Games with a high RSI should inform players about the possibility of such risk.
Games with a high RSI should inform players about the possibility of such risk.
I recently ceased gaming after experiencing RSI due to certain games. I realize I shouldn’t blame the game; everyone needs to care for their health and avoid overexertion. It’s important that games with high RSI risk inform or educate players about this condition. Before developing RSI, I heard many stories about people getting it from playing my game, but I didn’t explore it further until I personally experienced it.
I’ve stopped playing several games because the controls became uncomfortable. "Remember Me" was one example. I used an Xbox 360 controller. Other “battle” style titles have the same issue. It’s tough to predict RSI beforehand unless QA testers record it, but even then it might be ignored since game testing is often done by people working for free—something EA clearly does.
I'm uncertain about how RSI risk is assessed. It seems many development teams, especially indie ones, likely don't have this information. I worry that applying strict labels to games with significant RSI concerns would force every title to carry such warnings, which could be unnecessary and costly. For larger studios, there really isn't a valid reason to avoid it—they can afford accurate labeling. Still, I notice some games with flashing lights often include proper warnings before release. I mistakenly thought RSI was the same as PSE (photosensitive epilepsy). Please disregard me if this is incorrect.
I've considered this and it's a valid concern. If many players report higher RSI values than others, they might benefit from alerts to raise awareness. It seems the game is subtly indicating this, which is positive. I believe the key lies in better educating users about RSI, as it appears to be a significant issue that can be challenging to overcome once detected.
PSE is necessary in any game unless you force it to run at a fixed frame rate, and some titles let you disable flashing which can help. Motion sickness often appears in first-person games, which is why "head bob" effects are rare in FPS titles. These issues relate to eye-brain coordination, not RSI—RSI stands for repetitive strain injury, caused by poor posture, awkward hand movements during gameplay, a clunky user interface, or an infinite scrolling mobile experience that can trigger discomfort on desktops.
Every match would essentially need a warning, yet most people would still overlook it. It’s less about the game itself and more about you. I’ve felt my hand hurt in games where it didn’t usually happen because I got unusually tense and pressed too hard on the keys.
Publishers will only act when pressured. This lowers profits.
Long-term continuous stress leads to RSI. Take pauses, use ergonomic setups, perform stretches or exercises for your hands, wrists, and forearms. This is something everyone should understand, not just developers. It affects those who aren't aware of it. It should be a fundamental concept taught in computer science education.