WannabePlayer
Noob
tl;dr: I believe there is no such thing as being cheap during competitive play (such as tournaments), and that being cheap is only possible when playing casually.
Prologue: I decided to write this after hearing for the thousandth time "Wow, he's just being hella cheap" from a tournament commentator. I hear it so many times from players when it shouldn't be used. I feel like it's a very negative word that can make your hateful feelings stronger (I know, touchy-feely, Jedi crap, whatever) and that it is almost always used inappropriately.
Many throw the word "cheap" around without knowing what being "cheap" really is. To me, if you're playing in any sort of serious match whether it's at a tournament or online, there is absolutely no such thing as being cheap. Everyone has a fair chance and if your opponent keeps spamming projectiles, using the same combos, or turtling and running away, it is your job to find a way around it. Competition is supposed to decide who at the current time is the better player. If you can't defeat somebody because they keep doing the same simple thing over and over again, I'm sorry, but he/she is the better player at that time. Again, in my opinion, there is no such thing as being cheap in any tournament or competitive or practice match.
I believe that being cheap is only possible in casual play. The sole purpose of casual play is not to win, but to have fun. If you're playing casually against someone at your level or higher doing things like spamming, using the same simple moves, or anything else that may be considered cheap, it probably isn't really cheap. If your opponent begins to complain and say he's not having fun the way you keep spamming Sheeva's down up, it's best if you stop — it is casual play after all. On the other hand, if you're playing with friends who aren't as good as you, friends who don't know combos over four hits, friends who don't know that you can cancel a dash by blocking, friends who don't know how to use Xrays or how to use EX specials, and you keep doing things like spamming, that is being very cheap. Even if you're playing how you normally would in a tournament or any serious match, it's still being very cheap under these circumstances. It's just casual play with people who aren't even good at the game; everyone just wants to have fun. If you're stopping the fun in any way, you're being an airhead, you're being cheap, you're not being very sportsmanlike, and you're setting a bad example for the fighting game community. Now, if you decide to bust it all out and impress all your friends by playing your best for a round or two, that's fine in most cases. Your friends will be shocked, they will all have some good laughs, and you're demonstrating the possibilities in the game. This is not being cheap because it has a very beneficial purpose — and who knows, maybe it can inspire some of your friends to get much better at the game.
It's very important to have good intentions during a game. Be respectful to your opponents, be modest, be humble, be helpful, be open, even in tournament play. Not only will it help you keep your cool, but it will reflect nicely upon everyone, and set a better example for the fighting game community.
Thank you for tolerating my 2 AM, comma-infested rant. If you disagree with me on anything, please, I encourage you to comment telling me why, and please be nice about it. If you would like to add anything, please do! Even if you want to tear my posts to shreds, if you do it politely, I'll love it and seriously appreciate it.
Prologue: I decided to write this after hearing for the thousandth time "Wow, he's just being hella cheap" from a tournament commentator. I hear it so many times from players when it shouldn't be used. I feel like it's a very negative word that can make your hateful feelings stronger (I know, touchy-feely, Jedi crap, whatever) and that it is almost always used inappropriately.
Many throw the word "cheap" around without knowing what being "cheap" really is. To me, if you're playing in any sort of serious match whether it's at a tournament or online, there is absolutely no such thing as being cheap. Everyone has a fair chance and if your opponent keeps spamming projectiles, using the same combos, or turtling and running away, it is your job to find a way around it. Competition is supposed to decide who at the current time is the better player. If you can't defeat somebody because they keep doing the same simple thing over and over again, I'm sorry, but he/she is the better player at that time. Again, in my opinion, there is no such thing as being cheap in any tournament or competitive or practice match.
I believe that being cheap is only possible in casual play. The sole purpose of casual play is not to win, but to have fun. If you're playing casually against someone at your level or higher doing things like spamming, using the same simple moves, or anything else that may be considered cheap, it probably isn't really cheap. If your opponent begins to complain and say he's not having fun the way you keep spamming Sheeva's down up, it's best if you stop — it is casual play after all. On the other hand, if you're playing with friends who aren't as good as you, friends who don't know combos over four hits, friends who don't know that you can cancel a dash by blocking, friends who don't know how to use Xrays or how to use EX specials, and you keep doing things like spamming, that is being very cheap. Even if you're playing how you normally would in a tournament or any serious match, it's still being very cheap under these circumstances. It's just casual play with people who aren't even good at the game; everyone just wants to have fun. If you're stopping the fun in any way, you're being an airhead, you're being cheap, you're not being very sportsmanlike, and you're setting a bad example for the fighting game community. Now, if you decide to bust it all out and impress all your friends by playing your best for a round or two, that's fine in most cases. Your friends will be shocked, they will all have some good laughs, and you're demonstrating the possibilities in the game. This is not being cheap because it has a very beneficial purpose — and who knows, maybe it can inspire some of your friends to get much better at the game.
It's very important to have good intentions during a game. Be respectful to your opponents, be modest, be humble, be helpful, be open, even in tournament play. Not only will it help you keep your cool, but it will reflect nicely upon everyone, and set a better example for the fighting game community.
Thank you for tolerating my 2 AM, comma-infested rant. If you disagree with me on anything, please, I encourage you to comment telling me why, and please be nice about it. If you would like to add anything, please do! Even if you want to tear my posts to shreds, if you do it politely, I'll love it and seriously appreciate it.
