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80°

Gaming As An Antidepressant

John Santina writes: "Using video games as a crutch to get through difficult times may seem counterproductive but…well, it works."

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growngaming.com
BLAKHOODe3178d ago

Not sure if I agree. I mean, we all feel sadness from time to time and when it's just sadness video games are a nice distraction that I can get by on until i snap out of it. But I've suffered from depression most of my life and when it hits, I'm at my lowest and lose interest in everything, including video games. I'll still try playing occassionally, but I never get far before giving up on the game. I wish I could say 'try this instead', but I've yet to figure that out.

iceman063178d ago (Edited 3178d ago )

Exactly! True depression, by clinical standards, would pretty much mean that you would loose the joy in things that you once found joy in...including videogames. That being said, if one can find an ounce of joy in a joyless period of life, hell who am I to stop them. I guess the other thing is that treating depression, once past the meds, should be individualized. So, if it is indeed working, keep doing it. For me, I just have to ride out the lows and try against everything in me to find some positivity in all the negative. Then, focus on that until I am able to see the proverbial forest instead of the tree.
The best and only advice I can give is just don't give up on yourself. There's only one you and while you may not see the need for a YOU...someone else probably does (whether they've told you or not).

Summons753178d ago

Depression affects everyone differently. I have one friend who when depression really sets in he disappears for weeks, won't say a word just be gone. When I get my bouts of depression I'll lose interest in everything but that is why I dig even deeper into gaming. Just sink myself into the game so I am not "living" in the real world. Doesn't mean I'm happy playing. Also when I'm depressed I don't reply to texts, post anything on Facebook, open the windows, talk to anyone at work, and find excuses not to do regular things with my family or roommate. Anything I can to shut out the outside world. I'll sleep for days only to wake up and go to work. I was deeply depressed for years a long time ago, still fight it today but I probably would be here or the person I am today if it wasn't for gaming.

InTheZoneAC3178d ago

for those that are depressed, when you know you're depressed and don't have interest in anything, just go out and do something good for someone else. Try that for a change.

iceman063178d ago

The hardest part of that is garnering the physical and emotional energy to go out and do ANYTHING! Depression, by nature, is intensely selfish. Not that everyone depressed is inherently selfish, but that in depression there's an intense scrutiny on ones self. So much so that the person is usually renedered stagnant because they are overwhelmed by that sense of nobody caring, being alone, nobody understanding, etc. despite oftentimes the situation being the exact opposite.
I DO agree that forcing yourself to get out and do things can sometimes help. But, that's a daunting task to ask of someone that literally doesn't even really want to take care of themselves at that point. It's not that we WANT to be stuck in the mire of depression, it's the very nature of the illness. That being said, pushing yourself to do things that you might not think you're up to can give some temporary boosts to esteem and allow a bit of "i'm actually needed or wanted" to set in.

InTheZoneAC3178d ago

I understand, people that are depressed know they are depressed. It's like when I'm lazy. I know I should be taking care of priorities but don't feel like it. I'd imagine depression is almost like the same sense, you just have to get up and go do something, don't linger around and make the situation worst.

190°

Console Wars - What a Waste of Energy

Phantom Knight provides his thoughts on the futility of Console Wars.

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intothesanctum.com
2pacalypsenow2308d ago (Edited 2308d ago )

Humans are competitive by nature, in life there’s winner and losers.

Console wars don’t hurt the industry.

Tross2308d ago (Edited 2308d ago )

I actually think the companies behind the systems encourage it too, as it drives brand loyalty, which in turn drives sales. It's definitely played up, but it turns what would normally be just another boring business rivalry into something people actually get drawn into.

darthv722308d ago

On the company level though, it's often seen as corporate ribbing and not to be taken seriously. the heads of these platforms have respect for each other. The fans, however... not so much. They take everything seriously when in reality we are all in the same hobby for the same reason. We like to play video games. Can't we all just play along?

2pacalypsenow2308d ago

@darthv72

If you follow sports, this is normal.

Just search an argument of Jordan VS Lebron

Vegamyster2308d ago

2pacalypsenow

Sports has athletes representing nations, cities or communities ect, consoles are aimed for personal entertainment, a better comparison would be something like music.

UltraNova2308d ago (Edited 2308d ago )

Of course they encourage it. Big companies know exactly how people will react every time one of their execs get up on a stage, do an interview or tweet something. Everything is pre-calculated and deliberate. They know that engagement with their brand, good or bad is still engagement. Fan rivalry is an integral part of any entertainment business. This is fact, this is human nature.

2308d ago
JackBNimble2308d ago

Everyone has a team they root for , I don't see why having a preferred console should be any different.

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Jin_Sakai2308d ago (Edited 2308d ago )

“Console wars don’t hurt the industry.”

