AK-1138 Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 Oop, almost forgot to make a post about having completed The Last of Us and thus making good on my pledge to the Not Alone bonus badge thingamajigger! And just in time, too! I don't have much to say about it within the broader context of Mental Health Awareness Month, other than how unexpectedly disturbing I find Joel from a psychological perspective. In his own way, I don't think he is a great deal better than the poor excuses for humanity who fall by his hand. More importantly, I'd just like to thank everyone who took part in this event. As a self-admitted lurker, I've seen a few people remark on how this very thread brought MHAM (that's Homer Simpson's favourite acronym, by the way ?) to their attention for the first time, and if that's not an example of unqualified success as regards OP's mission statement, I don't know what is. Sharing your stories is a brave thing to do, and I can only hope doing so has taken you one step closer to where you want to get to in life ? ...Well, shit, I didn't really mean for this to, like, steal any thunder from any undoubtedly superior forthcoming final statement from @Beyondthegrave07, so imma quit, 'kay? Feel free to, like, repeat this some time or whatever ? So, umm, #BreakThePigma and all that! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Violino Posted May 31, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 31, 2021 (edited) Just in time, I completed the bonus challenge with Life is Strange 2. Not as good as the first but I like these games. The brothers story was interesting and I liked the people they met alone the way. Excited for True Colors! Didn’t do as many games as I wanted but I did both tasks and had fun looking at and researching new games! Anyway, I've fully enjoyed this event and I love the fact it's got me and my girlfriend talking about these things. Hearing other people’s stories too has also made me want to know more and work on my own mental health, didn't fully understand how important and fragile your mental health can be. Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has shared something! My girlfriend has had a really hard time the last few weeks and and daft as it sounds, this event and what I've been doing for it has really helped me get through it with her. Looking forward to the next one! Edited June 11, 2021 by Violino 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyondthegrave07 Posted May 31, 2021 Author Share Posted May 31, 2021 2 hours ago, AK-1138 said: ...Well, shit, I didn't really mean for this to, like, steal any thunder from any undoubtedly superior forthcoming final statement from @Beyondthegrave07, so imma quit, 'kay? Feel free to, like, repeat this some time or whatever ? So, umm, #BreakThePigma and all that! No thunder stolen at all! Haha. I just want to make sure people still look at this even after badges are handed out, totals are configured, mistakes are corrected, etc. because I would like feedback on the event, ideas for next year, or the idea of having a similar event later this year. This is the first time I've hosted something like this so if there's ways to improve upon it, I'm all for it. I'll bring up some talking points I want to address afterwards, but I don't want this discussion to clog up the thread when people who still need to post and possibly miss it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mesopithecus Posted May 31, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 31, 2021 I wanted to shout out @Beyondthegrave07for putting this event together; and to everyone else who has pledged a donation. I didn't end up finishing a game for the #YouAreNotAlone badge, but I just wanted to take a moment to shout out a couple of the wonderful Discord groups I'm part of (particularly Coffee Cove!) I'm not very vocal about my depression and anxiety, but just being part of a wonderful and positive community has really helped on those bad days. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimeLordCrow13y Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 Quick question: Do you have to complete the game you play for the bonus badge? I’ve played Journey with multiple companions but didn't think that would count since I haven’t completed it. But I’ve seen others post about games they didn’t complete for this badge so I just wanted to ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Together_Comic Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 (edited) I completed Celeste for this event. I want to take some time to write the reflection this game deserves so please pardon my progress as I continually edit this comment. The Pitch: Celeste is a 2D platforming game with some of the best and toughest platforming in the genre. It is simple consisting of effectively only 3 buttons and a joy stick, but it is masterful in its crafting. Each level is challenging to figure out and challenging to complete with many secrets and collectibles - some of which push you to your limit to gather. It also has a lot of end game content that can keep you playing for dozens and dozens of hours. It features some of the best music that I have heard in gaming, has a gorgeous pixel art style, and wonderful and colorful characters. There aren't many games that will sit and have two characters having a candid discussion about what depression feels like, or depict a panic attack as an overwhelming darkness with a mass of tentacles closing in on you from all sides. Juxtapose that with a pixelated platformer where Madeline spends a lot of her time running and magically dashing to collect flying strawberries and you end up with Celeste; where the two are blended together with an important and sincere story to make it a genuinely emotional game. Celeste