Something went wrong. Try again later

Giant Bomb News

427 Comments

What Happened While Playing Prototype

Maybe Nintendo's onto something with this whole wrist strap thing.

I've always suspected that this console generation's complete lack of wired controllers was going to come back around and bite me at some point--and while I was trying to get Prototype reviewed on a deadline last week, it did. As I wrote in the review, the game can get pretty darn frustrating from time to time. You'll occasionally have so many tanks, helicopters, and burly mutants bearing down on you that the only viable way to survive is to peel off, go heal in a hidden place, then come back and return to your objective.

When you're trying to get a game finished expeditiously in this line of work, though, you sometimes don't have the option of slowing down and withdrawing for a bit (and forget about turning the game off to take a break outright). I foolishly kept banging my head against the same tough mission over and over, until... it is with some shame that I admit I let the frustration get to me and hurled my controller at the (thankfully carpeted) floor, resulting in this:

No Caption Provided
OK, maybe the picture is anti-climactic since there's not a lot of damage to the controller itself; you can see a bit of the red plastic chipped off on the left , and there's some separation between the red and black parts that some work with a Torx screwdriver may or may not fix. The controller still works fine.

It's my pride that took the real beating, the embarrassment of having lost my temper and expressing it in such a childish way. This is the most damage I've ever caused to a piece of hardware due to video game rage in nearly 25 years of playing them. (Seems like there should be a clever word to describe "anger at difficult video games." Any ideas?)

Anyway, I can't help wondering if I'm not the only one. How angry do difficult games make you? Are you in the habit of taking it out on your stuff? What do you do to cool off? If you have photos of any broken controllers or other casualties, I'd love to see them.
Brad Shoemaker on Google+

427 Comments

Avatar image for dannyj
DannyJ

449

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By DannyJ

If anything gets frustrating I usually just start yelling and swearing.

Avatar image for sunjammer
Sunjammer

1177

Forum Posts

408

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 7

Edited By Sunjammer

Bah Prototype is hard but it's not that bad. Keep moving, don't be afraid to run away, abuse disguises, hijack vehicles where possible. The few times it gets really frustrating is usually when i find myself spending too much time in one place. Like in Bionic Commando really. Run run run run runrunrunrunrunrunurnurnurnurnrun! Run! Jump! Run!

Avatar image for meatsim
MeatSim

11201

Forum Posts

150

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 23

Edited By MeatSim

I recall one of my wired Gamecube controllers makes a rattling sound on account of me smashing it into the group once or twice.

Avatar image for arnavdesai
arnavdesai

27

Forum Posts

45

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By arnavdesai

Conan-- the game,  fuck that game was frustrating because of the camera angles and ridiculous precise jumping on ledges. I went through 90% of the game and then realized I play games to have fun and if any game has me frustrated then it has already failed.  While I did not throw my controller I did push it away, walked to my console banged the Eject button removed the disc, sealed it in the envelope and actually went and put it in the mailbox to be collected(Gamefly) even though it was the weekend and no one was going to collect the mail for at least 36 hours.

Avatar image for skillface
Skillface

585

Forum Posts

35

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

Edited By Skillface

I broke the rumble in both my 360 controllers from throwing them after street fighter IV matches.

Avatar image for spartanlonewolf
SpartanLonewolf

2

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By SpartanLonewolf

I broke my Xbox 360 controller attempting Call of Duty 2 on Veteran after 15 failed attempts to get to the next checkpoint. After discovering that the damage was permanent, I vowed never to go into a Nerd Rage like that again just because of a game.

Nowadays, if I feel like I'm no longer enjoying the game, I just stop playing the game. I either pop in another game, or get off the couch and out the door to cool off. I usually don't make another attempt at playing that game for a few weeks.

If it ends up being months, I just trade the game in for something else since I've beaten it once on normal difficulty. If I feel like wanting to play it again for the harder difficulty completion achievements, I'll by it back when it drops in price.

Avatar image for professorzombie
ProfessorZombie

91

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By ProfessorZombie

Im a chill guy. I never really get mad playing video games, but I do understand. I have had moments like this. Last one was Trash Panic.

Avatar image for stang
Stang

4755

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Stang

@Brad

Compared to me you have the patience of a saint. I am nowhere as bad now compared to when I was a kid (I am 24....that would be pathetic), but I have been known to break the hell out controllers, I even smashed  an old crt tv when I was 15ish. Gaming is serious business after all!

Rage gets the best of us, you are human after all.

Avatar image for mrbasehart
mrbasehart

97

Forum Posts

4

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By mrbasehart

(Seems like there should be a clever word to describe "anger at difficult video games." Any ideas?)

Oh that's easy.  Call it.... Uncontrollerable anger!

*rimshot*

Or maybe not.


