Best way to deal with stress in online games?

Big Boss · February 06, 2017, 02:43:35 PM

Asking because it's a problem I've had for years. I start off playing alright enough, don't even mind losing at first. It's all good fun. However as it begins to go on and on I find myself becoming increasingly frustrated and shaky to the point where I just turn off the console all together. I don't do anything drastic like smashing my controller, I just turn off the game and force myself to cool down for a few minutes.

It's part of the reason I stay away from competetive games because I know I'll just get like this. I have really bad anxiety too sometimes so it just puts me off altogether. I'm terrible with it. I was playing Pokken just now and entered a little tournament in a Facebook group that I'm in. Lost a few matches, no big deal, I even won a few. It got to a point where I was more and more fed up with it. I've noticed that it's mainly fighting games, and Smash- fuck Smash, by the-way. I know my opponent bested me and I don't hold it against them, I just feel so shitty afterwards it makes me want to just get rid of the game altogether, hell I even sold Smash a few weeks ago because it pissed me off that much.

So yeah, tl;dr games make me so fucking mad sometimes. What's the best way to deal with it? I wish I could enjoy it more. I'm not even going to touch SF online.

Luciana · February 06, 2017, 02:51:20 PM

Clearly games with the competitive aspect as its primary source is something you seem to not want to play. In that case, I'd recommend two things.

1. Play more single player heavy focused games like MGS V, Dragons Dogma, or Fallout/Skyrim

2. Play games with co-op in mind and not head to head

These two games kinds of games help me get away from a lot of stress and just zone out to something more simplistic, or something that revolves more around me and "my" time, rather than everyone elses or an urgent stress factor.

Also, fighting games piss everyone off either because you're so bad and you're aware you're bad and that pisses you off, or there are some cheesy moves.

TB · February 06, 2017, 02:51:42 PM

Competitive Rocket League will be the death of me.
Usually if I lose more then 3 games at a time I'll stop playing and angrily go on my laptop or play something else. It can borderline ruin my day though if it happens and I'm aware that the reasons I lost were fully my own. If the other player is just good then it's not overly terrible but if I'm just making stupid mistakes it's so crushing.
Actually happened yesterday but thankfully I was playing unranked solo duel so my comp. rank is still good.

Hahahaha very funny Zonda · February 06, 2017, 02:52:42 PM

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Big Boss · February 06, 2017, 02:55:42 PM

Quote from: Luciana on February 06, 2017, 02:51:20 PM

Clearly games with the competitive aspect as its primary source is something you seem to not want to play. In that case, I'd recommend two things.

1. Play more single player heavy focused games like MGS V, Dragons Dogma, or Fallout/Skyrim

2. Play games with co-op in mind and not head to head

These two games kinds of games help me get away from a lot of stress and just zone out to something more simplistic, or something that revolves more around me and "my" time, rather than everyone elses or an urgent stress factor.

Also, fighting games piss everyone off either because you're so bad and you're aware you're bad and that pisses you off, or there are some cheesy moves.

I tend to stick to strictly single player games anyway. Usually Dark Souls, weirdly enough. I find I am decent enough at the game to find it quite relaxing.

Big Boss · February 06, 2017, 02:56:35 PM

Quote from: Zonda on February 06, 2017, 02:52:42 PM

HAHAHAHAHA

wot m8

Verbatim · February 06, 2017, 03:05:45 PM

Competitive games just aren't your taste, it seems. There's nothing you can really do about that. I get pretty salty when I lose ten straight games after practicing for hours, but I have a drive to improve and become a competent player--so that keeps me going.

You have to have a hunger--not just to win, but to be the best. Whether it's best on your block or best in the world. You also have to be very patient and realize that your lofty aspirations are months if not years away. You don't really seem to have a hunger for any of that--you just wanna have fun playing games, right?

