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Winning versus Having Fun

Manchette·4/25/2014, 1:49:08 AM·8 votes·3,408 views

I recently ended a game that I was personally enjoying. As a low-level player I am still learning my few champions and how to preform in different roles. However throughout the entire game, two players constantly yelled at the rest of the team, attempting to make every call their own. Eventually, this yelling developed an abusive undertone.

The players would say things such as, "only two of us are doing anything," or, "everyone on this team is worthless."

Even when they were saying this, our team as a whole was doing admirably. We took objectives, warded, cs'ed, and fought together. The two players were extremely intense, all for the purpose of winning.

So I ask myself, and anyone who has read this far: which do you think is more important in League of Legends; winning or having fun?

That being said, if you prefer to win, but do not abuse your teammates I would like to congratulate you. I do not mean to offend that type of person when bringing up this story.

32 Comments

RiotPhreak4/25/2014, 7:33:16 AM15 votes

This is definitely a difficult thing to balance. You mention being a low-level player, so once you hit Level 30, a lot of those players self-select into Ranked play, which should ease it up a little bit if you stick to Normal Games or Team Builder.

In general, I think the #1 goal is always have fun, but not at anyone else's expense. Obviously, they have fun by winning at all costs, but by berating their teammates, that's not so great :(

Dax Ayrton4/25/2014, 7:23:47 AM6 votes

"This isn't about fun, this is ranked", I once heard someone say. And it made me really angry.

thepantsparty4/25/2014, 7:42:58 AM4 votes

which do you think is more important in League of Legends; winning or having fun?

They aren't mutually exclusive.

Jax Omen4/25/2014, 3:57:29 PM4 votes

I formed a 5s team because losing while in a team with my friends, in voice chat, is more fun than winning in soloq with jerk teammates.

Winning in a team with my friends is even more fun, of course :P

Quite literally, this game gets more fun the more friends you're playing with.

Thryale4/25/2014, 7:40:35 AM3 votes

I play normals if I want to have fun or screw around. I play ranked if I want to win.

I see no reason for anyone to jump into ranked, if they are not playing their utmost to win.

MiyokoShadow4/25/2014, 4:08:07 AM2 votes

Having fun. But winning does feel great. Usually if you and your team are having fun, you are probably working together and winning too.

JsKingBoo4/25/2014, 2:16:52 AM2 votes

For some players, winning = having fun. If you aren't winning, it's not fun, it's frustrating and angering. Anger is the feeling that something is in the way and that "something" needs to be punished. If someone is yelling at you and your team the entire game, feel free to mute the said person.

Earl Eulrich4/25/2014, 10:26:29 AM2 votes

Well...having fun for me at least involves that there is a chance to win. I don´t mind losing close games or even throwing games with very stupid mistakes. BUt sth. like a 3v5 or a matchup where your team really just doesn´t do anything while opponents enjoy 5man dives on your lane most of the time are more frustrating than fun.

And it involves a non-toxic environment, might be the main reason I usually don´t play too much LoL if I can´t do it with 3/5man premade.

Mandaari4/25/2014, 3:14:24 PM2 votes

I always play to win but that's what's fun for me. I mean that in the never surrender always 100% kind of way. Talking shit doesn't make the game better for anyone, win or lose.

Natch424/25/2014, 5:40:19 PM2 votes

When playing Warwick(Yay upcoming rework) I don't need to compromise.

Roaranor4/25/2014, 7:25:51 PM2 votes

I find the mentioned situation a bit weird for the question you posed. Not that it isn't an important or valid question, don't get me wrong. It's still a widely controversial issue, but I think what you're getting at is a little closer to a matter of sportsmanship and ethics (how one should behave).

The key issue you're bringing up is "Having Fun vs Winning" but the actions of the two players you mention run counterproductive to both sides of the argument. Not only did their mindless insults, hostile tone, and flaming make the game less enjoyable for their team, but it did nothing to bring them closer to winning. If anything, flaming your team can cause them to perform worse which actually lowers your chances of winning. If they were playing to win, even as opposed to having fun, they would be giving you pointers or letting you know how you could've done something better or giving you tips so that you'll perform better than you currently are and increase chances are winning. It's a strictly serious and rational approach (playing to win as opposed to focusing on enjoying yourself, which are arguably the same). If you were, let's say, wanting to try ADC Janna (which works omg so fun @.@) and they were trying to force you into a more traditional ADC, that would be a more accurate case of winning versus having fun.

