Not if you're really bad at them.
this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2024
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The key is adjusting difficulty so that it's not too boring but not too frustrating. I am really bad at Elden Ring but I just made myself over leveled and it's quite fun. Occasionally I just get help for a boss if it's too frustrating.
I am too old to care about the pride of being good at it though.
This.
I used to be great at shooters; I'd pull off some ridiculous lucky shot and get accused of botting.
Now I play other games when I have a gap between projects. It's fun, it's mindless, and the cacophony of images swirling past my attention settles down in a respite that meditation can't give me.
I can't tell you whether or not the violent imagery has or will break my brain faster or slower than karate or the army did. Why don't we work on the big picture now and work the fine edges later.
Tilted!
One player games on easy?
Yeah people seem to forget you can just play games for fun.
It doesn't have to be a challenge or a competition.
I kinda feel pity for all the online cheaters. They must be under enormous constant stress to be unable to play without cheating.
I'm really bad at them - I usually get the "clickbait" title in CS2 ^^ And it's still a stress relief method, and I'm still anti gun, anti violence and I (most of the time) don't act put of anger.
Awesome, let me Install Postal 2 quickly.
I read that as Portal 2, I really am obsessed with valve games ain't I
Don’t forget about Manhunt and Manhunt 2.
"In the non-violent condition, however, participants with higher scores in Machiavellianism had a higher increase in cortisol" - linked study
So people trying to be manipulative bastards in 'nice' games increase thier stress? Interesting.
Unfortunately the source study appears to be paywall and not yet on sci-hub, so don't know what specific games they used. As to how they define Machiavellianism, I assume something toke this:
"In the field of personality psychology, Machiavellianism is a personality trait characterized by interpersonal manipulation, indifference to morality, lack of empathy, and a strategic focus on self-interest." - Wikipedia
"In the field of personality psychology, Machiavellianism is a personality trait characterized by interpersonal manipulation, indifference to morality, lack of empathy, and a strategic focus on self-interest." - Wikipedia
That's basically how I play every RPG... I don't care about the NPCs because they're not real, so everything I do is for the benefit of my character because that makes a tangible difference in the world (namely by giving me more money or power to better manipulate said world).
Not surprising at all. Animal's stress hormones don't go up after a battle you walk away from unharmed.
I recommend Left 4 Dead 2 for a minimum of two hours after work
Would add Darktide here from a gameplay perspective. The melee in that one is... chef's kiss.
From pretty much all other perspectives... it's a TenCent game, so I'm really conflicted.
I kinda feel like it only works if you're getting the stress out, and not being stressed out.
Blasting demons in a mindless Doom-like game? Stress free.
Getting your ass handed to you in a Souls game? Stress inducing.