Big Boss · February 06, 2017, 03:12:07 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on February 06, 2017, 03:05:45 PM

Competitive games just aren't your taste, it seems. There's nothing you can really do about that. I get pretty salty when I lose ten straight games after practicing for hours, but I have a drive to improve and become a competent player--so that keeps me going.

You have to have a hunger--not just to win, but to be the best. Whether it's best on your block or best in the world. You also have to be very patient and realize that your lofty aspirations are months if not years away. You don't really seem to have a hunger for any of that--you just wanna have fun playing games, right?

Yeah I mainly want to have fun. I do enjoy fighting games sometimes, but then that competetive-ness aspect of it just takes over my mind and I get burnt out.

Super Irish · February 06, 2017, 03:12:58 PM

A bit of mild-mannered swearing and eye-rolls never hurt.

I use to punch my console when I was a kid if I lost repeatedly or it was a bullshit loss against a boss fight or something, but shortly after battering my PS1 across the room when I was 6 or 7 I realised it was kinda pointless getting mad over it.

I rarely get enough time on to get frustrated at a game in the first place so I don't have to think about it. Before if it was some impassable obstacle, I'd just switch to something else, e.g. CoD W@W MP to Zombies, and finish off the day with it.

Luciana · February 06, 2017, 03:17:41 PM

Quote from: TBlocks on February 06, 2017, 02:51:42 PM

Competitive Rocket League will be the death of me.
Usually if I lose more then 3 games at a time I'll stop playing and angrily go on my laptop or play something else. It can borderline ruin my day though if it happens and I'm aware that the reasons I lost were fully my own. If the other player is just good then it's not overly terrible but if I'm just making stupid mistakes it's so crushing.
Actually happened yesterday but thankfully I was playing unranked solo duel so my comp. rank is still good.

Don't feel bad. I literally just rage quit because I let the ball pass me, then I tapped it in my own net, all alone.

TB · February 06, 2017, 03:19:26 PM

Quote from: Luciana on February 06, 2017, 03:17:41 PM

Quote from: TBlocks on February 06, 2017, 02:51:42 PM
Competitive Rocket League will be the death of me.
Usually if I lose more then 3 games at a time I'll stop playing and angrily go on my laptop or play something else. It can borderline ruin my day though if it happens and I'm aware that the reasons I lost were fully my own. If the other player is just good then it's not overly terrible but if I'm just making stupid mistakes it's so crushing.
Actually happened yesterday but thankfully I was playing unranked solo duel so my comp. rank is still good.
Don't feel bad. I literally just rage quit because I let the ball pass me, then I tapped it in my own net, all alone.

Rocket League is detrimental to people's health. 100% convinced.

Luciana · February 06, 2017, 03:20:57 PM

Quote from: TBlocks on February 06, 2017, 03:19:26 PM

Quote from: Luciana on February 06, 2017, 03:17:41 PM
Quote from: TBlocks on February 06, 2017, 02:51:42 PM
Competitive Rocket League will be the death of me.
Usually if I lose more then 3 games at a time I'll stop playing and angrily go on my laptop or play something else. It can borderline ruin my day though if it happens and I'm aware that the reasons I lost were fully my own. If the other player is just good then it's not overly terrible but if I'm just making stupid mistakes it's so crushing.
Actually happened yesterday but thankfully I was playing unranked solo duel so my comp. rank is still good.
Don't feel bad. I literally just rage quit because I let the ball pass me, then I tapped it in my own net, all alone.
Rocket League is detrimental to people's health. 100% convinced.

It's weird because I saw it coming too, and I saw myself doing it. But I did it.

Luciana · February 06, 2017, 03:21:33 PM

Quote from: Big Boss on February 06, 2017, 02:55:42 PM

Quote from: Luciana on February 06, 2017, 02:51:20 PM
Clearly games with the competitive aspect as its primary source is something you seem to not want to play. In that case, I'd recommend two things.

1. Play more single player heavy focused games like MGS V, Dragons Dogma, or Fallout/Skyrim

2. Play games with co-op in mind and not head to head

These two games kinds of games help me get away from a lot of stress and just zone out to something more simplistic, or something that revolves more around me and "my" time, rather than everyone elses or an urgent stress factor.

