I’ll preface this blog with a story: As a motivated university student with a twenty-five year old brother who barely got through high school, one of the only ways he and I can bond is through video games. When I was five, and he was ten, I got my first console from him. It was a twofer, actually. I received both a chunky, gray gameboy (the original) and his old SNES. He had just gotten a Playstation, if I remember correctly. It was through him that I learned about Mario and Link and Contra. As we grew up, I remember learning about the finer points of stealth action games such as Metal Gear Solid, even though I was far too young for it. And ah, the joys of watching prostitution in Grand Theft Auto before I had even hit puberty still haunt me. When he hit eighteen years old, he stopped playing games. I continued buying consoles and games as I do today. For him, it was just a “boys will be boys” phase, and for me, it’s one of the most important things in my life.

However, when I see him, I still bond by letting him play games I think he might like. He’ll occasionally beat a game, about five a year. He’s playing Final Fantasy XIII right now, and before that, he beat Prototype. He plays WoW, but I don’t count that as serious gaming. Nevertheless, one of the things we both enjoy together is a casual game: Guitar Hero.

It was a few days ago when my brother and I were playing Guitar Hero 5 together that an interesting thing happened. I play on expert. I’m not sure if this has to do with the fact that I’m a classically-trained guitar player and brass-instrument musician, and I’m naturally inclined to do better, or if it’s the fact that my fingers are nimble from my years of video gaming. Either way, I play expert, and he usually plays on medium.

I was taking an ice cream break and sat down as I watched him attempt a song (I don’t remember what it was) on hard. He got frustrated and messed up. This sight of getting frustrated at a video game got me, as a gamer, thoroughly amused. Naturally, because of the type of relationship my brother and I have, I said, “FAILBOAT! LOLOLOL! What a casual.”

Because of how frustrated he was, he got up, slammed down the guitar, and screamed, “WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?! If I wanted your opinion, I would’ve asked for it!” and started to walk away. Normally, a comment like this would have caused him to smile and strike back. Instead, he was seriously pissed off.

As he was walking away, I said, “YOU MADDDD!” and then yelled, “RAAAAGEQUIT” as he walked out the door.

Yes, I’m a troll. But this point has a story. I mean… this story has a point. You cannot get to a place where something as casual as video gaming gets you so angry. So, here are my tips on how to avoid ragequitting:

1. Remember that this is a video game you’re playing. It doesn’t matter if you play 50 hours a week on your level 80 tankadin, if you play Team Fortress 2 early into the morning, or if your idea of gaming is Peggle. The one thing all gamers, from hardcore to casual and everything in-between, have in common is that they’re playing an interactive fictional story which has little-to-no impact on their everyday lives. The game isn’t real.
2. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Yeah, I, myself, spend between 10-25 hours a week playing video games, but do I think I’m the ultimate gamer, a gift of the Gods? No. Why? Because I know that in the end, all I’m doing is sitting in front of a screen playing a game. You can tease people in good fun, but don’t take it too seriously. If you take yourself seriously, it’s the beginning of the end.
3. Get a life. I’m not trolling here either. Yeah, I spent a lot of time a week gaming, but I also go out at least 2-3 days a week, manage to get all my homework done, and I read and write just as much as I game. And if I get inspiration to write, if I’m reading a really good book, or if I have a lot of homework, I sometimes won’t game at all. Last semester, I went a month without picking up a controller. It happens, and if it doesn’t happen, then it’s probably a sign of addiction. You need to be able to put down the controller and step outside.
4. Try renting games. I’m not a fan of renting anymore, but there was a point in my life when I’d rent a game so that I knew I could only play it a certain amount. I rented Grand Theft Auto 3 when it first came out and returned it after two days. I didn’t pick it up again and buy it until a few months later when a break rolled again. It might be a strategy that works for you.
5. Just don’t get addicted. It’s the people who get addicted to video games that have superiority complexes and get really upset. If you think you’re addicted, test it out. Can you go a few weeks without playing something? If you can’t, have a friend hold onto your console until you get your life on track. Chances are, if you’re addicted, your real life could probably be in better shape.

