Skullwriter
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EDIT: Thanks for the upvotes, everyone! Always remember to have fun with your kids! I do some reviews as a hobby, if you wanna check them, feel free to visit https://hypeimmune.wordpress.com/
GTimgur
You chose the weapon, time, and place. There's no holding back now kid!
Dawnbringer551
I refuse to dishonor my opponents by going easy on them
CouldntCakeLess
Dad level - it's over 9000.
sillyDad
Apparently he can't do that for Dave.
Duskz
Smash Brothers Dad. True Smash player - the little ones must -earn- that victory! And that day will be a great day for that father.
georgedragonslayer
Just had this discussion with my 8yo great niece. I had the same response. "You get to pick whatever you want, but I am not going to let you win". However, I know what will happen in the future. She is going to beat my ass at games. And that will be something she never forgets.
Psychobeanz
Some of my best memories with my dad is when three of us kids would play against him on GameCube NASCAR, and he'd put on a fake Davey Crockett coon cap and turn into The Coon, a relentless dominator of the track. Usually by going backwards and causing collisions.
Alozar
I'm not sure if I were racing against my kids I'd teach them to call me "The Coon". Seems like asking for trouble, lol...
Syovere
I used to play Goldeneye and Perfect Dark with my younger cousins, who had absolutely no chance of actually beating me. So we came up with some alternate rules - instead of being counted as a player (and thus always winning), I was to be treated as a stage hazard. My score doesn't count, but if you killed me you got double points.
drizztx
I will never forget the day that I no longer had to "let" my son win, and suddenly realized he was better than me at a game.
xRHIN0x
Kids have more time to play games and get better at them. I maybe get an hour ar two at night if I'm lucky at age 30. My 8 year old nephew can clock in 5+ hours a day after school without blinking.
drizztx
I've been blessed with a job for multiple decades where I can pretty much game 75% of the time. ;)
NCPilot
Son, sooner or later you're going to have to learn how to be hungry for that win! Today is that day.
TheFastpaws
The biggest issue that always leads to the kids passing you one day is that you move on. You do other games, etc. Kids stick with games many times. So sooner or later you sit down for Smash Brothers and they kept playing. While you went to work. So you have to get into the groove again and they don't.
girbek
Kid got the taped up controller, as it should be
NotThatPrivate
My 4 year old started playing a free to play Mario Kart clone on the xbox and literally couldn't stay on the course. Cut to 6 months later and he regularly wins races. They grow up so fast
smashpro1
Rocket Racing?
Vulpesferrilata
I've been playing through Pikmin 4 with my son, he's my P2 while I manage pretty much everything else. I wouldn't change these moments for anything in the world.
Martellus
Maulbert
Destroying my neice in NES games is an exquisite pleasure.
Dannyalcatraz
I don’t have kids, but I DO have cousins. I used to play games with a particular set of brothers. The two oldest ones I annoyed by choosing the weirdest characters in the fighting games…and beating (or seriously challenging) them. Sometimes, even with them using special unlocked characters.
Dannyalcatraz
The youngest of the trio was, unfortunately, a bad loser. He’d “accidentally” unplug or restart games if you were beating him. One day, after 3-4 such accidents, I told him if it happened again, I’d never play games with him again. Well, there was another “oops” about 20 minutes later, and I dropped my controller and left. That was back in 2007 or so; vow unbroken.
sarahsaurroar
I never let my nephews win at anything. I don't go hard core skilled on them, but I do make sure that when they start losing that it's not a big deal and slowly the oldest one (6) is learning to take losing gracefully.
darkhalfbreed
You got to make it look close so you don't discourage them, maybe give them 1 win
devolutionary
Where’s that clip of the older dude getting hype to take on some kids in Goldeneye?
DangerBaer
In recent times, my kids are finally able to beat me at Duck Game, though only 50% of the time, and only when teamed up. 👈🦆👈
Emiloo74
I did this to my brother. He would get so frustrated with losing.
