Poll: Horror games: lights on or off?

[Koshok]

Let me preface this by saying I've never gotten into the horror genre, but it still has me interested enough to pick up Dead Space. It got me wondering, though, if I should leave the lights on and enjoy the game that way, or if I should go nuts, turn the lights out and do my best to keep from needing a change of pants. So, what are your opinions on the matter, and how much do you think it adds to the experience?

 

[Sn1P3r M98]

It depends. I like to play Penumbra with the lights off, but sometimes it's just too damn much to handle. I can play Dead Space or F.E.A.R with the lights off just fine, though.

 

[Souplex]

Fun fact: Horror games become a lot less scary if you turn subtitles on. Don't know why.

 

[Hader]

Lights off.

For more than just horror games too... >_>

 

[Eternal_Lament]

I try to have the lights off most of the time. The only time the light would be on is a) I'm playing during the day and some sunlight is coming in or b) my eyes hurt from the brightness of the TV screen, so the light offsets the straining.

 

[enzilewulf]

FUCK
Mis read.

No what I meant is darken. And at midnight... preferable if you live out in the country. That is scary to the max.

 

[bushwhacker2k]

Fun fact: Horror games become a lot less scary if you turn subtitles on. Don't know why.

It breaks immersion... hope someone else didn't already post that.

I play with them off, atmosphere is everything to a true scary game. Condemned D:

 

[Android2137]

Fun fact: Horror games become a lot less scary if you turn subtitles on. Don't know why.

You know what they're going to say before they say it, so when they deliver their line, the effect of their acting is diminished. (We'll assume that the acting is good.) It's like when people watch foreign comedies with subtitles. They laugh way before the actual joke is delivered.

On topic, I don't play horror games. I scare very easily. So suffice it to say, if I did ever pick up a horror game, you can bet it will be in a well lit room. Preferably during the daytime...

 

[blaize2010]

Lights off.

For more than just horror games too... >_>

reading too?

 

[Jack_the_Knife]

I keep the lights on, but mostly because it sometimes irritates my eyes.

'Course, when I'm using a good, modern television and playing something real atmospheric, I'll be keeping the lights off, just to enhance the mood.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

so by that, no, i do not turn them off, partially because i play games mostly during the day and my window has a horrible cover on it at the dorm, and partially because part of my dresser has support that sticks out, and if the lights are off it blends in like a ************ and hitting that on your toes is worse than getting your foot chopped off i swear.

 

[DanielBrown]

Lights off, always.
However, after I've quit playing due to the terror I feel, all lights in the apartement are suddenly lit until it's time to go to sleep!

 

[Audemas]

Always lights off. Every single horror related game I've played has been at night, in the dark and by myself if possible.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

On, because I am a massive pussy. This would be an example of me playing in the dark:

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1945148

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

How about rave lights?

[http://no.xfire.com/video/7ea0e/]

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

Horror of any sort can use all the help it can get against me.
I ALWAYS play with the lights off. And even then I'm more likely to be admiring the cool effects than wetting myself.
You know, when I'm not bored out of my brains.

 

[CheesusCrust]

People play them with the lights on?
Always off, whats the point of a horror game if you play it in a bright room?

 

[Kae]

I'm not sure I don't get scared with games but that may be because my house is always crowded and people talking always seems to break up the mood, that being said in movies it does help the ambiance of the horror film to shut off the lights. Oh and by the way Dead Space is like the only "horror" game I've played completely alone and it's not scary because and just because it's a one trick pony and it repeats the exact same scare through the entire game and at least in me the same trick does not work twice, so I'm not sure you'll be all that scared.