I agree. It’s just the most loyal fans having a go at it. Nothing wrong with that.

These are your biggest supporters which is a good thing. Some may go a bit overboard in defending their brand but you just have to look over those.

Kiwi662308d ago (Edited 2308d ago )

Those "loyal fans" are usually the one's who will disagree with a known fact that is also easy to look up and you think that there is nothing wrong with that lmao

Gazondaily2308d ago

To a certain extent its fine when it's kind of loose banter. I enjoy the debates and arguments but it doesnt take much for it to descend way beyond that. Console wars can hurt the industry when people take things too far.

Generally though, I do enjoy the banter and it's a good way to pass the time at work etc. But these things often go WAY past that

neutralgamer19922308d ago

Jin

These are the fans who are buying consoles day one at full price so yes to these companies the core gamers matter especially early on

2pacalypsenow2308d ago

@Kiwi66

It’s 2020, facts don’t matter anymore, it’s all about someone feelings.

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2308d ago
rainslacker2308d ago

I think they help spread misinformation. But the "wars" themselves are used as a marketing device nowadays. Side effect of the social media age.

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TheEnigma3132308d ago

it will never die. It's not much of a war when Sony has won 3/4 of it's gens in historic fashion.

Obscure_Observer2308d ago

@TheEnigma313

It is war when there´s competition, when comes to console.

You can downplay competitors and say there´s no competition at all.

Until, of course, you hear the word "exclusive" from the other side. Then if you somehow felt unconfortable in any way, that´s when you´ll realize that competition exist, whether you like it or not.

2308d ago Replies(1)
rainslacker2308d ago

I think this gen there is more warring going on than last. Seems like the vitriol is at an all time high.

Whether that has any effect on anything I won't say, because I think there would be a lot more than internet banter to have a major effect on the overall console industry.

MadLad2308d ago

Pretty much.
Some people love tribalism though.

AK912308d ago

Just give me good games

TheHateTheyGive2308d ago

Nintendo atari sega were all once in the dedicated home console race, them 3 are the og's and none of them make home consoles anymore, Sony and microsoft killed them all and nintendo's case they ran off to their handheld market because they could not keep up with the big 2 in the dedicated home console business. Ill continue to support the big 2 as long as i can.

MadLad2308d ago

Eh. Pretty sure Wii blew away everyone else that generation. Just because Nintendo pulled a Nintendo and made hardware vastly different to what else is out there, that doesn't mean they were pushed out of the console business lol. Nintendo has been around for decades. I don't think looking at the last 7 years or so speaks for the company as a whole.

darthv722308d ago

Atari... their thing was against Coleco and Mattel. when they tried to come back against Sega and Nintendo they were pretty much ignored. Just like NEC, who was the real competitor of Sega and Nintendo at the time. All platforms are competitors because each company is vying for the consumers $$. Magnavox, Atari, Coleco, Mattel, Panasonic (3do), NEC, SNK and Sega were all once competition to each other. Only Nintendo has survived and keeps on trucking with new competition from MS and Sony. And that is just the ones that were in NA and JP. In EU you had others like Amstrad, Konica and others I cant recall.

rainslacker2308d ago

NEC could have been a real force in the industry if they had any sense of how to market their console outside japan. Had tons of support, and a great system. Having Hudson backing was a big thing back in the day, as it was the only big 3rd party partnership for hardware with a console maker in console history.

Sega was eventually it's own worst enemy, and made a lot of bad business decisions. Sony just offered up a new and better paradigm for the industry. Nintendo was too stubborn with their hardware, which caused them to fall behind.

MS really didnt have much effect on any of the consoles pre-ps1. Nintendo was already having issues getting people to buy, and sega was already out when MS came in. If sega hadn't left, chances are, MS wouldnt have gone ahead with the xbox.

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50°

Razer's Tomahawk could make it easier than ever to build your own gaming PC

Gaming desktops are usually either big and heavy full-size beasts, or else miniaturized boxes that lack the power to impress. And whether you buy a complete system or an empty chassis to fill with components, they're often on the fugly side.

120°

The 10 Most Memorable Video Game Boss Encounters From The Last Two Decades

Deville Louw put together a list of 10 memorable and sometimes very difficult video game boss encounters. Do you remember these?

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fortressofsolitude.co.za
Escamotage2335d ago

Most of the games listed span more than two decades. Why even add that in the title?

Fist4achin2335d ago

There's a lot more bosses that were memorable than just this list. Tough to narrow it down to just 10.

Terry_B2335d ago

Are you okay? The most of them are from games that were released over 20 years ago.

Thundercat772335d ago (Edited 2335d ago )

That first boss fight in God of War was totally Legendary. I felt like it was a last boss fight.

Truly one of the best boss fights I ever played in a game.

Psycho Mantis fight also was Legendary.

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