Should I take a break from gaming?

[tony_good]

I was thinking I should quit, but I know I would never do that.

I just get so tense and angry when I look at things like Twin Galaxies' records and see that I can usually achieve the SECOND highest score, but not #1, and there is nothing worse than being second best. I refuse to submit any score that is not a new world record.

Unable to get A++ in SFIII 3rd Strike, for example, I got so angry I flipped a chair and threw a pillow, screaming obscenities and wanting to hit myself (which I have actually done in the past).

Sometimes I have to double up on my blood pressure medication because I just know it gets too high with playing certain games.

But lately, I've been going through a spell where I can't play for shit.

Games are the only thing I was ever really good at, so I know that I will never be at peace with myself to be second best.

It's like a catch 22.

Doctors tell me to cut back on my caffeine and try to get some more exercise, but I've been a caffeine freak for as long as I can remember and exercising takes up spare time, meaning I'll have less time to play games and write about them. I don't know what to do.

Any advice?

[Berserker]

Yeah, here's some advice, and really it's something I learned years ago:

99% of the time, you're not going to be "the best", when dealing with absolutes in the way you're talking about.

I used to be very much the same way you seem to be, believe it or not. I wanted to be "the best", not just at videogames, but whatever. It was my general attitude, I would accept not only nothing but the best from myself, but "the best", as in, the absolute best, which is very much how you seem to come off as thinking.

It was pretty consuming. I spent half of the time believing I was the best, and the other half being majorly pissed when I thought I wasn't. I had a violent temper, and I've still got a few holes left in the wall as a reminder. My ego was large, and in hindsight, pretty fragile, since it was really so easy to dash it to pieces and get pissed off, just by NOT being "the best".

Eventually, I was forced to take a step back, and re-examine my values. Why was I trying to be "the best"? Who was I trying to impress? After spending some time in a bit of a rut, a depression really, and not being able to come up with any genuine conclusions, eventually it dawned on me that I really don't need to impress anyone, nor do I need to strive to be "the best" according to anyone elses standards but my own.

It was all bullshit.


So, that's my take on it, whatever it's worth. In short, my advice is to not take a break from gaming, but rather to take a step back, and genuinely think about what your motivations are to be "the best" by whomever elses standards, and of what are these motivations actually worth to you. What do you accomplish by thinking this way? Be honest with yourself, face facts, and think about it. I don't pretend to know what your motivations are in comparison to what mine were, but if you do this, I think at least you may enhance your perspective on just why you're doing what you're doing.

It was a hard thing to do for me, so I wish you luck in sorting it all out.

[Dahne]

The point isn't to be good at them, but to enjoy them. There's no need to do something optional that makes you unhappy. We've all had times when we've clobbered our controllers (my childhood is a testimony to the resiliance of Nintendo products), and thebest thing to do is just go do something else for a while. Competition, even against something inanimate, can be unhealthy when it's taken too far.

Hope ya feel better about it soon.

[Flack]

If you are having thoughts about hurting yourself, are having blood pressure issues and are getting so mad you're throwing things around the house, then I would say sell all your games tomorrow and buy a fishing pole. Seriously.

Video games are listed under "recreation" for a reason. They're supposed to be FUN. If they're anything but ... get rid of them.

[jajaja]

Heh.. I played Tekken 5 earlier today and I had problems beating the last boss. I tried like 50 times and it took about 30 mins. I stomped in the floor and was realy pissed. Its a normal reaction to be angry. But if you lose totaly controll and throw things around and not thinking about what could happend its worse.
People react diffrently, but its normal to get pissed off.

In my opinion its always recommended to take a break from playing games and do other stuff, even if you dont get angry or anything.

[Kamino]

If you are having thoughts about hurting yourself, are having blood pressure issues and are getting so mad you're throwing things around the house, then I would say sell all your games tomorrow and buy a fishing pole. Seriously.

Video games are listed under "recreation" for a reason. They're supposed to be FUN. If they're anything but ... get rid of them.
Gaming can be an adrenaline rush, and frustrating and angering...and still be fun...IF You know how to handle that sort of rush.
Tony, sounds like you don't. I suggest you quit. Especially since your health is being affected. Put down that controller, get off the caffiene, and get some exercise..before SFIII Kills you.
And duh, don't self medicate. That warrants a "you idiot!"

[jajaja]

Heh.. I played Tekken 5 earlier today and I had problems beating the last boss. I tried like 50 times and it took about 30 mins. I stomped in the floor and was realy pissed. Its a normal reaction to be angry. But if you lose totaly controll and throw things around and not thinking about what could happend its worse.
People react diffrently, but its normal to get pissed off.

In my opinion its always recommended to take a break from playing games and do other stuff, even if you dont get angry or anything.

