BruceVC

For myself, it was coming to terms with the realization that I do not have absolute control over my thoughts (a concept which may scare some people). For example, if I tell you to not think about pink elephants, there's a significantly greater chance you'll think about pink elephants than had I not told you that. For my own personal issues, I was directed to something called "Acceptance Commitment Therapy" (ACT) and it came in pretty useful in dealing with my thoughts that dwell on the past. An example in a book a read pointed out how people with anxiety disorders get caught in negative feedback loops because they are so anxious about having an anxiety attack in public, that they make it more likely to actually have an anxiety attack. Avoidance techniques (like not going to events one wants to go to out of fear of having an anxiety attack) actually reinforce the strength of the fear. People become frustrated because increasingly so, the fear of anxiety starts to control their lives, and they dwell on the thoughts of their anxiety which only gives it more and more strength. Part of the process for myself, was to realize that it's okay if my mind wanders to an event (real or imagined) with the people that scorned me in the past, and to realize it's part of being human and that I shouldn't let it bother me. It's easier said than done, but the book had a lot of interesting exercises to help me understand what it was that my brain was doing, and how developing techniques to convince myself that it's okay if this happens will, ironically, have it happen less. It might be easier for me because "the one that got away" ended up becoming "The one that utterly betrayed me and took advantage of me." Until the apex of the crap, however, it was tough for me to realize she was taking advantage of me. Even in the immediate aftermath, I was more concerned with the decisions she was making than my own well being. Fortunately I got out of that nonsense haha. Thats some good insights, many of your points resonate with me. I haven't been the victim of being deeply hurt by being in love with the wrong person but I did waste 2 years of my life running after a girl who treated me like her personal butler. Then at the end she liked me but by then I realized that we could never be compatible so we stayed friends. The interesting thing is I am not bitter at all, the main reason being I should have seen the obvious that this girl clearly wasn't right for me so in a way I can only blame myself for those 2 wasted years. And if I am honest they weren't really wasted as I had some good life experiences which I have never forgot.

I'm playing Metro 2033 as part of the Humble Bumble, the game is very good. Its atmospheric from a horror perspective and you really feel its a survival game as you scavenge for bullets and supplies. I have never played a game before where you get so excited just finding 10 bullets

By the way guys where has Cantousent been? Does anyone know, I miss his commments.

Bye GD You make me laugh Keep well, you will be missed but we'll see you in March

You guys clearly haven't seen the movie Enchanted, Romance is both alive and well

I think I would have tolerated and even enjoyed the DA:O party interactions more if there wasn't a GIANT BLINKING NUMERICAL SCOREBOARD. Seriously, those open scoring systems piss me off to no end. Cheap, patronising, assumes up and down the entire spine of the game that the player is a ****ing stupid socially retarded adolescent and illiterate moron. Ooh, I didn't like how you handled the last two quests (-6) but since you're bribing me with this pretty bauble, I'll like you again (+6)! Hey you, party member, I want (A: RENEGADE OPTION! -4 //// B: PARAGON OPTION! +4). Are we good? But we all know diamonds are a girls best friend, in order to encourage Romance buying people gifts is what we do in RL and for me is reasonable and appropriate?

Minsc was a great companion to have in the party and very humorous , I hope we have someone similar in PE. I can understand people don't want the exact same stereotype character in PE, so maybe we can have a barbarian called Ninsc and he could have a pet Turtle instead of a Hamster. That way it won't be familiar?

I'm supposing what he means is relations with companions where the npc dislikes the player either because of something the player has done or because the player was antagonistic to them. I have to say I agree, npcs rarely develop interestingly or provide benefits when they dislike the player character, leading many players to not try and experiment in their relations with them and merely choose the dialogue options likely to win them influence with the companion. Exploring how an npc might develop as a character when they dislike the player and what potential benefits might come from that companion could be interesting. Okay that makes sense, but wouldn't an NPC just leave the party if he disliked the player? Like we saw in games like BG2.

Sleeping Dogs is very entertaining, I finished it today. Its basically GTA but with an Eastern theme, how can anyone not like that It has this sizable game world that is beautifully rendered from a graphics perspective, I did download the High Res Mod, and a good system that makes you explore the city when you aren't doing missions. They place these statues and shrines throughout the city that when you find them they give you health and combat skills. Its a good way to motivate people to search the city. I also found that by changing the game to Windows Mode instead of Full Screen it fixes a timing bug that you may experience on PC.

Sorry to ask but what exactly do you mean by "negative relationships" ?

