Stress. It gets to us all. You can be the most laid back of chaps, ever laughing and relaxing, then in a moments notice that can all change.
THE RAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEE!!!!
Or more appropriately, the gaming rage.
"The Rage" itself has taken many forms through many games in my time, also claiming various victims. Some living, some not.
Some I didnt really care about, "hey, I needed a new bed anyway" or "meh, I can buy a new gerbil" Although, looking at my partially broken DOA4 hori stick still brings a tear to my little eyes *sob*
THE RAAAAAAAGGGGGGEEEE!!!!
From the early days of playing Super Mario Kart on the SNES with my brother, and turning the console off after missing the feather jump on the ghost house FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A ROW. Right up until my teen years, beating the door of my television cabinet vigorously, all because I couldnt beat Adel on Final Fantasy 8.
I thought I had it under control. Ive grown up, my temperament is generally calmer, and I consider myself a very laid back fellow. This is unless you count the COMPLETE SILENCE I decree'd in my home as law EVERYTIME I played Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (High score of 3 mill- natch
) Or the many times I have literally SHOUTED obscenities down the 360 microphone to a certain gaming buddy (We love you Rubix78!)
That is... until today.
Guitar Hero 2. Currently the bane of my existence. This is probably a familiar scene to many who have experienced the delights of "Freebird" on Hard or Expert. To them, this needs no explaination. To those who are yet to sample the HEAD THUMPING BONE CRUSHING TEETH GNAWING ANGER INDUCING *ahem* ...."wonders" of Freebird, i'll explain.
Freebird is a twat.
I'm afraid thats the most eloquent way of putting it! The song is the very last one of the career game, everything you've done so far is training for this point, the game even says as much when it asks you on no less than FOUR occasions if you are "sure you want to play Freebird".
I'm hardly a master at Guitar Hero, but I can meander through, generally enjoying myself, and feeling great for it. However, Freebird is difficult. Damned difficult. Freebird is like a siren in the desert, gently calling you on with her beautiful song, only to have your head bitten off while trying to write "Oh boy was I suckered" with your own intestinal tract.
Clocking in at about 10 minutes long, the first 5-6 minutes are fairly easy. Long, stretching notes, A nice relaxing tune, and nothing to strenuous.
Then it happens....
The notes come flying in. You struggle. "Damnit Damnit DAMNIT" you cry. You manage to make it through, clinging on to those last few notes like your fat relative clings onto the last piece in the KFC bargain bucket. You think that the worst has passed, while your "rock meter" flashes red, like a shining beacon, reminding you of how terrible you really are.
The worst has not passed.
Another stream of notes, You continue! You do the best you can! Red yellow red green blue orange red yellow blue....a continuous gushing of notes.
Then its all over. One more mistimed button press. Thats all it took.
As the words "Song failed" come up on the screen for the 10th time, the blood boils. The red mist clouds over, and a small tear forms in your eye when you realise that you will have to do the DAMNED FIRST 6 MINUTES OF SLOW RIDICULOUS EASINESS AGAIN BECAUSE THE GAME IS MOCKING ME.
But no, I decide. I'll play expert instead "I can only get better!!" I proclaim.
I fly through 60% of expert in one day. Nothing is troubling me, and I am hitting notes more difficult than freebirds without any worry at all.Then it happens. While hovering over the button "Freebird- hard - play - yes/no" I consider myself in a western standoff. Just waiting for the first shot to be fired. Godamnit im going to be the winner.
Im ready. No game is beating me. Im faster, smarter, more confident than before and damn you Freebird. You arent getting the better of me....
Do I need to tell you the outcome? From the somewhat sombre tone of this so called "blog" i'm going to guess not. Damn you Freebird. Someday I will beat you.
First I need to buy a new guitar.....
THE RAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEE!!!!
Or more appropriately, the gaming rage.
"The Rage" itself has taken many forms through many games in my time, also claiming various victims. Some living, some not.
Some I didnt really care about, "hey, I needed a new bed anyway" or "meh, I can buy a new gerbil" Although, looking at my partially broken DOA4 hori stick still brings a tear to my little eyes *sob*
THE RAAAAAAAGGGGGGEEEE!!!!
From the early days of playing Super Mario Kart on the SNES with my brother, and turning the console off after missing the feather jump on the ghost house FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A ROW. Right up until my teen years, beating the door of my television cabinet vigorously, all because I couldnt beat Adel on Final Fantasy 8.
I thought I had it under control. Ive grown up, my temperament is generally calmer, and I consider myself a very laid back fellow. This is unless you count the COMPLETE SILENCE I decree'd in my home as law EVERYTIME I played Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (High score of 3 mill- natch

That is... until today.
Guitar Hero 2. Currently the bane of my existence. This is probably a familiar scene to many who have experienced the delights of "Freebird" on Hard or Expert. To them, this needs no explaination. To those who are yet to sample the HEAD THUMPING BONE CRUSHING TEETH GNAWING ANGER INDUCING *ahem* ...."wonders" of Freebird, i'll explain.
Freebird is a twat.
I'm afraid thats the most eloquent way of putting it! The song is the very last one of the career game, everything you've done so far is training for this point, the game even says as much when it asks you on no less than FOUR occasions if you are "sure you want to play Freebird".
I'm hardly a master at Guitar Hero, but I can meander through, generally enjoying myself, and feeling great for it. However, Freebird is difficult. Damned difficult. Freebird is like a siren in the desert, gently calling you on with her beautiful song, only to have your head bitten off while trying to write "Oh boy was I suckered" with your own intestinal tract.
Clocking in at about 10 minutes long, the first 5-6 minutes are fairly easy. Long, stretching notes, A nice relaxing tune, and nothing to strenuous.
Then it happens....
The notes come flying in. You struggle. "Damnit Damnit DAMNIT" you cry. You manage to make it through, clinging on to those last few notes like your fat relative clings onto the last piece in the KFC bargain bucket. You think that the worst has passed, while your "rock meter" flashes red, like a shining beacon, reminding you of how terrible you really are.
The worst has not passed.
Another stream of notes, You continue! You do the best you can! Red yellow red green blue orange red yellow blue....a continuous gushing of notes.
Then its all over. One more mistimed button press. Thats all it took.
As the words "Song failed" come up on the screen for the 10th time, the blood boils. The red mist clouds over, and a small tear forms in your eye when you realise that you will have to do the DAMNED FIRST 6 MINUTES OF SLOW RIDICULOUS EASINESS AGAIN BECAUSE THE GAME IS MOCKING ME.
But no, I decide. I'll play expert instead "I can only get better!!" I proclaim.
I fly through 60% of expert in one day. Nothing is troubling me, and I am hitting notes more difficult than freebirds without any worry at all.Then it happens. While hovering over the button "Freebird- hard - play - yes/no" I consider myself in a western standoff. Just waiting for the first shot to be fired. Godamnit im going to be the winner.
Im ready. No game is beating me. Im faster, smarter, more confident than before and damn you Freebird. You arent getting the better of me....
Do I need to tell you the outcome? From the somewhat sombre tone of this so called "blog" i'm going to guess not. Damn you Freebird. Someday I will beat you.
First I need to buy a new guitar.....
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