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Finding inspiration in video games

Discussion in 'Off-topic Discussion' started by NikNakZombieWhack, Jun 6, 2019.

  1. NikNakZombieWhack

    NikNakZombieWhack Fapstronaut

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    Does anyone have any games they recommend that have been of particularly good aid in recovery? For example, games with profound meaning, or games that inspire you to stay strong?

    I just finished Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. I found a lot of parallels to addiction recovery and overcoming immense internal forces. I don't know how many gamers are looming within this community, so I'll share some quotes here, as well as a video or two of the game itself to get a feel for it, and it's Wiki for anyone interested to read up on it and decide if they're interested enough to pursue it more themselves.

    https://thehellblade.fandom.com/wiki/Hellblade:_Senua's_Sacrifice



    "The hardest battles are fought in the mind, not with the sword."

    "Never forget what it is like to see the world as a child, Senua: where every autumn leaf is a work of art; every rolling cloud, a moving picture; every day a new story. We too emerge from this magic, like a wave from the ocean, only to return back to the sea. Do not mourn the waves, the leaves and the clouds. Because even in darkness the wonder and beauty of the world never leaves. It’s always there, just waiting to be seen again."

    "The further she saw into the darkness, the more she struggled to see anything at all."

    "Only suffering brings salvation. It is the way of the gods."
     
  2. T-72 M4

    T-72 M4 Fapstronaut

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    No. Games won't help you in recovery. Many people have told this before, I can just repeat.

    Video entertainment is interesting in some, particular ways, but it won't fulfill you properly during reboot period.
    Find something deeper--books, art, calm music and so on.
    Senua Sacrifice is one production in sea of gaming industry. Most of the games are easy, absorbing and poorly rewarding.
     
  3. T-72 M4

    T-72 M4 Fapstronaut

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    I didn't mean, games should be difficult to fulfill anything. Clicking and watching story won't let you overcome addiction.

    I'm playing by myself since more than 20 years, but it's only entertainment I'm trying to reduce.
    Most of us have problem both with games, porn, alcohol and so on.
    I don't know which group the author is.
     
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  4. NikNakZombieWhack

    NikNakZombieWhack Fapstronaut

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    Well that's just false, and also your opinion. Games might not help some people, but they can and do help other people. For me personally, what I was speaking about in my post was games with story, dialogue, and character development that resonate with people who are or have overcome addiction and all of its burdens. The actual mechanics and difficulty of the game don't matter. It's the quotes and feelings expressed throughout that stay with you, not how tough that boss was.

    I'm also not relying completely on games to get me through this, and never implied that was my goal either. I have several hobbies, a pretty intense job, lots of friends and family for support, I'm actively dating, I read and journal, I workout regularly, and also have several addiction coping mechanisms I've learned from when I quit smoking and drugs. I even posted about this in another thread, how it's a severe chink in our armor to rely entirely on one or two things to get through the really heavy withdrawals. I think it was the emergency button thread.

    Anyway, back to the topic, I'm already a gamer, whether I'm struggling with another addiction or not. So, it's a very suiting medium for me to spend some time in. Why not find some content that would be both fun and rewarding, as well as speak to me on a personal level about something I'm currently struggling with?

    Hellblade is rife with themes of loss, depression, willpower, abuse, meaning, love, and overcoming burden. It won't fix you, but it can help you, if you let it.

    Games are not just games. Some games are art.
     
  5. For me, playing fallout new Vegas definitely helped me with urges on my longest streak. I wouldnt say I got inspiration from it. It just really helped.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 6, 2019
  6. Infrasapiens

    Infrasapiens Fapstronaut

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    The Hotline Miami series, it made me realize I have to change my ways before it's too late.

    Yeah? Well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion man.
     
  7. T-72 M4

    T-72 M4 Fapstronaut

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    Brother, I'm playing same kind of games.
    I'm also reading a loooot of books. I've found those dialogues, adventures and character's development pretty flat when I passed my teenage.

    Really. I cannot find a noble thing in those stories from video games. When I was younger, ok, I was amazed. But after some time you're getting older, trying new things and changing your taste. Now I'm almost unable to emphasize with game characters.

    Instead of playing games for some, higher intellectual values, I've found Anonymous Alcoholic's speeches. It's also about other people's burdens, abuses, traumas and ways of recovery. The main difference is lack of all those fancy lights, sword fights etc.

    If it works for you - OK then. I don't have any objections. I'm still finding games enjoyable, but after those years I'm taking different things from them.
     
