I’ve got a problem with some of my games, they make me want to puke.
Not the content, mind you, but the action. I’ve never had a problem with car sickness, but I get a headache and nausea that I would assume is closest to motion sickness.
I’m not sure exactly what causes it, but I get ill from playing or watching certain games, usually first-person shooters like Halo. I also got it from Star Wars KOTOR 2, even though I didn’t get it from the first one.
I don’t know what the deal is, does anyone else have this problem, and is there any way to fix it?
Its a type of motion sickness. I think it even says something about it on the video game box, or instructions. Alot of people have this problem. I was having the same problem with Half Life. Read this…
I believe some people are more prone to suffer ill effects from the flashing lights involved in some video games. This was also associated with some cartoons years ago. The following link discusses epileptic seizures that some experience from viewing some video games. It is possible that lesser degrees could cause more simple symptoms like headaches and nausea.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
I believe some people are more prone to suffer ill effects from the flashing lights involved in some video games. This was also associated with some cartoons years ago. The following link discusses epileptic seizures that some experience from viewing some video games. It is possible that lesser degrees could cause more simple symptoms like headaches and nausea.
In the begining I could play the first person shooters like Half Life, Unreal, Castle Wolfenstein for hours. Today I get sick just watching somebody playing it.
The good side is I dont have to waste my time on crap like that anymore.
I wonder if we will see more and more of this as graphics and movement in such programs becomes more sophisticated and “life-like.” The greater realism will be more likely to trigger reflex actions.
[quote]vroom wrote:
Now that a friend of mine has this huge widescreen set I find it can get a bit revolting to watch.
I’d wondered if maybe the graphic distortions (even more evident on the large screen) had something to do with it.[/quote]
If I play for too long (like in excess of one hour) I may get a slight headache. However, I contribute that to me keeping my eyes open and blinking less than I normally would staring into a big screen flashing light bulb. I would think the people who are actually prone to true “motion sickness” from a game would be few in number.
[quote]Cunnivore wrote:
I’ve got a problem with some of my games, they make me want to puke.
Not the content, mind you, but the action. I’ve never had a problem with car sickness, but I get a headache and nausea that I would assume is closest to motion sickness.
I’m not sure exactly what causes it, but I get ill from playing or watching certain games, usually first-person shooters like Halo. I also got it from Star Wars KOTOR 2, even though I didn’t get it from the first one.
I don’t know what the deal is, does anyone else have this problem, and is there any way to fix it?
Thanks much.[/quote]
I would add that it happened to me only during games that occur from a first person perspective.
KOTOR 2 definitely would not have qualified.
Additionally, I noticed that it happened in first person games where the green did not “bobble” slightly as I walked.
For example, in Battlefield 2 there is slight vertical motion as your player walks/runs. However, in Half-Life 1 and Morrowind, your character glides across the screen. Not sure what this changes, but I had a little more specificity to my particular condition.
This used to happen to a friend of mine back in the day. We determined that 1) He was sitting too close to the TV, 2) There wasn’t enough background light in the room, 3) He didn’t take long enough breaks while playing (his doctor suggested at least 10mins every hour), and 4) He would eat too much junk food while playing and would get dizzy/nauseous from a combination of both high blood sugar and intense focusing. He fixed all four of those and the problems disappeared almost immediately.
Exact same issue here. Especially games played on my computer’s 23" flat panel. I was playing a demo of some first-person shooter when I started feeling very nauseous. I had no idea what was causing it. When I simply couldn’t stand it anymore, I went and laid down, thinking I had caught a bug. 30 minutes later I was fine. Put two and two together and even tested the theory for a second time. Same result.
Games played on my PS2 thru my 32" LCD TV are really bad as well.
Best I’ve found: playing the PS2 on my son’s 13" tv in his play room. Or just not playing games on the computer at full screen.
I’m not trying to be alarmist, but when is the last time you guys (with these issues) went to the eye doctor? I’m just curious. I have a feeling it may have something to do with having different levels of vision acuity in each eye, for example 20/35 etc.
[quote]tremelo24 wrote:
I’m not trying to be alarmist, but when is the last time you guys (with these issues) went to the eye doctor? I’m just curious. I have a feeling it may have something to do with having different levels of vision acuity in each eye, for example 20/35 etc.
[/quote]
I personally doubt that is the case. I would attribute it more to mental stimulus and keeping the eyes open leading to eye strain and headaches. First person shooters are about the closest thing to reality based gaming available. Your eyes stay open looking for the next target. Looking into a big flat screen tv would only make it that much more intense. Imagine what these people would be complaining about if they played on an IMAX sized screen. I suppose some would simply pass out.
I would think BLINKING every few seconds would help more than anything. Setting the game on pause and walking away from the tv every few minutes would help as well.
I personally doubt that is the case. I would attribute it more to mental stimulus and keeping the eyes open leading to eye strain and headaches. First person shooters are about the closest thing to reality based gaming available. Your eyes stay open looking for the next target. Looking into a big flat screen tv would only make it that much more intense. Imagine what these people would be complaining about if they played on an IMAX sized screen. I suppose some would simply pass out.
I would think BLINKING every few seconds would help more than anything. Setting the game on pause and walking away from the tv every few minutes would help as well.[/quote]
Agreed 100% I have corrective vision and have my eyes checked regularly, so this is not the case with me.
I, on the other hand, do experience motion sickness on other levels (riding in a car, especially the back seat, boating, etc). But the worst is always artificial movement. Like those “roller coaster” rides at Universal Studios / Disney World; the ones that just show you movement and toss you around in your seat. (PUKE!) IMAX can be bad, too.
I find distancing myself in general from the screen (while playing PS2) helps as well. Makes it less in your face.