Immersion Submersion! (Actively increasing immersion while gaming?)

JawesomeJohnson

I love love LOVE a good horror game. There is something marvelous about being able to put yourself into a truly terrifying position in a great story. When I was a wee lad, I fell in love with Silent Hill 2 via a spread in Game Pro magazine months before I even had access to a PS2. The surreal feel, the gorgeous design, and and-and that FLASHLIGHT EFFECT!!! It captivated me instantly. When I finally got a chance to play, I made a point to set up late at night when everyone else in my home was asleep, turned off all the lights, set up my cheap pathetic attempt at a 'surround sound system' and got to it!

I played through the entire night and heh did not sleep well for days I had never given much thought at that point to how the environment we play in really changes the experience but it is a process I have stuck with to this day. When there is a chance to get real good and SPOOKED I always try and get that same kind of environment, It's forever rad to me how much the game can pull me in when I try and push my own buttons a bit and work with it.

Do Y'all have any special things you do to play up the fear when getting into a scary game? Or heck, do you do anything interesting to build up the environment while gaming regardless of the games type???

PLA

I close the window sometimes, so everything doesn't sound like car.