NationStates Jolt Archive

A very simple question. In a game, any game at all, which do you think is more important? Having fun while playing the game or winning the game?

I myself feel that games are meant to be played for fun, not to be won.

I find that far too many people would rather win at a game rather than have fun while playing the game, and a large number of those people have a tendency to piss me off while they're trying to win.

Poll incoming.

Both.

But if I had to choose, I would choose fun, because I never win at sports.

Its not fun unless I win so...

Both.

But if I had to choose, I would choose fun, because I never win at sports.

Second. *nods*

The wording seems to suggest that either one plays a game for the purpose of deriving entertainment from it, or for the purpose of mastering it in some way, whether by completing the game, or by outdoing others in a competitive system. That is not a mutually exclusive condition, however, as these options to not take into account the possibility that some might equate winning with fun.

Which would, of course, not be an incorrect belief, as what an individual considers fun is something that is generally subjective to the individual.

I tend to succeed at just about everything, so it's not much effort for me to win. I don't think you should have to try to have fun though, if you are trying it's probably not fun to begin with.

I try to play by the rules and encourage others, I mean I am going to win anyway, I might as well make it fun for the losers. ;)

I tend to succeed at just about everything, so it's not much effort for me to win. I don't think you should have to try to have fun though, if you are trying it's probably not fun to begin with.

I try to play by the rules and encourage others, I mean I am going to win anyway, I might as well make it fun for the losers. ;)

Oh yeah. Rub it in why don't you?

The wording seems to suggest that either one plays a game for the purpose of deriving entertainment from it, or for the purpose of mastering it in some way, whether by completing the game, or by outdoing others in a competitive system. That is not a mutually exclusive condition, however, as these options to not take into account the possibility that some might equate winning with fun.

Which would, of course, not be an incorrect belief, as what an individual considers fun is something that is generally subjective to the individual.
O_o...
...thank you for the analysis, Mr. Spock.

Depends what I'm doing. I'm more interested in winning a pistol duel than having fun.

Well..

Drinking games are always fun..

Well..

Drinking games are always fun..

and everyone wins!:p

Well..

Drinking games are always fun..

Toking games are better.

A very simple question. In a game, any game at all, which do you think is more important? Having fun while playing the game or winning the game?

I myself feel that games are meant to be played for fun, not to be won.

I find that far too many people would rather win at a game rather than have fun while playing the game, and a large number of those people have a tendency to piss me off while they're trying to win.

Poll incoming.

Fun is important, but if it was not about winning then the game would never be played in the first place. It may not be the right thing but it is a fact of life. All of life is competitive and so the human animal has to try to win at everything it does, that is what is given to us by nature the will to strive and survive, and come out on top.

Oh yeah. Rub it in why don't you?

why does it matter? I win unless I lose on purpose.

Depends what I'm doing. I'm more interested in winning a pistol duel than having fun.

Uhh... Well...

That's not exactly a GAME.

Well, it is...

But it's a game for your life!

So it's definetly different.

And if you try to have fun while playing it, then the game was never fun for you anyways. And if the only way you can have fun is by winning, then I think there's something seriously wrong with you.

A very simple question. In a game, any game at all, which do you think is more important? Having fun while playing the game or winning the game?

I myself feel that games are meant to be played for fun, not to be won.

I find that far too many people would rather win at a game rather than have fun while playing the game, and a large number of those people have a tendency to piss me off while they're trying to win.

Poll incoming.

Depends. Is there money involved? ;)

Oh my God, fun, no question!

I hate sore losers! Hate them. Haaaate them. I mean, come on, it's just a fucking game. Sheesh. :rolleyes:

[/pet peeve rant]

I was attempting to point out a problem with the poll. Can you really blame me for doing so without using the phrase "lawl"? ;)

Yes.

O_o...
...thank you for the analysis, Mr. Spock.

I was attempting to point out a problem with the poll. Can you really blame me for doing so without using the phrase "lawl"? ;)

I was attempting to point out a problem with the poll. Can you really blame me for doing so without using the phrase "lawl"? ;)
Yeah. I can. ;)
Oh my God, fun, no question!

I hate sore losers! Hate them. Haaaate them. I mean, come on, it's just a fucking game. Sheesh.

[/pet peeve rant]
You know what's worse? Winners that rub it in people's faces. Like Smunkee's doing at the moment, for some reason...

Neither.

Losing.

Zomg time paradox!

How did your post end up above mine? You were quoting me...

How did your post end up above mine? You were quoting me...

time warp

http://www.sbfilmfestival.org/blog/uploaded_images/timewarp2-730186.jpg

You know what's worse? Winners that rub it in people's faces. Like Smunkee's doing at the moment, for some reason...