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  8. NikNakZombieWhack

    NikNakZombieWhack Fapstronaut

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    I've played the hell out of Detroit! Good game, great story. I thought the Connor arc was excellent, and it has a lot of good parallels to overcoming inner demons.

    I think I played a little Fallout NV years ago, but can't be sure. Not a huge fan of the franchise to begin with, but I'm glad it helped you!

    Hotline Miami is a surprising one to see here. I never played it, but if I remember right, it's a comedy game, right? In the same way GTA is. What about it made you realize you needed to make a change?
     
  9. Awedouble

    Awedouble Fapstronaut

    I think there could be *potentially* games that could be a very different experience, though probably relatively few people play them.

    A while back I heard of Journey. It's been considered a piece of art rather than a video game - and looking it up now I found it it's just been released for the PC so I might actually play this one. If I already had a PS3 or PS4 I would have gotten it but couldn't see investing in a console when I really don't game anymore but this feels different, you can check out the original trailer just for a feel..

    FYI 5 bucks on Epic for a few days
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2019
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  10. NikNakZombieWhack

    NikNakZombieWhack Fapstronaut

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    I'm a big fan of the developers behind Journey. Fantastic game, and I completely agree about it being more art than game. That's really more of the kind of experiences I'm getting at here. They're games only in the literal sense, but games like Hellblade, Journey, Flower(same studio as Journey), Last of Us; they are so much more artistic and expressive, and have such powerful performances and character. The emotional impact is what you take away from it, not how difficult or technical it is.
     
  11. Playing Video games use the same neuro pathways that porn does, so u get the same rewards when ever u get a trophy or u finish a game. I did the video game thing with dark souls 3 for awhile. But after playing over 200 hours i needed a break, but i did not relapse that entire time playing. Is also very stressful if the game is challenging and it may cause some people to relapse to get the easy reward.
     
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  12. Awedouble

    Awedouble Fapstronaut

    It should be noted that just like social media, some video games does incorporate addictive codes, programming that are literally designed to hook you. Adam Alter mentions this in Irresistible, and even the simpler games like those in Las Vegas use such codes for obvious reasons. Unfortunately we cannot see under the hood, so really the one rule of thumb we have is to be honest with ourselves. It is also good to talk specifically to other people as to what their experience with it is to gain some insight. I mentioned herbs on a recovery forum once and one guy apparently related it to weed and other such addictive substances, but obviously not all herbs are addictive - some are just culinary ingredients used in cooking for example. But in todays world it is not so clear cut and it is understandable that some people use a broad wholesale abstinence approach for an entire category of things. The unfortunate thing with that is strictly speaking, that would mean something like this forum would be off limits for someone who abstain from all social media, and really by extension even games because obviously this forum uses a gamification theme where you receive trophies and such.
     
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  13. If it is not a reason for relapse for you, u should be happy. But it was for me and i might be for others.
     
  14. NikNakZombieWhack

    NikNakZombieWhack Fapstronaut

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    Everyone's different, I totally agree. Sorry you have to cut these off too, pal. But it's for the best.

    Personally, I don't play many multiplayer games, which are notorious for having the gotcha and gambling mechanics that really hook people and build addictive tendencies. I also don't skip out on work, my social life, dating, or other hobbies in favor of gaming, so I'm on the other side of the spectrum on this one. It's just a thing I do, not something that does me.
     
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  15. kakakaki722

    kakakaki722 Fapstronaut

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    Good Games are definately a help.try god of war 2018.it takes u through a journey of changes if u have played the earlier games of the frenchise then u will defenately relate as in the end the takes us from rage to hopelessness and then hope then a calm mind ane finally happiness .god of war complete frenchise is worth a try(but some of the game contains the p material so be carefull).
     
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  16. check it out the YouTube video, there's actually a book as well if u wanto read it. Is called Man interrupted by Phillip zimbardo
     
  17. NikNakZombieWhack

    NikNakZombieWhack Fapstronaut

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    I've heard very good things about it, including it's story. I'll pick it up soon and run through it. I actually have played the first two, but that was years ago; still have the context though, like his skin color and motivation. I think the first GoW was a PS2 title, and I remember it's story being remarkable for the time
     
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  18. I haven’t played any GOW...ever. My friend told me the gameplay was “braindead button mashing”

    So I never picked one up. I only hear good things about it though.
     
  19. kakakaki722

    kakakaki722 Fapstronaut

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  20. kakakaki722

    kakakaki722 Fapstronaut

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    If u are in a hurry for gmw 2018 then just get the story of gow 3 ,it is linked.
     

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