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Anyone feel anxiety when playing online games?
- Thread starter RealDeadOne
- Start date
Dead Prince
Banned
i bought a headset for TF2 but never used it. lol.
Years of Diablo 2 got me acclimated to playing and talking with other people online before voice chat was a thing. Adding a mic was really just a matter of convenience once I started playing TF2, especially since I started out primarily on password-protected servers where I knew people.
Neuromancer
Member
I stopped playing most online versus games because I always felt stressed out, even when I was doing well and winning. I play games primarily to relax and blow off steam, so eventually I realized online competitive gaming wasn't a good use of my time.
At least since the 16 bit era (fighting games). I started playing online versus around the time Unreal Tournament came out. Nowadays I don't even like playing competively against friends, I'd rather play with them against the AI. That's why co-op and MP games with bots appeal to me so much now.
RealDeadOne
Member
Other than playing local games and splitscreen with friends, I didn't play online multiplayer a single time until Halo 2, and even that was just a handful of times with another friend in the room as P1.
I probably didn't play anything online by myself until a couple months after TF2 was out playing that, I must have been around 16? TF2, Halo 3 and Reach are probably the only games I've played extensively (read: 50+ hours) online to this day.
More Fun To Compute
Member
I'd never play a game that relied on voice chat or didn't let me disable it.
Less so now that I'm better practised, but I still lose 50% of the time.
My approach to games like Starcraft 2 and Street Fighter IV is just to remember that it's all for entertainment. Nothing bad happens if I lose, besides losing a slice of my time.
Playing against the AI all day just wouldn't give it the same edge; I enjoy knowing that every online encounter will be unique.
My approach to games like Starcraft 2 and Street Fighter IV is just to remember that it's all for entertainment. Nothing bad happens if I lose, besides losing a slice of my time.
Playing against the AI all day just wouldn't give it the same edge; I enjoy knowing that every online encounter will be unique.
When I do play multiplayer I either play Halo Reach or Battlefield/CS/Dota on PC, but like I said with the latter I only play a match or two before getting frustrated with myself and going to play a single player game. It's not that I'm not having any fun, I feel like I'm having significantly less fun by not playing with a community, but I can't get into any communities because I can't talk to them.
There are games like MMOs, RTS and especially Dota 2 that everyone says are best played with friends, but I don't have friends who play and have trouble getting into communities, that's where the main problem is. It's hard to explain, I'm not really afraid of people trash talking me, because I get that whether the mic is on or not if I do poorly. Just something about talking to people I don't know really bothers me.
Thanks for the advice BTW, I don't usually get to talk to anybody about this type of thing
No problem, we are here to help!
Try to get into some GAF Community game-related. New Halo, COD, MOH, RE6 etc is coming and the hype will get some GAFfers, ask some friend requests, tell them you are playing for fun not for Competition and see if someone share your interests in having that type of fun. I'm sure some GAFfers will join you and then you can have a great time again playing Multiplayer games.
Take your time, keep your mic muted if you want and with time you can listen other players and then getting in the conversation too. No need to rush and force yourself, always take your time with these things!
Also, don't hold back if you need to talk/chat. That's worst in my opinion, if you can talk and find some mature people to discuss this anxiety then go ahead. I'm sure me and other fellow GAFfers will do their best to hear you.
SmellyHands
Member
Sometimes I get anxiety. If the social aspect is basically non-existent, like in a fighting game, I'm fine. As long as I don't have to interact with others in a human-like capacity, I'm fine. I can't deal with MMOs or games that require cooperation. I imagine it must be similar to how prostitutes and their customers feel about their interactions. I just need to get what I need from this exchange. Nothing more.
DangerJuice
Member
I have only had issues with Wings of Liberty. I found myself finding excuses or stalling on the lobby screen. It's pretty sad when you think about it... I have since retired.
I think it weird when people play team based games and don't talk or have a means to communicate with everyone. It's strange that so many people seem to have this type of anxiety here while online. I would think online, where there's at least a bearer of anonymity, that people would loosen up a bit and let their guard down.
I'm a pretty outgoing person; I stand in front of people at least one a week for work and will strike up a conversation with just about anyone in the right situation, so I guess I just can't relate. I would like to encourage everyone who has a mic to at least try to get in the mix. Not all of us are shit talking assholes who only want to fuck with people. Many of us just want your help towards victory.
