IGSIG

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will IG take? Will you feel pain in immersion? What's in store for immersive gamers? For these answers and more, read on below. If you have a question, e-mail us, and we'll do our best to answer it. You may also want to pose your questions on our discussion forums.

1. How long do you expect it to take for IG to become a reality?

With a well-organized and well-funded effort, IG could be implemented within a decade. This will be dependent upon the advancement of technologies such as digital display devices, direct neural interface, and galvanic vestibular stimulation. IG will also require the ability to implant a brain-computer interface into the body of the gamer.

2. If you die in immersion, do you die in the real world?

No. The risks associated with immersion are roughly equivalent to those experienced when riding a roller coaster. In particular, overexcitement in players who have a preexisting heart condition could cause complications. We do not, however, wish to make immersion so real as to endanger the health of players. See below.

3. Is pain experienced in immersion?

While pain could, optionally, be neglected altogether in the simulated environment, some immersion environments may require pain as an integral part of realism. As stated above, we do not believe that unhealthy degrees of pain should be induced on the player, regardless of the realism desired. This is akin to simulating the sun: we want the immersive power of the dynamic range of light to be present, but we don't want players to be blinded. The presence of pain stimuli can be indicated with alternative measures such as pressure or vibration as well.

4. Will there be a way to escape immersion if the player encounters an uncomfortable situation?

Yes. The device can be designed in such a way that it can recognize a distress signal from the brain, called a "sentinel," and immediately drop the player from immersion back into his physical body. The sentinel will likely take the form of a physical action or gesture the player may perform that they would otherwise be unlikely to do in the course of regular play.

5. Should IG lead to large-scale virtual societies?

Yes. Much like MMORPGs such as Everquest presaged alternate-reality social environments like Second Life, immersive gaming opens pathways to new forms of human interaction. These include instant transportation, virtual romantic scenarios, streamlined commerce logistics, and other social and creative collaborations.