Videogames combat phobias!

CapitanGarlic · October 17, 2003, 17:04

Yes, now it's official. Half-life and other games can conquer your fears, or at least that's what cnn says:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/fun.gam...eut/index.html

Quote:

Regular, off-the-shelf computer video games are an effective method of treating people's fears, using a style of therapy that exposes people to what scares them in a controlled setting, according to a new study released on Friday.

...

The researchers used the game "Half-Life" to create a spider-laden environment for arachnophobic people, and "Unreal Tournament" to simulate heights for acrophobics and tight spaces for claustrophobics.

Well, there. I thought it was neat.

The Viceroy · October 17, 2003, 17:13

Hmm, I played half life to death, completed it, and then went off to play a real painball game, thinking it would be just the same (afterall, paint won't kill you).

How wrong I was ..

After 5 minutes id been hit between the eyes, and it slowly dawned on me ... I was dead if that was real.

Never did seem to pick up the courage to charge after that.. those that did, had the bruises to show for it later.

Brilliant day though, have to say if you've not done paintball before, you have to try it out. Just don't expect half life to give you any advantage..

chequita guevara · October 17, 2003, 19:44

Neat.

Space05us · October 17, 2003, 19:56

yeeeeah, NO. Ive played plenty of games with spiders and heights in them and Im still very afraid of both.

Lorizael · October 18, 2003, 00:49

I got rid of my fears by going into isolation for five weeks and then meditating heavily upon all my faults. I used to have to restrain the urge to bolt from spiders. Now I think they're cute.

:) Smiley · October 18, 2003, 02:41

So does Civ do anything?

Zero · October 18, 2003, 02:59

One problem to this kind of approach: I have acrophobia while playing video games. I cant stand having to see my character fall off a height thats tens times higher than his height

Zero · October 18, 2003, 03:07

Quote:

Originally posted by The Viceroy
Hmm, I played half life to death, completed it, and then went off to play a real painball game, thinking it would be just the same (afterall, paint won't kill you).

How wrong I was ..

After 5 minutes id been hit between the eyes, and it slowly dawned on me ... I was dead if that was real.

Never did seem to pick up the courage to charge after that.. those that did, had the bruises to show for it later.

Brilliant day though, have to say if you've not done paintball before, you have to try it out. Just don't expect half life to give you any advantage..

How typical. I knew some losers who thought they could be good at paintball/sniping in real life just because they took great command with their mouse and keyboard. They make me laugh. At least you learned

At least you got shot between the eye for you first paintball experience. If you were wearing a decent face mask you wouldnt have felt a thing. My first time playing skirmish w/ modified airsoft guns, I was shot by an automatic shot that went all the way from my cheek down to my neck to my thigh at point blank range.

and I was only wearing a T-shirt and goggles you wear in shooting ranges.

st_swithin · October 18, 2003, 03:09

Don't play Spider-man.

Az · October 18, 2003, 05:36

Quote:

At least you got shot between the eye for you first paintball experience. If you were wearing a decent face mask you wouldnt have felt a thing.

precisely.

Oh, and you're both right. Sure video games don't make you an elite fighter or whatever, but that's not what the article claimed. It claimed that it helps to conquer your fears.

And what's with the knowledge that you'd be dead if you were hit by a real bullet? OF COURSE YOU'D BE DEAD.

alva · October 18, 2003, 05:41

Quote:

And what's with the knowledge that you'd be dead if you were hit by a real bullet?

I think what he means is, that how surpising easy and quick one can get killed...and that bullets don't discriminate.

The Viceroy · October 18, 2003, 06:14

Thanks Alva .. yes, thats exactly what I meant.

I did have a face mask on, and it still stung like hell.

I don't think I went into it thinking id be ace though, what I was talking about was being fearless ..

Case · October 18, 2003, 07:59

Quote:

Originally posted by

Smiley
So does Civ do anything?

Yeah, it causes you to lose your fear of building up an empire from the stone age

geeslaka · October 18, 2003, 09:06

I no longer have any fear of seeing myself from outside myself.

Az · October 18, 2003, 09:06

Quote:

I think what he means is, that how surpising easy and quick one can get killed...and that bullets don't discriminate.

Yeah, well, I don't think that thinking about death while playing paintball is smart.

which remind me... faded liked paintballing.... *sigh*

Dr Strangelove · October 18, 2003, 10:27

I no longer fear giant demons, imps, repitilian-like aliens, military robots, or the illuminati. My life is so much better now.

jdd2007 · October 18, 2003, 12:23

Quote:

Originally posted by Zero
One problem to this kind of approach: I have acrophobia while playing video games. I cant stand having to see my character fall off a height thats tens times higher than his height

even mario?

st_swithin · October 19, 2003, 01:24

I no longer fear death.

geeslaka · October 19, 2003, 01:39

WTH is the pause button?

I need to stop and think about the strategical situation of life and decide what I'm going to do.

Zero · October 19, 2003, 02:26

Quote:

Originally posted by The Viceroy

I did have a face mask on, and it still stung like hell.

what kind of face mask? usually if a mask you shouldnt feel anything under 800 fps. Im pretty sure for paintball anything over 340fps is illegal to use in arenas so it shouldnt have been too bad if you were wearing a decent face mask.

st_swithin · October 19, 2003, 03:02

Dude, those things hurt like HE11 if they don't break when they hit you.

geeslaka · October 19, 2003, 04:30

Sure, the hurt like HE11, but do the hurt as much as an agiel wielded by a Mord-Sith?

Edit: Found a better page to link to.

lord of the mark · October 20, 2003, 09:55

how about fears of not getting plus one's due to a games related thread being posted on Off topic instead of other games? Is there a cure?

Dis · October 20, 2003, 13:13

I have a fear of certain social situations, what game can I play to fix that?

lord of the mark · October 20, 2003, 14:09

Quote:

Originally posted by

Smiley
So does Civ do anything?

It causes you to lose your fear of seeing the world dominated by an all-powerful late capitalist democracy.
Very useful for some folks around here.

st_swithin · October 21, 2003, 01:42

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
I have a fear of certain social situations, what game can I play to fix that?

Ones involving drinking.

Social situations are easy - I just look for someplace to sit and then try to look as inconspicuous as possible to avoid any unwanted human contact.

Nubclear · October 21, 2003, 01:48

Quote:

Originally posted by lord of the mark, but edited by Tassadar

It causes you to lose your fear of seeing the world dominated by an all-powerful late communist democracy.
Very useful for some folks around here.

ixnay · October 21, 2003, 01:56

What about my fear of crates? HOW WILL VIDEO GAMES SAVE ME FROM THE CRATES OH GOD THE CRATES AAAAGGH

st_swithin · October 21, 2003, 01:58

Heh, STC ratings.

I miss Old Man Murray.