Recently, Mixer streamer and professionalFortniteplayer Ninja made waves on the internet after posting a viral rant tweet about competitive gaming and the “It’s just a game” mindset. Ninja’s statement has since sparked a massive debate in his mentions, with a variety of replies debating how anger relates to competitive drive.
In debates like these, it’s important to consider the many different facets of competitive psychology and how emotions can fuel or disrupt competitive behavior. The psychology of competitive activity in all forms, not just video games likeFortniteorStreet FighterorLeague of Legends, is a nuanced topic influenced by a variety of factors that can affect the mindset of a competitor, positively or negatively.
Ninja’s Viral Tweet
Breaking downNinja’s tweet about people who don’t get angry when they loseis tough, because on one hand, he is trying to make a nuanced statement under a character limit. On the other hand, this raises plenty of opportunities for readers to misinterpret his opinion and the purpose behind his statement. Many of the replies are of course joking and over-simplifying his rant on purpose, but there are those who genuinely disagree with his stance on the relationship between anger and competing.
Going off his experience asa top tier and record-breakingFortnitecompetitor, Ninja’s tweet reflects how he believes emotions inherently relate to competitive activity and how anger stems from a competitor’s passion for the game they compete in. He believes that the dismissal of an angry reaction to a loss or defeat equates to a “weak mindset.” This tweet boils down to if the player doesn’t feel frustration or anger after losing a game, then they are not passionate enough in that activity to see success or improvement (that is, at least, one interpretation).
Anger as a Competitive Hindrance
Ninja’s sentiment is in the right place, and his comments to some extent ring true. Even thoughNinja doesn’t play as much competitiveFortniteanymoredue to his focus on streaming, his opinions on competition are absolutely still valid. Competitive drive usually stems from an individual’s passion for the game they’re competing in, an emotional attachment. The problem is that anger doesn’t inherently translate into passion/dedication or vice versa, as it’s a complex emotion that affects everyone differently. Competitors can get angry or frustrated over a loss, but that emotion doesn’t always get immediately channeled back into the game for everyone. How people channel and handle this emotion is what cultivates improvement or passion, not just the feeling itself.
There’s a reason why rage quitting and saltiness are common entities in competitive gaming, because it’s a direct reflection of how players handle anger or frustration.Some have even quit in the middle of tournaments likeFortniteorSmash Bros.due to emotion overtaking their ability to play altogether. Blatant anger over a loss is more indicative of a lack of discipline than a feeling of passion. A player’s mindset is formed by their competitive experience, which in turn dictates their reaction to a tough loss. Ninja believes anger fuels dedication to improve, but while that fighting spirit needs to be cultivated and influenced by loss, it’s not dependent on it.
Players are angry after losing when they believe odds are insurmountable, even if they’re on a level playing field. Anger can manifest negatively just as often as it can influence a player positively,even in challenging single player games. Frustrated players often feel a sense of fight or flight when they’re down or lose a game, which can result in players consciously giving up before the competition is even over. Fight or flight, regardless of what someone chooses, always instills a sense of haste and urgency. People are forced to make split-second decisions that matter, and should they fail, it’s more disappointing or frustrating in the moment compared to anything else.
Anger as a Competitive Stimulant
Contrary to that, there are competitors who can focus this negative energy into positive outcomes later on. It’s a technique akin to the “clutch factor” used in a variety of competitive games. A prime example of the clutch factor would beNinja’s 23-kill game in Keemstar’sFortnitetournament. It’s a quality that’s universal among all competitive activities, and is often exactly what top players need to get the edge on their competition this time or next time. This is what mostly aligns with Ninja’s comments, the drive to improve/succeed being encouraged and pushed by loss.
Using anger as competitive encouragement is more about learning from mistakes. Losses stick around mentally for any competitor, but for players who can channel that into honing their skills, it can be a very effective tool to “get good.” There’s a residual adrenaline that comes from competitors thinking critically about their loss, and in turn fuels their desire to improve much more. For competitors with a renewed motivation, this means more time in training mode or studying fundamentals and strategies. Unlike anger hindering competitors, players with a more disciplined mental state can take losses constructively and focus on what in their play was lacking. More seasoned players can even tap into this ability mid-game,allowing for amazing comebacks like GO1 beating SonicFox at EVO 2019 inDragon Ball FighterZ.
Tapping into this anger is usually an internal experience, meaning most players don’t outwardly express anger when it becomes a motivator. This emotion powers a laser-like focus for competitors on becoming better next time. Many professional Esports players are capable of using their anger as a competitive stimulant, even if they may not talk about it very often.
Understanding Competitive Psychology
Ninja wrote abook that provides tips on how to “get good"in a variety of ways. In his book, Ninja goes further into detail on his sentiment in an excerpt from his book,Get Good: My Ultimate Guide to Gaming,where he provides a more detailed version of his opinion:
While it is true that he’s speaking from his own personal perspective, competitors can understand that mindsets sway and change all the time. Ninja, like others who compete in video games for a living, know this better than anyone. It’s not like viewers haven’t ever tuned into a Ninja orShroud Mixerstream where they weren’t playing their absolute best. Like anyone else, competitors are human and capable of losing from time to time.
While it is true that “It’s just a game” is a statement that equates to telling someone who’s pissed off to “relax,” it’s worth noting that not all improvement is driven by frustration. There are plenty of competitors out there who may not feel anger at all when they lose a game. To them each loss is part of the experience, which means they’re satisfied with the game regardless of how they perform. Sure, these players may return to the drawing board after a bad loss to re-evaluate their mistakes, but it’s not necessarily driven by a stressful desire to win. Competitive desire is a mindset influenced by multiple different factors for different people, and doesn’t necessarily require a primal “hungry” instinct to result in success.
