I lose self esteem too quick..

[Wyrmnus]

When it comes to just about ANY difficult video game, I lose my patience and self esteem way too quick. I understand games are made difficult for a reason, but FUCK MY LIFE. One mess up and immediately I see my spot in the archives of Hi scoring awesome withering away. Its a downward spiral from that point and I just lose all ability to repair the situation and get that satisfaction that a video game is supposed to bring; BEING ENTERTAINED.

What are some things I could do to help me not get so frustrated here?

[SuperDeadite]

Stop giving a shit. Games are meant to be fun. Don't worry about mastering a game, just keep playing it over and over as you feel like it. Eventually you will know it so well, you will naturally master it. If you are getting frustrated, stop and play something else. And if playing it gives no fun, just stress, you're probably playing the wrong game.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Sleep well. Play early in the morning, or whenever you wake up. DON'T have a breakfast, soda, tea etc. before. Just drink hot water. This way, chances are, you'll be in the proper mood and a good shape for hunting. Practice under those circumstances EVERY DAY.

[Moniker]

Just remember that God doesn't exist, and, therefore, no one is keeping track of your progress. Play games where, when you lose, losing is fun.

[Ruldra]

You're caring too much about results. Just play for your own enjoyment instead of pushing for a high score or 1cc. These things come with time.

Play games where, when you lose, losing is fun.

Dwarf Fortress!

[Blinge]

Sleep well. Play early in the morning, or whenever you wake up. DON'T have a breakfast, soda, tea etc. before. Just drink hot water. This way, chances are, you'll be in the proper mood and a good shape for hunting. Practice under those circumstances EVERY DAY.

Wow, this actually works?

[BryanM]

Your brain really is at its best about an hour after waking up. It's all downhill into twilight from there..

[Moniker]

Sleep well. Play early in the morning, or whenever you wake up. DON'T have a breakfast, soda, tea etc. before. Just drink hot water. This way, chances are, you'll be in the proper mood and a good shape for hunting. Practice under those circumstances EVERY DAY.

Wow, this actually works?

Hell, no. Play in the evening after three scotches. That there is prime time.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Sleep well. Play early in the morning, or whenever you wake up. DON'T have a breakfast, soda, tea etc. before. Just drink hot water. This way, chances are, you'll be in the proper mood and a good shape for hunting. Practice under those circumstances EVERY DAY.

Wow, this actually works?

When I pursue goals set in challenging games that can be played in one hour-sized (or shorter) sessions, works for me. The key's doing so on a regular basis (provided you really want to improve).

[CMoon]

Dark Souls says hi!

[Obiwanshinobi]

There are games of long runs I simply avoid when I don't have a couple of hours to spare, such as Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter and Shin MegaTen: Nocturne. Those are for evenings and the likes.

[KAI]

My advice:
Don't-take-games-so-seriously

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Quit videogames forever.

[Cagar]

One mess up and immediately I see my spot in the archives of Hi scoring awesome withering away. Its a downward spiral from that point and I just lose all ability to repair the situation and get that satisfaction that a video game is supposed to bring; BEING ENTERTAINED.

Happens to me way too often too.
Well it doesn't happen in ANY game, pretty much only in games with some proper scoring mechanics. Games like dark souls which are enjoyable in terms of combat and you're not restricted in playtime and there's no any scoring system, are fun and very enjoyable, no matter how many times you lose. (dark souls 2 pls come fast)
But shmups however...

[trap15]

Stop giving a shit.

[CMoon]

Stop giving a shit.

This should be the first line of advice in every thread.

[gs68]

I usually play my best late at night but before sleepiness kicks in, surprisingly. If I play right after waking up I'm still too groggy to process things.

Then again I have an atrocious sleeping schedule and it's a divine miracle if I go to sleep before 2 AM.

[Obiwanshinobi]

If you can't sleep well, that's what you need to learn how to do first and foremost. Otherwise, you won't be very effective at anything.
Only youngsters find ignoring sleep deprivation easy. But when the youth is no more and the bad habits stay, you're in for a loss.

[gs68]

I don't deprive myself of sleep, I just wake up late (somewhere around 11 AM and 2 PM). Though that will have to change once winter vacation ends.

[Jonst]

I've only just recently discovered my best play on any shmup happen within my first five runs,after that I'm just banging my head against a brick wall.

[Blinge]

Dark Souls says hi!

Fuck off dark souls, I just lost 10K souls on my first time through Sen's Fortress, died on the pendulums before getting them back. at least there's no major penalty for dying in shmups =/

...I'm sorry dark souls I love you really.

[BIL]

What are some things I could do to help me not get so frustrated here?

BURN YOURSELF

[Wyrmnus]

LoL..

[hecheff]

As everyone else has mentioned anyway:
"It may not always about winning, but it is always about getting better at it each time you start another round."

Unless you're deliberately dying for laughs, which means you're having fun anyway (thus making your 'having no fun' issue irrelevant).

[gs68]

Usually I try to remind myself that while I may not be as good as X player or Y percentile of players, or that someone says "this game is easy and I don't see how you can struggle at it", there are other players who are struggling as much as me and as such I'm not alone.

After all, there were once times where KET couldn't beat Black Heart in Battle Garegga, DOLCE. couldn't clear even 5's in IIDX, and KAN couldn't handle 1G in Tetris.

[hecheff]

Usually I try to remind myself that while I may not be as good as X player or Y percentile of players, or that someone says "this game is easy and I don't see how you can struggle at it", there are other players who are struggling as much as me and as such I'm not alone.

You know that sudden change in perspective when you start something as a hobby which then becomes some sort of obligation (i.e. a job)? Kind of the same feeling when you're actively pressing yourself out of your comfort zone to achieve something using your former hobby as a means to it.

Unless you're getting a high rush from competing (which is still cool), your objective is no longer doing 'that fun thing' but instead doing this 'chore' as a means to an end (in your case, out-performing someone else).

[Bananamatic]

Fuck off dark souls, I just lost 10K souls on my first time through Sen's Fortress, died on the pendulums before getting them back. at least there's no major penalty for dying in shmups =/

...I'm sorry dark souls I love you really.

Why do people get upset over losing souls? Soul level is way behind in importance behind equipment and knowing how to play. You pretty much need only 25-30 vitality to comfortably beat the game(to not die in 1 shot to everything in the lategame).

[CMoon]

Fuck off dark souls, I just lost 10K souls on my first time through Sen's Fortress, died on the pendulums before getting them back. at least there's no major penalty for dying in shmups =/

...I'm sorry dark souls I love you really.

Why do people get upset over losing souls? Soul level is way behind in importance behind equipment and knowing how to play. You pretty much need only 25-30 vitality to comfortably beat the game(to not die in 1 shot to everything in the lategame).

Who uses vitality anymore? Hate life and play hyper-mage build!

Edit: Actually, for the OP, please use dusk ring + calamity ring + get cursed + resistance build. We are looking out for you on the shmups forum.

[dunpeal2064]

You forgot the Mimic Head!

[Wyrmnus]

Guys. I don't even play Dark Souls ._.

I played demon souls like.. once. Got bored of it.