ArmA2 gives me seizures :(

[Joseph Troska 0]

After dealing with motion sickness for the last few days (even with head-bob switched off), today after doing the first campaign mission, I went to sleep then woke up not knowing who or where I was, also having seizures.

The demo didn't give me this issue, and I'm wondering if it might not just be the game, but the fact I'm using the beta 9.7 drivers (maybe a screen refresh issue?)

I'm just putting this out there to see if others are also experiencing this. I played OFP for years without this issue - but I did find when I reinstalled OFP on my old rig using the res 1680x1050 on my 22" monitor, I also felt a bit motion sick. Could it be resolution/widescreen dependent?

[D_O_A 10]

I get a bit of Vertigo from playing some of the games i used to play when i was a kid, them and rockband/guitar hero, nothing with Arma though sorry to hear dude.

[mashimocs 10]

Wow:butbut:

The head bobing is a bugger to get used to, along with all the K's travelling to a battle.

You seriously should get that checked out.

[Jorge.PT 10]

Joseph Troska, turn of the post processing effects also and don't stand too close to your monitor.

But first, stop playing ArmA2 and go see a doctor. Let's hope that's not something serious.

[VXR 9]

Sorry to hear this,

When you go see a doctor be sure to tell how much hours you have been playing last days/weeks. This could be relevant as you mentioned you got the motion sickness.

[Joseph Troska 0]

Thanks for the replies, guys, definitely going to get it checked out.

I've always kept the post processing and head bob switched off. Such a shame - I've been eagerly awaiting this game for soooo long - and I envisioned playing it non-stop for days on end. Unfortunately I play for only a few minutes and have to turn it off due to motion sickness/dizziness.

[wowyouareacow=GCHQ= 10]

Tasteless post removed.

Edited July 20, 2009 by Franze
Is 'drunk on moderator power' a good reason?

[Herbal Influence 10]

I do also feel that ArmA2 is much more stressful for my eyes than OF or AA1.

Dunno why.

Also gaming with 22'' and 1680x1050.

I game with about a 24 fps +-3.

What I find enerving is the blurrness of the things farer away.

[An-225 0]

lol u gotta utube it :D did u foam around the mouth? lol

You fuckwit, people DIE from this sort of thing. Its not a pretty sight to watch...

[wowyouareacow=GCHQ= 10]

You fuckwit, people DIE from this sort of thing. Its not a pretty sight to watch...

u mad? :bounce3::bounce3::bounce3:

[Deadfast 43]

Keep a good distance from your monitor and make sure your room is well lit as well ;)

[Planck 1]

I fail to understand why this topic was started.

If the OP was suffering seizures whilst playing computer games, specifically ARMA2, then a reasonable amount of intelligence would have suggested a complete stop to playing said game and urgent consultation with a doctor or hospital.

At least this is the way I would deal with it.

Logging onto the games official site and starting a discussion about it would be the very last thing that would occur to me.

People are strange. :j:

Planck

[thr0tt 12]

I did exactly the same but was surfing pr0n, woke up later with tissues all stuck to my belly not knowing if wife had caught me. Should I see a doctor too or not surf late into the night ? Any suggestions would be useful ;)

[Joseph Troska 0]

I fail to understand why this topic was started

Logging onto the games official site and starting a discussion about it would be the very last thing that would occur to me.

People are strange.

\

I have been playing games all my life - I'm almost 30 years old, and the issue only started a few days ago when I bought ArmA2 (and installed the beta catalyst 9.7 drivers).

Actually starting this thread was done to ascertain whether others might be experiencing something similar. Seeing as though I have no history of epilepsy or lowered threshold to seizures, and it only started when I played ArmA2 (using beta 9.7), then it only stands to reason that others may also be experiencing it. As I stated in the OP I am unsure whether it is solely the game, or possibly a combination of factors such as the game using beta drivers or other display settings.

Please do not call me strange for highlighting what is actually a legitimate concern.

