Healthy Gaming
It’s easy to get carried away when playing a good game. You get so absorbed and have so much fun that you lose track of time - maybe even forget to do important things. We’ve all had it happen, and it’s generally nothing to worry about; but it’s also important that you enjoy your time spent gaming responsibly, and ensure you avoid potential injury.
Below is a short guide that looks at how you can enjoy healthy gaming. There are four main areas that we focus on:
In addition, take some time to read our epilepsy warning below as it may contain information you, or someone you know, should be aware of.
Remember, the information below is intended as a guide to healthy gaming. If at any point you feel unwell while playing any game, you should stop immediately. If symptoms persist, consult a doctor.
1. Taking regular breaks
This is the most important of all these guidelines as regular breaks can help your body recover from many problems, and help you avoid any long-term damage. Take short breaks every half hour or so, even if it’s just to get a drink. This will allow you to stretch your limbs and relax your brain - longer breaks every hour or two will also help you to stay sharp.
Whilst stopping play to check your emails might sound like a perfectly good break, it’s better to stop everything screen related - so take your hand from your mouse and move away from your keyboard. Giving your eyes a break is equally as important as your body; it’s all muscular. Take a walk, read a book or try some simple stretches.
Whilst you’re actually playing, make sure you’re in a well lit room, and that your monitor isn’t too bright, too close or too far away. You could even try out different game controllers, as switching between a mouse/keyboard combination and a game-pad will help use different muscles in the body.
2. Positioning yourself correctly
If you’re playing for long periods at a time, posture can make the difference between a good session and a bad back. Try to make sure your entire body is in a comfortable position when you play. You can achieve this by:
- Changing your posture regularly to help avoid discomfort
- Making sure your chair is set up to support your lower back
- Ensuring your legs are in a comfortable position - try to keep around a 90 degree angle, with your feet flat on the floor
- Keeping your hands and wrists as straight as possible, avoiding bending them as this can restrict blood flow
- Positioning your monitor so that you view it straight on, minimising any unnecessary neck movement
There are many products available to help improve your posture. If you need to, invest in a footrest, a gel wrist support or a chair that offers good lumbar support.
3. Avoiding repetitive actions
Repetitive actions such as clicking a mouse or controller button can cause Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) if sustained over long periods of time. You should try and use a lighter touch while using your computer to reduce the long-term effect of these forces.
Take advantage of shortcut keys, macros and auto command settings - these vary by game, but can save you relentlessly hitting a combination of keys (and can also give you the edge when it comes to combat).
Avoid resting your wrists or palms on any surface when using a mouse or keyboard as this places pressure on them. Relax your arms and hands as much as possible when you’re not playing.
4. Exercising parental guidance
Every NCsoft game is independently assessed and graded according to the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) age rating system. This represents a Europe wide scheme aimed at ensuring parents are well informed about the games they and their children are buying - head over to our Ratings Explained feature for all the information you need.
While we make every effort to monitor and take action against unacceptable in-game behaviour there may, on occasion, be instances that expose materials deemed inappropriate for children or offensive to players of any age. For guidance on such matters, read our Security FAQ.
If you believe a player has violated a game’s User Agreement or Rules of Conduct, from bad language to offensive actions, we want to hear about it. You can file a petition in-game through each game’s main menu, or through the ‘Ask a Question’ feature over at the Knowledge Base. Rest assured we take the well-being of all our players very seriously, and will act to punish and/or ban offenders.
Epilepsy warning
A very small percentage of individuals may experience seizures when exposed to certain light patterns, flashing lights, or flashing images. Children and teenagers are more susceptible to seizure than adults, but even those with no history of seizure or epilepsy could experience them while playing or watching video games.
Symptoms of seizure include: light-headedness, altered vision, jerking or shaking of the extremities, loss of awareness, confusion, twitching, or full convulsions. Convulsions can lead to other injuries by causing an individual to fall off of a chair and/or strike objects nearby.
If you or anyone in your family has an epileptic condition or history of seizures, consult your physician prior to playing any game - you could have an undiagnosed condition. If you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms of a seizure while playing stop playing and consult your doctor immediately. Parents should ensure their children are not experiencing symptoms.
In order to reduce the risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures, you should play games in a well-lit room while you are alert and awake. Avoid poorly-lit rooms and playing when fatigued.
