Have you ever rage-quit during a game before? If you said “no,” you’re lying. We’ve all been there, but how much rage is too much? Here are some tips for when your gamer rage starts to overflow.
Try Positive Self-Talk
What are you telling yourself when you lose a game? What does it mean to you? Most of the time, our opinions of ourselves can drive us crazy. You may be telling yourself: “I’m a loser.” “I suck.” “I can’t do this.” These are negative thoughts that can really take a toll on your gaming skills, as well as your daily life. Try practicing some positive affirmations or perspective to “I can do difficult things” or “Just because I lose doesn’t mean I’m a loser.” You have to be your own cheerleader in life, especially when you game!
Play a More Relaxing Game
Maybe it’s just not the day to play Cuphead or Elden Ring. Some games are more challenging than others and it’s okay to not really have the head for it sometimes. If you’re raging too much, go for a relaxing game. Animal Crossing is a great stress reducer. Tetris always does it for me, too. Find what will get you in a better mood and try that harder game tomorrow.
Take a Break from Gaming
It’s okay unplug from time to time. If you’re having a bad day, then maybe you need some time away from the controller. Too much gaming can lead to overstimulation, which can result in irritability, headaches, and anxiety. Try going for a walk or doing a craft to give your brain something new to do. It’s important to recharge your controllers, but it’s important to recharge yourself, too.
Seek Professional Help
At the end of the day, video games are supposed to be fun. If you find yourself taking it all too seriously, then maybe it’s not the video game. There could be something else going on in your life that needs to be addressed. Too much anger can be a sign of emotional or psychological problems that can be treated. Search for a therapist to talk to about your concerns. Take care of yourself and focus on what you need. It’s easy to get angry during a game, but don’t take it out on your controllers.
You’re in the middle of a Smash Bros. Ultimate online battle. Your opposition has been tea-bagging the entire time, gimping, and meteor smashing you. You finally get the upper hand with only one more stock. You’re off the side of the stage, and they’re ready to Meteor Smash you again. You press to dodge and clutch the side of the stage to the right, but you dodge to the left and start free falling. And there they are, tea-bagging again, as you’ve just thrown the match because of one controller error.
Dust is a Real Problem
If your characters move when you’re not pressing anything, then your controller might be suffering from a terrible phenomenon known as controller drift. Controller drift is a malfunction of the control stick that leads to undetectable pressure being put on it. The drift can be continuous or quick, but it is a problem deep within the controller. Essentially, the most common culprit is dust. There’s space around the base of the stick that can collect microscopic intruders, like dust flakes or even food. Leaving your controller out in the open can lead to dust developing deep within the controller. As a result, you get control drift.
Wear and Tear can be a Problem, Too
It’s also possible that the stick has can become worn with repeated use. Controllers are built to respond to the most sensitive of movements. If you find yourself aggressively pushing the stick or banging your controller down after a rage quit, then you could be wearing away at the hardware. Companies might need to address this problem with updated, heavy-duty products or some kits to replace worn parts. Until then, it’s up to us to save our money and our controllers.
With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility
Most importantly, you want to make sure that your controller is clean and stored in a safe place. Preferably, keep it away from exposure to dust in a tightly-sealed drawer. Go a step further and use a controller case, too. This will provide an extra layer of protection. Also, there are plenty of DIYs online that explain how to take your controller apart and clean it. There are even tool kits that are made just for this kind of thing. You’ll want to use a Q-tip or even compressed air to clean and treat your controllers right. Keep gaming, and keep it clean.
This year, CD Project RED has confirmed that they’re working on a sequel in The Witcher franchise. The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is a classic and a masterpiece to many, with its impressive graphics, lively gameplay, and extensive story. How could they live up to such high standards? Here are some ideas that could make The Witcher 4 rise to the occasion.
1. Keep Geralt as the Main Focus
Depending on which ending you got in The Witcher 3, there’s a lot of insinuation that Geralt wants to hang up his medallion for good. Kaer Morhen is falling apart and aging, just like The Witchers themselves, making them a somewhat fading breed of heroes. As much as retirement would look good on Geralt, we don’t want another bait and switch like what they did with The Last of Us, where Joel was barely playable. We got to play as Ciri for some key moments of the story, which is cool and all, but Geralt will always be our favorite.
As Geralt says in The Witcher 3: “Damn candles.” We all know the pain of trying to loot a crate, but then lighting up a nearby candle…pointlessly. There is no real function to this little trick. As much as it could impress Yennefer during a candlelit dinner, it doesn’t do anything for the game. Removing this function completely would leave many players grateful that they can freely loot without interruption.
3. Online Gameplay
There are already so many elements to The Witcher games, but online compatibility is not one of them. Including an online mode would be a great way to take a break from Story Mode or contracts. Competitive play in the form of a treasure hunt or monster mash would be an epic challenge. There could even be some rewards, such as items, extra coins, or armor for the best of the best. Getting gamers to challenge each other could really add something new and fresh.
Some people think “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” when it comes to franchises, but throwing a curveball and expanding on the realm of possibilities is always exciting for gamers. No matter what the game entails, we all want another chance to roam around the Continent. Until then, we’ll be waiting on the edge of our gaming chairs for more news!