is about many of the mental problems that people face today. One of the chapters is a veiled metaphor about an abusive relationship, another about how people can be trapped by social media, still another about accepting the parts of you that you do not necessarily want to be a part of you. Maybe I'm reading to much into it, because thankfully the game doesn't outright throw these things in your face, its cleverly woven into the narrative, but I would be remiss if I didn't say that some of these moments hit a little close to home, and one I'm willing to wager that many others relate to as well. Overshadowing it all, is the titular Celeste mountain which our heroin Madeline must climb both literally and figuratively on her journey. But, ultimately what I took from Madeline's story is that it isn't about running or dashing, but rather about standing. Madeline is most successful when she stands her ground in the face of the part of herself that frightens her the most and how learning to understand those parts is the only way to stop them from controlling you. I think it reaches out to an important point to try and understand ourselves and each other and, to be candid, I didn't expect that message to come from a game. ~TC Edited June 1, 2021 by Together_Comic 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hBLOXs Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 Damn, I’m sorry but I didn’t make it. The month totally got away from me and as much as I really wanted to support this event, ultimately I needed to casually play games that didn’t fit the theme at all. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyondthegrave07 Posted May 31, 2021 Author Share Posted May 31, 2021 1 hour ago, TimeLordCrow13y said: Quick question: Do you have to complete the game you play for the bonus badge? I’ve played Journey with multiple companions but didn't think that would count since I haven’t completed it. But I’ve seen others post about games they didn’t complete for this badge so I just wanted to ask. Yeah, you need to finish them. I still need to verify people's completed games, but if you notice someone didn't finish their game, PM me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristen Danielle Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 Let me know how much I'm sending to charity! ☺️ 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ellie-nyan Posted May 31, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 31, 2021 May has been a pretty hectic month with work for Ellie, but at least I got both games completed~! ? I've just finished a 12-hour shift so excuse me if I'm rambling and make no sense, but I'll try my best Decided to play Doki Doki Universe since it was on the list of recommended games. In the game, you are robot doomed to be destroyed because you lack humanity, and the game tasks you with learning more about humanity in order to stop yourself from being scrapped. You do this by visiting various planets, which each focus on a different human feeling, and try to empathise with what the residents of the planet are going through. I wasn't a big fan of the game itself, but one positive take-away from the game was that it tries to teach you to actually listen to others. To not assume what they're feeling just because of what you see on the inside, but take the time to get to know them and find out what they're going through. This is a lesson we could all really learn - to take the time to listen to those around us, and not just make negative assumptions about people without knowing about their situation. There are a number of good examples of this throughout the game on various planets, but one of the main ones that stood out to me was a character who everyone disliked because they were acting like a bully and picking on all the other residents of the planet. But as it turns out, the character was actually severely suffering from feelings of abandonment, and was acting out to push everyone away to try and protect themself from being hurt again. This is actually pretty common in the real world, that we as humans will act out and try to hurt others in order to protect ourselves from harm (whether real or just in our heads). So the next time someone does something negative towards others - instead of judging them, let's all try to understand the person, and figure out what went wrong in their lives for them to act in that way, and see if we can do something to help. You never know if just the act of you caring about them is all they need to start to change. And even if they're not acting out at all, still try to listen to others and find out what they're really thinking inside. It brings us all closer and gives us all more humanity when we try to understand each other, rather than just live in our own little bubbles cut off from the rest of the world. -- For the #YouAreNotAlone badge, I played It Takes Two with my good friend @ExistentialSolid - and boy what a blast we had! ? If you haven't picked this game up yet, I would highly recommend it. It is honestly one of the best gaming experiences I've had in a long time - it's probably even better when you get to play with a great friend like I did, but I imagine it's still fun even with someone you don't know so well. I could go on a long tangent about how great this game is, and how I wish there were more co-op experiences like it, but that's probably just gonna distract from the point of this thread. -- Also, in regards to badges, I'm working a 12hour shift again tomorrow, so I'll try to get the badges done on Wednesday (failing that, I'm off at the weekend, so they'll be done then by the absolute latest). I've already got some of them done from half way through the month, just need to finish the rest. You guys have all done brilliantly getting your games completed, so I hope you like your badges. The money raised for charity will be worth it either way though ? 