[JJNova]

If you are having thoughts about hurting yourself, are having blood pressure issues and are getting so mad you're throwing things around the house, then I would say sell all your games tomorrow and buy a fishing pole. Seriously.

Video games are listed under "recreation" for a reason. They're supposed to be FUN. If they're anything but ... get rid of them.

I'm in full agreement. I find that I need to take a break occassionally though, and it's been the best thing for me. Especially surrounding myself with DigitalPress, RottenTomatoes VG, and the #Vbender chat. I start to flood myself with video games and it tends to become something that I must know all, be all, and outsmart all who challenge me. Bah! It's petty though. Their games, and they are there to entertain. Yes, most of the users here are collectors, but I'm sure you have noticed, as have I, that a lot of them collect loose games...... so that they can play them!

if you get too much into the games that you arent enjoying them anymore, start doing something else with your time for a month and then come back to it. At least for me, it's like being re-acquainted with an old friend.

[Poofta!]

damn man, wow. i think you should just focus on a different genre of games or a different aspect of gaming all together, im and rpg gamer which is very calming and if you play a really good rpg, its like reading a great novel.

or take a break from playing the games and focus on something different like collecting, reading history, buidling an arcade? collecting roms etc. personally i needed to do this at one point and spent about 4 months making an rpg in rpg maker for pc.

but yeah man definately take a break from those 'competative' games for a while, play something relaxing instead.

good luck ! =] =]

[Berserker]

Sage advice, folks.

You know, on second thought, I take back what I said before. You may indeed need to take a break from gaming for a while.

The main point I was trying to make was that from my experience with something like this, it's not nescesarily just about gaming, it extends much deeper than that, just about anything can be made into a competition when you're in that certain type of mindset. But at their core, games themselves are competitive in nature, so perhaps taking a break from it for a while would help.

[tony_good]

OK, thanks for the tips. They have definitely come in handy. Except for the one about getting rid of my game and getting a fishing pole - I detest fishing like a sickness, and it would be even more infuriating than losing at a game. You can buy fish, you know...

But I am going to take a break from the games that make me lose control.

I've been playing too much since I am looking for a job and have a lot of spare time waiting for call backs for interviews and what not.

I do have 2 world records, and I should be satisfied with that. How many people could have a world record at all?

But slow paced, non-competitive games like RPGs or classics that I am NOT trying to go for the high score, I think would be best after a short break.

Then, back to SFIII.3

[Arcade Antics]

You ARE videogaming.

Definitely cut back on the caffeine if it's making you edgy / angry / tense, but never give up on gaming. :) Everyone goes through spells of "bad game days" sometimes for several days at a time, but you always recover.

Also, what Berserker said.

Game ON. 8-)

[Half Japanese]

There is always someone better.

You can take that phrase in two ways. You can either realize that it's pointless to get angry and curse and hit yourself and just relax and have fun with your games.
-OR-
You can dedicate yourself full-time to a rigorous regiment of exercise and endurance training, becoming the best and avenging your injured goofy-ass fat friend by becoming the ultimate kickboxer.

The choice is yours.

[tony_good]

You can dedicate yourself full-time to a rigorous regiment of exercise and endurance training, becoming the best and avenging your injured goofy-ass fat friend by becoming the ultimate kickboxer.

What on Earth that means exactly I don't know, but it sure is funny! LOL

[Tron 2.0]

I was thinking I should quit, but I know I would never do that.

I just get so tense and angry when I look at things like Twin Galaxies' records and see that I can usually achieve the SECOND highest score, but not #1, and there is nothing worse than being second best. I refuse to submit any score that is not a new world record.

Unable to get A++ in SFIII 3rd Strike, for example, I got so angry I flipped a chair and threw a pillow, screaming obscenities and wanting to hit myself (which I have actually done in the past).

Sometimes I have to double up on my blood pressure medication because I just know it gets too high with playing certain games.

But lately, I've been going through a spell where I can't play for shit.

Games are the only thing I was ever really good at, so I know that I will never be at peace with myself to be second best.

It's like a catch 22.

Doctors tell me to cut back on my caffeine and try to get some more exercise, but I've been a caffeine freak for as long as I can remember and exercising takes up spare time, meaning I'll have less time to play games and write about them. I don't know what to do.

Any advice?
Doesn't hurt to take a break now and then.

If you feel burn out and done all you can so far then do it.

It can happen to any body especially if, you have every console ever made.

Some times haveing to much to play can drive ya crazy.

[jdc]

I try to avoid those games that piss me off. I've become angry in the past, swearing and wanting to toss the controller. It makes my wife wonder what the hell is going on. LOL

Definitely switch genres for a while then go back to SF. If you still can't do it then get rid of the game before it gives you a heart attack and beats you permanently.