Play to win vs play as a scrub

[MagicManICT]

I should have put this earlier, but for a bit further read on this, look up stuff about "Type A" personalities. I know it doesn't get talked about anymore as it was an 80s/90s meme for personality classification, but the same research still holds true (at least, I haven't ran across anything that debunks it). It's not about how much time you have on your hands, but about attitudes. This is where this whole "game addiction" thing comes from as Type A people have a higher likelihood of doing things to obsession, and when it becomes a game, a person can easily spend a hundred hours a week on a game.

[Xcom]

The whole concept of barriers is something that alot of people don't bring up. I have seen alot of players put up extra barriers and restrictions in there environment while they could have developed far faster without them. Just an example is how some people use scripts and bots while other players refuse to use them even knowing they will fall behind if they don't. Other ingame examples are how some people refuse to attack and defend instead revert to peaceful coexistence till they are wiped out.

Those articles really show what goal mentality is all about. Equal players achieve different levels of game play because one type have a stronger focus. Most often the ones without fall behind and up losing in combat or other areas. Its easy to complain after you have fallen behind and blame the over achiever and its odd how noone trys to look back and see what went wrong or ask for advice on how to improve and compete.

[MagicManICT]

Bots and scripts are an area of moral debate. Some games explicitly encourage them, though, and if you are being a purist despite that allowance, then, yes, I'll agree with that. Otherwise, there's a debate on whether a bot should be a legitimate tool to use or a grey form of cheating (assuming there are not explicit rules disallowing bots with things like account bans and deletions). Beyond that, yes, too many people put artificial barriers in their gameplay. I've done it myself playing cards. It is hard to unlearn, even when you were taught to think outside the box in school.

[borka]

Oh noes i put up extra barriers and restrictions *screeeech*

Oh noes ppl let bots play games instead playing themselves *screeeeeeeeeech* (i should have stayed fiddling with selflearning NEURO Bots)

Oh noes if i don't want to play HnH as a fighting game i'm a scrub *screeeeeeeeeeeeeech* (I should have stayed with FPS capmpaigns and tournaments)

Sirlin was a very good read back in the days but it's in no way a good read when it comes to nowadays sandboxing games ( geeeesh he's a fighting games guy ...)

Gevlons play2win or you're a scrub is the typical "i own you" attitude but i like his "scrubs call hardcore players no lifers when loosing and whining" - much better i like his http://greedygoblin.blogspot.hu/p/from- ... o-win.html

An answer about what is casual playing might be found at http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/archive ... php?page=1

Beside Magic Mans "addiction type" suggestion we might consider how different cultures have a different "competition culture" - in my opinion it's very different i.e. USA vs Germany - considering how much competion goes on in "school sports" and how much it gets supported in the USA while in Germany competion is more a private thing going on in sportclubs...

[Xcom]

I think I get what your saying borkan and I do agree that in a game like haven, by that I mean sandbox, there are no winners and losers. Specially for those that enjoy the more casual side of things. I'm more referring to the group of people that really fall behind and end up in the mercy of more hardcore players. If your truly casual as nooby93 was talking about then you shouldn't be bothered having to rebuild.

But its the instances when it comes as a wake up call that you have been silently competing with other players on the server and now they are knocking down your door and out to get you, not until that point where you realize you might lose what you have built then go into panic mode. I did recognize myself in those instances and made me rethink my game style. I thought it might help others realize the same thing as I did and focus there understanding of there current situation as well and possibly help them rethink some of there goals.

Just as an example I was always laying off the fact that someone might come kill me so I never bothered with making combat stats or practice pvp. Now I realize that I do need to think about those aspects of the game more and try keep up. If I don't I will simply have to rely on the mercy of others and hope for the best. But now I have set motions into gear that will ensure I won't have to. Preparing for the pvp side of things and gearing up to be stronger against incursions from other players was something I never bothered thinking about cause I always thought, that's not my style of game play cause I'm peaceful. But you cant think like that and that's exactly what leads to your base getting raided in and out. It was those barriers that the articles were talking about that really did catch my interest and opened me to rethink aspects of the game I just ignored. I shared the articles thinking someone else might find enlightenment as well.

[MagicManICT]

Just a reminder that there is a distinct difference between an addiction and an obsession. We've used the term addiction way too broadly the last several years.

[Potjeh]

I just think that cheating defeats the whole point of playing.

[AnnaC]

I just think that cheating defeats the whole point of playing.

Sounds like scrub talk amirite?

[MagicManICT]

I just think that cheating defeats the whole point of playing.

This is that "moral" area we're talking about. If I'm completely amoral, then isn't breaking the rules just another form of getting ahead that may or may not have larger consequences in the outcome of the game? Game theory says that if I get farther ahead by breaking the rules, even with the potential penalties that may be invoked, and compared to playing without breaking the rules and where I will be at with the most optimal plan, should I not still do it (break the rules, that is)?

What are the consequences of breaking the rules in HnH? Other than a handful of cases where jorb has banned and deleted accounts (and, I believe, in a few instances salted the earth), there has been no penalties. If a rule has no teeth, it is not a rule, just a gentleman's agreement, and we all know what those are worth in competition.

Sounds like scrub talk amirite?

[Potjeh]

If you don't get banned from a server for playing CS with aimbot and wallhack, it still makes playing the game pointless.