Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Guitar Hero side-effects

I've played a bunch of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and I've noticed a few things.

1) That weird vertigoey feeling you get when you've been playing for a while (say, a week or two, straight) and you look away from the screen. Everything seems to be moving away from you--almost like going into a wormhole or something.

2) Self-consciousness about rocking too hard. Sure, you want to do well, but at what point do you cross the line from keeping up with the notes to Pete Townshend windmills at the end of your song?

3) That brief feeling of apprehension you get when you hear a song from the game out in the real world. For just a second, your hands tense up, trying to make sure your fingers are in the right place.

Or maybe it's just me.

10 comments:

  1. OMG finally someone else who gets the visual issues! My husband thinks I'm smoking crack. I told him it looks like everything is in a reverse state of dripping ooze. It's like what you are looking at is melting, but instead of dripping/oozing down, it drips up.

    Hell, maybe I do smoke crack.

    You should check my blog to see how awesome Reid is at it, I actually just posted it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Objects warping, oh yea. I know that one real well. Love guitar hero - finally i can RAWK!

    But only if on medium.... and better rockage on easy haha.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous7:08 AM

    Okay, I am not a blooger on this site but I have been looking for any info about this visual disturbance I get when playing Guitar Hero 111 for WII.
    First I am a female 45 years old. I have played puzzle games, Tetris, Dr. Mario and the like since I was a kid. I am sadly addicted to this Guitar Hero only it messes with my eyes. REALLY BAD! Not just after playing the game but when I am sleeping. If I am half asleep I can see the streams of notes like they are ingrained in my eyes.
    Lately my vision in the real world has been suffering so I am quitting the game. I am looking for any info on this.
    PS I too experience the finger groove when I hear a song from the game in real life.

    ReplyDelete
  4. i had the weird visual thing two! took a good ten minutes for it to calm down. I've also noticed my thumb hurts alot after playting far too long, and my wrist hurts where i have been resting it on the guitar while playing! lol! I'v gone to playing for about an hour then having a good break, seems to have made things better. Still a brilliant game!

    ps, i'm glad other people have mention the vision thing, i thought i was going mad!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous8:44 AM

    I just started playing guitar hero. After just 10 minutes, I looked at the wall near my tv, and it was oozing upwards. Glad that this is a normal thing for some. Thought I was going to have to go to the hospital because of a stroke or something. "-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous5:04 PM

    Yup I get the strange visual disturbances after a long GH3 session- the first time it happened it was so bad it totally felt like I was really trippin' balls- I fell down and made quite the fool of myself! really have to limit the amount of time I play for now as it can get very bad indeed. I get a similar problem playing Boom Boom Rocket on the 360.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous9:47 AM

    I have once played guitar Hero for about 4 hours straight NO EFFECTS. but one time I played one By Metallica, and afterwards my wrist burned!!!!!!, One time I was playing Rocks the 80's and I had to take a shower and I closed my eyes I could hear the songs and coresponding notes scrolling down my Eye lids, I was also at one point addict to guitar hero after not play for a day i was shaking.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous9:52 AM

    lol yeah i remember that!
    that was like... 4 months ago??

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous8:40 AM

    Hi :) has anyone heard about any therapeutic effects of playing guitar hero/rock band? I'm beginning my research on this,and would love to know... Thanks!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous4:40 AM

    had the same visual problem with the walls and tv moving thank god I'm not going crazy lol

    ReplyDelete