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gruffiiti Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 Well... Ive procrastinated on writing anything about the games I completed this month until the last day it seems. Thanks for the reminder Beyond. I chose Oxenfree for my focus on mental health game. It was an interesting game about a group of teens going to an island for a night of partying where they discover some paranormal activity. While the game itself focuses on the interactions of the teens and the paranormal, there are definitely some underlying themes of grief and the main character's inability to cope with it. My second game was The Grand Tour game. The whole game more or less is the show with the same name on Amazon except you get to drive the cars and compete in events related to the episode. The game/show is hosted by the 3 friends Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May and their adventures while traveling the globe reporting on various cars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanolt Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 (edited) I finished Abzu two days ago. The game itself does not focus on any mental ilness or concern, it's about something completely different. Like Journey, it's a beatiful, quiet, simple, and pacific game, that lets you explore in your own way a huge ocean, filled with life and bright colors. Abzu is a game that stimulates meditation, and pretty helpful for people that suffer from anxiety, depression or stress. It's a way to disconnect from the world, and just pay attention to a whole different world that we usually ignore. The problems don't "go away", you simply learn to cope with them, and continue to enjoy the life and the little things that it gives to you. A game that enters in that magical category with Flower, Monument Valley, Florence, and the aforementioned Journey. I had a great time with it and if you dont, you're probably looking at it the wrong way. PD: The soundtrack is amazing Edited May 31, 2021 by ValenTris7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briste Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 I finally popped the plats on 12 games today, including my choice for the main badge Ghost Giant VR which I did my write up a few days ago. My original plan for #YouAreNotAlone was Dragon Age: Origins since you travel with the same group (if you choose) throughout most of the game. However, I didn't end up popping that one today. I do have a couple of other choices in Detroit: Become Human, which would also count for the main badge, but Connor and Hank are together throughout the whole game, and how you choose to have them interact throughout the game has a direct impact on how long they remain together. I also could use Batman: Arkham Asylum as Oracle is Batman's right-hand person throughout in is always in his ear giving him insight and making sure he is ok. I could also use Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales as his best friend Ganke is to Miles what Oracle is to Batman....the dude in the chair. Every one of the games I mentioned are worth playing if you haven't so far. They are all pretty fun! Thank you again @Beyondthegrave07 for setting this up. I also want to thank @Ellie-nyan for making the time to make us all badges with such a busy schedule. With the wonderful turnout, that is no small feat. Thank you! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyondthegrave07 Posted June 1, 2021 Author Share Posted June 1, 2021 13 minutes ago, Briste said: I finally popped the plats on 12 games today, including my choice for the main badge Ghost Giant VR which I did my write up a few days ago. My original plan for #YouAreNotAlone was Dragon Age: Origins since you travel with the same group (if you choose) throughout most of the game. However, I didn't end up popping that one today. I do have a couple of other choices in Detroit: Become Human, which would also count for the main badge, but Connor and Hank are together throughout the whole game, and how you choose to have them interact throughout the game has a direct impact on how long they remain together. I also could use Batman: Arkham Asylum as Oracle is Batman's right-hand person throughout in is always in his ear giving him insight and making sure he is ok. I could also use Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales as his best friend Ganke is to Miles what Oracle is to Batman....the dude in the chair. Every one of the games I mentioned are worth playing if you haven't so far. They are all pretty fun! Thank you again @Beyondthegrave07 for setting this up. I also want to thank @Ellie-nyan for making the time to make us all badges with such a busy schedule. With the wonderful turnout, that is no small feat. Thank you! I made a note to check your profile today and saw the platinum rain fall and already marked you down! Very well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrFudge Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 Seasons After Fall This was my choice of game for this event. Its story begins with a cheerful ‘Seed’ setting you, a fox, off on an adventure to discover four slumbering ‘Guardians’ so as to perform a mysterious forest ritual. However when this ritual does not go as planned, the Seed suddenly turns her back on you, casting you aside and vowing to find someone more competent to do her bidding, before vanishing. Whilst not about any specific mental illness, I found it to be a light delve into general mental health, and how we can support those around us who might be struggling. As the developers of the game themselves put it: “It talks