Avatar image for tearhead
tearhead

2485

Forum Posts

17935

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 52

Edited By tearhead

Midnight Club: Los Angeles. That game was fucking harsh sometimes. In fact, my stats say I've restarted a race 41 times at one point. I didn't throw my controller, but I did have some loud cursing fits and threw/hit a few pillows.

Avatar image for redsox8933
RedSox8933

2501

Forum Posts

398

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 7

Edited By RedSox8933

The only time I have ever slammed down a controller was when I was playing N+ for the 360.

Avatar image for gimmysumcowbel
gimmysumcowbel

430

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By gimmysumcowbel

the end of killzone 2 drove me crazy.  i was playing on the third difficulty(dont know what its called) and the part leading up to the final boss battle took me forever to beat.  one the more frustrating moments in gaming i have ever had

Avatar image for nick
Nick

1153

Forum Posts

13

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Nick

Well I punched out the front my computer 3ish years ago when I was playing WoW. I forget what happened exactly, I think I was being camped by horde, that was my first and only video game rage incident. I don't play WoW anymore.

Avatar image for geekdown
GeekDown

1179

Forum Posts

1177

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

Edited By GeekDown

When I get frustrated with a game I just turn the console off and don't play the game for days.

Avatar image for corgorav
corgorav

227

Forum Posts

6

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By corgorav

I usually expess my rage by cursing, crushing the controller with my palms and rarely clawing the analog sticks, which kinda sucks too cuz you can easily feel the fingernail marks. But never smashing or throwing things, that's just stupid :D

Avatar image for jamien
jamien

28

Forum Posts

148

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By jamien

Ah, I had raged at Prototype myself, too, earlier today. The big Elizabeth Greene showdown in the middle of Times Square was infuriating in a surprising level. I died and died again, wanting to smash my keyboard to pieces, but instead lashing my frustration out at the table it was sitting on.


And this was on easy.
Avatar image for mrgetbonus
MrGetBonus

797

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By MrGetBonus
@DannyJ said:
" If anything gets frustrating I usually just start yelling and swearing. "
This. Sometimes to the point of breakin a few tiny blood vessels on my cheeks under my eyes. I've seemed to mellow out more recently though. Mostly from SF4.
Avatar image for backpackkat
BackpackKat

520

Forum Posts

120

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 8

Edited By BackpackKat

I watch my friend tear apart his turtle beach headset after losing a close match in a COD4 tournament while I was at his house.... He has a anger problem.

Avatar image for canberra
Canberra

1065

Forum Posts

117

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Canberra
@iiNF3RNo:
Amazing how many times that guy walks out the toilet and gets stabbed he’s always surprised.
Avatar image for darkkitchen
DarkKitchen

37

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By DarkKitchen

I punched a hole in my wall during season 1 5v5 infantry only CAL.  Since then I don't rage that hard I just hit my desk sometimes.

Avatar image for kratos
kratos

225

Forum Posts

173

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 4

Edited By kratos

Ugh one PS2 controller and the sixaxis(that ended up being a blessing being that I got the DS3)  I broke a couple shitty game cube controls not out of anger at video games but hockey.

Avatar image for vod_crack
Vod_Crack

943

Forum Posts

1116

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 5

Edited By Vod_Crack

I usually just stick to the good ol' swearin' myself.

Avatar image for captainlunchbox
Captainlunchbox

548

Forum Posts

955

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 20

Edited By Captainlunchbox

Castelvania 64- after endless failed platforming, I whipped the controller at the dustcover of my commodore 64 monitor I was using to play on and shattered it.

Avatar image for jeffsekai
Jeffsekai

7162

Forum Posts

1060

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By Jeffsekai

Seth in Street Fighter 4 pissed me off to no end when trying to beat the game as Honda.

Avatar image for supersatanic
supersatanic

60

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By supersatanic
@RawShark said:
" Prototype really isn't that difficult. You should be ashamed Brad.Ninja Gaiden on the other hand... FFFFFFFFFFFF "

Ninja gaiden (both 1 and 2) are quite tough, but its genuinely  challenge instead of frustrating and anyone who's willing to learn how the game is played using the various blocks,rolls,counters can complete it thoroughly. In fact ,there is no part in both games that ever seems impossible. All it asks is that the player should get more comfortable in handling ryu,and the entire game is built around it. If you notice carefullly, even if your ass is getting kicked repeatedly at one spot,the AI/boss actually kinda mellows down a bit so you could progress.....

Prototype on the other hand, is quite frustrating. You never know what the terms of battle are, the AI is relentless,instead of intelligent. Alex mercer has a lot of moves but the combat isnt really built around it, so you never know what to use when. I'm glad I rented it first, it's a good game but its not for everybody.

I think brad is absolutely spot on on his differences between Infamous and prototype. Infamous can be recommended to almost anyone,whearas its better to know a few things about prototype before getting it.

Cut the man some slack.