In conclusion, don’t be like my brother. Have fun with life, and don’t let something that’s supposed to be fun get you down.

Note: It’s a little late, but it happens. I had a lot going on in my personal and academic lives in March. Comments, questions, suggestions for articles go here! As always, I’ll respond back!

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Infiny wrote on March 29, 2010

Title: ... LOL WELL Video games, while amusing and enjoyable are also supposed to be frustrating in order to be challenging and make you feel like you've actually 'accomplished' something even if you have wasted x hours. So I don't know, it's a very natural response to be frustrated. Unless you're a real cool cucumber, losing is always frustrating? Some things just totally justify throwing controllers (like playing Digital Devil Saga 2). And of course, if you're already annoyed, then frustrated, snide comments (even if it's something really normal to do) can just be that straw that breaks the camel's back. Also I hate guitar hero and I would ragequit that game until the sun goes down. and then ragequit some more. Those nimble fingers are totally from guitar playing. /10 years of gaming has done nothing to help me accomplish my dream of rocking down the world. MAN I WISH MY LIFE COULD BE SUNSHINE AND VIDEOGAMES report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Lexa113 wrote on March 30, 2010

Title: ... Lol that situation is like me and my brother except it's reversed, but he's also totally addicted. D: I laugh at ragequitters no matter what the circumstance. I played WoW for a year and have never ever ragequit. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

GenericWit wrote on March 30, 2010

Title: ... LOL Infiny: I TOTALLY understand being frustrated; don't get me wrong. You're right. It's a completely natural response to trying and failing at something. However, I think there's a point of frustration that isn't healthy. I spent 2 hours trying to beat 'Tubular' on Super Mario World the first time around, and you can bet your ass that I didn't beat Rainbow Six Vegas 2 on realistic the first time around. There was a level where I spent literally 4 hours in a row trying and trying again to beat it. Also, like my brother, I've played WoW. So, yeah, I've experienced trying and wiping in a raid for hours on end. Do I really think it ever warrants being frustrated to the point where you storm out of a house? No. Hehe. Maybe I am just more coolheaded about games. Even when I do get frustrated, troll comments generally make me laugh. When I totaled my car, my friend came into my room with the license plate he snagged from the wreckage (he was in the wreck with me) and said, "hey, did you remember to lock your car? ...oh... wait. This is awkward" and then put down the license plate on my bed. I laughed really hard. I think I'm just made of different material than ragequitters. Hehe. This blog is really just about game addiction though. @Lexa13: Yes~! Thank you for understanding! Isn't trolling ragequitters just the highlight of your day?! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

Infiny wrote on March 31, 2010

Title: ... Well, honestly, the whole anecdote just seems just to be like an off-kilter example for gaming addiction to me. All your brother really seems to possibly have a problem with is the first two of your pointers, and you've mentioned that games are a far bigger part of your life than his. To me just seems like a case of wrong place wrong time but, of course, I do not know your nor your brother. Er not trying to hate or anything ]: report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

GenericWit wrote on April 01, 2010

Title: ... My brother's all of the above, sadly. But it's not as bad as it could be. Hehe. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

monogatari wrote on April 03, 2010

Title: ... *sigh* I was setting up my shop in an online MMORPG and took a nap. When I woke up I checked and saw that I just sold my most expensive item for 5 million instead of 50 million. I was about to cry and I quickly remember this post. I feel better after reading it. It's just a money game anyway. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

GenericWit wrote on April 04, 2010

Title: ... Aww. Poor mono. I think we've all been through things like that. It does suck to know that something you've worked for for a while is now gone for nothing. I get that feeling every time a power outage happens, and I haven't saved in what seems like a billion years! I'm glad you feel better though! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

