How do you calm down after a frustrating session?

If I get so fustrated that I can't play properly anymore, then something is wrong outside the game. Be it headaches, work/family problems or whatever. And that isn't just gonna go away by turning it off, even worse I lose the game distracting me.

I can't really cool myself down properly in situations like that. I'll try dumb youtube videos of kitties or something for minimal success. But probably just gonna end up being pissy and annoyed the rest of the day. :/

I'm glad this isn't an especially common occurrence for me.

A cup of nice tea and deep breaths. Works every time.

Shout racial slurs then get white guilt

I don't think I've ever been frustrated to the point where I need to "calm down". If I'm hitting a wall over and over in a game, I'm usually having more fun than anything since that's the kind of challenge I'm after. Any accompanying irritation is gone as quickly as it came.

This is a good way to put it - frustration w/ life stuff is exacerbated by game frustration, even if the former is far more important than the latter. There'll be times when I try to power through a hard level until I beat it, but if it's too much I'll shut it down and move on to another game or something else entirely. That kind of pointless stress is not something anyone needs.

If you try to keep playing while you're frustrated, it will only cause you to make more mistakes, which makes you even more frustrated. I find it best to just stop playing and chill out. It's good for both my sanity and my game-playing skills. After a break, with a fresh mindset, I can usually return to the game and overcome the challenge pretty easily.

Man It is good advice to quit for sure but its really not that easy for some people. And the more you smoke the harder it is to quit. I used to smoke a pack and a half a day and quitting is really not something that you can just do on a whim. It takes a specific event for a lot of people to get the motivation to actually go through with it

I totally agree.. I guess my specific event (about 3 weeks ago) was the realization that I'm a somewhat bright somewhat successful fatass who is out of breath all the time coughing white crap. Losing some weight and taking it easy on the cigarette feasting is the last piece of the puzzle for me to be completely content with my life, and that has been my quest so far. Being occupied with a life goal totally helps you ignore smoking, as opposed to being occupied with something intense like work or studying - those are the reason I became a smoker.

"Play" Audiosurf.

What's a frustrating session? Games are fun, they don't frustrate me.

I am quite partial to some fun.

Just take a break from the game and then go for a nice walk outside and bring yourself back closer to neutral. Or playing guitar (or your instrument of choice) works really well. Sometimes when I'm really pissed about things in my real life I go play blastbeats on my drums for like an hour and when I finish my mind and body are quiet.

I'm not putting down the controller until l do well.

Play a different game? I rarely if ever get frustrated with single player stuff enough to quit (though I do relish difficulty) but people playing in as generic or boring a fashion as possible in whichever multiplayer game can get tedious.

Keep a straight face. Psyche the game out. The game will start getting frustrated that you're not getting frustrated and mess up. Works every time man. Not that I've ever gotten frustrated at a game ever. Step your game up. Thug life. Peace.

Spaghetti, then helicopter.

Play something that I know I can succeed at.

I usually just turn it off and spend my negative energy in other forms. Mostly exercise and masturbation.

Usually when I get to that point of frustration, I'll just quit and go for a short run. As much as it's been stated, running really does clear the mind and calm you down.

this actually as weird as that may sound

While I do get get stressed occasionaly, I never get outright mad. If tense I just get up and walk away for awhile, but if something just plain unfair or stupid happens I have a good hearty laugh and continue playing.

Masturbation. What can I say, there's no better way to get a hold of yourself, than getting a hold on yourself...

I play with my dog.

There a few things I do

1. If, after the frustrating part, you end up in a relaxing part of the game, I would relax in the game world.
2. Save, turn off game, get some ice cream.
3. Go outside ( I usually go in my backyard and check how the yard is doing).

Get the hell outta here. One in every 10 games is actually 100% fun for me, otherwise there's always cheap bullshit and bad designs. Currently playing through Bioshock Infinite, and all the backtracking is making me sigh in agony.

Shut the game off, probably boot something else up or watch something on TV. If it's a nice day out, I'll usually start my bike up and go for a ride.

i will watch stand up or something really funny because as soon as i get the first big laugh that frustration goes away instantly

I'm generally a single-player sort of person and if I can't quite knack it, I'll take a break for food or some internet browsing, perhaps play another game, and come back to it later that day or the next.

I have a habit of just trucking through frustrating sections until I succeed. I don't often quit unless I decide that whatever I'm doing just isn't worth the time.

Shut the game off and move on to something else.

Marijuana helps.

I don't really get frustrated. I'll just turn off the game I guess.

take to the internet to see if anyone else is having the same kind of issue and see if there are any tips out there. ususally by the time thats done i've settled down and im ready for a rematch!

I don't usually. I have difficulties not finishing things. Significant difficulties. It's a big part of why I fucking hate playing Assassin's Creed III but keep going back to it.

Turn off the game and do something else but I try to take online games less seriously and I end up saving myself frustration a lot more.

I just get up, get something to drink, relax for a few minutes and then start playing again.

If I still can't get it after a while, I'll stop and boot something else up or just give games a break for the rest of the day until I feel like playing again.

Either play something else or watch some giantbomb videos.

Usually shout out loud: 'Wasn't this play tested? WHO THE FUCK STILL THINKS THIS CRAP-TON-O-HEALTH IS GOOD DIFFICULTY SCALING?!'

Then I proceed to play until I finish the section, repeat once more it was dumb as all hell and then I'm good.

Usually turn off whatever I'm playing and walk, maybe go for a cigarette or get something to drink. Maybe go back to it later, or not. I do go running but I started doing that to help with more serious problems, just need a little break when it comes to game frustration.