I don't know what you mean.......:confused:

you didn't lose anything.......we weren't even playing anything.

Toking games are better.

:eek: :confused:

:eek: :confused:

Ahem. Not like I'd know.

I don't know what you mean.......:confused:

you didn't lose anything.......we weren't even playing anything.

Yeah, but your boasting about how you win everything. Its irritating.

Especially to people who always lose everything. Like me.

Ahem. Not like I'd know.

If you say so.

Yeah, but your boasting about how you win everything. Its irritating.

Especially to people who always lose everything. Like me.

why do you think you lose everything?

Oh my God, fun, no question!

I hate sore losers! Hate them. Haaaate them. I mean, come on, it's just a fucking game. Sheesh. :rolleyes:

[/pet peeve rant]

Says the bastard that always wins at iSketch.

there are two sentence that sum up my opinion: "what's the point of winning if you don't have fun?"; and "well, we didn't win, but at least we had fun".

i wont play a game that isnt fun. but if im going to play, im going to try to win. if i dont win, i still have the fun of the game.

Ahem. Not like I'd know.

Well of course.

Do tell, though.

i wont play a game that isnt fun. but if im going to play, im going to try to win. if i dont win, i still have the fun of the game.

:)

time warp

http://www.sbfilmfestival.org/blog/uploaded_images/timewarp2-730186.jpg

:rolleyes: not again

fun and a high kill score

why do you think you lose everything?

Because... I do lose everything?

i wont play a game that isnt fun. but if im going to play, im going to try to win. if i dont win, i still have the fun of the game.

amen brudder

no, I mean why do you lose everything?

Bad luck and no skill.

Because... I do lose everything?

no, I mean why do you lose everything?

Bad luck and no skill.

Damn you, time warp.

no, I mean why do you lose everything?

Because he isn't you. :p

Bad luck and no skill.

We make our own luck, and maybe if you played to win while your having fun you would get the skill to win?

We make our own luck, and maybe if you played to win while your having fun you would get the skill to win?

No, you make your own luck. I cannot.

And I always play to win.

No, you make your own luck. I cannot.

And I always play to win.

everyone can, anyone who says different just needs an excuse to blame things on other then themselves.

Depends on who I'm playing with. With strangers on the internet, having fun usually goes along with winning (e.g. in shooters, losing means being dead all the time. Not fun). With friends, I don't care for winning. I actually have one who hates losing (and rarely does), so when I feel I'm having too much of an edge over him, I try to slow down and make it fun for both of us...

everyone can, anyone who says different just needs an excuse to blame things on other then themselves.

I don't need an excuse: I know I suck. I just have bad luck, as well.

A very simple question. In a game, any game at all, which do you think is more important? Having fun while playing the game or winning the game?

I myself feel that games are meant to be played for fun, not to be won.

I find that far too many people would rather win at a game rather than have fun while playing the game, and a large number of those people have a tendency to piss me off while they're trying to win.

Poll incoming.
The vast majority of people are going to say "fun" because it's the socially acceptable thing to say. In modern society saying you want to win for the sake of winning makes you some kind of greedy, fanatically religious, capitalist pig who deserves to be stoned to death.

For some people (like my little sister, best friend, ex-girlfriend) it's only fun if you win.

Myself? I'm a laid back kind of guy. I play mostly for fun. But for me, something is only fun if there's a challenge. I don't need to win, but I do need to be challenged in order to be entertained.

The vast majority of people are going to say "fun" because it's the socially acceptable thing to say. In modern society saying you want to win for the sake of winning makes you some kind of greedy, fanatically religious, capitalist pig who deserves to be stoned to death.

Wow. I can't believe it took 48 posts for some ...one... to say that.

The vast majority of people are going to say "fun" because it's the socially acceptable thing to say. In modern society saying you want to win for the sake of winning makes you some kind of greedy, fanatically religious, capitalist pig who deserves to be stoned to death.

For some people (like my little sister, best friend, ex-girlfriend) it's only fun if you win.

Myself? I'm a laid back kind of guy. I play mostly for fun. But for me, something is only fun if there's a challenge. I don't need to win, but I do need to be challenged in order to be entertained.

i don't know though. if i find myself winning ever i tend to either 'throttle back' or help others with their own game depending on the game. that's one of the reasons why i hate games like monopoly where you really can't help anyone else or be nice to anyone without properly screwing yourself over. games like pictionary or scrabble or whatever are fun cuz you can still play for a high score, and even a win, while actively helping others in the game.

i really don't like playing games with people who play only to win. they are boring and no fun at all. where's the fun in beating someone? especially if you beat them by miles.

