Fast multiplayer games can be really tough. Somehow there is always someone who takes you out with ease. And according to a new study, you might not even have anything to do with it.
What is this study about? On April 1, 2024, a study was published (via Plos One) that provides interesting insights, particularly for competitive athletes and gamers.
- It is titled: “The speed of sight: Individual variation in critical flicker fusion thresholds”
- The study aims to show that some people can perceive speed better than others.
Previous experiments have already shown that 144Hz monitors provide an advantage. The new study goes a little deeper here.
It might not be your fault
Especially fans of multiplayer shooters will know this feeling. You play a game for hours and get quite good at it. But then comes that one person who takes you out as if you were nothing.
The next time this happens to you, you now have the perfect excuse for losing: The other person simply had a physical advantage. Because the new study claims: some people literally see the world with different – faster – eyes.
How was the study conducted? In an experiment, participants observed a very rapidly flickering light source and tested at what point the light appears constant to them.
- Some perceived the light as constant when it flickered 35 times per second.
- Others, on the other hand, still perceived the flicker at 60 times per second.
This experiment was repeated at different times with the same participants. The results remained consistent. Participants who were able to perceive very rapid flickers were able to do so reliably at various times.
What does this mean? This ability to perceive fast things can of course be very useful. Professor Kevin Mitchell, a neurobiologist at Trinity College Dublin, says:
We believe that individual differences in the perception of speed can affect high-speed situations where one may need to locate or track rapidly moving objects, such as in ball sports, or in situations where visual scenes change rapidly, like in competitive gaming.
This means some might already have an advantage before they have even picked up the controller for the first time, Mitchell explains further.
Is there still a chance? Even if you are not blessed with above-average perception of flickering light, not all is lost. Because previous research has shown that this is only a small part of the whole picture. Perception of speed involves more than just perceiving plain light.
Visual perception can also be trained. With practice, you will get better, even if some people really do start with better conditions.
A player in Helldivers 2 had very tough starting conditions as well. Despite a physical disability, he wanted to play, but the game wouldn’t let him: Player with a physical disability wants to play Helldivers 2, Anti-Cheat won’t let him, now the boss reacts