Jimmytheeel
You must establish your dominance early, for as time passes, you wane and grow weaker, while they florish stronger.
Kjasi
This is why Uncle KJ can't play Kirby, and we often do a 3v1 cause I'm that good. The good news is, they're getting better. Might have to do a 2v2 soon...
Koetjeboe
Rainbow Road
Enoan
I may go easy on you, but I will never "let you win". I may give myself certain handicaps to even the playing field, but within those limitations I will attempt to win.
minipancho94
Learning how to lose is a valuable skill. Took me years to finally force my draw with my dad in axis and allies, and it's one of my favorite memories. Still pissed he offed himself before I could take a win.
VodkaReindeer
I guess you always played the allies, huh.
minipancho94
He let me play the axis a few times, but I preferred the allies. In the draw game, we had to call it after 7 days because I used the British forces in North Africa and Asia to liberate Moscow after he took it, and rushed a factory in India iirc ground down the German forces, and rushed the existing US forces to put pressure on Japan and built up a shitload of fighters which I leapfrogged with my existing carriers to both defend and support. The Japanese navy only had a few safe corridors.
DogGuyInCatWorld
The important thing is to play and make it competitive for the child, but letting them win does them no favors.
olipro85
Totally agree. We only do no-screen games and I offer to him the best challenge I can and he knows it and seeks for it. When we want to have another form of fun we play cooperative or "no goal" games.
sarahsaurroar
Seriously. When my half brother and sister were like 6 and 8 and I was around 18 my dad took us to a place with a small arcade and I played games with them to keep them busy while we waited for food to be served. The littlest one didn't place well in the racing game and started sobbing because I did better than him. I took him to dad and he scolded me for not letting him win and making him throw a tantrum. I then took his sister to continue playing since she was good and left little with dad.
arfysdad
Nah, you can play to teach them good sportsmanship (both winning and losing), still make it competitive, and also build their confidence. Taught my son chess when he was in 1st grade and would purposefully make blunders and tell him that I did. It taught him what the bad move was and how to look for them and counter it. It's okay to let them lose. They're just kids.
IlDepo
Give them a fair challenge considering their age and skill. Having them always lose does jot "build character" or whatever.
drizztx
But also, crushing them mercilessly every time is also useless, as it teaches them to dislike both the game and you.
tacosarejustmexicansandwhiches
Look at this way
Ever seen a video of a lion cub 'sneaking up' on their parent?
Then the parent asks all surprised when the cub pounces?
Do you think the parent was ACTUALLY surprised or were they encouraging behavior?
StrayZenith
I don't know, there's a reason why kids' games like Candyland have little to zero skill involved, sometimes they're to teach a game cycle and socializing, so against any opponent they can win ~50% of the time and be encouraged. I guess you can start them off with chess and just dunk on them but they'll probably not wanna play more
laserfrog
False. Dogs and cats let the puppies/kittens win a % of the time. Further studies showed hunans need about the same to enjoy and learn.
DoingItWrongSince1980
I think you two are saying the same thing.
Competitive doesn't mean destroy the child. That's not a competition.
I read the first comment as, "make it competitive (meaning the winner is unknown at the start and the kid has a real shot), but don't just let them win every time.
Some games have handicaps. Others, you can handicap yourself by choosing to ignore certain features or strategies. Or, just put in enough effort so it's close and let fate decide the winner.
SaintSleepyWeasel
100% with laserfrog. I let my daughter win at chess the other day and it made her love chess so much that she joined a club. I made her earn the win and it wasn't easy but it's important that they learn to believe in themselves.
BryanLaserEpee
Pffft those studies were probably made by people who suck at Mario Kart
lancell
laserfrog
If the percent goes too low the youth gets discouraged and avoids the game.