I don't need an excuse: I know I suck. I just have bad luck, as well.

saying you have bad luck is an excuse. Just say I do not have the skills to win and do not want to push myself to be better and so gain the skills. Beats useing a hokey excuse like Bad luck trying to blame something on a mystical property that may or may not exist.

i don't know though. if i find myself winning ever i tend to either 'throttle back' or help others with their own game depending on the game. that's one of the reasons why i hate games like monopoly where you really can't help anyone else or be nice to anyone without properly screwing yourself over. games like pictionary or scrabble or whatever are fun cuz you can still play for a high score, and even a win, while actively helping others in the game.

i really don't like playing games with people who play only to win. they are boring and no fun at all. where's the fun in beating someone? especially if you beat them by miles.

Why play something if your not going to put your "all" into it? instead your short changing everyone around you, how can one improve if they do not have a need to improve? Losing should motivate you to improve yourself to win the next time. Losing on purpose to children is understandable it is a way to help their self-esteem and make them want to keep doing something. But letting an equal( another adult) win is just saying "you do not need to apply yourself or try your best".

saying you have bad luck is an excuse. Just say I do not have the skills to win and do not want to push myself to be better and so gain the skills. Beats useing a hokey excuse like Bad luck trying to blame something on a mystical property that may or may not exist.

...And your problem is... what, exactly?

EDIT: BTW, instead of wasting my time getting better at games, I prefer to spend my time doing things that you don't "win" at, e.g., getting better at guitar or singing, or learning to write better. If I can play a Dragonforce solo, why should I care if I can't score a goal in NHL '06?

Why play something if your not going to put your "all" into it? instead your short changing everyone around you, how can one improve if they do not have a need to improve? Losing should motivate you to improve yourself to win the next time. Losing on purpose to children is understandable it is a way to help their self-esteem and make them want to keep doing something. But letting an equal( another adult) win is just saying "you do not need to apply yourself or try your best".
we are still talking about a game, are we not? in real life we push ourselves to acheive the best we can, or we put in the minimum effort to get by, whatever. but a game is most fun when everyone is feeling good and enjoying themselves. who needs to put their "all" into scrabble or pictionary or frisbee or whatever.

having said that, team sports are different. winning is fun in team sports, cuz then you can share your enjoyment with others who are winning with you. but even then, if you are winning at the expense of having fun, where's the point?

...And your problem is... what, exactly?

EDIT: BTW, instead of wasting my time getting better at games, I prefer to spend my time doing things that you don't "win" at, e.g., getting better at guitar or singing, or learning to write better. If I can play a Dragonforce solo, why should I care if I can't score a goal in NHL '06?

What about going outside and playing baseball, or football, or soccer....those are all games too, does not mean I am talking about video games.

What about going outside and playing baseball, or football, or soccer....those are all games too, does not mean I am talking about video games.

Okay, for those specific sports:

baseball: I hate baseball. I find it mindnumbingly boring. I can't bat at all, because I never, ever practice the sport.

american football: well, football isn't so great, either. I'm a decent rb, but I prefer to block, so I've never scored a TD.

football: I'm a good enough defenseman, I just never score because I always pass the ball

we are still talking about a game, are we not? in real life we push ourselves to acheive the best we can, or we put in the minimum effort to get by, whatever. but a game is most fun when everyone is feeling good and enjoying themselves. who needs to put their "all" into scrabble or pictionary or frisbee or whatever.

having said that, team sports are different. winning is fun in team sports, cuz then you can share your enjoyment with others who are winning with you. but even then, if you are winning at the expense of having fun, where's the point?

Well see there is a difference that is a "board game" as compared to say a game of baseball, or anything that is an active game, and frisbee does not count as a "game it is more of excercise. Unless your talking disc(frisbee) golf but why play if you do not want to win? I have never seen any of my friends not have fun even when they are trying to beat each other at a game. SO when talking about fun and winning in games describe the games you mean so as not to confuse somone who can not read your thoughts.

Both. Winning a game that isn't fun sucks, and losing a fun game takes some of the fun away. I enjoy playing games to win and playing games just for fun, so i like both.

Okay, for those specific sports:

baseball: I hate baseball. I find it mindnumbingly boring. I can't bat at all, because I never, ever practice the sport.

american football: well, football isn't so great, either. I'm a decent rb, but I prefer to block, so I've never scored a TD.

football: I'm a good enough defenseman, I just never score because I always pass the ball

no cricket either?

Defense does not keep you out of winnning if your team wins then you as an individual wins.

no cricket either?

Defense does not keep you out of winnning if your team wins then you as an individual wins.

Never played cricket. Actually, never seen it played.

As for defense, meh. Games and wars are won on offense, not defense.