[twisted 128]

I had something like that on quake and sometimes on gtaiv. for me i found its related to low/stuttering frame rate. try dropping settings a little and turn head jump down (not off necessarily though).

also i found keeping some water handing helps - drink it when you start feeling queasy.

edit - but to be sure arma2 does not cause me this. i can play for hours.

what are your pc specs man?

Edited July 18, 2009 by twisted

[Bulldogs 10]

It's usually light related. As another user mentioned, don't sit too close to the monitor, make sure the room is well lit and try different refresh rates (slower is usually better) Lowering the resolution can help too (if something looks too real that can cause queezyness and even vertigo, lowering the resolution/3d resolution will deter your brain from the illusion)

Other than that, definitely see a doctor, the last thing you want to do is ignore it, especially if you have no history of sezures, because there could be another underlying cause that developed recently 9best not to speculate what)

[wooly-back-jack 10]

i did exactly the same but was surfing pr0n, woke up later with tissues all stuck to my belly not knowing if wife had caught me. Should i see a doctor too or not surf late into the night ? Any suggestions would be useful ;)

lol! :D

[Planck 1]

To be sure JT, I did not specifically call you strange, I said people were strange.

Of course, by implication, unless you are an extraterrestrial alien, that means you are strange, it also means I am strange by virtue of the same fact. :)

Planck

[Herbal Influence 10]

I don't have seizures from AA2 but as I said it's for whatever reason more stressful to my eyes - though I don't do more than 2 hrs of it a day.

Maybe 23 fps aren't enough - though I enjoy close to highest settings mostly.

But I don't think it's fps-matter.

To me, I think, it's the blurrness.

Any hint to reduce it?

Before Patch 1.02 I could change the fillrate. But I don't find the option of it no more.:eek:

(EDIT: Found the explanation here:

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=80493

In fact image quality is now better than before Patch 1.02. But as you can read there this might be a matter of your own settings. And "Nachbearbeitung" should be turned off - at last for me. Reduces the blurr greatly - I am sure I have no more problems now!)

If I would experience seizures I would really stop playing as long as I have not found out the reason. At least I would sharply reduce my gaming time.

And I think it's no matter to panic about. I love BI and they warned about the fact that this might happen, for sometimes people suffer from it. This seems to be a fact to every kind of video game.

Edited July 18, 2009 by Herbal Influence
Found out about reducing blurr by "Nachbearbeitung" ;-))

[Joseph Troska 0]

I was told the symptoms I am experiencing have more to do with flashing lights/lighting than actual stuttery motion.

Now I am convinced the Bloom effects in the game are at least contributing to my unease.

I have always set PostProcessing (Blur & HDR) to Disabled, but that weird lighting in the game (like when you look at the ground or change your viewpoint and everything lights up unnaturally) persists. I have read that this cannot be disabled in the game. Is it possible future patches or mods may be able to disable it?

[ryan80 10]

just turn down the head bobbing in game options. helps alot.

[NoQuarter 0]

@Joseph Troska:

Warnings

1; Projection Televisions

2; Epilepsy Warning

3; Precautions During Use

The front inside cover of the (printed-U.S.-GGE) manual lists various warnings, the second of which covers your particular causes/symptoms.

____

Its a valid concern, one that the devs themselves have recognised, and worthy of a topic on the games official site.

Hope you are feeling better.

Edited July 19, 2009 by NoQuarter
Addressing

[jw custom 56]

But you also said that you used to play OFP without any problems but you now also gets dizzy from that, so maybe it's not ArmA2's fault but you that have some sort of "problem" or your monitor being old or something.

[rogue221 10]

It could be 30 years of gaming catching up to you and it just so happens arma 2 came out right around the time your issues started showing early signs of Epilepsy.

Every game can cause this by the way not just arma 2. Worst playing on larger displays. Happens with consoles too.

If the conditions persist, discontinue playing and find an alternative game to play, or have test done on you.

Seriously, a 50 dollar game isnt worth getting brain damage or death.

Edited July 19, 2009 by rogue221

[flake 10]

First it controlled her mind, then it destroyed her body... Long live the new flesh!