about self-confidence, trust, and being trapped in some kind of personal constructed mindtrap.” And so continues the story. Against typical expectations, the Seed’s moment of treachery does not entail her subsequent villainy. Instead, it is at this point that the game begins to send you on a journey of understanding, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Your mentor on this journey is the first Guardian, a great Bear, now awoken from his unnatural slumber. As you slowly make your way through the forest, the two of you begin to unravel the truth about the Seed. It transpires that the Seed was intended as an integral part of the ritual - a sort of rebirth - but through fear and misunderstanding she mistakenly believed the Guardians to be conspiring against her in an effort to abandon her and have her disappear. In turn she lashed out, putting the Guardians to sleep and attempting to coerce you into taking her place within the ritual. Upon failure, she retreated into bitter isolation. I am fortunate enough to have never suffered any mental illness myself, and as such I would not wish to try and diagnose anything particular upon the Seed. But I do know that fear, loneliness, and mistrust of both yourself and those around you can frequently be symptoms of those who struggle with their mental health. What surprised and pleased me about this game is that the Bear did not feel anger at the Seed, nor did he seek to punish her for her mistakes. Instead he strove to understand her; reassuring and believing in her whilst slowly gaining her trust. When someone is in need it’s all too easy to turn your back on them, especially when their internal issues manifest in their external behaviour. It’s never easy for anybody involved, but the Bear only ever wants what’s best for her, accepting how hard her situation must be, and trying his hardest to comfort her. I found this to be a great reflection of how we can all try to support and uplift those around us. “Her fears have overwhelmed her, and she’s built a prison around herself. Her heart overshadowed by doubt.” When in distress, secluding yourself from the world, from your friends and even your loved ones, is an alluring yet very dangerous path. I know because I trod it at one point. Isolation can cause extreme damage to both yourself and those that care for you. And this is the path that the Seed chose, so afraid of abandonment that she ultimately inflicted it upon herself. Within this little dark corner - of both the forest and her mind - she protects a series of ‘treasures’, seemingly all that she has left. But as your fox destroys these ‘treasures’ one by one, it becomes apparent that they are anything but something to value; “Open your eyes Seed, these aren’t treasures you see around you, these are your fears.” Therein lies the horror of such loneliness. Your mind can become clouded and consumed by that which afflicts you. Attempts to help you can instead be misinterpreted as attacks. As the Seed willingly turned away from all those she believed had forsaken her, she found herself unknowingly clinging to the one thing she had left: her doubts and fears. Sadly it can so easily become a perpetuating cycle; convincing yourself that this is your lot in life, that misery and gloom is all you can ever know. But the simple truth is that nobody can face this world by themselves, alone. And whilst it might be impossible for others to truly understand what you’re going through, they can still rally to your side and lift whatever burden they can. As the kindly Bear said: “If you don’t trust yourself, how can you trust others?” So as the fox shatters the Seed’s final fear, that very trust has been gained. Now, together as one, the ritual is performed and the Seed blossoms into a new lease of life, free from the pain of the past. It might never be quite that easy in real life, but there’s always worth in trying. If anyone is interested in this game, it goes on sale for around £3 occasionally. Whilst the gameplay is lacking, it’s an undoubtedly beautiful and soothing experience. I am glad to have contributed to this event, and wish you all well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristen Danielle Posted June 2, 2021 Share Posted June 2, 2021 I've just purchased a print of this artwork by Alireza Karimi Moghaddam which speaks to me as both an artist and a mental health patient on so many levels. This little digital painting depicts Vincent Van Gogh as he paints 'The Starry Night' while looking through the window of his bedroom at the mental asylum that was located in the Saint-Paul de Mausole Monastery at the Saint-Rémy-de-Provence commune in southern France. The year was 1888. If one visits the Wikipedia article for "psychosis," the main photo on that page is 'The Starry Night' because the painting depicts the changes in light and color that can appear to a person while they are experiencing a psychotic episode. It has been theorized by modern-day physicists that the sweeping, swirling brush strokes that Van Gogh used to create this painting indicate that during his moments of psychosis, he was able to see what are known as "eddies" surrounding the light sources that he was painting. These eddies, which are normally invisible, are part of a fluid mechanics phenomenon known as "turbulent flow," which attempts to explain the violent, unsteady, or chaotic movement of fluids like air and water and how light interacts with them. It has now been almost 131 years since Van Gogh's death (in 1890) and scientists have yet to fully understand this phenomenon. "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isaiah 61:1 & 3 NIV) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Mayus Posted June 2, 2021 Share Posted June 2, 2021 Just to clarify @Beyondthegrave07 you will let us know when the badges have been totalled for the donations? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyondthegrave07 Posted June 2, 2021 Author Share Posted June 2, 2021 35 minutes ago, Dr_Mayus said: Just to clarify @Beyondthegrave07 you will let us know when the badges have been totalled for the donations? I will tag everyone I mentioned in the OP once I have it finalized and everyone who told me they needed more time to post has posted. I'm going to cut it off on Friday evening regardless and have totals ready then. I think out of everyone, I'm just waiting on @Together_Comic to put his thoughts together, and I should have a pretty accurate total after that. I will reconcile my excel totals with Ellie when she is ready to make sure we don't miss anyone. She's been working 12-hour shifts, and I told her to take her time. I'm in no rush. After we agree on a total though, expect to be tagged. ? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Together_Comic Posted June 2, 2021 Share Posted June 2, 2021 @Beyondthegrave07 I edited my initial post do you want me to post it again here? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyondthegrave07 Posted June 2, 2021 Author Share Posted June 2, 2021 6 minutes ago, Together_Comic said: @Beyondthegrave07 I edited my initial post do you want me to post it again here? Didn't realized! ? No, you're good! Thanks for pointing it out. If anyone else did this and didn't tag me or anything like that, let me know so I don't miss you on my final sweep. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Beyondthegrave07 Posted June 3, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 3, 2021 The OP is fully updated at this point I believe. If you have any gripes or see any mistakes, let me know. I did a quick run through to make sure everyone completed their games, but I'm not perfect. For anyone that is curious (I know you all are), the total I have down right now is 89 badges. I will finalize this number with Ellie this weekend and will post the confirmed total then because that number could definitely change, but it should be in the ballpark. Until then, relax and be patient while we work on badges and confirm the final total. I'll tag the donators when it's confirmed so don't worry about it. I don't want to rush Ellie with the badges as she's probably under enough stress as it is. 80+ badges is a lot to do, and there was a large influx of badges right at the end of the month. Last thing I would want to do is make it difficult on her for volunteering to do this for me. ? After that, I'll leave this open for another week or so to have people leave feedback and brainstorm with me. I have a few ideas to improve the event and a few ideas for similar events, but I would like to bounce ideas with everyone else who wants to stick around. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ellie-nyan Posted June 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 5, 2021 ~~Badge Time~~ First off, I want to personally say a massive thank you to everyone who took part in this event. Mental health is such an important topic, today more than ever with the mental health of the general population taking a significant decline during the on-going pandemic. The fact that we were all able to come together like this to raise awareness, get a conversation going about mental health, and even donate money to various organisations as a community is just amazing, and I'm so proud of you all for taking part ? Anyway, without further ado, here are the badges for everyone~! I hope you like them~! ? I've organised the badges alphabetically by PSN username to make them easier to find~! (and a mass ping for the badges - @Beyondthegrave07 @Dead Weight @Neptuos @MissShake @Cassylvania @JourneySilvers @MrFudge @Morgana @Han_the_Dragon @DrBloodmoney @Dr_Mayus @enaysoft @kindajustin @pinkrobot_pb @Dzware @Anxiety @AK-1138 @ExistentialSolid @kingofbattle8174 @Violino @Zanreo @eigen-space @DeadlyPerfume @FoxyKatt_ @Briste @Inuty @ValenTris7 @SpaceCoresDad @rangers_lead5278 @Quixotesque @AuroraHistoire @Together_Comic @Jens @Tiffanniebaby @Jello @DamagingRob @gruffiiti @GuitaristZag @s68sc @Hisuiryu @oxford_wolf007 @ArchaeanHorizon @IntroPhenom @Weskerfan75 @WDB_Chaotic @TimeLordCrow13y @SupergiantStarr @JimboUrbanian @MattbluePT @edolusill @cocoeggs @Starrk_01 @Neocarleen @brosephstalin3fm @Im2Fast_4U @Cerlayjux @Poptartboy54 @Last-_-Judgment @Pieroluc) Also proof of donation (1, 2). I counted 90 badges, but even if there should only be 89, 90 is a better number to donate. 36 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBloodmoney Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 Lovely badges @Ellie-nyan! I recognise Gris (great choice!) , what is the image in the bonus badge if you don't mind me asking? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantochi Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 13 minutes ago, Ellie-nyan said: ~~Badge Time~~ That's amazing, holy shit. Thanks @Beyondthegrave07 for hosting the event, and thanks everyone for participating. I'll do my donation on monday or so and share the proof if needed. i'm sure we'll help someone, not only with the donations, but also by raising awareness for the cause. Cheers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last-_-Judgment Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 (edited) @Ellie-nyanLooks amazing. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this. Congratulations to everyone who earned one of these fine badges. And again thank you @Beyondthegrave07 for hosting this event. Big credit to everyone who donated too! Edited June 5, 2021 by Last-_-Judgment 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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