I just broken another controller today because I got destroyed in an Online Madden Game. It seemed that nothing worked for me and the opponent had it easy. I want to improve at games, so i record my gameplay but hardly ever rewatch it and i know that rewatching my gameplay to see what i did good and what i need to work on would help drastically. I don’t know if its just that i don’t want to put the effort in, or if i am lazy but i am at the point of just saying screw it and just quit gaming all together since i am not going to put in the effort to actually improve.
1 Like
I understand it’s just a game. I also understand that violent outbursts only lead to my own misery. Especially online.
Outside some mild cursing at my screen, it just doesn’t happen any more.
Then again, I’m a bad example as I don’t get upset almost ever.
At the end of the day, you know yourself and why you do/don’t do things. Depends how much value you hold in it I guess.
2 Likes
Simple: I stop.
If a game frustrates me that much I clearly don’t enjoy it. If I don’t enjoy it, why am I bothering to play it? To date the only damage any of my controllers (going back to single-button Quickshot joysticks) have ever suffered has been wear-related - anything more than that would be a clear indication of a problem with me, not with the game.
2 Likes
I do get frustrated, but then I laugh! I love a challenge!
I either,
Shut it off before it gets to that point of destruction.
Or…
Think about how controllers costs as much as some games or more than others now, thus every controller destroyed is lost money towards another game I want.
There are titles or genres that I love playing or good at, but there are times where I thought I’d be in the mood for it but after so many simple eff ups, I’ll just quit and do something else.
maybe competitive gaming is not for you. get Baldur’s Gate 3
Realizing how absolute pathetic I’d look if I went back to breaking controllers over games.
Bear one thing in mind. I USED to do this. You can move past it brother.
I can honestly say I have never done something like this. Will I get called a boomer if hearing about this type of behavior over a game sounds straight up Looney Tunes to me?
So it sounds like you need to get to the root of your problem. The root of the problem is you fail to understand its a game NONE of what is in it is real. Therefore it shouldn’t matter. Maybe start by recording yourself acting this way and then watching the footage. So you can see first hand how ridiculous this behavior over a piece of Fiction is?
First, you have to realize that your anger has nothing to do with your skill level. There are plenty of tier 1 players who still rage just as hard as anyone else. This is an issue that affects many people, so you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself for experiencing it.
Many people think that the point of games is to win, but that’s not always the case. Consider playing basketball against a 5-year-old. Neither of you would have fun because the 5-year-old doesn’t stand a chance, and you face no challenge. Fun occurs when you have a challenge that matches your skill level, and you still manage to win by trying something new or generally improving.
Anger in games often arises from a disconnect between what you believe your skill level should be and what it actually is. If you think you should be winning and you’re getting destroyed, you need to accept the fact that the other person is either better than you or just got lucky. Keep in mind that even players at extremely high ELO levels only win about 55-60% of their games.
It’s essential to keep perspective when gaming. A loss is not a reflection of your worth or skill, but a part of the learning process. If anger continues to be an issue, consider it an indicator that something needs to be addressed, either in how you approach the game or how you manage stress and expectations. Either way, the key is to focus on the enjoyment and challenges the game brings, rather than letting your emotions take control.
Just relax and listen to that every time you play a crap EA sport video game.
I forgot to save before a crucial decision in Starfield and my most recent save before the quest was 12 hours before. If the quest asks you to choose A or B and gives you the option of answering later, select that and create a new save. I’m not angry just disappointed.
Stay positive. Instead of getting angry. Think on how did you lose and how to counter it. What can you do differently to win?
I don’t think of my opponent, I just play the game. That’s how I don’t feel the pressure.
if its a game like madden where strategy is the culprit rather than false reaction time / your ability to use a controller/tool then your losses are strategic and nothing more.
Problem with strategy is its a product of knowing the game, more than it is knowing the real life it is attempting to mimic. For example nearly every sport video game has cheese plays, cheese players, much less so than the wrap around goals of nhl 99 but still they exist and a lot of online play revolves around learning them and abusing them.
I think if you’re noticing games inciting emotions you don’t enjoy having then its a confused reaction to where you are spending your time, more so than a genuine emotional response to something that deserves it. It can be hard to move on and find other games to play, but sometimes sticking to the games that remind you of real life the most can be the worst, because the inconsistencies between the two (like social interaction, lasting bonds etc.) can be negatively influencing your capability to develop those skills in reality.
I’d think with most sports it would be more interesting trying to understand the strategy as it comes from the coaches themselves, but that’s more getting into gambling analytics, determining your own spreads and betting based on where those spreads coordinate with the “official” ones. Efficiency isn’t about emotion its about removing emotion, if you want to remain emotional (for good reason, joy is an emotion as well) then you need to take a step away from efficiency.
I’ve gotten so used to disappointment in WoW that I’m mostly desensitized to it now. You win some, you lose some.
Since only YOU can figure out what triggers that kind of anger as well as what you can do to help recognize and stop it…I will tell you what can at least help you prevent you breaking your controller if you get to that point.
Buy a controller wrist strap that will keep the thing flying away from you and breaking. Use that until you figure out how to control yourself.
I used to throw my controllers across the room years ago but now thought it was stupid. I’ll yell a bit of profanity now but that’s about it.
As someone who worked at Activision on Modern Warfare 2019, we worked 6 days a week, 10 hour shifts. And I never got sick of the game.
- They’re nothing but pixels. The blood isn’t real.
- Redefine winning. Best fumble? Best kick to the other team that they returned for a TD?
- Post your stats with friends. Friendly competition, especially for best fumbles and screw ups really helps.
- If all else fails, then do what the devs suggested we do. Get into a food fight with someone we actually like.
My dad was the best baseball coach ever. He would tell his teams, “Baseball is the most negative sport to play. If you FAIL 7 out of 10 times at bat, you’re having a fantastic season.”
He was right. Plus he would tell us that if we weren’t having fun, to quit and do something else. We play for fun. He was a disabled Vietnam Vet who won the Purple Heart 2 in one morning.
Take everything with a grain of salt, and a huge punch line.
Coming to the realization that everything around me is irreplaceable simply due to the expense.