I'm a pretty outgoing person; I stand in front of people at least one a week for work and will strike up a conversation with just about anyone in the right situation, so I guess I just can't relate. I would like to encourage everyone who has a mic to at least try to get in the mix. Not all of us are shit talking assholes who only want to fuck with people. Many of us just want your help towards victory.
You should maybe talk to a psychiatrist. I don't think that's normal behavior for someone with normal social interaction skills.
EDIT: I'm only saying this because I've met a lot of really cool and interesting people by playing online. Sure, you'll get the irritating people who like to make things miserable, but luckily you can just quit or mute if it's bothering you.
EDIT: I'm only saying this because I've met a lot of really cool and interesting people by playing online. Sure, you'll get the irritating people who like to make things miserable, but luckily you can just quit or mute if it's bothering you.
Absolutely, StarCraft II, but it's typically when I know the game is very close, we're botgh equally skilled and the winner is unclear.
It's also slightly stressful when voice chat comes into the equation,I'm sure I'm not the only one taht wonders if I sound stupid over the internet.
I'd imagine that feelign stress in both of these situations is fairly typical.
It's also slightly stressful when voice chat comes into the equation,I'm sure I'm not the only one taht wonders if I sound stupid over the internet.
I'd imagine that feelign stress in both of these situations is fairly typical.
we.are.the.armada
Member
I tend to be assertive and I comfortably fit into a leadership role even when talking with total strangers. Unfortunately, I probably come off as an arrogant highbrow and have caused anxiety to more passive players.
I've got social anxiety so yeah I don't bother with the mic. Not a big online player anyway as it doesn't interest me.
Actually it makes me think that going online to chat in games would be good for me to get over my nerves. I have managed it once or twice when its been a big team game where everyone is chatting but 99.9% of the time its like everyone but one person is mute, and the one person talking is really quiet and confused and you just can't be bothered with the awkwardness.
Actually it makes me think that going online to chat in games would be good for me to get over my nerves. I have managed it once or twice when its been a big team game where everyone is chatting but 99.9% of the time its like everyone but one person is mute, and the one person talking is really quiet and confused and you just can't be bothered with the awkwardness.
I don't feel anxious being on the mic, as I just do it with my friends and mute everyone else. One of my other friends also mutes everyone, but the other two don't. They tell us it's pretty amusing listening to then trash talk us, and then get progressively worse because we're not responding to them. Haha.
As for playing, I am completely at ease in co op, or team based competitive play since I play exclusively with my friends. They know I suck, but they don't care. We all genuinely play for fun.
Even the more "pro" players on my friends list invite me to play, even though I am not so great. They carry the team anyway, and are still just in it for fun. So I guess I just have some great people to play with.
The only time I get anxious is when I am playing Dark Souls with a friend and we get invaded. There's a 90% that the invader is a glitcher, so it almost always spells certain death in the early going of the game.
If you sound and look like you know what you're doing, I'd have no problem following your lead. Generally I play a support role in my team, and it works out pretty well. I'm low on kills, but high on assists.
As for playing, I am completely at ease in co op, or team based competitive play since I play exclusively with my friends. They know I suck, but they don't care. We all genuinely play for fun.
Even the more "pro" players on my friends list invite me to play, even though I am not so great. They carry the team anyway, and are still just in it for fun. So I guess I just have some great people to play with.
The only time I get anxious is when I am playing Dark Souls with a friend and we get invaded. There's a 90% that the invader is a glitcher, so it almost always spells certain death in the early going of the game.
If you sound and look like you know what you're doing, I'd have no problem following your lead. Generally I play a support role in my team, and it works out pretty well. I'm low on kills, but high on assists.
RealDeadOne
Member
I have gotten therapy and improved a great deal in real life, I have groups of friends and a girlfriend and am in some clubs now. But for some reason me getting over that fear of talking face to face just didn't translate to online stuff. I'd feel kind of weird bringing it up with a therapist because I'm not sure they'd understand what I mean or even feel like it's an issue, since it's pretty limited to video games.
Though for years I've lurked forums and been unable to post, until a few months ago when I finally joined GAF and now I can post just fine. So I think the main problem is just getting over that initial hump.
Exr
Member
I used to get it as a kid playing Unreal Tournament a lot, but as I got better at the game and understood the mechanics I lost that anxiety. I play fighters a lot as well, and playing them online gives me no anxiety at all. Playing in a tournament setting turns me into a nervous wreck though.