Also, fighting games piss everyone off either because you're so bad and you're aware you're bad and that pisses you off, or there are some cheesy moves.

I tend to stick to strictly single player games anyway. Usually Dark Souls, weirdly enough. I find I am decent enough at the game to find it quite relaxing.

Well then there you go. As Verb said, competitive isn't your scene. It's not really mine either. Only time I do like it is when it's with friends I know I can either

A. Lose to/with and still enjoy it, or

B. Fuck off an entire round

Big Boss · February 06, 2017, 03:32:20 PM

Quote from: Luciana on February 06, 2017, 03:21:33 PM

Quote from: Big Boss on February 06, 2017, 02:55:42 PM
Quote from: Luciana on February 06, 2017, 02:51:20 PM
Clearly games with the competitive aspect as its primary source is something you seem to not want to play. In that case, I'd recommend two things.

1. Play more single player heavy focused games like MGS V, Dragons Dogma, or Fallout/Skyrim

2. Play games with co-op in mind and not head to head

These two games kinds of games help me get away from a lot of stress and just zone out to something more simplistic, or something that revolves more around me and "my" time, rather than everyone elses or an urgent stress factor.

Also, fighting games piss everyone off either because you're so bad and you're aware you're bad and that pisses you off, or there are some cheesy moves.

I tend to stick to strictly single player games anyway. Usually Dark Souls, weirdly enough. I find I am decent enough at the game to find it quite relaxing.
Well then there you go. As Verb said, competitive isn't your scene. It's not really mine either. Only time I do like it is when it's with friends I know I can either

A. Lose to/with and still enjoy it, or

B. Fuck off an entire round

There's a small part of me that wants to somehow get better at competetive games but I just know what will happen every time I attempt it.

Not sure if I should just give in entirely and stick to what I enjoy or not.

TB · February 06, 2017, 03:38:10 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on February 06, 2017, 03:05:45 PM

Competitive games just aren't your taste, it seems. There's nothing you can really do about that. I get pretty salty when I lose ten straight games after practicing for hours, but I have a drive to improve and become a competent player--so that keeps me going.

You have to have a hunger--not just to win, but to be the best. Whether it's best on your block or best in the world. You also have to be very patient and realize that your lofty aspirations are months if not years away. You don't really seem to have a hunger for any of that--you just wanna have fun playing games, right?

It's kinda funny you mention the hunger and drive to be the best. Whenever I'm playing RL with my buddies if we're not playing ranked for whatever reason I'll be secretly (or openly) wanting to play ranked instead. Whenever someone asks why I need to play ranked I'll word it almost exactly the way you did. The thrill of beating a foe in a pressure game is just so satisfying.

TB · February 06, 2017, 03:40:18 PM

Quote from: Luciana on February 06, 2017, 03:20:57 PM

Quote from: TBlocks on February 06, 2017, 03:19:26 PM
Quote from: Luciana on February 06, 2017, 03:17:41 PM
Quote from: TBlocks on February 06, 2017, 02:51:42 PM
Competitive Rocket League will be the death of me.
Usually if I lose more then 3 games at a time I'll stop playing and angrily go on my laptop or play something else. It can borderline ruin my day though if it happens and I'm aware that the reasons I lost were fully my own. If the other player is just good then it's not overly terrible but if I'm just making stupid mistakes it's so crushing.
Actually happened yesterday but thankfully I was playing unranked solo duel so my comp. rank is still good.
Don't feel bad. I literally just rage quit because I let the ball pass me, then I tapped it in my own net, all alone.
Rocket League is detrimental to people's health. 100% convinced.
It's weird because I saw it coming too, and I saw myself doing it. But I did it.

Those are the worst. You know it's gonna happen, you can see it, it's right there in front of you and you just fail to do the necessary things to stop it. So demoralizing tbh.

