I’ve been doing Neurofeedback sessions off and on for about six months to treat a disability. I’ve found the treatment to be very effective at helping me with a variety of issues, not to mention an incredible rush at times. (See this or this EEG Biofeedback site for info on what the heck I’m talking about).
As an avid gamer, the first time I donned the electrodes and start playing was a serious trip - probably the closest I’ve ever gotten to experiencing that Neuromancer thing I read about in the Eighties. Heck, I’d never even had the opportunity to use “donned” in a satisfactory way since HHG. The novelty wears off after a little while but the benefits linger sometimes for weeks, and each time I start a session the novelty is back. (EEG I mean, not using that word).
Unfortunately, it’s expensive and the games are primitive. My guy charges standard hourly counseling fees and med insurance has no interest in covering this or any other genuine need. The games are very arcadey - a Pacman clone, various vertical racing games, that kind of thing. But it’s not really supposed to be fun, it’s supposed to help you.
Recently when I finally realized that both my daughter and myself have similar issues requiring similar treatments, I finally decided I would have to get ahold of one of these getups for myself - screw this paid supervision stuff. They look to be very difficult for a non-professional to get so while I don’t have one yet, I am actively looking into my options.
What I have found however is Wild Divine. I decided to try this in part to train on meditation and relaxation, in part to teach my kid these things, and in part to get intimate with the kind of equipment and software I’m trying to track down for the EEG thing.
In terms of gaming, Wild Divine is way ahead of the EEG stuff I’ve seen. Think Myst. OK not Uru, but basic 3d with Quicktime stuff and good audio. I haven’t dived in yet but starting next week I’m taking some time off work and I plan to do it daily.
Apparently there is a substantial community for Wild Divine, and some of them are working with Second Life and discussing it all here. Oh and according to a WD tech guy I spoke with, they do have some kind of plan to incorporate EEG in the future.
Still kinda primitive for QT3 folks maybe, but I am nevertheless extremely optimistic about the potential for incorporating these technologies and thought I’d share my feelings here and ask you all your thoughts. What do you all think about the idea of merging this kind of technology into good, quality gaming? Or to look at it another way, to take the best gaming has to offer and build that into a therepeutic treatment system. In all seriousness, what gaming styles would or wouldn’t lend themselves to this stuff?