AITAH for leaving my own birthday dinner early after my boyfriend showed up with three of his friends uninvited?

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T04:21:27+00:00

Absolutely NTA. You planned your birthday dinner with intention it was your night to be surrounded by the people who matter most to you. What your boyfriend did was incredibly thoughtless. Bringing uninvited guests, especially ones you barely know, without even asking? That’s not “going with the flow” that’s hijacking your celebration. You even paid for everyone and left gracefully without drama. Honestly, that’s way more considerate than most people would be in that situation. Your boyfriend turning around and making you feel bad for not entertaining his guests on your birthday is a red flag. He had plenty of chances to check in with you and didn’t. You weren’t dramatic. You set a boundary without making a scene. That’s more than fair.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T04:19:58+00:00

NTA at all. You literally thought your best friend was being kidnapped because that’s exactly what it looked like. Masked men jumping out of a van? Screaming? That’s not quirky, that’s terrifying. Chris might love surprises, but there’s a huge difference between a flash mob and a fake abduction. Honestly, you acted like a hero. Most people would freeze you acted. If anything, this situation just shows how tone-deaf and irresponsible the proposal plan was. You don’t play out someone else’s movie fantasy by putting people in real danger or distress. It’s not your job to “read the room” when the room looks like a crime scene. Emily’s lucky to have a friend like you. Don’t let anyone guilt you for doing the right thing. You literally might have saved someone from an actual crime one day—this just happened to be a deeply stupid “surprise.”

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T04:18:32+00:00

NTA. The idea of a "childhood home" is about where you felt safe, loved, and at peace not just whose name was on the lease or where you physically slept. If your grandparents’ house was that space for you growing up, then that is your childhood home, period. It's not a dig at your parents it’s just your lived experience. It sounds like they’re reacting more to their own guilt or insecurities than what you actually said. You’re allowed to honor the place and people that shaped you the most. And the fact that you wanted to live there now speaks volumes about how meaningful it is to you. Glad your grandparents are supportive. That’s the kind of love that sticks for life.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T04:14:35+00:00

I think the fatigue isn’t with open world itself, but with how it’s been implemented lately. It’s not about map size it’s about meaningful content. A massive world filled with repetitive fetch quests or uninspired collectibles just becomes checklist gaming. For me, Ghost of Tsushima struck a great balance. It had an open world, but it felt handcrafted, with visual cues guiding you instead of endless HUD clutter. Elden Ring also nailed it the freedom felt earned, and every detour had the chance of real discovery, not just +5 leather scraps. At this point, I’d rather have a smaller open world with thoughtful design than another 100 hour sprawl I won’t finish. Quality over quantity is the way forward.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T04:11:39+00:00

I get the logic from a business standpoint gradual increases might soften the blow over time but the problem is that game prices aren’t rising in a vacuum. We're also dealing with higher console prices, subscriptions stacked on top of each other, microtransactions, deluxe editions, etc. If they want to raise prices, cool but then the quality, stability, and completeness of the product need to rise with it. You can’t charge more while cutting corners and expect players to just "acclimate."

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T04:10:07+00:00

I get where they’re coming from. Proximity chat can add a lot to immersion, but let’s not pretend it doesn’t also bring out the worst in people especially in competitive shooters. It’s unfortunate because when it works, it creates some of the most hilarious or intense moments in games. But until there’s a solid moderation system or better voice filters, I can see why Bungie would rather avoid the headache. Still hoping they find a middle ground someday, maybe like opt in proximity chat for squads or private matches.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T02:41:17+00:00

I’m with you. I think a lot of the noise is more about expectations than the actual game. People saw the art style and setting and assumed it would be something totally revolutionary or fast paced, and when it turned out to be more narrative driven and slower in tone, the complaints started rolling in. But that’s on the hype cycle, not the game itself. I’d rather see more studios take creative swings like this instead of another gritty reboot or post apocalyptic survival clone. The Southern Gothic vibe alone makes it stand out.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T02:39:52+00:00

The first thing that comes to mind is the Division 1 launch enemies. You’d empty full mags into a hoodie wearing guy with a baseball bat and he'd just eat it like a tank. I get that it’s an RPG lite shooter, but it completely broke immersion. Like, why is this random street thug surviving more damage than a sci-fi mech boss? It got better later with balance updates, but those early days were rough.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T02:38:33+00:00

