Game Immersion

[DarkEastwood]

What're some ways that you immerse yourself in a game world? Do you turn off all the lights and put on some expensive headphones? Tell me and discuss other effective ways to immerse yourself in a gaming world (because I seriously want to know how far I can go to immerse myself into Skyrim)

[Archer]

I actually do use headphones, just for the better sound quality, which could help immersion I suppose. Other than stare intently at the screen, definitely too close to be good for my eyes, that's about it.

[dzio]

Honestly, all I need is the game, I don't do anything special. I think it's immersive enough as it is, especially with some mods like Frostfall and Realistic Needs and Diseases. But now you made me think about making a paper mache Dovahkiin helmet and investing in some blue body paint, which would probably result in my brother having me sectioned...

So I guess my answer to "how far can I go?" is "do whatever you want" - whether it's nothing at all, or lighting some candles, or even sitting in front of your computer in full cosplay.

[scribbane]

The most important thing to me is comfort. I have a nice desk chair (which actually needs to be replaced soon) and I like to throw on sweats or loose, comfy clothes. Some people can just plop down in whatever and start playing, but if I'm really going to play, I need to wear something really comfortable. I'll wear headphones on occasion, but it isn't necessary for my immersion. The other thing I like to do is watch the intros to games. This was more true in older games when you got a sweet intro before the menu screen, where it just always got me into the mindset. In the case of something like Skyrim, I sit at the main screen for a minute to listen to the music because it gets me ready to play.

[Alarra]

Headphones, definitely, and comfort. I just have a heavy wooden kitchen chair as my computer chair, not much you can do with that, but I like to wrap myself in a blanket when gaming. Especially when playing Skyrim - I am always cold, and seeing all that ice and snow doesn't help. Other than that, I just try and put myself in the mindset of my character. I can't think of anything else special I might do.

[Ebony Dragon]

I just focus. Really hard. I focus until I'm in a trance.



And then that's usually when someone comes along and slaps me out of it.

[philfredobob]

I try and play when my brothers aren't around, like really early in the morning, so that i can play in peace and silence. i don't have a good pair of Headphones, but i have a really good set of speakers so i don't mind.

other than that, i don't do much at all.

[DarkEastwood]

Wow so comfort seems to be a main attribute here

Personally, I use headphones, dim the lights, and push my sofa so it's squares with the TV.

I've had some pretty crazy ideas going on in my head that I want to try, like turning down the AC, having fans directly in my face when I'm near Winterhold, and holding my breath with my character when underwater (I've actually true this. Its cooler than it sounds since it adds a larger sense of urgency.

[Generalno1]

The most important thing to me is comfort. I have a nice desk chair (which actually needs to be replaced soon) and I like to throw on sweats or loose, comfy clothes. Some people can just plop down in whatever and start playing, but if I'm really going to play, I need to wear something really comfortable. I'll wear headphones on occasion, but it isn't necessary for my immersion. The other thing I like to do is watch the intros to games. This was more true in older games when you got a sweet intro before the menu screen, where it just always got me into the mindset. In the case of something like Skyrim, I sit at the main screen for a minute to listen to the music because it gets me ready to play.

Everything Scrib said sometimes, I recall the plot. i do this with story heavy things, like Bioshock infinite, and definately for things like Books. I do it everytime I pick up Memory of light.

[CBR JGWRR]

I sometimes mould a duvet and pillows into a bike shape and wear helmet and leathers while playing on bike games...

[Linkuya]

For console gaming? I use my flatscreen, turn off the lights, and turn it up.
For PC gaming? Headphones and sitting comfortably.

[DikaSmausha]

I normally use head phones, if not got it turned up very loud, has to be HD, and I always have turned off HUD in most games I play (Skyrim included.) I try to play more towards the dark hours of the day with lights off, and I don't do other things while playing. I focus fully on the game.

[Dark Spark]

Booze.

(I was dropped on my head when I was a baby)

[Will Zurmacht]

In a sandboxy game (e.g. TES, Fallout), create the basic outlines of a setting-appropriate character background plus personality and use those to guide the character's interaction with the gameworld.

In a game where player characters are fully predefined, no special steps are necessary. The burden of immersion is totally on the developers and the storyline/characters they have created.

[lostlast]

Booze.

I found when playing 'The Last of Us' I was a lot more 'free' with my playing style, than when I am sober.
Pretty much just charge in guns blazing, to stealth, to guns blazing... get some pretty good kills.

[Dohva.]

Yeah but booze always forces me to make stupid decisions and the next time I play its having to remember how I got there...just like in the real world.

I like headphones, too. And turning off the lights. But roleplaying is immersion to me, so not hacking and slashing but thinking as if I was part of the world. A pixel world.

[Ediramadi]

I don't even have to do anything special to immerse myself in a game other than turn off any and all music and act in character. Caffeine and other stimulants help but that's namely because with the ADHD they have a calming and sedating effect on me which lets me be uninhibited and creative without the restrictions of my own personal moral code and various psychological problems. Sleep deprivation also helps with this on occasion and in similar ways, though I'm a lot more negative and aggressive without sleep than I am with caffeine. I guess depending on my character's alignment, moral code and state of mind I pick one poison or the other as sort of an immersion aid and then go from there.

[Dark Spark]

Yeah. Goin' nuts helps too. Personal experience...