Playing with friends FTW

2012-03-15 05:35:56

#1

jsnipy: ...; +3,276|6520|...

So random pub games aren't more fruitful after all ...

http://games.slashdot.org/story/12/03/1 … tter-gamer

http://slashdot.org/ wrote:
"Computer scientists at the University of Colorado and the Stevens Institute of Technology have shown that gamers that play with friends play better. The study used the blockbuster FPS Halo: Reach as a testbed, and combined ground truth data on friendships from an anonymous survey with data about the multiplayer competitions extracted using the Reach Stats API. They found that the more friends you have on your team, the more assists, the fewer betrayals, the more you score, and the greater the probability your team wins, and that this 'friends for the win' effect goes above and beyond the benefits of playing with skilled strangers. (They also show that older gamers are statistically better than younger players, contrary to popular opinion.) Study lead Prof. Aaron Clauset, writing on his blog, says that friends 'may be able to effectively anticipate or adapt to each others' actions or strategies without an explicit need for verbal (and thus time consuming) communication or coordination,' and 'these effects may be fairly universal, and not merely limited to the traditional domains like sports and war, where practicing together has a long tradition.'"

2012-03-15 05:54:48

#2

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6151|what

The Sacred Band of Thebes was a troop of picked soldiers, consisting of 150 male couples which formed the elite force of the Theban army in the 4th century BC.

Plutarch records that the Sacred Band was made up of male couples, the rationale being that lovers could fight more fiercely and cohesively than strangers with no ardent bonds. According to Plutarch's Life of Pelopidas, the inspiration for the Band's formation came from Plato's Symposium, wherein the character Phaedrus remarks,

And if there were only some way of contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their beloved, they would be the very best governors of their own city, abstaining from all dishonour, and emulating one another in honour; and when fighting at each other's side, although a mere handful, they would overcome the world. For what lover would not choose rather to be seen by all mankind than by his beloved, either when abandoning his post or throwing away his arms? He would be ready to die a thousand deaths rather than endure this. Or who would desert his beloved or fail him in the hour of danger?

It was organised by the Theban commander Gorgidas in 378 BC and played a crucial role in the Battle of Leuctra. It was annihilated by Philip II of Macedon in the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Band_of_Thebes

2012-03-15 06:39:52

#3

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6151|what

This is not a new concept and has been known for millennia.

The Greeks thought that you would even fight fiercer if it was your lover you fought beside.

See the Ancient Band of Thebes as an example.

So jsnipy, reckon you play better with your boyfriend on your team or doesn't he make a difference?

2012-03-15 06:49:54

#4

Macbeth: Banned; +2,444|5584

Whoa slashdot is still around.

2012-03-15 06:53:47

#5

FFLink: There is.; +1,380|6689|Devon, England

How is THIS news worthy? It seems like logic, to me.

2012-03-15 08:23:17

#6

Brasso: member; +1,549|6628

your friends are more likely to be on the same page as you even if there is no communication

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2012-03-15 08:25:46

#7

jsnipy: ...; +3,276|6520|...

AussieReaper wrote:
So jsnipy, reckon you play better with your boyfriend on your team or doesn't he make a difference?

My boyfriend is always on my team. We shared the same mouse and keyboard. I play better on top.

2012-03-15 08:27:42

#8

UnkleRukus: That Guy; +236|5034|Massachusetts, USA

I think it depends on the circumstance. Sometimes it's funny to just betray your friend for a good laugh.

If the women don't find ya handsome. They should at least find ya handy.

2012-03-15 09:21:17

#9

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,053|6770|PNW

Brasso wrote:
your friends are more likely to be on the same page as you even if there is no communication

Simply this. It's a two-way learning of friends' behaviors in-game and coming up with ways to complement them. This has been observed in video game after video game for years.

UnkleRukus wrote:
I think it depends on the circumstance. Sometimes it's funny to just betray your friend for a good laugh.

When push comes to shove, most groups of buddies will buckle down and cooperate.

2012-03-15 09:59:10

#10

Finray: Hup! Dos, Tres, Cuatro; +2,629|5786|Catherine Black

So why is it that when I ladder on SC2 I play like a Platinum player but when I'm against someone I know I play like a bronze leaguer?

happens to everyone I play too.