Physical reaction when playing 'creepy' games?

[HangTime]

OK here goes, just wanted to see if others experience shivers down their spine during 'creepy' bits of games? Basically most games that have dark sections with ghosts, zombies etc have started provoking a physical reaction in me, I get a shiver down my spine. Examples would be the haunted house in Vampire Bloodlines, the crypt in RTCW, certain sections of the FEAR games, and most recently I noticed it when playing Dark Sector this afternoon, in the sewers.

Now, the weird thing is in many cases I don't actually feel scared if that makes sense. So it's not a case of "LOL man up ya big girl". I just get a shiver that is often triggered by sounds as much as visuals, e.g. in Painkiller the sound of zombies breaking out of their coffins, or a witch sailing past on her broomstick.

Also, these feeling are relatively new, they started happening in my mid 20s. Painkiller was pretty much the first game I remember it happening in, I don't recall getting the same reaction from some games I'd played before like Thief, Quake etc.

It is actually quite annoying, it makes me feel slightly uncomfortable playing sections of games like that and it is always a big relief when they return to 'reality'.

 

[MisChief]

This reminds me of when my ex told me that his **** shrinks when he plays scary games. Does this happen to anyone else?!

 

[Omaeka]

I'm similar, only in chase sections though like some of the stuff that happens in Dead Space, the beginning in the first game almost made me cry when you have to run to the elevator without a weapon.
Amnesia strangely does nothing, whereas even games like Max Payne 3 do it to me when I'm out of bullets, low on health, no painkillers and a ton of enemies.
Quake etc probably didn't because they have naff graphics.

The Suffering murdered me, I may of been young but ****ing hell, it took me a good 5 or 6 months to complete it. Fantastic game though.

Another weird one for me is Street Fighter 4, I can play Tekken, MK etc. and I'm fine, but the second I even go near Street Fighter 4 competitive play I start to feel 'hollow' if that makes sense, like I'll feel really light, I'll start shaking a little bit and feel really hungry, my hands dry up a little bit and I start to feel really cold.

I'm either a complete basket case (most likely) or there is a ghost in my house that really enjoys Street Fighter.

This reminds me of when my ex told me that his **** shrinks when he plays scary games. Does this happen to anyone else?!

Quite the opposite.

 

[pooley]

This reminds me of when my ex told me that his **** shrinks when he plays scary games. Does this happen to anyone else?!

It's a new one on me!

 

[caz32]

Im Way to chilled and focused when playing games so they have no effect just like scary movies, only unexpected loud bangs make me jump obviously

 

[MeMeMeMe]

This reminds me of when my ex told me that his **** shrinks when he plays scary games. Does this happen to anyone else?!

Was that his excuse when you finally saw it? He'd just been playing scary games...

Seriously, tension and fear can (but don't necessarily) have that effect so I wouldn't be surprised, but also most people won't be aware of it when they are focused on that game. So this probably needs further testing! To everyone with a boyfriend who plays scary games, get your measuring tapes out, and start measuring when they play! I don't think this will affect their concentration too much...

 

[godinman]

Metro 2033, creeping through some abandoned buildings, get to a large outdoor area in the moonlight and you heard the howling of dogs and the sound of fast movement, properly made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! Reminds me, I need to finish this game!!

 

[Secret_Window]

OK here goes, just wanted to see if others experience shivers down their spine during 'creepy' bits of games? Basically most games that have dark sections with ghosts, zombies etc have started provoking a physical reaction in me, I get a shiver down my spine. Examples would be the haunted house in Vampire Bloodlines, the crypt in RTCW, certain sections of the FEAR games, and most recently I noticed it when playing Dark Sector this afternoon, in the sewers.

Now, the weird thing is in many cases I don't actually feel scared if that makes sense. So it's not a case of "LOL man up ya big girl". I just get a shiver that is often triggered by sounds as much as visuals, e.g. in Painkiller the sound of zombies breaking out of their coffins, or a witch sailing past on her broomstick.

Also, these feeling are relatively new, they started happening in my mid 20s. Painkiller was pretty much the first game I remember it happening in, I don't recall getting the same reaction from some games I'd played before like Thief, Quake etc.

It is actually quite annoying, it makes me feel slightly uncomfortable playing sections of games like that and it is always a big relief when they return to 'reality'.

Yeah I get a similar thing to. Normally for me, it's a shiver followed by promptly trying to get away with said creature/bad guy. Other times it invokes an aggressive reaction where I tackle whatever it is head on.

