Boards›Player Behavior

Why do individuals continue playing when they know they aren't ready?

Triple3T·7/20/2019, 12:03:32 AM·1 votes·1,545 views

I played a game recently where I went 0/9 against a smurf and my mid laner flamed me. I suggested that he takes a break from the game until he is ready to take up video games and social interaction. This isn't even a one-off thing either. I regularly feed and I regularly get flamed due to it. I notice this with other games but especially league of legends.

What is it about this game that leads individuals to play it even though they are not ready to do so yet? -I myself hypothesize that it might be due to the game's heavy marketing efforts and it's target of younger demographics.

Why do these individuals continue playing even though their participation is unenjoyable to both themselves and others? -Maybe because they themselves are somehow unaware? Possibly, an ulterior motive that is dissonant with the collective motive?

I'm interested in exposing myself to possible theories and expanding my lense to other's experiences so please share them with me.

5 Comments

GatekeeperTDS7/20/2019, 12:14:03 AM2 votes

I'm interested in exposing myself

Right over here, officer.

AeroWaffle7/20/2019, 12:17:23 AM1 votes

What is it about this game that leads individuals to play it even though they are not ready to do so yet? -I myself hypothesize that it might be due to the game's heavy marketing efforts and it's target of younger demographics.

That's a pretty big jump of correlation that I don't think you can provide any worthwhile evidence to back up. Adults often act poorly on the internet as well. Such behavior is more of an individual characteristic rather than a characteristic shared by an age demographic.

Why do these individuals continue playing even though their participation is unenjoyable to both themselves and others? -Maybe because they themselves are somehow unaware? Possibly, an ulterior motive that is dissonant with the collective motive?

I believe popularity of a game leads some people to start playing (and continue playing) for more reasons than just the personal enjoyment. They do it to be able to keep up with what's popular or to have something to talk/brag about with their friends when talking about this game.

You'll see this effect in any game that builds up to popularity. Before league of legends was on the radar of popularity the community was much more tame.

Also, Because of how much some people have invested in the game (time, not money), such people will take their accomplishments and failures more personally. This game has been around for a while and some players have played this game for a significant portion of their life.