OverthinkingThis
Partial wins are the way to go. Like if you're playing stock in smash bros letting them get a kill on you every now and again can be encouraging. Let them win a battle, but *never* just let them win the war, muahahhahaha
KrampusCopia
This! If they actually want to get better at the game, they need to see what's possible at high level play. You can't pull off a cool trick you don't know about it.
Eridianne
You're not meant to be doing fuckin favors, you're playing a kid's game with a kid. Not everything is a fuckin life lesson, you edgelord. When a kid hands you a pretend telephone do you slap it out of their hands because REAL LIFE wouldn't indulge them like that? Fuck
BigOrangeCats
The assumption here was a game like Mario kart, not some leapfrog learning game
Psychobeanz
To be fair, kids who are pretending with telephones are usually a fair bit younger than the kids playing video games.
cozynester
the thing is, to a kid everything IS a life lesson. They're still learning how the world works and how to navigate it themselves. A push and pull of competition is what encourages people to try their best. If they try their best and still lose every time, why would they continue investing their energy in that direction? It's not very important with a game like Mario Kart, but it's really important for people to develop healthy sportsmanship so they can respect other humans when they win/lose
BladeTurMoiL
There are multiple life lessons i would argue. sometimes you try forever and never get better. Fun is more important than winning. Patience and practice go hand and hand.
And state these as they go. They wont entirely get what you’re trying to teach them if you don’t explain it. And they’ll reach back at those words at different parts of their life.
BladeTurMoiL
Just keep things varied.
Make mario kart the thing you always win, till they get older one day. But maybe add some things they always win, or some push/pull in others, or even sporadically they ‘get better’ at some of the things you do together over time.
NightOwlRally
No, you pick up the phone, pretend you're on hold then ask the mother who their favorite superhero/idol/princess is and pretend to take a call from whoever it is. One time I did this with a lil dude with a Batman shirt (and as a former lil dude with a Batman shirt, I felt compelled to play along) and it was something like "uh huh? Uh huh? Wow okay Mr. Wayne, absolutely." I said Batman called to ask him to behave himself because he was extra busy with Gotham and couldn't save him if he (1/2)
NightOwlRally
(2/2) got into trouble, stuff like that. Lil man was CHUFFED. The mother looked at me like "...who the fuck is this person" but as a little kid I remember wishing someone did that with me. Someone once told me, "sometimes we need to take time to be the adults we thought we would be when we were kids" so that stuck with me
Lonewolfing
Deep breaths. Don't think their comment was some deep dive into parenting. And sportsmanship is actually an important lesson. But, yes, bonding is just as important.
Eridianne
Yeah fair, I'm too fuckin amped today
Lonewolfing
I hear ya. Life be like that lol. I get the same way.
CuntCrotchula
Dude, some games are hard to lose. My nephew is so fucking bad at Mario kart that if i stopped paying attention i would accidentally be like half a lap ahead
iamamentat
So funny story, my oldest daughter would beat me at MK on the wii. I wasn't used to MK with those controls. On the switch, I'm so far ahead of her, I can absorb multiple blue shells and still win comfortably. She's 14, so I don't ease up on her.
thefinpope
The newest one has options that can auto-steer and/or auto-go, makes it so much better for the littles.
JonWallace1985
I… I was only using a needler… on a sniper map… how did you lose?
JackOLoser
Same. My son doesn't like when I beat him at Smash, but I'm like "You gotta stop walking off the edge. I'm not beating you, you're beating you."
mikeatike
"Stop hitting yourself."
Mauriach
I play 50cc with my kid, literally put my kart in reverse until I get lapped, then I start playing. I still win, and it's more fun cause you get the cool power ups 🤣
Eddafred
When I play Smash with my nephew I pick characters I suck at just to give the poor guy a chance. Or use the switch controller with two buttons and a joystick.