I started having panic attacks about three months ago and my anxiety has been pretty bad for, well a long time, I just never noticed it.
Unfortunately I can't handle movie theaters anymore and I avoid the multiplayer component in most games. My anxiety can be exacerbated by games, sure, but it's mostly alright outside of some lightheadedness for lack of a better word. High tension competitive multiplayer runs me into some issues. The tension from those sort of games makes it a great deal worse and will often start effecting my heart rate beyond what you could consider normal lol.
Anyway yeah it does make anxiety worse for me but primarily from the focus and the tension in the game, not so much a social anxiety thing. Social anxiety kicks in for a different set of reasons altogether haha.
Unfortunately I can't handle movie theaters anymore and I avoid the multiplayer component in most games. My anxiety can be exacerbated by games, sure, but it's mostly alright outside of some lightheadedness for lack of a better word. High tension competitive multiplayer runs me into some issues. The tension from those sort of games makes it a great deal worse and will often start effecting my heart rate beyond what you could consider normal lol.
Anyway yeah it does make anxiety worse for me but primarily from the focus and the tension in the game, not so much a social anxiety thing. Social anxiety kicks in for a different set of reasons altogether haha.
You should try and play coop when a big game like Halo 4 comes out. Hell, add me if you want, I'm pretty talkative on the mic but everyone I play with is normally pretty mature. Part of the anxiety probably comes from the fact that there's competition like someone had mentioned with Starcraft. I think that makes the victory sweeter though.
I don't have a mic so speaking online is never a problem, but sometimes I get a bit of pressure playing team games in Uncharted 2. Sometimes I get wonderful runs (like 22/1), and in others I absolutely stink, and I hate putting the team down. I guess it really depends on the game and what you seek out of it.
Wonko_C
Member
I'm incapable of voice chat, but I like to chalk that to not being a native English speaker, and fear of not being understood and getting mocked because my pronunciation isn't good enough/having to ask others to speak slowly if I can't understand what they say.
I fare a bit better with text chat-only games, but anxiety rears its ugly head and after about an hour I feel like "fight or flee" kicks in, when it gets overwhelming I have to stop playing.
I should pay the shrink a visit.
I fare a bit better with text chat-only games, but anxiety rears its ugly head and after about an hour I feel like "fight or flee" kicks in, when it gets overwhelming I have to stop playing.
I should pay the shrink a visit.
Shining Sunshine
Banned
When I find out I'm playing games with a girl, I go into a seizure.
/gafman
/gafman
maverick40
Junior Member
Nah, games relax me no matter what type i am playing.
ChosenPredator
Banned
only because i know some people take games WAY more serious than I do and I don't want them to explode on me but if I am good at a game i'll talk more
Not anxiety, but what I do feel sometimes is extreme boredom. As in, one second I want to launch the game and play, and the next I spawn in and feel like I don't want to play anymore, and sometimes I even feel physically tired. Maybe I'm just getting old.
I don't like to use the mic either, I don't know why. I can listen to people, whatever, or use the keyboard, but talking online is something I've never liked. I can't think of a reason for it, but it's always been that way for me, just not interested in it. It's weird because in some games, like Perfect Dark Zero for example, I was the kind of guy who played it everyday, had a headset always on and even was obnoxious and sang out loud during matches. In other games like Gears of War I would never use it, maybe it was also the kind of people I found on both games. One day I stepped on my headset and didn't replace it and here I am. I think I have a mic for my PC, but its somewhere on a drawer, just can't be bothered to look for it, even for games like LoL or Dota.
With friends it's fine, no issue at all, but my friends rarely play online anyway.
I don't like to use the mic either, I don't know why. I can listen to people, whatever, or use the keyboard, but talking online is something I've never liked. I can't think of a reason for it, but it's always been that way for me, just not interested in it. It's weird because in some games, like Perfect Dark Zero for example, I was the kind of guy who played it everyday, had a headset always on and even was obnoxious and sang out loud during matches. In other games like Gears of War I would never use it, maybe it was also the kind of people I found on both games. One day I stepped on my headset and didn't replace it and here I am. I think I have a mic for my PC, but its somewhere on a drawer, just can't be bothered to look for it, even for games like LoL or Dota.
With friends it's fine, no issue at all, but my friends rarely play online anyway.