I agree completely

I wish I could go into details, but seeing as this is a family board I can only give you the PG version.. I had been talking to 2 girls for a few minutes, when one of the confessed she loved poledancing, luckily for me there was a stage and a pole nearby, so I pulled them up there and started dancing with them egging them to dance together and use the pole - 5 minutes later we had a show going. Then this Swedish girl comes up and ask for lessons, so I ask one of my new friends to show her the ropes me and the other girl judge her progress. She was a quick learner, but then again most Swedish girls are.. long story short, I decided to go for the Swede and had a blast of an evening. NY as in New York I assume.. How is that city during New Year? It has to be pretty crazy. Wow, that did sound fun and completely hedonistic. A worthy New Year No I just meant a New Year celebration and it was in South Africa. We went to a prominent dance club and there were 3 international DJ's. They played excellent minimal and tech-house music. It was really festive, free champagne...but no dance poles

http://www.cinelinx.com/game-editorials/item/3281-skyrim-one-year-on-why-fallout-new-vegas-is-better.html Interesting read about why Fallout: New Vegas is a better game than Skyrim. It makes some good points?

I ended up going out after all to a large NY celebration, it was good fun. But I am very interested in your night and what happened? Especially why you feel it lived up to its name of Sin City

Gorth if there is anything you don't understand about the ME plot or universe please ask and I'll gladly explain. For many people the concepts of ME can be a little daunting What's to explain? The entire codex for the ME series is so deliberately vague and full of weasel-words that it has effectively no value, frequently contradicts itself (even in the same installments,) betrays a total lack of even basic high school knowledge of biology on the part of its writers while ME2 and 3 show just how little thought they put into it all. Whereas ME's fans put way too much thought into all of it. It doesn't need explanation if there was nothing worth explaining in the first place. I can't decide which is worse, the entry on Biotics ("it's space magic, not a living component of a community!") or Asari, who are repeatedly described as "CULTURAL" without any of that culture ever being defined beyond their expletives being "oh my GODDESS *wink wink nudge nudge* get it, guys?" and their culture demands they pork every animal in the universe aside from their own species. Your cynicism and, at times, your jaded outlook to games makes me laugh AGX Cerberus was just a minor sub-quest enemy, (an alliance black ops group gone rogue,) in ME1, but the guy who was head writer of ME1 bailed and the guy who came up with Cerberus was made the new head writer for ME2. HENCE THE FALL. None of those plot details were explained because they were busy throwing the Reapers onto the back burner so they could make Cerberus from an appetizer into the main dish. I am glad you answered that question. That seems like an accurate response

Hi Nep What do you mean she thought you were too white? I don't mean to pry its just interesting

Hi All I know this may be a little late but what are your plans for NY? How are you celebrating, if at all, and I am also interested in a post after NY explaining how the night actually went. Normally we go to large events and get home 24 hours later. But this NY I want to do something different and wake up on NY day. So I have bought all the necessary ingredients for a Cheese Fondue and my g-friend and I will be eating at home and then watching the various NY events around the world on different News Channels What are your plans?

Gorth if there is anything you don't understand about the ME plot or universe please ask and I'll gladly explain. For many people the concepts of ME can be a little daunting

That sounds really fun, being able to visit places like Universal Studio's and experience all those rides is another advantage to living in the USA. Nice one. Shame your son has this look on his face that says " Dad are you sure you know what you are doing "

A little repetitive but more frustrating if I had to describe it. If I just had the ability to block and dodge, I wouldn't care. You had to dodge in the first Risen and time your attacks. Throwing sand does nothing, kicking them does nothing, and distracting them with a parrot does nothing... it's just frustrating. I haven't tried voodoo yet so I am considering another play-through with the natives. I did enjoy the story and its' characters. And I agree, exploration was good, but I think suffered a bit due to smaller islands... and the loot you find in ruins/caves isn't that great. It still has the PB feel to it -- the farther you get from civilization, the worse it gets. So no qualms there. Yeah I hear you about the combat but I am sure my kick did work? Against the giant crabs it was an effective strategy. The story was good, I enjoy the way PB creates RPG. You always need to join a faction and when on a quest the objectives are not always this blinking marker on a map, it makes the game more challenging

Holy Smoke, that is impressive. I always feel a little guilty when I see people who have DIY or general craftsmen skills, I am one of those people who battle to change a light bulb But I am a fairly good cook

I enjoyed Risen 2, I am a sucker for exploring lands in any RPG. So the issues with combat weren't such a big deal for me. But I can see how you think it was repetitive .

I returned from my Xmas holiday with my family at the coast. My cousins own a beach cottage next to our one so we had a shared Xmas lunch which was very social and completely scrumptious. Turkey, Gammon, Roast Potatoes and Chicken were the main food options on the table. The weather was perfect, very hot but in the afternoon it was windy so that kept the temperature down. Overall a really nice Xmas excursion

Its funny you mention watching a certain movie, but we do exactly the same thing but on Xmas Eve. We watch Jingle All The Way with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Its a classic, I recommend it to all

Sounds fun, I also love Xmas. I find that everyone is generally in a festive mood but its more the time to spend with friends and family. I had never heard of tri-tip, so I checked it out. It looks like a good recipe and something applicable to cook for a group.