9
The first time it happened to me was in 2007, playing the recently released Halo 3 on my Xbox 360 and with a 32-inch tube panel TV of the time. It was still quite hot for the month of September and well, there I was, trying to find my way out of some caves while crashing into their walls and getting overwhelmed inside such a mousetrap. Then the discomfort began. Dizziness, sweats and my stomach asking to get it all out. A “yellow” in every rule.
From then on, I’ve always had to be very careful about what first person games I start to play, but I have met other people who are affected by motion sickness with other genres, such as in arcade games. driving waves 3d platforming. Fortunately, today we have flat screens with adequate refreshment, fast games with high frame rates per second, and many configuration and accessibility options.
But there are still many players who suffer from this effect and many titles are lost because of it. If this is your case, read on to find out everything about motion sickness and why it affects playing video games.
What is motion sickness in video games?
The motion sickness itself is a medical term that refers to the discomfort that some people may experience during travel on the move, such as aboard cars, boats, or planes. It is also known as motion sickness or simulated motion sickness.
In video games, motion sickness occurs when players fast and constant movements of the camera or the character on the screen cause a feeling of dizziness, nausea and/or vertigo in the player. This is due to the way in which your brain processes and assimilates images while movement occurs. It tends to occur in VR games, in games with fast-moving first-person cameras, or in games that have a lot of fast movement and sudden changes of direction.
Motion sickness is more common in people who already have a previous sensitivity to dizziness and nausea, but can affect any player. To prevent or reduce motion sickness, it is recommended that you take regular breaks during gameplay, adjust your camera settings, and avoid fast and jerky gaming as much as possible.
How to prevent motion sickness from occurring?
There are a few things you can do to prevent or reduce motion sickness while playing video games:
- play in one well lit room: When the room is dark, the eyes have difficulty adjusting to changes in light and movement, which can increase the sensation of motion sickness.
- Take regular breaks: It is recommended that you take breaks from time to time during the game to rest your eyes and brain, and reduce the possibility of feeling dizzy or nauseated. A little trick is to set limited goals:
- play only one mission
- Play a specific objective
- Rest every hour or park the game from time to time
- adjust the camera settings: In some games, you can reduce the speed and sensitivity of the camera so that it moves less quickly and smoothly. It will cost you more to be precise, but in the end you will know how to take advantage of it and you will play calmly. You can also adjust the distance of the camera (field of view or FOV) relative to the character to reduce sensation.
- Another important configuration is the so-called motion blur (Motion Blur). It is the trail left by moving objects in an image or sequence. Appears when the object being recorded changes its position during a frame capture due to its speed or camera movement. If you get dizzy, to the bonfire with it, deactivate it.
- Take medicines For motion sickness: If motion sickness is a constant problem for you, you can talk to your doctor about taking a drug to reduce the discomfort. Just keep in mind that it can have side effects, so it’s important to talk to a health professional. before taking them.
- If none of this works for you, avoid games with fast and sudden movements, those that have a lot of fast movements and changes of direction can increase your feeling of dizziness. Try to choose games with more static cameras or less jerky movements.
What to do if you suffer from motion sickness while playing?
If you are already experiencing the symptoms of motion sickness while playing video games or feel like they are about to start (for example, the unexpected yawns are an indicator that the brain is lacking oxygen and is going to collapse), there are some methods to reduce or eliminate them.
- stop the game and rest: It’s obvious. If you feel dizzy or experience nausea, stop the game immediately and take a break. Get up and walk around the room, look towards a fixed point and take a deep breath.
- Drink water: Hydration can help reduce the symptoms of motion sickness. Drink water or some other fluid to stay hydrated and reduce feelings of nausea.
- Uses breathing techniques: Deep, slow breathing can help reduce feelings of dizziness. Take deep breaths through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth.
- Uses acupressure: Acupressure is a technique that involves applying pressure to certain points on the body to relieve the symptoms of motion sickness. You can gently press the point located in the center of the wrist, right on the line between the two tendons.
- cool off: Even if it’s cold, washing your face with cold water soothes the temples and reduces discomfort.
And finally, remember that you don’t have to play everything. There are thousands of games to play and, like everything in life, when something hurts or feels bad to you, it means that it isn’t there.