The new guy

[Smokescreen]

I recently got Left 4 Dead 2. I was finally able to afford it and because I loved the original I was looking forward to playing the game. I could even afford the occasional DLC now!

L4D is noteworthy for me because it's the first game I played online and remains so for the time being. Because the mechanics of the game insist that you help each other out, leaving someone behind isn't quite forbidden but nobody wants to do it. Of course, I've had the experience of telling or being told; "No! Go without me I'm done for!" but for the most part when someone gets in trouble, you go back and help, right?

There is a 'but' of course.

I'm the new guy, now. I don't know the maps, I don't know how the new Infected work, or the new health devices. Yes, I read the instructions but it's a game; you have to play it to understand.

Which is why it has been so discouraging to be the newbie.

I'm about average at gaming and I try to keep a casual attitude about it. But no matter what; I still have to learn how things work. In Dead Center, I didn't know that the goal was to fill the car with gas-I didn't hear the characters tell me what the goal was. The people I was playing with didn't tell me, often ran ahead without me and one person even asked why I kept getting lost and knocked down.

"I'm new and I don't know the maps," I said, trying to sound cheerful but I couldn't escape the feeling that the other players were done with me. A few minutes later, they left, we failed the mission and I started over with bots.

Sigh. I kept at it and eventually people joined up, including another new player, and we got through the mission.

Last night I attempted to get through Dark Carnival. I found a room, waited, and when the party leader asked, "Are we ready to go?" I replied, "You bet!" and he said, "Not you," and kicked me from the game.

I didn't even know the guy and yeah, I shouldn't take it personally but it's hard not to. I'm new, I want to learn how to play and play better, I want to explore a bit and see what cool routes or jokes or things might be hidden in the game because I know they're in there. I don't know many people who play online so I'm out there, trying to make new friends, in the casual sense of the word. And people don't want to show the the ropes/have fun with me, so it's hard.

Because I'm late. I'm the new kid at school and nobody wants to tell me where the lunchroom is. I haven't had a chance to get any further and it's bumming me out just a little bit.

If I had misbehaved for any reason, I'd totally get it. Nobody should have to put up with bad behavior. I just want to have fun, you know?

I guess my point is this: Everybody is new sometimes and if you want people to keep playing the game you love, you have to welcome the newbies. I know not everyone is going to mesh and become best chums or anything as silly as that, but is it really such a pain in the ass to help a new player who isn't being a dick through one mission?

Help a robot out, man....

Just food for thought. Cheers!

 

[Nebr66]

Some gamers just have entitlement issues, it's kinda sad sometimes. Something similar happened to me once, one of my team mates switched teams on me just because he was loosing and the other player and I "weren't taking things seriously" (actual quote).

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Sounds like you got stuck with a few assholes.

I only ever play L4D with friends, so everyone helps the less skilled players.

 

[L3m0n_L1m3]

Yeah, it's especially bad on the 360. I don't think I've ever not been kicked from a match online before.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

There will always be those who think because you are new to a certain FPS, you are new to FPS's period. They are idiots and your skills, when you get to know the ropes, will dazzle them. Or, at the very least, take it back. It depends on how egotistical the other players were.

 

[Lawnmooer]

I always help newer players out. I also played through all the maps solo on hard difficulty before going online got used to all the weapons I could learned the maps and what to and not to do. But if you are on the xbox 360 then YOU will meet people who deserve a really hard punch in the face when you are online it's a fact unless you only play with friends...

 

[IckleMissMayhem]

I had the exact same thing with L4D (I picked up a cheap copy a few weeks before L4D2 was released) Tried to get better, but I don't think it's possible to play catch-up to that extent, especially if arsey self-proclaimed 'expert' players won't give anyone a chance. Grab a copy of Orange Box, and play Team Fortress 2 instead. Much more fun, and less asshattery!!!

 

[Doctor VonSexMachine]

Try turning on the subtitles so you don't miss anything.
You seem to have had bad luck with the multiplayer people. If you are very self concious, try playing with bots in singleplayer or making a friends-only game.

 

[Smokescreen]

Thanks everybody.

I get that there are assholes out there and I don't want to make this a 'poor me' thing. Sometimes things suck; nature of the beast. People will find me, we'll play, and everything will be cool eventually.

Just asking people to stop for a second and consider what they've done to bring new people into the fold (or discourage them) lately?