When I've been away from a game for a while (like Gears 3 recently due to Borderlands/Borderlands 2) then I get a little anxious when I first start it back up. I just need to play a couple of matches to realize I'm not garbage and can contribute to the cause. Usually fades pretty quickly for me and I don't mute other players unless they are trash talking.
I played some multiplayer games on the PC years ago but never consistently and never with a mic; my first real, "all-the-time" MP was when Gears 1 came out - so 6 years now? I'm an old guy - dag-nabit new fangled technology!
I played some multiplayer games on the PC years ago but never consistently and never with a mic; my first real, "all-the-time" MP was when Gears 1 came out - so 6 years now? I'm an old guy - dag-nabit new fangled technology!
Just pretend like you're talking to your friends/people you see everyday. Either that or just do normal call outs (or whatever, depending on what you are playing) and eventually you'll get used to just talking.
Playing with GAF in various co-op/normal MP games should also help.
Playing with GAF in various co-op/normal MP games should also help.
Nope, play some games with hardcore death penalty like Ultima or EVE Online and You will see what intense means
All the time OP, hence I tend to avoid non-coop multi-player modes in almost all games now.
Some games that get my chest throbbing so hard I can't breathe: Starcraft 2, Warcraft 3, DOTA, WoW PVP, etc. It's unfortunately made me avoid all competitive multi-player games now, so I haven't even tried stuff I want to like CS:GO.
Some games that get my chest throbbing so hard I can't breathe: Starcraft 2, Warcraft 3, DOTA, WoW PVP, etc. It's unfortunately made me avoid all competitive multi-player games now, so I haven't even tried stuff I want to like CS:GO.
Yes, definitely. It is so bad that when I play Carcassonne, which I have played a ton of,I actively avoid being online at the same time as people I am playing with. It is weird.
I can't play most games online,I just don't enjoy it. I have zero issues playing with people in person though.
I can't play most games online,I just don't enjoy it. I have zero issues playing with people in person though.
Wyndstryker
Member
Starcraft 2 ladder and only then. But once the game starts I'm good.
Everything else gets the adrenaline going and is all fun.
Everything else gets the adrenaline going and is all fun.
This is about the only thing that will get me the least bit nervous or agitated. When you're playing a big multiplayer game, such as Planetside 2, and everyone on board a massive ship is screaming for you to take off and pilot it before we all "get blown to fuck"...
Yeah, that can be a little bit nerve-racking.
But it's ok, I just proceeded to fly the Galaxy ship directly into a mountain, killing everyone on board.
Monkeylord
Member
I definitely do when playing with randoms. Only slightly less when playing against randoms.
With friends I'm fine though.
Fighting games are the worst, as it's one on one and I'm terrible and I know it, lol.
With friends I'm fine though.
Fighting games are the worst, as it's one on one and I'm terrible and I know it, lol.
megamerican
Member
I don't feel "anxiety" but yeah I don't like playing with people I know in real life online. Mainly because I don't "play to win" usually MP to me is something to kill time while I listen to a podcast or something.
I don't find co-op that much fun either. Even in something like Borderlands. I either feel like I'm babysitting, or fouling someone else up.
I don't find co-op that much fun either. Even in something like Borderlands. I either feel like I'm babysitting, or fouling someone else up.
It is exactly this.
I suffer from anxiety as well. "Fear is the worst kind of prison", or so the slogans say. I hate these kinds of self-help platitudes, but only because I know they are true. I haven't really gotten over my anxiety, and I'm not sure I will, but I've gotten through a couple of first humps that now I'm trudging along and not at an impasse, as I once were. What got me through were kind people like the ones who are posting in this thread right now, and taking a couple of leaps that my risk-averse mind considered make or break. That magnification effect that the mind applies to these anxiety causing things is at the heart of this, the more you are cognizant of it the better your chances are of beating it, or in my case working around it. Knowing that a few of brave people I looked up to had the same fears also helped.
I wish I were fearless, or at least less cowardly, but I'll have to make do with constantly reminding myself: that things aren't as impossible as my mind makes them seem to be. Pain, loss, failure aren't nearly as bad. They still suck, but nowhere near as bad. The rewards, if only that bastard mind would magnify those instead
.Good luck. (To myself as well.)
I'm sure if you end playing multiplayer with GAFfers you'll have fun anyways, they seem like good people
.P.S. A technique I found useful was to consciously belittle the negative outcomes of the action that I was anxious about. Loudly repeating "So what if such and such bad thing happens? Screw that." Silly, but you'd be surprised how well it works.