Do you game in the dark or with a light on?

[NegaWiki]

I play with the lights on for most gaming occasion because the... associations with gaming in the dark has stuck in my mind since I was a child.

Also my brother got into the habit of scaring the shit out of me when I felt some kind of immersion in the dark.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I prefer gaming in the dark. The darkness pulls you into the game as the real world disappears. The problem is though my keyboard seems to disappear with it. I really should invest in a light-up keyboard. So expensive though.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

A single light pointed at a wall behind the TV. It's not direct or too bright, and still enough to prevent eye-strain.
I have no idea if a TV in a dark room actualy causes eye-strain.

This is called bias lighting, and it's a <link=http://www.cinemaquestinc.com/blb.htm>real thing[footnote]Yeah, I know, it's a commercial page trying to sell a bias lighting system, but it's an easily located brief summary of the concept that isn't focused on setting a homemade one up for your computer monitor with minimal explanation. That is really hard to find on this subject for some reason, so the commercial link was the best I could find on short notice.[/footnote]. You're supposed to use a bulb with a color temperature equivalent to daylight, but pretty much any diffuse lighting behind the TV will help reduce eyestrain and mask glare on the screen. The color issue comes into play because the color of the ambient background lighting of a room can affect the way we perceive the colors on the screen. [footnote]If you don't believe me on that one, take a look at <link=http://web.mit.edu/persci/people/adelson/checkershadow_illusion.html>this famous optical illusion. It operates on the same principle.[/footnote] A properly calibrated TV screen has pure white at the same color temp as that bulb, so as long as the color of the wall your light is shining on isn't too bold and your TV is calibrated correctly, the bias lighting won't affect your perception of the colors on screen.

Personally I have a string of colored Christmas lights set up on the wall behind my TV, because it still helps with the eyestrain and the glare, and darn it, it looks cool.

 

[mohit9206]

i game in the light or dark depending on the game. you see i classify each game on which time of the day is most suited to best enjoy the game.
so obviously i play horror games with all lights completely off after midnight while i play my fps games during the day.
games like mass effect, skyrim and in general rpg games during both night and day depending on mood
same with racing , third person shooters.

 

[Pink Gregory]

Used to be completely in the dark, but massive throbbing headaches convinced me otherwise.

 

[Detroit]

Depends on the game, if it adds to the atmosphere to play in the dark I will.

 

[DanielBrown]

Usually have a lamp on by the screen, but since Christmas I've used a Christmas light that's on the window pane behind me.
Doesn't light up as much, however it's enough not to make my eyes start hurting.

 

[xshadowscreamx]

if its horror, then the darkness consumes me and my room.

 

[Yopaz]

A single light pointed at a wall behind the TV. It's not direct or too bright, and still enough to prevent eye-strain.
I have no idea if a TV in a dark room actualy causes eye-strain.

Well, I think I read somewhere that the poor lightning leads to eye strain thing was originally a myth, but with modern screen types LCD is supposed to be more fit to use in rooms with good lights while plasma screens work better in darker rooms. I'm not sure how much of that is true, but preference and personal experiences are different.

OT: Usually with normal lights. However every now and then a new Tales of game is released and I will start playing in the afternoon and not noticing that it's dark around me before I take a break. The reason I keep the lights on is because I need to be able to find my way through the room, never noticed any problems with my eyes that aren't caused by allergy.

 

[bigfatcarp93]

ALWAYS in the dark. I can't get immersed otherwise.

 

[Smeggs]

Unless it's daylight out (because I always have my shade pulled up to let sunlight in my room over my lamp being on) I usually play in the dark. I know it's bad, and probably part of the reason I eventually had to get glasses, but I can't help it. I like to relax while playing, and nothing says relaxation like sitting in the dark. Helps me to absorb myself in the game, kinda hard to concentrate with a bright lamp on.

I also play in the dark when playing horror games, because YOLO I want to get my moneys worth out of the fear factor.

 

[chazwicked82]

Well, it all really depends on what game or genre of game I play, for things like shooters, action, fighter, horror, I think it's way funner to play in the dark, whereas things like RPG's are usually better with the lights on.

 

[Jfswift]

I usually keep the room dark. I don't like bright lights when I'm playing games.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Put it this way, I do most of my playing at night whilst other people are sleeping.

 

[Strazdas]

light off. but ever since i moved to another place 3 months ago there never really is dark here. i got street lamp shining though a window, so the ambience is enough to see pretty much anything save for reading.

Well, I think I read somewhere that the poor lightning leads to eye strain thing was originally a myth, but with modern screen types LCD is supposed to be more fit to use in rooms with good lights while plasma screens work better in darker rooms. I'm not sure how much of that is true, but preference and personal experiences are different.

Its not a myth. A bright light shining striaght into your eyes while the background is (thoretically) completely black causes heavy eye strain. Plasma is better with this was it doesnt actually "Shoot" light into you, just glow. the best setup from a medical perspective is a light BEHIND a monitor that does not shine directly into you. so you got no direct light shining into your eyes (or reflecting from monitor) but you got lit background.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

Lights off, and I go for 6 hours before I take a break if I plan on gaming for longer. If the lights on I feel I get distracted and not as immersed in the game.

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

Depends. The more competitive and twitchy stuff is best played with a light and a Gin & Tonic within reach, methinks.

As for the genuinely scary stuff, that's really best enjoyed in darkness. Maybe some candles for moody lighting.

 

[Ranorak]

During the day I close the curtains to prevent glare, but this is by no means dark.
While later during the day, or at night I don't actively turn on any lights, so that would be dark-er.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

That depends. Have I been gaming since morning where I turn the lights all off? I'm playing in the dark, because I can't bring myself to stop to get up and turn the lights on.