Poll: First-person view and dizziness

[poleboy]

Does first-person view, the preferred standard of shooters, cause you any discomfort when playing them? The reason I ask is that my girlfriend was watching me play TF2 and commented that it looked fun and she wanted to play it, but games in first person make her a little nauseous after a few minutes of playing. Now... I realize we have been over this before, usually as a side-note in discussions about FPS. However, I'd like to approach this with the prefered "scientific" method of the internet, the poll.

I am not claiming that women are better or worse at playing video games, I have simply noticed that my girlfriend does not appear to be the only one with this problem and that most of the anecdotes of this nature concern women. I am also aware that there are various studies regarding this, but I'd like to get some answers from people who actually play these games and presumably have a better understanding of the subject.

Feel free to discuss any (non-retarded) theories concerning this, but please avoid the "gurls suck at fps, lol" arguments.

 

[Noamuth]

The only times first-person view bothers me is when I can't get the damn thing to move fast enough, or what it overshoots where I want to look completely.

>.<

 

[divine-omen]

the only real issue with FP mainly FPS is its targeting.id like to aim at something rather than take half an hr to aim at one thing...........

 

[poleboy]

I see a few people have tossed votes in "occasional dizziness". Could you perhaps elaborate on the experience? Is it a one-time thing or does it happen when you play for too long?

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

To add some more anecdotal evidence, a girl a few months ago told me that FPS games always made her feel queasy. I've never really heard that from anyone else, or any male.

 

[stompy]

I think that the question in more of the person not used to first person perspectives, not of their sex. Does your girlfriend play many first person games, or games at all?

As for the poll, I'm male, and don't feel dizzy when playing FPSs. Though, I've been playing FPSs for about 3-4 years now, if that counts for anything.

 

[Sackwak]

Argh, mostly happens when i play CoD4 at night. I'll be doing fine then all of a sudden everythings so lightheaded/dizzy if you will. ESPECIALLY when a flashbang goes off right infront of me. Literally disorientates me to the point where i quit the game and turn off the console

 

[Fire Daemon]

I've never felt dizzy while playing an FPS.

I think it stretches back further than an experience thing, many people (both male or Female) can play many different genres of games (RTS, Racing etc) without problems but can't play FPS because of the diiziness.

 

[Shadowtek]

my uncle used to get nausea and sweat excessively when playing FPS.

 

[poleboy]

I think that the question in more of the person not used to first person perspectives, not of their sex. Does your girlfriend play many first person games, or games at all?

She plays games, though not every day. She doesn't play first person games much, obviously, because it makes her physically uncomfortable. As an example, she played Oblivion. A few minutes in first person made her uncomfortable, but she could play the game for hours in third person. She said it confused her when she didn't have a character on the screen to focus on.

Argh, mostly happens when i play CoD4 at night. I'll be doing fine then all of a sudden everythings so lightheaded/dizzy if you will.

Do you have enough light in the room? That can make a big difference. Lack of light combined with focusing on a screen is not good for your eyes (wow, I sound like my mother )

 

[divine-omen]

Argh, mostly happens when i play CoD4 at night. I'll be doing fine then all of a sudden everythings so lightheaded/dizzy if you will. ESPECIALLY when a flashbang goes off right infront of me. Literally disorientates me to the point where i quit the game and turn off the console

it may be because u played most of the dam day now ur head cant focus on the screen you have been staring at for the past what 12 hrs?

 

[Noamuth]

Argh, mostly happens when i play CoD4 at night. I'll be doing fine then all of a sudden everythings so lightheaded/dizzy if you will.

Do you have enough light in the room? That can make a big difference. Lack of light combined with focusing on a screen is not good for your eyes (wow, I sound like my mother )

I was about to ask that too. Lack of decent lighting can really strain your eyes. It's a bit of a shame, because it can ruin the atmosphere.

 

[stompy]

I think that the question in more of the person not used to first person perspectives, not of their sex. Does your girlfriend play many first person games, or games at all?

She plays games, though not every day. She doesn't play first person games much, obviously, because it makes her physically uncomfortable. As an example, she played Oblivion. A few minutes in first person made her uncomfortable, but she could play the game for hours in third person. She said it confused her when she didn't have a character on the screen to focus on.

Well, I still think that it's more of an experience thing, instead of gender. Your girlfriend hasn't played many FPS games, and when she does, she gets dizzy. Ergo, she avoids FPS games because they make her sick, causing the circle to continue.

What we need is some of the females on this forum to give us their opinion. I suppose my hypothesis depends on some women pitching in their experience.

Oh, and interesting question poleboy. I'd never have thought that this (people, specifically women, getting nauseous) was that common in FPSs. Though, it's mostly because I don't talked to many non-gamers about games specifically.

 

[Arkracer]

The only time I get nauseous in FPS games is with headcrabs...

They're positively nightmarish.

 

[poleboy]

Well, I still think that it's more of an experience thing, instead of gender. Your girlfriend hasn't played many FPS games, and when she does, she gets dizzy. Ergo, she avoids FPS games because they make her sick, causing the circle to continue.

Oh, and interesting question poleboy. I'd never have thought that this (people, specifically women, getting nauseous) was that common in FPSs. Though, it's mostly because I don't talked to many non-gamers about games specifically.

Your first statement makes sense, except that this would mean it's a hurdle that everyone has to pass at some point. I've never had that problem, not even a little bit. Neither have most people, apparently. She has tried it with several different games and had the same experience every time. She actually wants to play these games (sometimes), she just can't.

Like I said, the hypothesis has popped up in other threads from time to time, I just wanted a bit more focus on it. And some replies from actual gamers instead of studies that may or may not be biased.

 

[Knight Templar]

I think fewer girls play, but the ones who do are bad giving us the stereotype.

 

[poleboy]

I think fewer girls play, but the ones who do are bad giving us the stereotype.

Again, this is probably true but it's not really what I'm getting at. I'm using my girlfriend as an example, because she's the only person I know who has this problem, and the initial reason I became aware of it. I know other girls who can play FPS just fine, but I have never encountered or heard of any males with this issue.

 

[divine-omen]

I think fewer girls play, but the ones who do are bad giving us the stereotype.

i never sterotype any player cause ive had my ass handed to me by a girl on halo 3 after she sucked for a bit then she made me a target u could see an endless road filled with my dead bodies that day

 

[SmugFrog]

Nice options for your poll.

I have a male friend that started getting dizzy as he got older. It used to not be a problem for him - really strange.

 

[stompy]

Your first statement makes sense, except that this would mean it's a hurdle that everyone has to pass at some point. I've never had that problem, not even a little bit. Neither have most people, apparently. She has tried it with several different games and had the same experience every time. She actually wants to play these games (sometimes), she just can't.

Well, I still don't think it's a problem only faced by girls. There's gotta be another reason...

Wait, does your girlfriend susceptible to motion sickness? Like, more likely to get motion sickness than, say, you?