I'd also heard about that rat experiment (probably on HN) and also tried applying it to fighting games since my friend I usually played with seemed to get really mad most of the times we played. I think it worked somewhat, but then I told him what I did and he didn't take it well. I kinda get why he'd be mad about losing, but then he never plays without me, doesn't spend time in training mode, doesn't watch videos on the games, etc. Not sure what he expects then, I don't think he's gonna improve much jumping right into a real match while rusty and possibly not even understanding all the fundamentals. Not sure there's a solution here since you can't really force people to care about or like things. Ideally we'd both keep striving to improve and competing with each other, but instead I hear "I'll never be better than you anyway". I'm not even god-tier at FGs, I'll lose 90% of the time if I do online matchmaking. I'm just good enough to have trouble getting new people to play with me.

The rat strat may be worth revisiting but it's not very fun letting people win, and it feels dishonest and disrespectful as well. The closest thing I've found is to play super defensive. If I try to take as few hits as possible and drag out the battle it still serves as practice, and I kinda let them set the pace.

I can’t believe I’m giving social advice on HN, but maybe it will help.

> I told him what I did and he didn't take it well

This was a mistake. Ask yourself why you did it. If you don’t have a good answer, one possibility is that it was your ego. Another is your very strong adherence to a certain code of behavior that others do not relate to.

> we'd both keep striving to improve and competing with each other

I’m not sure competing with someone who is not on your level is a normal approach.

I also doubt your friend sees the situation the same way as you. They are more of a recreational player. It’s a level below where you are, but for some reason you want them to care more.

> I'll lose 90% of the time if I do online matchmaking

And yet playing in person is important to you. It’s fun?

> it's not very fun letting people win, and it feels dishonest and disrespectful as well

At work, you want people on your team to pull their weight even though you could do the job better. How do you keep them from being discouraged? A strategy like this works.