Motion Sickness,Video Games,and Head-Mounted Displays

Abstract

We evaluated the nauseogenic properties of console video games that are presented using head-mounted displays. Subjects played a standard console video game, using an Xbox game system. Subjects used a standard Xbox game pad, and viewed the video portion of the game using a bi-ocular head-mounted display system. Half the subjects played while seated, and half while standing. Subjects played the game for up to 50 minutes, and were asked to discontinue if they experienced any symptoms of motion sickness. Most subjects reported motion sickness, but sickness was more common among standing subjects. The severity of sickness was similar to previous studies of visually induced motion sickness. The results indicate that contemporary console video game systems are capable of inducing motion sickness.

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