Reaction in games

[Prpl_Mage]

The discussion in the creepy pasta thread made me get into a discussion with a friend regarding sound in games and it turns out that he usually turns off the sound and plays music during most of his games. Even when he's playing something cooperative (with me, which explains why I need to talk so loud sometimes).

Anyway, I wondered how he could play games like Dota2 without sound since sound is a big tell on what's going on in a game. Apparently he never thinks about sound like that and only uses his eyes, eyeing the minimap from time to time and checking the surrounding area with the pointer. Me on the other hand is completely reliant on sound when I play games, everything from strategy games to fighting games. Especially fighting games. Motion + sound = that attack. Just take mario kart as an example. Mario kart 8 got this beeping sound that increases as an object is getting closer to hitting you. It's a great indication that you need to keep that banana peel through the item boxes or so.

Anyway, discussion lead further and I asked him to try out sprite till you die (the game in my sig) and he felt that it was too difficult (which might be because he relies on vision and I was lazy making cool animations for it).

So, are you like my buddy who turns on some Jimmi Henrix while gaming or are you more like me who put the headphones on to isolate every other sound?

[Apex]

Lately I turn the music off at least. I use a dual monitor setup, and I will almost always have something from Youtube or other various streaming sites playing on one monitor, while I am playing a game on the other. This works well for games that don't require a lot of concentration. Games like Final Fantasy XIV, Minecraft, and Diablo 3 are perfect for this set up, however games like Dark Souls, or Super Meat Boy require a lot of concentration, so I leave music on, and don't stream anything.

[Relux the Relux]

When I am playing a game I try to concetrate at the game and nothing more (or else I keep feeling guilty that I didn't engage the game as I should) , wich includes turning all the lights besides the necessaries off, putting head phones on, closing curtains, taking a bathroom break every 1 hour, if I'm am sweaty take a bath etc., except when it's something like a 20 minute-short flash game.

[Dr. Ace]

Game music and sound almost all the times, unless the games allow for different music (mostly MMO or online multiplayer) and even then I put the music on such a volume I can hear the game sounds. Usually the first thing I do after starting a game is going into the settings to adjust the volume, making sure voices are loudest followed by slightly dimmed sound effects and music dimmed beyond that.

Honestly, I would find it annoying to play co-op with someone who isn't even listening to the game.

[Moosetroop11]

Depends. In a single player game, I can't imagine it without music and sound. I was playing fire emblem the other day on the train with my girlfriend and couldn't even bring myself to take my headphones off so I could chat to her at the same time : p. If it's something like Age of empires or minecraft over lan, someone in the room will probably put on their own music and I enjoy that.

[Archem]

Music for multiplayer games, silence for single player. There are exceptions, like a MP title where sound is important (Counter-Strike), or a SP experience where there's no spoken dialogue or story to worry about (Super Meat Boy), but that's my general way of doing things. I focus, concentrate, remember, and enjoy all the things in a game better when I have my jam track playing, but I need to have the game as-intended sometimes, so I know when to shut the songs off. Immersion is entirely dependent on the game, as some games simply can't suck me in (League of Legends), but others I can't help but be absorbed completely (Battlefield).

Whatever the situation, I never turn the game sounds off (game music, yes, but not sounds), and I'll typically have my music down to half volume or less (much less if I'm voice chatting with friends). It's enough to listen to it and enjoy it, but not so much as to drown out the game.

[Meiscool]

Music when you don't care.

Normal sound for serious time.