Is it my eyes or something else?

[Edmond Dantes]

So lately, I'm playing Thunder Force a lot, particularly IV and V.

I have a problem, particularly with IV (I've kind of gotten past it with V)...

For some reason, I often can't tell when there's an enemy on the screen, or a projectile coming that I need to avoid. My TV works fine, it's just that... well, the childish part of me wants to blame the game and say "they blend in too well!" But sometimes when I'm playing, it really does feel like I can't separate background details or graphics from immediate threats. Relatedly, sometimes I find myself admiring the graphics too much (particularly on Strite) when I should be watching out for threats.

It also happens with Sol-Deace.

Does anyone else have this issue? Is there anything you think I should do to train my eyes to pick up on threats/stop watching the background?

Thanks in advance.

[Stan]

Motion Induced Blindness?
There was a topic about it back in the days
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8791

[Marc]

Happens to me all the time. I'm playing Futari recently, and have actually caught myself trying to follow the two different colours of bullets with one eye each, or squinting like a motherfucker because it seems to make patterns easier to read - and my prescription is recent and (allegedly) accurate. There are so many times that I've hit a bullet that I thought was a millimeter or two further to one side, and not just in a shit sense. Makes playing these games quite frustrating for me personally at times.

[J_Taishu]

Sometimes, though I'm more likely to blame my lack of concentration than an eye problem. If I get smacked by a bullet I didn't see, I try to remember where I got hit and keep an eye out so at least I can be conscious of what hit me before.

And uh, doesn't Futari only have purple bullets?

[Edmond Dantes]

Well the good news is that I'm kinda getting better about it. Mostly just remembering the problem areas and being cautious/looking out for upcoming dangers in the games that give me issues.

I've gotten to (what I think is) the final stage in Thunder Force IV, but I can't beat it yet. Same for Thunder Force V. Sol-Deace I have not re-attempted yet.

[Marc]

Sometimes, though I'm more likely to blame my lack of concentration than an eye problem. If I get smacked by a bullet I didn't see, I try to remember where I got hit and keep an eye out so at least I can be conscious of what hit me before.

And uh, doesn't Futari only have purple bullets?

Pink and purple.

[Jeneki]

Try the PS2 version of Ibara. The circular spinning strobelight bullets are just eye grating to track.

[Herr Schatten]

they blend in too well!

In Thunder Force IV, they actually do.

[trap15]

Try the PS2 version of Ibara. The circular spinning strobelight bullets are just eye grating to track.

It's only slightly better on the PCB

[Jonathan Ingram]

Try the PS2 version of Ibara. The circular spinning strobelight bullets are just eye grating to track.

It's only slightly better on the PCB

I third this.

I love the game a lot, but holy hell is it hard to keep track of those bullets. And that goes for both the PS2 and arcade versions. Haven`t had this problem with other Cave shmups.

[OdiousTrident]

I always thought this was a combined issue of concentration and contrast sensitivity in the eyes. How often do you look at a computer or tv screen during the day? I think my ability to distinguish bullets is better after a day or two away from the computer screen... although that doesn't happen often.

Don't all the good shmup players kind of blur out analyzing bullet patterns on the entire screen? I have a lot of trouble maintaining that type of focus and find myself looking at detail too often... as you mentioned.

[Dave_K.]

Motion Induced Blindness?
There was a topic about it back in the days
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8791

Glad someone else remembers that thread.

Since there aren't that many overlapping bullet patterns in thunderforce (?) I'm guessing OP's case is more attention deficit related.

[spoot]

Are you color blind at all? Friend has issues with some games due to such.

[Edmond Dantes]

Are you color blind at all? Friend has issues with some games due to such.

I don't think I am.

[DrTrouserPlank]

Are you color blind at all? Friend has issues with some games due to such.

I don't think I am.

If you can see the image below this text the you are not colourblind.













.

[Edmond Dantes]

You mean "blank space and then there's a period"? Yeah, I can see that.

Now how do I beat the final boss of TFIV...

[Captain]

phase 1:go to the bottom/top and shoot the giant opening behind it.
phase 2: destroy it's two attachments from the left and right.
phase 3: use hunter to destroy it's core when it detaches it.

Gl pilot.

[Edmond Dantes]

Okay, found out a few more things.

One, seems my eyesight gets better if I eat spinach every once in awhile. So maybe a vitamin deficiency problem.

Also, I noticed that my shmup skills get worse if I read before shmupping (this goes for a lot of gaming actually, which is why I rarely read books these days). Not sure how that works, but there you go.

[Squire Grooktook]

When I read a book, my hands tend to get very stiff, to the point that it takes quite a while for them to loosen up before I can play effectively.

Eyesight hasn't really been a problem for me since I switched to wearing glasses at all times.

[Edmond Dantes]

So, I've learned the following:

* Don't read before shmupping (hand stiffness like Squire said, but for me its also that I literally feel like my brain is changing)
* Always wait an hour or two after eating before shmupping (metabolism tends to screw with my reaction speed)
* Sometimes watching an anime or an eighties cartoon makes me perform better, don't know why.
* Spinach helps my eyesight and sometimes is the exception to the "wait before shmupping" rule.

Throw more tips at me if anyone has their own secret little tricks.

[Squire Grooktook]

* Sometimes watching an anime or an eighties cartoon makes me perform better, don't know why.

Endorphins? I think being happy/feeling good sometimes contributes to playing good. A lot of my favorite runs I was very happy at the time.

But was I happy because I was doing good, or was I doing good because I was happy? lol

[KAI]

I made some of my best hiscores when I was sad

[Kollision]

Some interesting tips here, I can't say I agree with all of them.

I don't care if I've stuffed my stomach or if I've been reading / working.
I beat some hard games right after having lunch or coming back from work after driving through heavy traffic!

IMO it all depends on focus, enthusiasm, lack of worries, sensory feedback and good ambient temperature.
It's hard to focus when you're thinking about an important project or problems at work, or having arguments with the lady.
Having a loud sound helps, good/adequate color contrast, playing closer to the TV, etc.