Sunday, August 26th 2007

Scientists Find New Way to Immerse Gamers: Electric Shocks

Game developers know that it's pretty hard to get gamers into the game sometimes. While some developers create intense graphics, and others create a brilliant/original storyline, scientists are working on an out-of-the-box approach to immersion. In a controlled experiment, scientists made gamers play Pac-Man...with a twist. Whenever a ghost kills Pac-Man, the gamer gets an electric shock in the real world. The results were astounding and unexpected. Whenever a ghost approached Pac-Man, the gamer got scared. As the ghost got closer, gamers brains stopped thinking logically, and started acting on instincts. While this experience does get the gamer into the game, chances are electrodes will not become the next vibrating controller.
Source: BBC via The Inq
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18 Comments on Scientists Find New Way to Immerse Gamers: Electric Shocks

#1
FAXA
Good idea...as long as the player could turn it off :P.
Posted on Reply
#3
Jimmy 2004
This test was actually a research project to find out how the brain reacts to danger (in this case being electrocuted) so it's very unlikely we'll see technology like this in controllers any time soon, and it could potentially be quite dangerous if something went wrong... :eek:
Posted on Reply
#4
Weer
Immersion through fear.. interesting idea.
Posted on Reply
#5
Steevo
Shocks for games like leisure suit larry will be a bit more personal, so make sure to wrap it or take it home and whack it.
Posted on Reply
#6
WarEagleAU
Bird of Prey
arent they afraid of what damage this could do over a long period of time?

I must admit, I think it is interesting, but it also worries me a little as well...
Posted on Reply
#7
average..
lol, they will probally fear pac man for life now
Posted on Reply
#8
WeStSiDePLaYa
I think this would be a good idea to maybe be made into a mouse so the gamer can't avoid it.

It would bring more realism to online FPS games. People would actually fear being killed, and approach things differently.
Posted on Reply
#9
erocker
*
Stupid idea. I don't need any more pain in my life. If any of you want, I can stand behind you while playing your favorite game... when you get hurt or killed, I'll hit you in the head as hard as I can. You don't even need to pay me.
Posted on Reply
#10
PVTCaboose1337
Graphical Hacker
This would be cool for arcade games but not for games that involve each player to own a piece of hardware.
Posted on Reply
#11
Steevo
This would be great therapy for the kids and parents who claim "GTA" or any other game made me do it. Make them really fear. They should also get shot with a paintball marker when their player gets shot.
Posted on Reply
#12
zekrahminator
McLovin
erockerStupid idea. I don't need any more pain in my life. If any of you want, I can stand behind you while playing your favorite game... when you get hurt or killed, I'll hit you in the head as hard as I can. You don't even need to pay me.
How nice of you :roll:

I think I'll have to pass on that offer though...but thanks for offering! :p
Posted on Reply
#15
cdawall
where the hell are my stars
thats thru the heart and in AMPS you understand you can run upwards of 100,000V thru yourself and be just fine as long as its low amps correct?

120V from your outlet isnt even enough to kill you 240V (in the us at least) is enough to knock you on your ass and then there is the super high shit that i can see in my grandfathers machine shop that doesnt knock you out of the way it actually grips on to you

so this little .385 thing really is dumb to say
Posted on Reply
#16
Seany1212
correct, volts jolts, mills (milliamps) kills.
Posted on Reply
#17
Jimmy 2004
I would assume that the power going to your standard controller isn't going to be more than a few amps anyway, I'd be impressed if someone managed to kill themselves by holding it in their hands. But, that said... people would mod the console and do stupid things with it which would probably result in serious injury eventually, so I doubt any console manufacturer would ever go for the idea.
Posted on Reply
#18
hat
Enthusiast
No. Just no.
Posted on Reply
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