 

[Willis_D]

I've never played L4D2 online, so I'd be in the same boat if I did.
I did have that experience the first couple of times I played Halo 3 online. Dudes who sounded older giving out to me because I'm not amazing, one actually telling me to go and hide so I didn't bring the team down. I'm a lot better now, but that type of person still pisses me off when I see them.

 

[Enemy Of The State]

Same thing happened when I joined PSN. You get used to it.

 

[QuadrAlien]

Alas, some of these problems still occur after a while of playing - I had one game where one of my teammates was desperate to rush forwards, while another was lagging behind trying to advance slowly. Given it was the Bleed Out mutation (health constantly draining, more hordes), I think the rusher had the right idea, to be honest.

Mind you, I wouldn't recommend Versus or Realism before you've worked out the map on Campaign at least - and I'm told Expert's a step up from L4D1's difficulty, so best to try an easier mode first. Versus Realism is entirely wrong for beginners.

...Not that I can tell if you have done these things, of course, so if you haven't, I apologise.

 

[Smokescreen]

Same thing happened when I joined PSN. You get used to it.

Yeah, but we shouldn't have to. More importantly, I think an attitude of inclusiveness helps us more than becoming immune. Think playground rules; sure you could be a dick but who wants to play with you then?

But again; not that everyone should/has to get along, or that people should put up with dicks. Just saying that the one game we play with the newbies, we can afford to be nice.

@ everyone else; that's some good advice about the game/people too. Thanks.

 

[wkrepelin]

Yeah, I know what you mean. That's kinda just how it is. Try not to let it ruin your experience and if you find that it is all I can recommend is to game with your friends. I agree with your point but we're the same species that fights over everything else so, why not games? I know it sucks. Chin up though. Cheers.

 

[Optimus Hagrid]

You did play through all the campaigns with bots before venturing online right?

Nobody gave me help when I was learning to play online games, I was just spat on and called a noob. I'll still do what I can to help but I'm not really that good at online games so meh.

 

[Smokescreen]

You did play through all the campaigns with bots before venturing online right?

No; I'd just played the original. But so what? L4D is specifically designed to be played with others. The whole point is getting people together to interact and help out-it's a fundamental play mechanic!

Nobody gave me help when I was learning to play online games, I was just spat on and called a noob.

And what I'm saying is; if we want people to play games with us, we shouldn't do that. I realize playing videogames isn't quite the marginalized behavior is once was but we still want people to play with, right?

Think about it this way; more people will be friendly if, when they start off, people are friendly to them.

And more people become dicks when they are treated dickishly.

 

[oreopizza47]

online gaming is particularly hard with this, because people seem to think that since they have access to the internet, they run it. occassionaly you'll meet one or two nice people, but they're either brand-new too, or just haven't learned the game well-enough to be in the upper echelons. i don't know, i think that people should be more welcoming, but i also know it's not gonna happen. it's human nature, survival of the fittest. only problem is, modern-day kids don't have to survive day-to-day, usually it's just given to them. so they survive in the game. and they push away outside interference to try and show the rest how good they are.

excuse my ramblings, it's just that i've had a few similar experiences. in one of the shooters i play online, hacking is common fare. so anytime someone manages to do even slightly well, just a bit better than the rest, "hacker" is thrown around like a curse-word in accussation. and me, being the tech know-it-all that i am not, doesn't know the first thing about hacking. and so i had to learn. and yet, the hostility of the people forces me away by way of booting whenever i get the top score.

again, pardon my ramblings.

 

[Ryuo]

I'm a friends-only type myself (few of them at that -.-)
After hearing of an almost legendary amount of kicks on L4D/2.
Never have been one to play with people I don't know anyway, so there's that.

 

[hazabaza1]

What helped me was playing a few friends only match, or a match with bots, to gather to layout of the map, and some of the strategies. I can now clear expert mode with only one non-AI buddy!

 

[Exius Xavarus]

I would honestly say play through a mission or two, to get a feel for the new mechanics. Once you're familiar with how to play more easily, then go online and play with others. I always help players worse than I(and I'm still pretty bad) but it gets annoying when the guy has absolutely no idea what to do at all. Not saying you don't, but you know what I mean. And as someone else said, turn on subtitles. That'll make sure you don't miss anything.