Videogames

[Champ]

Hey everyone,

I'm not sure if anyone here is a big gamer, but when I first got T in January of this year playing videogames was the #1 thing that helped my head not focus on the tinnitus. My favorite game is Starcraft 2, which I've played semi-competitively for a while (been in Master league - top 2% - for 8 seasons). That game more than any other I've ever played (and boy let me tell you I have played a LOT of videogames in my life LOL) requires extreme mental focus and coordination. When I first got tinnitus, it was loud and brutal; not a day went by when I wasn't focusing on it constantly. It was rough. Playing all that SC2 helped me lose focus on the sound and redirect my focus to the gameplay. It makes sense too - all my neurons related to learning got stuck working on figuring out how to win that next match rather than forging new pathways for the tinnitus. I'm sure a few got forged (I mean, I still have it!) but its definitely better off than it was.

http://www.redbull.com/us/en/esports/stories/1331612014685/playing-starcraft-ii-makes-you-smarter

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0070350

Sometimes I wonder if a gameified sound therapy would be extremely effective at reducing tinnitus percept. The research into videogame assisted brain training is already beginning to show positive results and its possible we could speed up the process of neuroplasticity with it. I mean, Luminosity.com is building their business around the concept - why could'nt we do some sort of DDR/Guitar Hero-esque game that retrains the tinnitus sounds?

 

[Map]

I play videogames often for more than 20 years . In my life I probably played every famous PC game you can remember When my T become unbearable, playing computer games helped tremendously to forget about T for a while. I think that videogames are great when you want your brain to focus on other things that noise. It is much better than watching TV or movies

Currently I like to play Planetside 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Civilization 5, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Diablo 3 and SC2...

 

[yonkapin]

I think there is definitely some merit to it, I found that when my tinnitus was really bad - playing through Boardlands 2 and Far Cry 3 helped me adjust quite nicely. Gave me plently of mental breaks from the tinnitus - I can definitely imagine something more cognitively engaging like SC2 or some other tactical based game would help even more.

Pretty sure there was an article somewhere about video game assisted habituation.

 

[James White]

I was going to create a thread about videogames because it helps me a lot too

But not all games, i noticed atmospheric games like "The Last of Us" are not the best because it's all ambient sounds and you need to focus on the acoustic a lot.

Other games that need a lot of concentration like Rayman Legends make my tinnitus completely dissapear. Plus i usually play this game with a friend. Which is very often a hot girl...

 

[Steve]

I'm pretty into gaming, and I find it does help. Sometimes the audio is pretty poorly produced though which unfortunately has the opposite effect and irritates my ears.

On the whole though the distraction is great. I'm console based, playing GTA 5 at the minute, it isn't ideal for masking as when you're out of a car without the radio on it's a bit too quiet. But it still helps.

I'm sure there was something about games in hospital helping pain relief because of the distraction and immersion.

 

[jazz]

Pretty sure there was an article somewhere about video game assisted habituation.

Since I wrote the post, this might seem like shameless self-promotion. But, seriously, the study is interesting to read, and, like everyone else here, I believe technologies like gaming may be key to getting relief.

Here's the post:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tdcs-and-computer-games-to-expedite-habituation.1669/

 

[erik]

Anything that distracts the mind will take away the tinnitus at least temporarily. I play sports and never hear my T during play. My mind is busy with something else. When I am bored or it is quiet, I will almost always hear my T and sometimes it will get louder because of just that. I used to play Diablo for hours on end. Haven't tried 3 yet but may need to check it out.

 

[Golly]

I find that bullet chess (i.e., 3 minutes or less for all your moves) is a great distraction. -G

 

[marcp]

Hey guys any suggestions on a good game for ps3 that may help take T off the mind ?

 

[James White]

Hey guys any suggestions on a good game for ps3 that may help take T off the mind ?

Games that need concentration and reflexes, like platformers as Rayman Legends for example. Games that have a good dynamic range of sounds and lots of bleeps and clicks. Uncharted series have you tried them ? Uncharted 2 and 3 are really good

 

[marcp]

Games that need concentration and reflexes, like platformers as Rayman Legends for example. Games that have a good dynamic range of sounds and lots of bleeps and clicks. Uncharted series have you tried them ? Uncharted 2 and 3 are really good

Thanks James i will try the Uncharted series, they sound interesting!

 

[AnneG]

Have you heard of the new Tomb Raider game? That's been taking my mind off of the Noise for weeks now! Hahaahaha Well at least it manages to sometimes.

 

[AnneG]

Thanks James i will try the Uncharted series, they sound interesting!

