Can't play because of motion sickness

[Vitalix]

I can't play Supraland for more than 10-15 minutes without feeling really nauseous. I have tried windowed mode, camera sensitivity, resolution, and playing with the FOV but nothing helps. Other people are having this problem too:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/813630/discussions/0/3726075043713689990/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/813630/discussions/0/1640915206486483803/

I can play first-person shooters and MMOs without any problem. I haven't gotten this nauseous playing a game since Alan Wake in 2012.

This game is awesome, and I want to support the sequel, but I can't continue playing a game that will make me throw up.

[DavidM]

Did you try making the window smaller? When your eyes have enough steady space to hold to, it shouldn't be able to happen.
Other than that, did you try turn off the depth of field?

[Vitalix]

Thanks for the quick reply David. I did make the window smaller but there was no change. I will try turning off depth of field and report back.

[Vitalix]

Depth of field didn't help. Any other ideas.

[DavidM]

No idea. What is the difference to other first person games? I wouldn't know what it could be.

[Vitalix]

I wish I knew. When I play most other games, when I move the mouse my eyes usually 'expect' what they see, as if moving the mouse from one view to another is a natural transition. With Supraland, I move the mouse and the screen seems to shift too rapidly from one view to another for my eye to track. I have slowed down the x and y axis movement a quite a bit. I could slow it down even more.

Maybe there is an imperceptible lag that certain games have that might be triggering motion sickness in people not otherwise susceptible to it in gaming. I don't know what would determine that lag, but perhaps it's something in the code or engine. Another idea is how the view 'shifts' when you look from one place to another. Maybe the blur or movement does not match what your eyes expect. Or maybe it is that the speed of the player and how he moves without reference to the terrain as if floating.

Here are links where developers developers discuss how to reduce motion sickness in games:

https://forums.unrealengine.com/development-discussion/vr-ar-development/1434744-some-map-designadvice-for-avoiding-motion-sickness-but-using-free-movement

https://www.brightdevelopers.com/9-tips-preventing-motion-sickness-developing-virtual-reality/
- I like the idea of a point of reference on the screen

https://www.reddit.com/r/unrealengine/comments/2xzw4x/anyone_else_getting_motion_sickness/

https://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=440694

No matter what happens, I'll definitely recommend your next game. I just might not be able to play it. :)

[Vitalix]

I found this too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvimYs7tnRM

It recommends:
- give option to remove motion bob
- dimming the screen
- high FOV (but that didn't work for me)

The video also recommends Journey as an example of a game where developers paid a lot of attention to motion sickness.

[DavidM]

So what I noticed when the game came out there was a noticable amount of motion sickness complaints. I did some adjustments; nothing major though. Dunno if they helped. But this is the first complaint I've seen for a long time now.
I did all the things that are suggested about it.

One thing you didn't bring up yet is motion blur, try to turn that off.
But then I'm really out of ideas!

[Vitalix]

Ok I'll give that a shot. And if that does not work, I'll try playing in 5-10 minute increments.

[SausageRoll]

Yeah, Supraland is unique amongst first person games that I’ve played recently in giving me motion sickness. Not immediately, but after a while I have to stop playing. Something about the 3D perspective projection used maybe? Maybe a reticle would help?

[Vitalix]

A reticle as well as some object at the bottom of the screen that represents the player. In many games, it's the tip of a weapon. That would give the player a feeling of perspective and movement.

If this were any other game I would just drop it, but Supraland is too fun to put down.

[DavidM]

Sorry, what is a reticle?

[Cynical]

"Reticle" is a synonym for "crosshair".

[Vitalix]

An informative video about the reticle and its ability to reduce motion sickness.

https://youtu.be/XEgkQ2EXGdA?t=2

[bullerbuller7]

If crosshairs work then how about you stick some plastic to the middle of the screen?
I've been thinking of doing that with games that has bad crosshairs where it's not noticable enough, so it slows down aiming speed.

[Vitalix]

Never thought of that ... worth a try