Time to Lose

In a Gamespot interview, Tomonobu Itagaki (the head ninja of Team Ninja) had some insightful words for the rest of the world.

TI: Well, let me tell you the misunderstanding of most other makers of fighting games. The most important thing for a fighting game is that it has to be fun, even when you lose. In other words, you know, if you win or lose, it needs to be fun.

So many have forgotten that losing can be fun too.

People have built their identities around their victories and their trophies. They speak as if a victory is something they can own. Perhaps in a zero sum game, trophies will matter. But life and meaning structures have never been a zero sum game.

Not many can understand that, in the face of worthy opponents, winning and losing is secondary. It is especially difficult for those not involved in competitive sports to understand that the joy actually lies in the struggle and the journey. Often, the meaning is in meeting worthy opponents and in overcoming or succumbing to them.

When two teams fighting for the last decisive point, tired to the bone, each unwilling to concede and the game dragged on for what seemed like an eternity.... at this point, no one can discount each other's pain, grit or skills, and no one can deny the kind of respect they hold within, no matter how much they would hate to lose.

So many of my worthy opponents are now my friends, and as opponents they remain. But allies, they are, to my greatest opponent: myself.