Games as Medication?

Chad434

So I was recently dumped by the woman that I thought was both the love of my life and my best friend (my fiancee, even!). As often seems to be the case in things like this, it was random and out of the blue despite many words and signs that things were great - up until that stunning phone call. Overall its been one of the most painful experiences I've yet had in life and its barely just beginning.

The point of all this emo bitching is that need a kickass vacation right now. I'm sure most of us here play games to escape from one real-life torment or another because the escapism of an immersive virtual world serves as a great on demand vacation.

What I am wondering is what do all of you guys play when you are feeling especially down or upset? What games are the best distractions at times like these?

Szechuanosaurus

Doctors have used videogames as pain control for patients suffering from things like extreme burns. I think they have them play games while they're changing dressings or something - takes the mind off it I guess.

LewieP

Rez.

and I feel for you

BaronVonSnakPak

play god of war and imagine every enemy as your ex.

edit: when i was in a similar situation, i played ALOT of katamari damacy. i guess all the lunacy and pastel color scheme helped keep me level.

Chad434

I'm finding rampages in Crackdown to be cathartic.

Captain K

Just play whatever you like. I'd suggest not picking up any MMORPG habits in the next couple of weeks--you need something to fill the void, but it's probably not in your best interests to get addicted to WoW or the like.

mntorankusu

The only games I like when I'm feeling down are music- or rhythm-based games. Most everything else just seems boring or pointless, and I just can't enjoy it.

Music is the best medicine.

Axen

Mount & Blade. Great game and also good for releasing some stress.

Mr_Grinch

The Punisher (with crack applied...need a modded xbox though but it's perfectly legal!). Sure, it was far from a good game but there's something just cathartic about pushing a drill through a guys skull, or pushing someone's head in to a tank full of piranhas. I keep this game around JUST to make me feel better.

I never did complete it though.

LewieP

Mr_Grinch wrote: »

with crack applied...

what does it do? (I've not played The Punisher, but want to)

Edcrab

I'm assuming he means the violence-patch thing I heard about, but hey, maybe cocaine would help.


Anyway: ouch, man I always found old school beat-'em-ups to be strangely therapeutic, mostly because they didn't require much thinking on my part.

Beefsandwich

Mines been Guitar Hero at the moment, but i have to allow myself for at least an hour of it though, no way can i only do just the one song and leave it, too addictive. I also just put on GTA sometimes (xbox or pc) and have a drive around while listening to my tunes, that usually sorts me out. I used to have a save on KoTOR aswell just before Kashyyk, that place just felt so calming to me, was awesome.

Mr_Grinch

LewieP wrote: »

Mr_Grinch wrote: »

with crack applied...

what does it do? (I've not played The Punisher, but want to)

In the original game (unless it's been released uncut) the camera pans away at times to avoid the violence. It also fades to black and white/greyscale during the majority of the kill sequences so they aren't as gory. The crack takes these black and white bits out completely and also keeps the camera focussed on the action. If I'm not mistaken you can't actually remove these from the pc version!

To actually apply the crack you need to rip your Game to ISO format, apply the crack (available with a bit of a google) and then burn out the new image, hence the need for a modded box.

There are parts of the game (such as the insane-mode, or whatever it's called) that are meant to be black and white, original versions of the crack took this out too and it lost it's effect, later versions fixed this, so make sure you pick up the most up to date version.

It's a fantastically fun game though, even if it is censored but there's something so stress relieving about feeding someone in to a blender and watching in full gory detail.

I'm likely a tad wrong in the head.

saikocat

That sucks, Chad. Hope you find something to cheer you up. Btw, through a phone call? Seriously? Not even in person?

Personally, I'd go with Guitar Hero. Nothing beats pretending to be a rockstar. Probably Viva Pinata too, you'll lose track of time and it's so adorable.

Hotlead Junkie

I's pretty unhealthy to do so probably, but when I'm feeling down and ticked off I'll grab a game I enjoy, put the volume on full blast and just kick ass until I feel better.

I rarley do that as it feels like the cheap way out and if someone tries to interrupt me when I'm doing this I get extremley pissed off but hey, you asked, plus it lets me blow off steam. Probably because I don't drink or smoke or anything, nice way to vent I suppose.

Nerdtendo

Rampage World Tour

Demolishing buildings and chewing pedestrians to a mushy pulp?

If that isn't stress relief, I don't know what is.

Peas

Endure.

And in enduring,grow strong.

Rook

Peas wrote: »

Endure.

And in enduring,grow strong.

:^:

I found Test Drive Unlimited was my recent "get over it" game. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. worked really well. I'm sure it's

Enwolf

Buy Guitar Hero. It basicly got me through the worst parts of the same situation, if you can get your friends addicted to it as well and rock out. There is nothing that can bother you while your compeating with a good rival in a pro-faceoff. Honestly, I don't know what I would have done with out the Game.

Also i'm verry sorry to hear about the split...lossing someone you loved like is just devistating. Hopfully it will eventualy turn out to be a postive and not a negative.

schmads

I second what a lot of people have said. Less "mental" games seem to work better for me. I don't want to go play a deep, story-intensive game, because if I'm emotionally unhappy, I just won't give a shit.

On the other hand, that seems like the best time to play some Guitar Hero. Disconnect your brain and rock out to the tunes. Fun side effect: after playing for a few hours, the entire room will move by itself after you stop. Add alcohol to augment this effect, but be careful not to overdo it, especially when unhappy.

If you're feeling more violent, I recommend God Hand. Administering a ball-buster will make anyone feel better. That game might be a bit hard if you're not in a good mood, but it certainly is simple, funny and violent.

Tastyfish

House of the Dead 'X', at a pub/bar with friends?

Alcohol, Headshots, Music and Girls - what more do you need?