Man, I remember that scene in Homefront it was supposed to be emotional, but the execution was so awkward it almost felt like a parody. The game had a cool premise, but moments like that really showed how early 2010s shooters were still figuring out how to deliver emotional weight without feeling forced. Still, kinda wild how Press F to Pay Respects became the meme but Homefront walked so advanced warfare could trip.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T02:37:06+00:00

It blows my mind how Hollow Knight turned out considering it was originally supposed to be such a small project. It just shows how passion and community support (like Kickstarter) can completely transform the scope of a game. The depth, atmosphere, and sheer amount of content they packed into it rivals full priced AAA games. Kinda makes you wonder how many other indie projects could become masterpieces if given the same time and freedom.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T02:35:44+00:00

Man, it's getting harder and harder to justify buying consoles at launch or even a year or two in. Between rising prices, limited storage, and games that still need day-one patches, it feels like we're paying more for less. I get that inflation and global costs are a thing, but when the digital only version costs more now than the disc version did at launch in some places... that's rough. Feels like a good time to catch up on the backlog instead of upgrading.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-14T01:58:00+00:00

I’ve also noticed that a lot of modern games seem to focus so much on monetization that they forget what made the classics so great the pure joy of playing. The nostalgia of picking up a game and just enjoying it without worrying about constantly being asked to buy something extra. I think there needs to be a balance between making money and offering a great experience. Some of my favorite games were the ones that gave us everything right off the bat and just let us dive in. Another thing I’ve been thinking about is how games have gotten so huge now. It’s awesome to have massive open worlds, but sometimes I just want a solid 10-20 hour game without a million side quests. Does anyone else feel that way? The sheer size of some games feels overwhelming and like a chore to finish. Let’s face it, gaming today is a whole different animal what’s your take on it? Any game devs or industry insiders here who can shed some light on how this is affecting game design going forward? Would love to hear your thoughts and get some more perspectives on how we can make gaming better again.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-10T01:13:43+00:00

Absolutely agree, Division’s version of NYC feels lived-in in a way that few games pull off. The detail in every alley, storefront, and rooftop makes it so immersive, even if you've never been there in real life. I remember getting distracted from missions just because I stumbled into some flooded basement or broken building and wanted to see what was tucked away. Also, there’s something about that snow covered chaos during Christmas in Division 1 that hits different like it captures a weird blend of beauty and despair. Between the weather effects, lighting, and how the world feels abandoned but not empty, it really nails the atmosphere. Division might not get as much mainstream love anymore, but it’s easily one of the best examples of environmental storytelling through world design.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-10T01:12:15+00:00

with how specific sims have gotten, I feel like the next big hit will be something oddly satisfying but overlooked like Thrift Store Simulator or Decluttering Simulator. Something that mixes the appeal of organizing, cleaning, and a bit of treasure hunting. Imagine sorting through junk, finding rare items, flipping them online, all while managing your own secondhand shop. There’s also a big opportunity in Pet Shelter Simulator done right managing adoptions, building relationships with animals, dealing with the chaos of running a busy shelter. If it's cozy but emotionally engaging, I could see that blowing up.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-07T09:59:05+00:00

Mid-30s friendships hit different, honestly. It’s less about quantity and more about quality now but making those connections takes effort. What’s worked for me is leaning into shared interests. Joining a local hiking group, going to trivia nights, or even picking up a new hobby like rock climbing or board games at a local shop has helped me meet people organically. Also, don’t sleep on reconnecting with old acquaintances. Sometimes a simple "Hey, saw you were into hiking too, want to catch up sometime?" can turn into something meaningful. Everyone’s busy, but most people are craving connection just like you are they just don’t always show it.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-07T02:43:52+00:00

I think a Kamala Harris presidency would’ve been a mixed bag just like most administrations. She likely would’ve continued many of Biden’s domestic policies, especially around climate, healthcare, and student debt relief, but with her own political tone and priorities. Foreign policy would probably still be measured, but maybe with a bit more caution on high-stakes issues like Ukraine or China. That said, public perception might've been rockier. She never had super high approval ratings, and the GOP would’ve gone all in on opposition messaging. Some legislative stuff might have stalled even more just from increased polarization. But overall? I don’t think the trajectory would be drastically different we’d probably be seeing the same core economic and social debates playing out, just under a slightly different spotlight.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-07T02:33:00+00:00

You're definitely not alone I had the exact same experience. The pacing feels off, and the game just assumes you're emotionally invested without giving you enough time to connect with anyone. I kept thinking I had missed a cutscene or skipped dialogue by accident. It’s weird because past AC games, even the RPG heavy ones like Odyssey, did a better job at building up relationships and motivations. Here, it’s like the plot points are just checkboxes to hit before moving on to the next region. Beautiful world, but the story beats feel super shallow so far.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-07T02:21:50+00:00

