What kills your immersion?

[AyrSuppli]

For me, it's a cluttered screen, dying in a game, and constantly having to do chores (etc).

So, Escapist. What kills your immersion?

 

[Nwabudike Morgan]

Usually, it's the fucking cat. I'll be totally sucked into the game's world, in that dreamlike state games can put you in, and then BAM! the goddamn motherfucking cat knocks something over or pounces on my foot.

 

[Girl With One Eye]

Phone calls! I hate it when someone calls in the middle of an intense boss fight...totally kills my focus!

 

[dthvirus]

Walking into a completely rigid swing set in Fallout Triple. Standing on the top end a completely rigid seesaw in Fallout Triple.

Minefield sure was fun.

 

[Radeonx]

Probably the MSN conversations I get into whenever I'm playing a game.

 

[BoxCutter]

Usually, it's the fucking cat. I'll be totally sucked into the game's world, in that dreamlike state games can put you in, and then BAM! the goddamn motherfucking cat knocks something over or pounces on my foot.

Or they want attention so they sit right in front of the damn screen.

 

[warpstone0]

When people generally interupt, but i have a wonderfully annoying example.

Was playing through FF7 for the first time to see what the fuss was about and was actually enjoying it. Then some people decied to knock on the door and ask me if i'd like to know about their lord and savior jesus christ.

kinda killed what little imersion i had

 

[rokkolpo]

dying kills my immersion. which is ironic.

and also strange since i almost never die.
which makes me very very pissed when i do die!

 

[DMonkey]

People who talk in my ear, or in general.
Very distracting.
Game/movie/book time is spent alone.
Blah blah blah. Shut up and watch, or get out!

 

[wkrepelin]

Yeah, dying a lot and having to reply a section. I'm playing Gears of war for the first time and I figured "why not play on hardcore?" After all, I have been gaming for 27 years or some such. I die often and they make you listen to the same crap over and over. It's really doing a number on the story for me. That and the incredibly stupid AI for your party members, they have no instinct for self preservation.

Other than that, collectibles that feel like collectibles. The COG tags in Gears are fine but the freak'n coffee thermos collection in Alan Wake, that just sucked. Also, all of the pages you collect should have been in obvious places along the way because who in there right minds would run off into the woods looking for pages that might be there?

Speaking of Alan Wake, obvious product placement can be pretty jarring too. Freaking commercials . . .

Most quick time events as well.

There's a lot of stuff really.

 

[unoleian]

In-game, pop-in or serious clipping. Once I see it, I can't un-see it.

Out-of-game, definitely phone calls or knocks at the door.

 

[wkrepelin]

People who talk in my ear, or in general.
Very distracting.
Game/movie/book time is spent alone.
Blah blah blah. Shut up and watch, or get out!

Could you talk to my girlfriend for me? She thinks I'm such a douche for holding that opinion.

 

[Lightslei]

When people generally interupt, but i have a wonderfully annoying example.

Was playing through FF7 for the first time to see what the fuss was about and was actually enjoying it. Then some people decied to knock on the door and ask me if i'd like to know about their lord and savior jesus christ.

kinda killed what little imersion i had

I have a sign saying "Jehovah's witnesses or salesmen of any sort, fuck off" outside my house because of that. Seems to work, too.

Welcome to The Escapist, by the way.

I love those. Mine's a bit different "Jehovah's witnesses will be burned, salesman will be forced to buy their own products and donate them to charity"

 

[WaywardHaymaker]

When my one friend who still plays Modern Warfare 2 playing it while talking to me. ESPECIALLY when I'm playing Dragon Age. Seriously, try being immersed when you have to wait ten minutes for the "You didn't hear me?" subtitle to come up in a conversation because someone said, "OH FUCK YOU AA-12 WHAT THE DICK!" right in your ear.

Gotta love appearing offline.

 

[mumakurau]

One thing in particular really kills immersion for me: When something in the game breaks the fourth wall.
-Example: Hero McSaviour walks into wherever and NPC No.99 appears saying, "Oh, help! Please, help! There are bugs all over me! Mash the 'TRIANGLE' button repeatedly to shake them of me."

If that wasn't clear enough, here's another example:

 

[blankedboy]

When my right speaker breaks again. Now I just use earphones.

 

[Korten12]

Whenever anyone in the game refers to the control scheme. It totally breaks the 4th wall.

"Soldier, to get over that wall, you're going to have to tap the A button".

It's even worse if they actually say it, not just in text.

Also, when my family hoovers. Difficult to get in the zone.

I always find that funny in games.

 

[AyrSuppli]

Whenever anyone in the game refers to the control scheme. It totally breaks the 4th wall.

"Soldier, to get over that wall, you're going to have to tap the A button".

It's even worse if they actually say it, not just in text.

Also, when my family hoovers. Difficult to get in the zone.

There was that meta moment in No More Heroes when the main character (whatever his name is) said something along the lines of, "If you want to do (action), press (button). Whatever that means."

 

[Nitrozzy7]

Usually it's something that doesn't fit with the game.
For example low detailed textures next to high detailed ones. Recent example is MGS4.
Or having an excessive amount of bullet spread when firing a weapon in BF:BC2.
This^ can get really annoying when I'm doing multiple target acquisition in close quarters, especially if you count that you're handling a trained soldier.

 

[Palademon]

My mum talking to herself loudly in the background complaining about something only she gives a crap about, and repeating it.