I had Half Life 2 on the PC when it first came out, and after playing for 10 minutes or so, I'd get extremely nauseous, about to throw up. I was convinced it had something to do with the Source engine (lighting probably), since I never felt sick when playing any other game (and I've played nearly every good and many not so good games since the Atari 2600 and text adventures til current day offerings).

So, I was bored and saw the Orange Box for $20 and decided to give it a try. Sure enough, after about 10 minutes I start getting sick to my stomach. Playing Portal isn't as bad as Half Life 2, but the sickness comes in that game also after 20 minutes or so.

Anyone else have this problem? Like I've said, I've never gotten sick from playing a game before.

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First console - Atari 2600 (1977) - over 30 years of console gaming
First PC - TRS-80 Color Computer 2 (1983)

I got sick from playing The Urbz on the DS. But that was probably because I played it for 10 hours strait...

I doubt it would work, but try changing some of the visual options and see if that helps. Or get REALLY far away from the screen.

Wow. That is really weird. I have never even heard of getting nauseous from a game.
Wish I could offer some help, but like pofrickentato said, try sitting back from the TV a bit. Drink water before/while playing?
Good luck.

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Follow me on Twitter!
Steam ID - m_archer92

YES! this happened so much during the campagin for me I kept having to take a break every hour.

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Playing CoD instantly makes you a gun expert.

 Bloody Diplomat wrote:

YES! this happened so much during the campagin for me I kept having to take a break every hour.

Same here, I wouldn't say that I was about to throw up but lets just say I didn't really feel my best.

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Ubisoft game tester
Halo 3 beta tester
Cod WAW beta tester

thats weird, I feel the source engine is too great to for me to throw up

Because the field of view is set to 70.

if you can play it on the pc version.

    - console
    - sv_cheats 1
    - fov 90

problem solved.

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So Who's getting Gears 2?

 JNal8907 wrote:

Because the field of view is set to 70.

if you can play it on the pc version.

    - console
    - sv_cheats 1
    - fov 90

problem solved.

I bet it was all a conspiracy to get us console gamers who get dizzy from it to buy The Orange Box for the PC!

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Playing CoD instantly makes you a gun expert.

yes, same for tf2.

that is why it is never updated.

unless saying the class limit was a great update. :|

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So Who's getting Gears 2?

ya i get sick from old games like marathon or doom so i just dont play them but if its an epic game like hl2 or anything else valve releases except l4d then its a must play just have a bucket next to you it will be worth it

Different camera techniques have different effects person to person.

I for one feel like vomiting while watching Jason Bourne, it's the unfocused shaky camera that gets me.

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I'm casual

this is what gaming on the pc does to you. if you want to enjoy HL2 play it on xbox 360

 king boo dark wrote:

this is what gaming on the xbox 360 does to you. if you want to enjoy HL2 play it on PC

Fixed.

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Playing CoD instantly makes you a gun expert.

Silly Xbots.

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Last.fm

Yea I've heard of many people have had headaches etc. including myself

nope. ruined. your flaming needs to stop
this was to bloodydiplomat.pc makes you sick.not xbox

 king boo dark wrote:

nope. ruined. your flaming needs to stop
this was to bloodydiplomat.pc makes you sick.not xbox

Have you played HL2 on Steam?

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Playing CoD instantly makes you a gun expert.

nope. ruined. your fanboy tendencies need to stop.

People have posted here before saying the Xbox version makes them feel sick, not just the PC. It is the game, not the console.

All Steam games are better on the PC.

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Last.fm

 king boo dark wrote:

nope. ruined. your flaming needs to stop
this was to bloodydiplomat.pc makes you sick.not xbox

Such a proud fanboy, good for you!

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Melee Mercenary

Simulator sickness (a subtype of motion sickness) is not uncommon in people playing FPSs.  Estimates are that between 10%-50% of the population (note that I said "population" not "gamers" ... there is evidence for some related self-selection bias) may be affected by it.

In general, it is caused by a disconnect between what your eyes are seeing and what your inner ear (used for balance, and to detect motion) are telling your brain.

There are lots of different factors that might influence why you are affected by some FPS and not others.  Some may be the graphical quality/realism; the number of independently moving reference frames (character movement, head bobbing, gun movement); lighting conditions; and a lot of other things.

Some things you can experiment with to see if they help.  First, definitely play with the room lights on.  Second, try reducing the field of vision that the game takes up (sit farther away and play on a smaller screen).  You may be in the unlucky few that can't deal this sort of vestibular disconnect.

If you want to go a further route, motion sickness drugs, such as Dramamine might help (but you have to strongly consider whether you want to be taking medication just for the sake of playing a video game ... I personally would not).

Some people consider ginger root to be an effective anti-emetic.  It may reduce the nausea for you.  Try drinking ginger tea prior to and during play.  You might find that it helps ... or you might find that it's just tea.

I love the Half-Life 2 series but it makes me sick too, it's not that bad and I can deal with it most of the time... Games like Marathon and Wolfenstein 3D make me really sick though, way too sick to handle it for very long. I know that with Marathon they changed the Frames Per Second though and that a lot of people have the same problem with that one. I think it's a mixture of things with Wolfenstein 3D though.

Why would someone get sick after playing the adventures of Gordon Freeman. Have you try tf2 yet?

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I hear it's somebody's birthday!

Who gets nautious play a video game lol.

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Excuse my fanboy statements.

 Tie 3PIC ONE wrote:

Who gets nautious play a video game lol.

Its the same as getting car sick, Your brain sees that your moving but your obviously sitting still and that makes your brain want to throw up.

^Thats what i heard but it could be different.

A friend of a friend puked while playing Bioshock. soo strange!

You guys, need to lay off the Shrooms..

When I first got the game I felt sick also, I got the samething as you nauseous and wanted to throw up. Its only this game not the others. Try taking breaks that what I do.

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FOR THE HORDE!

I've had that feeling before. Only that it happened on Gears2 because of how bad it is.

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Half Life 2: Episode 3 Announcement Trailer