Avatar image for dudacles
dudacles

1704

Forum Posts

8527

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 71

User Lists: 2

Edited By dudacles

I've been frustrated by games, but never enough to damage any of my stuff. I'm just way too careful with it to allow it come to any harm.

Avatar image for metal_mills
metal_mills

3604

Forum Posts

4049

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 3

Edited By metal_mills

I threw a door(It was unhinged as we were getting new ones) at my N64 once. Yes, a door. As soon as I did it I freaked out thinking I ruined it but the N64 worked and was completely undamaged. First and last time I damaged hardware.

Except for the 2 CD drives I broke...and a monitor...but nothing this gen at least!

Avatar image for citizenkane
citizenkane

10894

Forum Posts

29122

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 106

Edited By citizenkane

We all get gamer rage every now and then.  Luckily, I haven't had one since playing Ninja Gaiden.

Avatar image for jimbo
Jimbo

10472

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Jimbo

Do you think we've really chilled out as we've gotten older or have we just been spoilt with save games, checkpoints and health regen?

Not many games in recent years are challenging enough / have bad enough controls, to drive me to Ragethrow anything.  GRID is the only recent game that springs to mind - that finally got itself ejected and thrown against a wall.

Avatar image for rhaknar
Rhaknar

6300

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 12

Edited By Rhaknar

years ago I broke many ps2 controlers when i was into the pro evolution soccer games... these days i try to control myself as much as possible since the controlers nowadays are fucking expensive

Avatar image for darkspirit138
darkspirit138

504

Forum Posts

442

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Edited By darkspirit138

Does chucking a Playstation and 3 copies of Tekken 3 that all didnt work of of a window count?

Avatar image for felixlighter
felixlighter

220

Forum Posts

44

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

Edited By felixlighter

I was having a particular frustrating COD4 online match, I threw my controller with chatpad across the room.   The corner hit the wall, the chatpad flew in one direction and the battery flew in another.  I picked up the pieces convinced that I just threw away $70.  I reassembled the controller and to my surprise it still worked.  Aside from a crack and scrape on the chatpad and another crack on the controller, everything appeared to be just fine. 

A few minutes later, in another COD4 match, I was sneaking up on an unsuspecting sniper.  I pressed the Right thumb stick to stab him in the back and nothing happened.  I clicked it a few more times and nothing.  I was shot and killed like most people who stand around like a dope in COD4.  Apparently, the controller was almost just fine.

Avatar image for gazzum
GaZZuM

489

Forum Posts

139

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 1

Edited By GaZZuM
"Seems like there should be a clever word to describe "anger at difficult video games." Any ideas?"

Hmm, let's see:

Rage-icide - Too easy? Yes.

Reggie-cide - I'm a fan of this. "My name is Reggie, I'm about kicking ass, I'm about taking names, and we're about breaking games"

Hardwarewolf - As in a mix between Hardware and Werewolf. Context? "Hey Ryan, I totally just went Hardwarewolf over Prototype"

Sinfant - It's a SIN to act like an INFANT and break a controller... see... see what I've done there.

Pre-Natal-method-of-software-manipulation-has-just-been-destroyed-at-the-expense-of-my-videogame-ineptitude - I believe this is what Xbox fanboys already refer to it as.

Controllerbortion - This suggestion is pro-choice.

I think personally, Reggiecide lends itself perfectly to this situation, but ofcourse that's just my opinion ^ ^
Avatar image for baggykins
baggykins

871

Forum Posts

176

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By baggykins

i only get angry if the game is impossible (or almost at least)

I can keep going at it for awhile, but if it gets to me, i just put the controller on the sofa, and go watch something on my computer, or do something else.
Changing games helps, but games get easier to me now than earlier.

The worst thing in the world, is when its not you who sucks, its the game mechanics.. That really gets me off and i tend to sell the game or something...

My brother is a whole diffrent story.. can hear him hittin walls sometimes..
Avatar image for shinogomaru
Shinogomaru

23

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Shinogomaru

I've only broken two controllers total. The first one i broke playing ninja gaiden 2 the shell is hardly even on the controller anymore and one playing CoD WaW on veteran one of the last levels i forget which i threw the controller now the left joystick is royally fucked and so is the B button

Avatar image for chocobo_blitzer
Chocobo_Blitzer

305

Forum Posts

48

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Chocobo_Blitzer

When The Elder Scrolls 3 Morrowind was released I became super obsessed. I had 150+ hours or so on a save and all my saves became corrupted from my tinkering with mods. I smashed the mouse against the wall.

Also a few years ago I played Need for Speed: Most Wanted, I just spent a weekend plowing through it for the achievements and got totally locked down by a property damage event by the end of the game. I tossed the contoller and had to buy a new one. The game remains unfinished.

