Pilot Archive
Thread: Sick in Space
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Thallka
Sat Sep 17, 2005 10:56 am
#1
Hey All,
I'm new to JTL and have been learning the ropes. One thing that's been consistent over the few times I've launched into space is that afterward I feel sick. Or, more accurately, dizzy. My head feels swimmy and I'm a little wobbily from all the zero-gravity dog figthing (the feeling remains hours and hours after I've stopped playing in fact).
When I'm in space, I'm usually pulled all the way back so I can see my ship, etc. But all the diving and rolling and tumbling does a number on my inner-ear I guess. Am I doing something wrong? Is there some sort of "setting" that would address this mild nausea issue? Would playing from the cockpit view only help?
Has anyone else experienced this unpleasant sensation or is it just me? Am I just not built for space combat? Any advice would be most helpful, because as it stands now I think I'm gonna have to turn in my wings before I throw up on my keyboard.
/embarrassed
-- Thallka "Sissy in Space" the Wookiee
I'm new to JTL and have been learning the ropes. One thing that's been consistent over the few times I've launched into space is that afterward I feel sick. Or, more accurately, dizzy. My head feels swimmy and I'm a little wobbily from all the zero-gravity dog figthing (the feeling remains hours and hours after I've stopped playing in fact).
When I'm in space, I'm usually pulled all the way back so I can see my ship, etc. But all the diving and rolling and tumbling does a number on my inner-ear I guess. Am I doing something wrong? Is there some sort of "setting" that would address this mild nausea issue? Would playing from the cockpit view only help?
Has anyone else experienced this unpleasant sensation or is it just me? Am I just not built for space combat? Any advice would be most helpful, because as it stands now I think I'm gonna have to turn in my wings before I throw up on my keyboard.
/embarrassed
-- Thallka "Sissy in Space" the Wookiee
admiraljz
Sat Sep 17, 2005 11:14 am
#3
It may be a motion sickness problem, or a balance problem with the inner ear like you suggested. Or, as is the case with a friend of mine, your eyes might not be able to track the rapid movements properly. I believe his problem is that only one eye tracks the movement, which gives the brain 2 different sets of input in rapidly moving games, leading to vertigo and nausea. He can't even watch someone play them.
There really isn't a game setting that slows down or stabilizes the action very much. You can try third person mode with camera elasticity set to zero (like I prefer to play), or in-cockpit first-person view. You can probably safely try antihistamines or another motion sickness medication. You may want to talk to a doctor if you're getting vertigo from other activities, or if you're simply hell bent on flying a virtual space ship without barfing on your keyboard.
If the problem doesn't appear immediately, you may also want to consider just flying in shorter amounts of time where possible. I know I can get a little woozy after flying for many hours straight without landing. May just be that you need a break every once in a while.
Good luck!
Bronski113
Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:15 pm
#4
I've never had this type of problem but if i do anything on a computer with a low refresh rate setting on the monitor i tend to get a headache.
Rhu
Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:20 pm
#5
I would imagine (not suffering from game-induced motion sickness myself since wolf3d--I downloaded it again years laterand something about the motion still made me sick) that you are going to feel the least bit of motion sickness in flying the most responsive fighters possible. Heavy Z/TIE/Scyk, Bel-22, or JSF. These will reduce the stimulus/response lag that might be causing the motion sickness, if that is the cause.
Thallka
Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:25 pm
#6
Thanks everyone for your super-helpful posts! I got some Dramamine (can't believe I gotta drug myself up to game!) and will mess with the elasticity and field view functions (I think that should do the trick) and will cross my fingers that I won't end up like Merlin in Top Gun.
I'm only a 1/1/2/1 right now, so hopefully I'll be able to master my space sickness so I can master the profession.
Right now, I'm flying the crappy Y-Wing, but can't wait to get to some of the more bad-ass ships (does anyone have a link or good info on the best/fastest way to level the piloting profession?)
Thanks again!
/dizzy
- Thallka
I'm only a 1/1/2/1 right now, so hopefully I'll be able to master my space sickness so I can master the profession.
Right now, I'm flying the crappy Y-Wing, but can't wait to get to some of the more bad-ass ships (does anyone have a link or good info on the best/fastest way to level the piloting profession?)
Thanks again!
/dizzy
- Thallka
AzidarNath
Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:47 pm
#7
I run into this problem on occasion. I think I've found out through experimentation what does it for me. Here are some of the factors that seem to affect the senses:
1. Check your Frame Rate on your monitor. Go to the MISC section in your OPTIONS and turn on the network monitor window and check out your frames/per/second (FPS) rate. A frame rate of 8-15 FPS seem to make me sick too. You want to set your settings so your frame rate will be over 20 and as close to 30 as you can muster. The higher the FPS, the smoother and more naturalthe action on screen.
2. Check your monitor's refresh rate. If you're using an LCD screen you should set the in-game settings to match the preferred resolution of your LCD. Same with screen refresh rate. My Samsung SyncMaster 730b, for example, likes a screen resolution of 1280x1024 at 60Hz refresh rate. Check your documentation. If you're using a CRT monitor, set it to the highest refresh rate that it and your card will support.
3. Check your brightness and contrast settings on your monitor. If you typically play in a darkened room, consider turning down the brightness of your screen and/or adjusting the contrast.
4. Take frequent breaks. Get up, walk around, get some water, focus your eyes on things at varying distances. Staring at a monitor or LCD panel at a fixed distance for long periods of time is unhealthy.Ten minutes every hour or so should be your absolute minimum. I do this and in addition I have a small TV mounted above and behind my monitor and I'm near two windows, so I give myself the opportunity to focus my eyes on a lot of different things at different distances often between breaks.
5. Be aware that some people will have reactions to the constant flashes on the screen, like in Blaster fire, even up to the point of having seizures. If in doubt, get checked out !!!! Seea doctor. If you are susceptible to this, it is well worth the time and money to know this so you can make appropriate adjustments to enjoy the game. If you're not, that's still good to know.
Hope this helps you.
JoceSearar
Sat Sep 17, 2005 9:52 pm
#8
I fly a ton and dont normally have a problem. If you feel sick after flying your own ship, do not try to act as a gunner on any kind of moving ship (i had one guy from my guild yelling at me to tone down the maneuvers once in my ARC when in a turn battle with Starscream in DS).
Kryxal
Sat Sep 17, 2005 11:37 pm
#9
I was about to give the same advice, I just had my first experience as a gunner in a Y-Wing, and I suspect it may have been the pilot's first experience WITH a gunner. Trying to track a target through pitch and yaw (and roll wouldn't have surprised me) is truly stomach-churning. Flying to allow turret gunners to be effective is an acquired skill, I think.
Marlow
Sun Sep 18, 2005 12:33 am
#11
I get motion sick in space also, but what I found is that some ships are worse than others. Also as I did it more, I got used to it a bit more. I'm almost master pilot now (4 4 3 3 anyway) and I've just worked through it a bit.
newbExtraordinaire
Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:40 am
#13
Hehe... I had this problem with Wolfenstein 3D, and then again years later with the graphic engine from The Elder Scrolls series. To me, it's just standard motion sickness and popping a few anti-histamine pills works (anti motion sickness pills). Only problem is that some brands make you really tired, so you fall asleep after 30 minutes of play 
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