I hate that you had that run in verbal abuse so early into the game, and that it's so pervasive within competitive environments to begin with. :/ But like Phreak said, it dies down a little bit once you hit 30 when a lot of it shifts to Ranked play. I hope that your future games are a little better!

Squeekysquid4/28/2014, 3:10:51 PM2 votes

I didn't make this it was shown to me by a close friend.
It can be said about video games in general.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxAabW7JfTQ

Remember when video games were fun for the sake of fun?

ChaosThief5/5/2014, 3:32:42 PM1 votes

One question for you guys: How angry can i make people in a ranked game if I played Garen and ult ksed every time?

Linna Excel4/25/2014, 2:34:40 AM1 votes

I enjoy having fun and getting better.

Gh0s7 Nappa4/25/2014, 3:57:33 AM1 votes

I enjoy having fun but I also like winning.

Caoil4/25/2014, 4:47:12 AM1 votes

I play normals pretty much exclusively because the environment is less toxic. I'm even willing to wait longer in queue for Team Builder because I've found that you get a lot less trolls and a more cooperative team. It only sucks when you like to play non-meta champs (I main Quinn), and the team captain wants to create his "dream team" with only OP champs.

When I'm in a mood that I can handle a toxic team I'll play ranked, because 9/10 ranked games I play have a troll/rage quitter.

Bubble Butt Lulu4/25/2014, 10:07:27 AM1 votes

I usually only queue as a premade now since I don't find the game much fun otherwise. For some people winning = fun though.

bzhen09154/25/2014, 12:01:05 PM1 votes

People play ranked because they are solely addicted to going ip the ladder and claiming to be better than someone else. Therefore a lot of players rage CONSISTENTLY at every single mistake.

I ur interested at having fun, stick to normals, it is much more relaxing and fun, and less (not none) raging. Once u get into ranked, a lot of people only care about winning and gaining lp, and sometimes fun is greatly sacrificed.

SinisterMC4/25/2014, 5:48:08 PM1 votes

Having fun is easily the more important thing. It's why we play the games right? Unfortunately, LOL is one of those games that can get really intense, and, lets face it- everyone would rather win than lose. In solo que, you're going to have to learn to ignore the people who rage and get too into winning that they abuse their team. Just focus on improving yourself in games where people rage/troll. If you pull of a good play or outfarm the enemy, you'll feel good about the game even if it's a loss.

Best advice I can give is-play with friends. Whether you know them personally or met them playing league, the more people on your team you get along with, the more fun you'll have and the more cooperation and team-plays you'll have. Thus you increase your fun and chances of winning. Get a few people together and be creative. Make a dunk squad or some crazy team and just have fun.

Whatever you do though, if you have a team of 2-4 people, don't abuse that 1 or 2 other people that you didn't que up with. Make the game fun for them too.

having fun -> play more -> play better -> win more

UNST3RBLICH4/26/2014, 12:46:38 AM1 votes

Having fun will always be my priority when playing League. Winning is fun, and it something to always aim for, but not if you have to sacrifice having fun to do it or effectively grief anyone else in order to accomplish it. If you have to resort to those types of things, then the win grows bitter. I've had matches where, as a team, we lost significantly, but it didn't bother us because we worked well as a team and everyone had fun.

I would recommend trying to get or make some friends within League, that way you could play with them consistently and it would greatly reduce such instances when you're playing with someone you already know. The better you get along with your team mates, the more fun you'll have.

CarbonWyre4/26/2014, 11:58:25 AM1 votes

I know I'm going to get downvoted for this BUT. I play mostly ranked (outside of games that are 5 man queues with friends that we agree to screw around in) and losing in ranked means not advancing. When I play ranked, I aim to go up in rank, so I am for a win. At that point, nothing else matters. If I queue for rank and don't progress then it was all for not.

MackleDoge4/25/2014, 2:01:19 AM1 votes

It's a game, plain and simple. If you aren't playing professionally, semi-professionally, or are being paid to stream and win, then the most important thing, as with any game, is having fun. Some people want to win and think it's important, that's fine, but everyone should collectively work together to ensure that having fun isn't reliant on winning. You can have fun without winning, and you can win games that weren't fun to play. The two things are neither inherently combined nor are they mutually exclusive.