Avatar image for flipperdesert
FlipperDesert

2236

Forum Posts

40

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By FlipperDesert
@Cyst said:
" Clever way to describe anger at videogames? -RAGEQUIT "
I was going to say this, damn!

Just yesterday? Tried to boost the levels of my party in the hardest dungeon on Persona 3: FES, I died a lot and threw my controller at the wall. It just happens sometimes, people lose their patience with something and need an outlet for rage (Yelling, throwing/breaking something.), and fuck me if some games aren't intentionally as complicated and cheap as possible.
Avatar image for shinyd3mon
shinyd3mon

165

Forum Posts

145

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By shinyd3mon

I find cursing violently does the trick. I did it so often it became a regular routine in Burnout Paradise. On a similar note, I nominate the traffic in Burnout as the most frustrating enemy in any game. Ever.

I cant remember exactly which ones, but I know I've slightly damaged some of my electronics as well. I once threw my N64 controller at my brother after losing a game of NFL Blitz, and I felt awful afterwards. Breaking material objects and uttering language that would unnerve a truck driver is one thing, but physically assaulting a loved one is another. I have since apologized, but the rage that video games occasionally bring about in me frightened me enough to have never played that game again with him.

Avatar image for wei12do
Wei12do

20

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Wei12do

Ya, I always throw the controller at something soft! Well I rented Prototype and I'm on the last boss and I am not getting frustrated just because I know its impossible and its 100 times harder than the rest of the game! I am just gonna return it with the boss getting the best of me!

Avatar image for rhcpfan24
RHCPfan24

8663

Forum Posts

22301

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 8

Edited By RHCPfan24

I see what you mean, Brad. You probably played Ninja Gaiden so you know frustration. I have also got pissed at open world games like GTA IV when a stupid mistake causes me to fail the mission. I usually don't hurl controllers, but profanities and exaggerated arm movements occur.

Avatar image for toyboxx
TOYBOXX

327

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 1

Edited By TOYBOXX

In the future position a webcam in a hidden area, Brad, and when a game is frustrating a person in the office click on the record button for all to see. That would make for a great episode of "Greatest moments in Frustration!".

In my hay-days of gaming, during the NES-PS2 day, I used to release my frustrations on the controller (or myself, thus the extra bottles of lube sitting in my closet) it wasn't until the 'next-gen' gaming consoles came around I learned that I can't abuse my "controller" anymore. Now when I have that urge to throw something, when I'm seeing red, I instantly think about the $50/$55 bones it'll cost me if the controller does break. So I stamper off into the bathroom and bang one out as a stress reliever instead.

Avatar image for crixaliz
Crixaliz

809

Forum Posts

78

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Crixaliz

Every time I'm about to smash a controller I just remind myself that I'd have to buy a new one if I did... that money could be spent on another game rather than a controller.

Avatar image for skipt
SkipT

59

Forum Posts

940

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By SkipT

I watched a friend literally bang his head against his desk playing a game once, didn't look real comfortable.

I have broken a controller, but it wasn't from rage. I was playing halo 3 and I had been drinking, resulting in me dropping the controller multiple times. The left bumper button stopped being responsive.

Avatar image for s0liddante
s0liddante

45

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By s0liddante

omg if u want to see game rage i gotta get some pictures of my friend's basement.  There are marks and dents all over the walls from him throwing his drum sticks after getting mad at rock band. 

Avatar image for leafkun
Leafkun

44

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Leafkun

when i was playing godhand for the ps2 i stomped on my ps2 controller and broke it in half. than i chucked each half into a window.
i have never done anything like that before. a unfix able controller and 2 broken windows.

when i get mad at a game (it only ever happened for god hand) i just had a snake or switched to a funny tv show till my heart beat slowed down.

call it controller crazy!

Avatar image for video_game_king
Video_Game_King

36563

Forum Posts

59080

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 54

User Lists: 14

Edited By Video_Game_King
@MattyFTM said:
" I sometimes ragequit, but I've never thrown a controller or anything like that. "
Same here.
Avatar image for church069
church069

259

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By church069

I have raged out a few times when playing games, usually the reason was due to a game with poor checkpoints or a terrible save system.  Luckily all my consoles and my computer are in my room so I just punch the hell out of my bed or I throw the controller  on my bed.  Also I bitch out my tv.  Other than that I have had no accessory damage so far.  Usually if I get very frustrated I just stop playing and put in another game that's much easier to cool me down.

But hey Brad you had a timeline to keep so it's understandable, just try not to break anything that is expensive to replace.

Avatar image for fire_marshall_bill
Fire_Marshall_Bill

143

Forum Posts

54

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

V Rage. 

Avatar image for emptyquarter
EmptyQuarter

101

Forum Posts

148

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

Edited By EmptyQuarter

I threw a brand new 360 controller onto the wrong end in frustration and jammed the right bumper in. I felt very dumb.