Someone recently ask me this question over at Game Stop. They asked me if I've ever broken a game out of anger and frustration. Of course I replied " No"

So the story goes that I got into this conversation with this guy over certain games like Prototype or Modern Warfare. He said that he was so irritated while playing Halo that he swiftly grabbed the game out of his X-Box and busted it in two. He went into a lot of detail, that and he described how smashed his X-Box 360 on the floor. This guy was in his mid 20's. I felt this person had anger issues or was just careless with their things.

I didn't really give him my honest opinion about it as I found the discussion....awkward?

I was thinking while he was describing this to me that it seemed that he could have just sold it, traded it in, or gave it to someone who could have enjoyed that game or wanted it. I don't see it reasonable to break a game.

Does breaking the game some how invoke relief or give the person the feeling that they are punishing the game? Or how does this work?

Some people just can't control their temper and accept defeat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8TJouJvWb8

Nah, I really don't know. I mean, why break the game? It's not like you beat it then. Plus, You end up losing 60 bucks...don't really see the point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yONAlBpnn-Q

Anger issues, my guess breaking the game makes them feel "manly" again. "Take that pixels!"

I have never broken a game, or a controller out of frustration, I'll simply put it down. Also they are freaking expensive to be breaking!

I've never broken a game before. But I have, only once, broken a controller. It was playing one of the Havana missions in Driver 2 on the PlayStation 1. That game can be infuriating.

I've broken my fair of controllers and games and all of it was losing my temper. I've gotten better at controlling my temper over the years and if I'm playing a game that gets stressful I simply shut it down and walk away till I calmed down then start back up. Reason like these I avoid the high stressful games like fighting and racing specially racing since some of those can be programmed to be unfair.

I don't break game disks, I only break game developers' bones.

I've never heard of anyone breaking a disc in frustration before. Although, after being on these forums for a few years, I guess it doesn't surprise me.

I have broken my fair share of discs by accident, though.

I've tossed my controller before and it cracked, but never broken a disk. I haven't done it since (that was in 2007, 13 back then).

I have however, broken my Nintendo DS (very first model). I was playing this Mario basketball game and Donkey Kong kept blocking all my shots. I broke the DS in half. Not one of my best moments.

I've never heard of people breaking their games in anger, but I've heard of people breaking their controllers. I don't really understand it either, how someone could get so angry at a video game that they destroy their property in a rage.

Never been in this situation as I am just so good at games

How do people even afford to break this kind of stuff?

It all comes down to maturity. The brain like a child's kidneys matures at different rates for different people. That is why some children pee in the bed when others don't. Some teenagers and young advlts are just a little further behind in that process and the anxiety of the game is released as frustration. As the brain further develops and matures into advlt thought patterns this type of inappropriate behaviour will diminish. I know of young advlts in their early 20's that still behave like this but they will eventually grow out of it. Unfortunately will the abuse of drugs and alcohol society has many young people showing the early signs of mental illness. Specifically depression, which is very common amongst gamers. Notice the mental health logo when you sign into Bethesda. I for one am really pleased that Bethesda recognizes this and supports users reaching out for help.

Remember that anxiety is anxiety. This means that the brain can not differentiate between positive and negative anxiety. Positive anxiety would be like being nervous for a date or a sporting event or play or public speaking or your birthday party. Negative anxiety would be from depression and mental illness, anger, drug and alcohol abuse, frustration. The brain sees all these different types of anxiety as the same and the brain reacts the same way to deal with it by releasing chemicals into the body. The difference is how we deal with our anxiety. Positive examples would be; yoga, tai chi, going to the gym and working out, jogging, swimming, breathing exercises... Negative ways of dealing with anxiety would be; road rage, arguments with friends , family and co-workers, fighting, self harm, breaking things, temper tantrums, drug and alcohol abuse and self medicating and isolation.

Breaking video games and equipment provides an instant release of anxiety. It follows the same line of thinking as self cutting or other forms of self harm. Depending on the age of the individual, these inappropriate behaviours are very common and are not considered serious. It does raise red flags when the individuals are in their early twenties as this is the age where more serious forms of mental illness start to manifest.

Also some people destroy their consoles on youtube for all to witness. I don't even know why go out and spend 400-600 dollars only to waste it.

I'm guilty of doing this myself . Although rare if a console starts acting up and acts like it's on its last leg I'm more then happy to aid it to Game Console Heaven......or Hell .

I would rather just sell a game. I used to toss controllers though.

This. It's inherent in human nature. Nothing new under the sun.

Not really. it may be normal for a teenager but it is not normal behaviour for an advlt.

It might just seem like senseless destruction but if you think about it, that did make sense. He needed a copy of the digital document and the printer messed up so he need to use the xerox machine instead.

I lost my copy of Age of Wonders when I was a little kid to a plate.

I only have digital downloads, not sure what I can do, maybe rage uninstall it?

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/198/010/tysonreaction.gif

Only game I have seen broken was Alien Trilogy for the PSX was done so by wandering niece.

Uninstall it by deleting the folder instead of using the uninstall executable?

Format c: drive.

That first vid reminds me of my old office job...that guys reaction was totally understandable and justified

I have some anger issues at times but never broke my salvation (my games) or anything expensive. I have unintentionally put my fist through doors though