MsQuin
I really love that 8 has all those accessibility options
CrimsonLobo
1/ Went over to a girl's house who I fancied, plan was to drink beers and play Street Fighter IV. I'm not great at fighting games, but I grew up with SF2, so a childhood of playing siblings, cousins and friends instilled in me a certain confidence with the OG roster.
I definitely eased off my competitive streak playing against the girl, and let the W/Ls be pretty even. We took a break for pizza and we started talking about stuff and I broached the topic of how it was nice for just the two of us
CrimsonLobo
2/ to hang out as opposed to with a group, and I wasn't 100% sure if our hangout was kind of a vibe check to figure each other out, but if it was that I did like her. She shot me down in not a great way, commented that I wasn't good enough looking for her, and she didn't like my hair (long), so I was like 'okay, I'm glad we had this convo anyway' and then proceeded to annihilate her in Street Fighter. We stayed friends for a bit, but she was a pretty toxic person so me and my friends moved on.
Dracon27
My little cousin is terrible, but also a horrendously sore loser. She was in 12th behind her younger sister and was about to throw a tantrum until she passed her sister in the final stretch and came in at 11th.
Raxiel
When I play Mario cart with my youngest, we're actually playing two different games. He is racing, I'm running interference, doing everything I can to sabotage the other racers so he wins. It's actually more of a fun challenge than sleepwinning against the 50cc AI
Raxiel
If he starts talking shit he finds out though.
Rathan5
Try Mario Party. It’s easier to “accidentally” lose mini games / sabotage NPC players to push another player to victory without being obvious about it
Quarantane
I would do this, but keep iit close. Then I would get the bonus stars and end up winning anyways.
Elunar
Even if youre winning, mario party has a nifty little feature of screwing you over and giving all your hard earned stars to another player ;)
loki1328
Mario kart 8 has optional auto acceleration and collision avoidance. My 4yo has no idea just how bad she is at the game.
BladeTurMoiL
In battle mode, legitimately not doing anything has lead me to win many games against my sister in the past.
Super smash bros is similar. Stage effects + other player running off ledge. Easy wins to do nothing.
Isthe4thtimethecharm
For me, it was a little cousin who I had taught to play chess. I would occasionally let her win so as not to discourage her. She came back one time thinking she was the best. From then on, it was total annihilation. I wouldn't try to check mate until everything was gone.
MRNate
I do teams with my boys so they don’t get discouraged. They can not come in last, and contribute to the team, but we all know I’m carrying.
IdRatherBeOnThePlaystation
This is a good suggestion, thanks, I can't play with my boy yet because he just can't keep up and gets really frustrated.
AnAverageBoxEnthusiast
PROFESSIONAL mario kart tournaments have two people one on each team fight for last place to get all the best items. for fun we would play tag on mariokart tracks if you get hit or fall off the track in any way your it. race backward for hours of fun. baby park was the best for this
imOkayokay
THIS IS ROCKET LEAGUE
Sanzanna
I do this with my wife as well. In order to keep things "fair" because "my cart is better than hers" we also trade controllers every lap
CuntCrotchula
My wife and i do teams just cuz it's more chill and she won't get grumpy from me kicking the shit out of her (her words)
badexampleforagrownup
my wife got through years of gettin destroyed in Mario Cart. now she got good. but now we have kids and no time to play anymore
Qpnao
I also choose destroying your wife
xlr82xs
That is how you end up with kids.
Dociousaliexpilisticfragicalirepus
Can’t win Mario Kart to save my life.
kibbypie
I challenge you to an ultimate loser battle. I don’t know if over won a game…. I do know I’ve never finished Rainbow Road.
EpilatorAlligatorBothReduceGrowth
You need to just find the sweet spot for the shortcut.
Lichelf
You need to use the drift button.
Richter12x2
"I bring those blue sparks, bitches" - Jesus
Dociousaliexpilisticfragicalirepus
I have triiiiied. Lord KNOWS I’ve tried. 😭
BlindGardener
It’s easier if you disable the motion controls.