There's this new one Beyond two souls. You should try that i love it

 

[yonkapin]

Man if Counter-Strike 1.6 was still popular, tinnitus would be a non-issue for me I reckon. God damn, I was DEEP in that game, spent (wasted) years of my youth on it.

 

[Steve]

@marcp Online gaming definitely distracts me, the challenge of playing an unpredictable opponent can really focus your concentration. Sometimes with games there is too much of a pattern. I know that when CoD Ghosts comes out I'll be lost in the multiplayer.

 

[marcp]

Thanks steve H, what is a good online game played on a PC ?

 

[Tenna]

Anyone tried out the new Assassins Creed yet?! Waiting for the multiplayer part, comfort-killing is indeed therapeutical

 

[Meestijn]

I'm a gamer too... StarCraft, WarCraft, WoW, Diablo (if not already noticed me is a big Blizzard fan thus all Collectors Editions are on the shelf) The Witcher II, C&C, Commandos, Broken Swords series, Monkey Island series Anno 1404 and so on...

 

[Fish]

Heeeey guys! if I can recommend a game, I've become a big fan of "Kerbal Space Program" recently. It is a space simulation game where you can build your own rockets, probes, shuttles, etc. and travel to foreign planets. The game is not easy, as it replicates most real physics laws surprisingly well

Nerdy but very fun and relaxing!

Picture related, my space station under construction ompus:

Also, if anyone would like to hang out and play Borderlands 2 on PC together sometime, send me a message!

 

[Tenna]

if you need good amusement try youtube a street cleaner simulator, game of the year!
All from blizzard is worthy meestijn, used to be a pro pvp player in wow eu
Marcp, new assassins creed on pc, go!

 

[Fred]

Hi Paul,
Hi All,

great idea to use videogames for T.
Not sure if every game helps. Maybe only the games with lots of surrounding sounds?
Or even a game where the sound is important for the gameplay?

I'm not a big friend of guitar hero, though. Any idea for another game where the auditory input is important?

 

[Champ]

if you need good amusement try youtube a street cleaner simulator, game of the year!
All from blizzard is worthy meestijn, used to be a pro pvp player in wow eu
Marcp, new assassins creed on pc, go!

Sooooo this is awesome

WoW PvP is pretty legit shit

Hi Paul,
Hi All,

great idea to use videogames for T.
Not sure if every game helps. Maybe only the games with lots of surrounding sounds?
Or even a game where the sound is important for the gameplay?

I'm not a big friend of guitar hero, though. Any idea for another game where the auditory input is important?

Hey Fred, I'd try giving any game that requires a lot of attention a try. I love strategy games & FPS games so I'd try one of those. Here's a few good options:

FPS
=======
TF2 (free)
Counter-Strike
Battlefield 4

DotA style (all free)
=======
DotA 2
League of Legends

RTS
=======
Starcraft 2 love

Lemme know which ones you give a shot. All of them are good choices imo.

 

[James White]

Games with beeps and clicks sounds are the best @Fred

A game like "the last of us" needs a lot of focusing on sound and it doesn't cover my tinnitus, game that don't focus on sound are the best

games that need good reflexes are the best like platformers

With my neighbour, we have been into hardcore nolife retrogaming mode these last few weeks as we are building a Hyperspin arcade station, this thing is just pure bomb

 

[marcp]

if you need good amusement try youtube a street cleaner simulator, game of the year!
All from blizzard is worthy meestijn, used to be a pro pvp player in wow eu
Marcp, new assassins creed on pc, go!

Hi Tenna,
i just bought the new assassins creed on ps3, great game

 

[Tenna]

It is fantastic! Well picked. The singleplayer is abit hard to keep track of if you don't know the story prior to this one, which I neither do nevertheless it's great amusement. Remember trying out the multiplayer = ) and let me know if you need tips and tricks

 

[Scubadude]

My first Love in 1978!

 

[Scubadude]

The above is a Tandy TRS80 level 2 with a whole 16k of memory! Use to play text only games (Scot Adams)
Way way way back.

 

[marcp]

Guys anyone played GTA 5 yet?

 

[Steve]

Gta 5 is an awesome game, though the radio stations get a bit repetitive after playing a lot. Good distraction from my T, especially when driving.

I've completed 100% of the main game, so doing the online now, fun but better stuff to come as you rank up (I'm level 26 at the minute, need to get more cash to buy an apartment to plan bigger jobs).

 

[marcp]

sounds good. i just got the game today! will be getting on the ps3 soon to have a crack at it.
any tips?