Basically, I am either a pansy girl who tries to get away or a colonial marine.

 

['Wes]

I used to get this but not anymore to an extent, the feeling of being scared in scary games has partially gone for me, i feel more intrigued to check out creepy areas and i tend to laugh or smile more when something makes me jump when i didn't expect it.

 

[antijoke]

I never used to have them, but following on from watching Paranormal Activity 2 (with the kitchen scene), now I do.

Happens everytime the taken appear in Alan Wake.

 

[krooton]

FPS + underwater combat = weird nerves for me.

Octabrains used to scare the crap out of me in Duke Nukem 3D.

 

[iviv]

I'm a total wuss and can't play horror games because of this XD Managed to overcome it once by playing through the V:TM Hotel at midday, curtains wide open and the sound muted

 

[iv-tecman]

Metro 2033 – Liberians, very creepy and makes me feel tense. That game is just creepy all round and can send a few shivers down your spine.

Amnesia, especially Justin just makes me feel all funny and I get cold feelings and a shiver, like I’m truly setting scared. I’ve never actually managed to finish Justin as not only is that game insta death, so you need to play over sections you’ve already covered to get to the bit where you died, its always creepy no matter if you know its coming… Sends chills down me each time I play that DLC for Amnesia.

Oddly Dear Esther sent chills down me, basically as its just so baron of anything other then wind noise, chilling at times.

Half Life 2 has moments where you get chills, Ravonholm and parts of ep2, especially parts when you’ve got the car in shotgun levels, very creepy at times.

Doom 3 back in the day when I first played it, scared the life out of me, played this a while ago, not so scary now… The jump from behind a door, drop from a ceiling or jump infront of you from under the floor just don’t do it anymore. Amnesia or games with little but background noises (Half Life 2 has this type of gameplay in some areas as well) just leaves you on edge, meaning fear factor goes up..

 

[MisChief]

Was that his excuse when you finally saw it? He'd just been playing scary games...

Seriously, tension and fear can (but don't necessarily) have that effect so I wouldn't be surprised, but also most people won't be aware of it when they are focused on that game. So this probably needs further testing! To everyone with a boyfriend who plays scary games, get your measuring tapes out, and start measuring when they play! I don't think this will affect their concentration too much...

I used to wait for the right moment when he played scary games and pulled his pants down to see if what he said was true

 

[arc@css]

If the game is simply enjoyable but without the immersive / atmospheric factor, then I tend to get little or no physical reaction. Otherwise, games like Stalker / Amnesia which most certainly do have a creepy atmosphere, result in an increased temperature, and just generally leave me feeling so focused yet nervous - kind of like a rabbit caught in the head lights / tunnel vision.

Amnesia was so effective but it was just too much to deal with, and I'm someone that loves these kind of games, though that experience took it to a new level, and for many others from what I hear.

 

[no_1_dave]

Condemned - I was genuinely not wanting to walk down some corridors, I am sure I quit the game now & again just for a break in being scared.
Silent Hill - Back in the day I had to play this in 30 min stints as I couldn't cope playing any longer then that especially in the school or hospital.

 

[FARGO]

Take it as a sign that the design and production teams have worked hard to provoke those reactions from you!

I feel sorry for the stone-faced people that could play such games on their own, in the dark, in a haunted forest and not even have a wobbly bottom lip!

 

[Duff-Man]

Unfortunately I don't seem to get any reaction from "scary" type games. Or films, for that matter.

I can "jump out of my skin" at sudden shock type moments, but the whole creepy-scary type thing just does nothing for me. I feel like I'm missing out to be honest

 

[Kainz]

Condemned - I was genuinely not wanting to walk down some corridors, I am sure I quit the game now & again just for a break in being scared.

I'd challenge anyone to play Condemned and keep a straight face throughout. You only get a gun towards the end of the game and it is strictly object based melee throughout the rest of it.

At one point towards the end of the game, you end up in this house in the middle of no where. The leaves are rustling outside as it is windy, and the window shutters are clattering as a result.

You have to go downstairs to the basement, but it is dark as hell down there. Peering into the basement you can see shadows moving every so often. It took me two days to man up just to go down there! (and yes I bricked myself when I got jumped)

 

[Secret_Window]

If you like older games, two good games to play in the dark with the lights off are the Thief series and System Shock 2. Great atmosphere in both. When I was younger the Cathedral level in Thief actually disturbed my sleep for a while - I kept hearing the weird eerie sounds from the game when I was trying to sleep!