On an unrelated note, do you play much RL? Or play competitive at all?

TB · February 06, 2017, 03:41:33 PM

Silly shameless showing of my RL rank because I'm a proud idiot.

Verbatim · February 06, 2017, 03:45:30 PM

Quote from: TBlocks on February 06, 2017, 03:38:10 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on February 06, 2017, 03:05:45 PM
Competitive games just aren't your taste, it seems. There's nothing you can really do about that. I get pretty salty when I lose ten straight games after practicing for hours, but I have a drive to improve and become a competent player--so that keeps me going.

You have to have a hunger--not just to win, but to be the best. Whether it's best on your block or best in the world. You also have to be very patient and realize that your lofty aspirations are months if not years away. You don't really seem to have a hunger for any of that--you just wanna have fun playing games, right?
It's kinda funny you mention the hunger and drive to be the best. Whenever I'm playing RL with my buddies if we're not playing ranked for whatever reason I'll be secretly (or openly) wanting to play ranked instead. Whenever someone asks why I need to play ranked I'll word it almost exactly the way you did. The thrill of beating a foe in a pressure game is just so satisfying.

exactly

even if you lose, the idea of being able to look back to that game and say, "that was a great match, we both performed very well" is highly cathartic--and the knowledge that the loss only made you a wiser player should excite and invigorate you

basically you have to find the fun in losing, or "hold that L" as the cool kids say

Jet Wave · February 06, 2017, 04:00:31 PM

I stay away from competitive games too, but that's because I really do suck.

Ian · February 06, 2017, 04:04:40 PM

I'm exactly the same way. I used to play Halo and Call of Duty almost exclusively with a little bit of RTS. Then I would get so frustrated and angry I just gave up on them. I enjoy the multiplayer aspects of videogames but not the competitive aspect of it so I moved on to MMOs because it's almost always Co-Op. However that only helped with the frustration a little since most MMO players are absolute trash and can't keep up with hard content.

Ingy · February 06, 2017, 06:43:00 PM

Yell about lag, shitty teammates, hacks, and the good old what the hell I so pressed that

Lots of things you can blame

Sαndtrap · February 07, 2017, 01:32:54 AM

Age and time.

Jono · February 07, 2017, 01:59:49 AM

I stopped playing Starcraft 2 competitively after having so many frustrating games and stopped playing anything ranked in games as a whole. No broken controllers yet but I wanted to slam my keyboard against the wall on numerous occasions.

Taking games seriously is something I don't do anymore which helped me enjoy games more, although I do still enjoy winning so that competitive side of me still remains. I just stay away from ranked play now.

Playing coop games with friends is also another alternative. Its more fun playing with people you know.

FatherlyNick - fuck putin · February 07, 2017, 03:58:00 AM

I noticed this too. I would throw pieces of furniture around.
Can't play more than 20 minutes of competitive games.

eggsalad · February 07, 2017, 06:19:44 AM

You have to start caring more about the content of your matches and less about the result of them. I don't enjoy winning nearly as much as I enjoy playing well.

Elai · February 07, 2017, 06:51:52 AM

stop giving a shit.

Genghis Khan · February 07, 2017, 09:01:42 AM

Games are bad so there's no reason to be upset. I can't believe but I don't get angry in Halo 2 anymore when I lose.

Dietrich Six · February 07, 2017, 09:15:17 AM

Never play fighting games online. Competitions are fine because they remove the broken op shit, but never play them online.

There's nothing more infuriating than losing to some scrub spamming the same unblockable move and cheating his way to victory.

Other than fighting games I'm usually alright, never cared much for k/d in fps and I usually have a good time.

Big Boss · February 07, 2017, 12:46:31 PM

I don't really care about K/D much. I can play casual shooters like Battlefront or Battlefield with friends just fine and don't mind dying especially if it's hilarious. I think I just need to stay the hell away from fighting games and competition.

A Cheese Potato · February 07, 2017, 07:33:10 PM

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