Iarrod wrote on April 04, 2010

Title: ... I've only touched the controller for 3 hrs in the past month due to assignments >. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

chaos' morning star wrote on May 17, 2010

Title: Gamer...to the core... You know...I'm a massive gamer. Hell I work in a game store I'm that much of a gamer...but I don't think I've ever once ragequit ANYTHING...I've seen my older brother do it...(Halo 2 had him pissy for days...) I mean I've gotten quite pissed off at games, like Prince of Persia; Two Thrones...That last boss...on hard...Damn. I think it's just having the ability to control your anger and not spazz out like a kid who missed his daily dose of Ritalin, you know? When you're an adult throwing tantrums has no appeal and people with better judgement know to hold back instead of stomping their feet and yelling that it isn't fair. I totally agree with your points. The bottom line is they need to step back and access why the hell they get so caught up and angry over something like that. Alot of it is probably some underlining anger that they need something little as a means to vent it…I’m all for venting…but ragequitting…probably isn’t the best way. ^^” report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Ceridwen wrote on May 26, 2010

Title: ... Hah...interesting. I actually had some irritating business with ragequitting earlier today, when I was playing Super Smash Brothers Brawl with some friends. I really don't care if people are better than me--what I really hate is when they endeavor to use extremely annoying, game-breaking cheating tactics--like using the Starfox smash to carry people off the screen in an instant kill. It's cheap, it's pathetic, and it's annoying. I do try to make myself not care...I do report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Ceridwen wrote on May 26, 2010

Title: ... (continued since it ate the latter half of my comment o.-) But there's just something so dang irritating about dying pathetically. I get just as irked when people teabag me in Halo. I mean really. Are you five? report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

iThreat wrote on June 27, 2010

Title: ... heheh I play wow. addict ftw. I'm only on here when I can't play wow because it's not on the comp I'm on =D report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

COrbane wrote on July 05, 2010

Title: ... Goodness! That just remembers me when I was five and would throw down the controller because I was game-over. Now the worst I had is to loose a swear word when I try something hard and lose for such a silly thing like not clicking on the good thing or a moment of unattention and that's it: you lost. This, or when I've tried something like a hundred times to vainquish a boss and just keep on failling, THAT makes me down but I've not been raging for that since I do have a life. (Well, I think I do have a life, at least...) report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Cupnoodles wrote on July 08, 2010

Title: ... I really like and agree with what you've written. But you know, I think ragequitting can be very useful as well. Though I don't ragequit that often it still happens now and then. And when I do ragequit, I usually start attending to the things that should be done without a second glance at the console or pc until I'm done. Hope you don't mind the question, but are you female or male? report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Vixi wrote on July 23, 2010

Title: ... Hey, at least he can ragequit... The worst part of video game addiction is when you can't. When you hate what you're playing and yet you can't quit. THAT'S when you know you have a problem. When you don't sleep, 'cause you've got to get that item / achievement. When you forget your friends and you forget yourself too. When you don't eat and the world outside looks scary. Funnily enough, scanlation allowed me to break my addiction. ^^; Gaming addiction is as bad as so many other addictions like with alcohol or smoking, and like any other addiction, the first step is admitting you have a problem XD... report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

codemoshi13 wrote on July 29, 2010

Title: ... I don't think I really ragequit on games, but I just kinda give up on them for a while, then pick them up again...Except for Assassin's Creed, I've been having a hard time trying to get into the hospital in one town for a target, so I haven't touched the game in a while.... report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

DarkestFey wrote on January 23, 2011

Title: ... OMG...yes I am a gamer...Oblivion, Diablo 2, wow, guitar hero, Psychonauts, Bring it on baby...and I know about ragequitting....btw it happens in stories too. The other thing I am is a writer. But real life is is like that too, yeah? We start stuff...we go a while and then it gets hard. We contemplate what we are going to do...figure out a strategy...and sometimes fail. My motto for the year is Extraordinary feats take extraordinary effort. Yeah it is simple and a duh...but think about it like a gamer..you have to face a boss...what do you need to do...all buffs on..make sure your gear and extras are optimized you are taking extraordinary effort to beat the boss. So why is life different. Dupach Chaprah said...Luck is preparation meeting opportunity. I have to agree with him. You can get to where you want to go..but if you aren't ready...then so what...you will ragequit after the fifth or sixth time of hitting the rl boss....but if you take the time to prepare... Yeah a lot of people sneer at gamers...I know...my life isn't yours and I will spend more on computer gear next year than is comfortable to say...but...my rl is prepared...I know who the boss is and have equipped appropriately...can you say the same? report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0