Well see there is a difference that is a "board game" as compared to say a game of baseball, or anything that is an active game, and frisbee does not count as a "game it is more of excercise. Unless your talking disc(frisbee) golf but why play if you do not want to win? I have never seen any of my friends not have fun even when they are trying to beat each other at a game. SO when talking about fun and winning in games describe the games you mean so as not to confuse somone who can not read your thoughts.

well, the OP made no distinction. i was just following that lead. yes, there is a difference between boardgames and sports in the sense that it is easier to be competitive and at once have fun when playing a sport than a boardgame because there is a stronger sense of achievement in showing physical prowess than showing mental prowess. i guess our minds are hardwired to value that more. also, when playing physical games our minds are less engaged and we are less concerned with empathy so we may forget that while we win someone else is loses. in a boardgame our brains are playing a more dominant role and so we may appreciate how much it sucks for the loser, hence it is more fun if everyone does well. of course many people do not care and will strive to shit on everyone anyway, just as long as they win. these are the kinds of people i mentioned in a previous post who i don't like playing games with.

The game has to have some intrinsic fun value for me to play it at all...but if I don't win often enough, it kills the fun.

When i am playing Cricket, i am more interested in having fun than when, but i don't want to see a shuit performance by anyone and i never want to slack off.
Although winning generally creates fun if you yourself are not performing well one isn't always having fun.

assuming I like the game in the first place, I'm satisfied with my effort if I played my best, and dis-satisfied if I played very poorly. Whether I win is not irrelevant, of course, but a bonus.

Myself? I'm a laid back kind of guy. I play mostly for fun. But for me, something is only fun if there's a challenge. I don't need to win, but I do need to be challenged in order to be entertained.

Oddly enough, this is exactly why I often actively dislike winning. I'd much rather lose a challenging game than win easily.

Never played cricket. Actually, never seen it played.

As for defense, meh. Games and wars are won on offense, not defense.

One can not win on offense alone, defense keeps the other team from scoring. If you keep them from scoring even if you only score once who wins?

And well without the ability to defend something offensive moves in warfare are all a waste if your just trading the same ground back and forth. It is about gains but it is about keeping those gains.

Neither. I play The Game. And I just lost it. As did every last one of you.


Anyways, I play for fun. Sometimes that means I play to win, and other times that means I play to piss off the other person. Like my red/black Magic deck. Almost never won, but it prevented the opponent from doing anything for quite a long time.

Games are meant to be fun. Winning is next to irrelevant. The only thing (fun aside) that winning gives you is bragging rights, which is in a way for fun, so giving up fun defeats the purpose of playing the game.

I'm usually happy if I did well in the game, given the circumstances (if I'm new, I'm happier at a lower score, if I'm good but there's someone better than me, I'm quite happy being second). I'm only annoyed when I do worse than I'm supposed to.

I really enjoy games which are just about having a laugh with lax rules. Whenever Im in a game the remotest sense of competition makes me go into must win mode albeit in a relatively nice non asshole "I must win" way

Says the bastard that always wins at iSketch.
Ah, but I'm also the bastard that doesn't care one iota if she loses at iSketch, because it's still as much fun to play it.

Fun by a long shot....but I will say that getting stomped isn't that much fun and winning is a whole lot of fun, so there is a sliding scale in there.

How is this a question? Since when has losing been fun?

How is this a question? Since when has losing been fun?

When it's a close battle with someone you respect or a light hearted game with someone you dig?

Why are fun and winning seperate? You can win and have fun at the same time. I prefer to do both. It's fun to win, and you can win after having fun. They aren't mutually exclusive.

If the game you are playing involves family members duking it out until the end, it is more important to win the game. One, because you want to spend the least amount of time in the same room where your family is, and secondly, if you and one of your siblings gets in a verbal argument, say over who spents the most time on the phone, and you can't come up with any dirt on your opponent, then just say "Well at least I won last nights 'Ants in the Pants game," and she/he will be stumped. Fool proof.

If the game involves friends, say an innocent game of quarters, it is more important to enjoy the game while it lasts... before the killer hangover and immessurable amount of regret kicks in.

I play to win the game, but I'll have fun unless someone cheats. I despise cheating....except in Isketch, where I rarely play to win anyway. *shrugs*

having fun.

you can loose, but still have fun.

or you can win, but if you don't have fun playing, it makes the winning hollow.

To be honest, I can't have fun in a game unless I'm winning. Call me hypercompetitive, but thats just the way I am.

I guess that's why I kinda like open ended games. Without an overall goal, I can just sit back and enjoy the gaming experience.

Mainly fun, though winning makes it all funnier.

Mainly fun, though winning makes it all funnier.

... I dunno, you can loose with such flair that people don't care about the winner. :D