS comes out, it's a race to map knowledge.
I think I know how you feel. Soul Calibur is great but playing against random people online isn't funny. I always get an ass whooping. I just play against my friends online. They're good as well but I don't mind loosing from them. At least I know who they are and that they're not cheap bastards (usually). So basically it's FUN to play online then. Random people online aren't.
I'm in the Resistance 2 beta. That game pisses me off sometimes. Especially the co-op (which is the best mode in the game, period!). Why? Because you have to rely on your teammates. For instance: a match with only Soldiers will be over in about 5 mins because they don't get any ammo by themselves. They need a Special Ops.
In the beta the level cap is 10. My medic is 10 so I thought I'd play with a Spec. Ops for a bit. There were 2 other medics so that should be sufficient. But wadda you know, those wankers refused to help out anyone, no reviving (takes the medic about 2 seconds while it takes 7 sec for another class). One of 'em changed his class to a Spec. Ops as well because we needed more ammo. But that one medic left killed the whole game by not doing his job. I had to change my class to medic and try to safe the day.
My point is, team-based multiplayer needs teamplay. And if one player doesn't care it'll ruin your game.
Quitting on 90 mins is worse than everything stated in this blog. I just hope the game developer thought about a nice big penalty for that fucker who does that. Or let A.I. take over. Because people will leave, no matter what you do. This is another example why I only play with and against friends. No cheating and no quitting.
p.s. thay guy in the second picture is a twat and I will not lose from him.
p.p.s. expect a PSN invite.
On the teamwork thing. I can relate to that with Fifa, again. The Be A Pro, where you control just one man? I was Cana, the mountain of a midfielder for Marseille (I wanted Arsenal to sign him actually). 10 on 10, against PSG. Every one of my team mates thought they could run the ball from one end to the other, all of them also chasing the ball, way our of position. 3 sent off in the first half. We got spanked.
I'll be your medic dude!
Whenever I suck at a FPS-multiplayer. I'll return to the singlerplayer and play on the hardest level for a while. That helped me. Or in COD4 you can start an online match by yourself, don't invite anyone. This way you can take a look at the levels. So you don't get lost in a multiplayer match.
Unreal Tournament is a complete different story. I can't do it anymore. I used to be really good with older UT's but this one rapes me. Maybe I have to play a couple games against Godlike bots or something.
Nice! The medic is the best character in the game. He can heal himself by sucking up life-energy from the enemies. The other two classes have to rely on other a bit too much. Since there are a lot of people that don't know what the fuck they're doing I like to take care of my team mates AND myself.
It's kinda cool to see people getting raped in that game. They think they're really good and can rush in. Well, they're in for a big surprise. Before they realise the enemy is fucking strong they're already dead.
I should have put it makes me fear going online and bothering when I know I will have Thierry Henry, my former hero, breathihng down my neck.
Also, I fear crazy Soul Calibur players. Especially when they have createed ultra fast women characters.
I don't play many footy games and don't have Soul Calibur yet but I completely understand where you're coming from, it's that fear that puts me off playing online.
P.S. Expect a PSN invite