# A question for the video game playing crowd **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 22, 2000, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-video-game-playing-crowd/20209 "2000-05-22T18:34:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Elthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@Elthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elthia)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-video-game-playing-crowd/20209/21 "2000-05-24T11:46:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > (You may want to try THIEF. It’s a first person “sneaker” instead of a shooter. Instead of running around like a maniac, you spend most of your time quietly standing still in the shadows, waiting for guards to pass by so you can strangle 'em.) > \*\* (hijack) It also ROCKS. It’s got great AI, cool abilities, and a really cool attitude. And Garrett is the sexiest video game hero to come along since they put Tim Curry’s voice with a not-well-seen Gabriel Knight (the first one). Sorry, had to 🙂 -Elthia ---
**Author:** ![Elthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@Elthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elthia)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2000, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-video-game-playing-crowd/20209/22 "2000-05-26T02:13:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Elthia: I think your doctor missed the, ah, boat on this one. You can’t split motion sickness up into “visual motion sickness” and “inner ear motion sickness” because motion sickness is caused _both_ the inner ear _and_ the eyes. In particular, motion sickness is caused by the eyes reporting one thing to the brain while the inner ear is reporting something else. That’s the description of visual motion sickness. If there were only that kind, then closing your eyes would help with it. And it does NOT help me. > [@](#): > > If you think about it, it’s pretty unlikely that Dramamine works because it prevents the liquid in your inner ear from sloshing around. It must work because it somehow convinces your brain that this mismatch of signals is no big deal. I have no idea, I only know that it isn’t supposed to help with the kind that’s caused by visuals. It helps me, where closing my eyes doesn’t. _shrug_ just trying to help. -Elthia ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2000, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-video-game-playing-crowd/20209/23 "2000-05-26T14:36:31Z")
I sometimes get queasy, I always get Ginger tea from an asian grocery and drink it when I get nauseus. It is cheap, good for you, and it works faster and faster than anything else I have taken for avoiding the technicolor yawn. There are many different brands, and they all are a bit different in spicyness, sweetness, and some are just dried cut up ginger, in case you are worried about sugar intake. I usually try to take breaks every few hours, and blink occasionally (if playing online, while I am dead; otherwise I just pause the game). If I play while drinking (beer or other non-adult beverages) I usually have to take a pee-break anyway, so that is kinda self-regulating- I think if I used a catheter, I would definatly have to join a 12 or more step program. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2000, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-video-game-playing-crowd/20209/24 "2000-05-26T15:15:19Z")
Thanks Wonko, I’ll add Ginger Tea to the list of things to try. However, for me the problem doesn’t crop up “every few hours”. I get the problem after the first 20 to 30 minutes. As an additional side note; just yesterday there was a poll on this subject over at [http://www.gamefaqs.com](http://www.gamefaqs.com) . Here are the resutls: Have you ever gotten motion sickness from playing a first person shooter? No, I’m unaffected 65.58% (3828 votes) No, but I’ve felt dizzy once or twice 19.07% (1113 votes) Only when playing the Descent series 4.54% (265 votes) Yes, I have to take frequent breaks 6.89% (402 votes) Yes, I can’t even play them 3.92% (229 votes) TOTAL VOTES 5837 That’s slightly more than 10% of the responses with a significant reaction. Time to start up that Support Group for people with Video Game Induced Motion Sickness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-video-game-playing-crowd/20209.md?page=1)