Study Declares Dead Space 2 "Scariest 360 Game"
- Thread starter Barbalute
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Cool study, I really like the graphs. We should see more of this sort of thing in game development. Namely, monitoring subject's autonomic responses to specific events in games to maximize our fear/adrenaline. The study doesn't look like it's published, but this kind of preliminary stuff is definitely enough to get the attention of companies like Valve and Bungie.
id say this test was a failure because dead space 2 isnt scary at all >_>
My vote based on what iv played is one of the Condemned games
My vote based on what iv played is one of the Condemned games
Erm...I'd say 'Condemned' was far more frightening than DS2, largely because Dead Space falls into the 'Doom 3' pitfall of letting you pack an armory into your trousers against which even Satan can't help but fall to pieces.
In 'Condemned,' the first person perspective helped a good deal, but it was also how you're basically down to your own two fists to deal with enemies, and maybe whatever you can pull off the environment. If you do get a gun, the experience is fleeting when you discover that 'Condemned' has taken the realistic route of slain enemies not dropping ammo when they die. What a shocker! That crackhead I just shot didn't drop any 9mm bullets! All he had was a pipe...which he had been swinging at me before I shot him.
In 'Condemned,' the first person perspective helped a good deal, but it was also how you're basically down to your own two fists to deal with enemies, and maybe whatever you can pull off the environment. If you do get a gun, the experience is fleeting when you discover that 'Condemned' has taken the realistic route of slain enemies not dropping ammo when they die. What a shocker! That crackhead I just shot didn't drop any 9mm bullets! All he had was a pipe...which he had been swinging at me before I shot him.
This is fascinating. The application of scientific principles to game design is...beautiful.
Of course there is something that is worth pointing out: People are wondering to themselves why Dead Space 2 got so high, when it really isn't that scary. Well, remember that they were measuring physical responses to the game: Really, this is measuring moments of shock, being startled, that sort of thing, not the deep, rising dread of a scarier game like Amnesia. I think this is an excellent way to look at tension building, shock, and frustration versus fear, and shows the strengths of Dead Space in particular, as a startling action game. This could be excellent data for making a startle-filled action game like Dead Space, and could give a little insight into making a game that is properly scary.
Of course there is something that is worth pointing out: People are wondering to themselves why Dead Space 2 got so high, when it really isn't that scary. Well, remember that they were measuring physical responses to the game: Really, this is measuring moments of shock, being startled, that sort of thing, not the deep, rising dread of a scarier game like Amnesia. I think this is an excellent way to look at tension building, shock, and frustration versus fear, and shows the strengths of Dead Space in particular, as a startling action game. This could be excellent data for making a startle-filled action game like Dead Space, and could give a little insight into making a game that is properly scary.
That is unfair to all those horror games that are far better/scary than the Dead Space series. Not saying Dead Space is bad, but it's not the best the genre has to offer.
Dead Space 2? Scary? Hahaha! You just made my morning. That's a pretty good joke right th-
Oh... You're being serious.
Don't get me wrong, I love Dead Space, it's just not that scary. Sure, there were a few bizzare moments, such as the Lovecraftian final boss fight, but nothing really horrified me.
You want scary? Amnesia: The Dark Descent is what you've been looking for.
EDIT: Derp, I almost forgot that it was 360 games only. If that's the case, I guess Dead Space is a pretty good option for being scariest, but is this mainstream big developer titles only? That's strange, because I remember a certain very popular stark black and white indie game featuring innocent children dying at the hands (Legs?) of a giant spider that had me recoiling in dread quite a few times.
Oh... You're being serious.
Don't get me wrong, I love Dead Space, it's just not that scary. Sure, there were a few bizzare moments, such as the Lovecraftian final boss fight, but nothing really horrified me.
You want scary? Amnesia: The Dark Descent is what you've been looking for.
EDIT: Derp, I almost forgot that it was 360 games only. If that's the case, I guess Dead Space is a pretty good option for being scariest, but is this mainstream big developer titles only? That's strange, because I remember a certain very popular stark black and white indie game featuring innocent children dying at the hands (Legs?) of a giant spider that had me recoiling in dread quite a few times.
Did they make them play that bit where you have to stick a needle in your own eye? That was the only scary part in the whole game really.
Now have a study for PC games, making sure to include Amnesia in there. THEN I'll probably give a shit. I haven't played any of those games, but I don't need to in order to know that Dead Space is just a bunch of jump scares. How about you throw some actual fear into the mix.
lol, Alan Wake isnt even a horror game, its an action thriller, suspense isnt the same as horror.
And maybe its still Ravenholm from Half Life 2, they didnt tested that.
And maybe its still Ravenholm from Half Life 2, they didnt tested that.
If Resident Evil 5 was a scary/horror game, then Bejeweled is an old arcade fighter from the 80's.