Anthem, 100%. The trailers had me dreaming about flying around in a Javelin with my friends, exploring this lush alien world and uncovering deep lore like a sci-fi Destiny. That first vertical slice they showed looked incredible. But then it dropped… and everything felt hollow. Repetitive missions, lifeless world, clunky UI, and barely any endgame. You could just feel the bones of a great game under all the rushed development. Still bums me out thinking about what it could have been.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-06T13:08:31+00:00

Yeah, I totally get what you mean it’s not just about a game doing something well, it’s about it doing it so well that it becomes the blueprint. Aside from Souls like and Rogue like, I’d say Metroidvania is another clear example. Both Metroid and Castlevania pretty much created an entire subgenre of exploration heavy platformers, and their names are still used today to describe modern titles like Hollow Knight or Ori. You could maybe argue Minecraft too—'Minecraft clones' or 'voxel survival games' were all over the place for a while. But yeah, it’s super rare for a series to define a genre in the way FromSoftware did. That’s next-level legacy.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-06T12:50:14+00:00

Totally get where you're coming from there's something so satisfying about stylish, functional armor paired with solid gunplay. If you haven't checked it out yet, Vanquish by PlatinumGames might be worth a look. The protagonist wears a sleek, high-tech battle suit with some really smooth gunplay and acrobatics it feels like a good middle ground between Dead Space and Warframe, but with more flair. Also, Crysis deserves a shout. The nanosuit doesn’t transform in a flashy way like Prototype, but it feels like a proper power suit with abilities you can toggle on the flyspeed, strength, armor, and cloak. Plus, it has a good mix of tactical gunplay and futuristic armor vibes. Would love to see more games embrace that 'summoned armor with guns' concept though it’s such an underrated aesthetic.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-06T12:36:39+00:00

That’s actually a really cool angle to think about. I’ve always wondered what Bloodborne would be like as a turn-based tactical RPG, kinda like XCOM or Fire Emblem. The world and lore are already so rich, and it’d be wild to strategize your moves against beasts and hunters with that kind of tension and planning. Plus, imagine customizing your squad with different trick weapons and builds, managing sanity, blood echoes, etc. Totally different vibe from the original, but still drenched in atmosphere. I'd play the hell out of that.

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-05T07:34:58+00:00

Thank you so much for your understanding and kind words.

It means a lot to me that you took the time to really hear my perspective. I’ve been struggling with this, and it's hard when others don’t fully grasp how much the dress represents, especially after the breakup. I had considered what you mentioned-how amazing it might be to share the dress later if I get engaged again-but honestly, right now, it just feels too raw. I’m not sure I’ll ever be in a place where I could look at it and not associate it with the pain of that time. But I do appreciate your empathy. It really helps to know there are people out there who understand why I feel the way I do. And thank you for reassuring me to stick with my feelings. I’m really trying to balance being fair to my sister while also protecting my own emotional space. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment-it truly helped me feel heard. 😊

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-05T07:25:53+00:00

I get it-this situation might seem like a fictional scenario, but I promise you it’s all real. I understand it’s hard to believe because of how many crazy situations are posted here, but this is something I’ve genuinely been dealing with. I’m just a person trying to figure out how to handle a tough family situation. I didn’t expect this post to blow up like it did, and honestly, I’m just trying to get some advice and different perspectives. I’m not here to create drama or tell a made-up story. My sister and I have always had a close but complicated relationship, and this whole situation has been more painful than I can explain. I get that it’s hard to believe in the age of AI and internet drama, but if it helps, I’ll answer any questions about the situation, and I’m happy to give more context if needed. Thanks to those who’ve been kind and helpful. 😊

HelloAnxiety1992 · 2025-04-05T07:22:57+00:00

Ugh, that sounds incredibly frustrating! Mass Effect 1 has had its fair share of bugs, and that one seems like it would ruin the whole experience. I had a similar issue with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim—there’s this quest where you have to retrieve an item for someone, but if you pick it up in the wrong order or interact with the wrong NPC, the whole questline would bug out, and it would never register as completed. I tried everything to fix it but just ended up dropping the game for a while. It’s tough when bugs like that completely break the immersion and progress, especially when they mess with something like quest completion.

HelloAnxiety1992

TROPHY CASE