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The Cosplay Experiment.
Can dressing as your in-game character increase your in-game performance? The evidence suggests yes.
I believe that the best way to enjoy a video game is to fully immerse yourself in it. For most people this entails dimming the lights and turning on the surround sound - and that’s great, but for me it’s not enough.
Basically, i dress up as the character i am assuming the role of in a video game. Some people think of it as weird, but really it’s the next logical step up from surround sound and lowlighting.
I noticed that a side effect of this, above and beyond the added enjoyment it brings to games, is that it actually makes me a better player. When i’m dressed as my character, my reflexes are that little bit quicker. It’s as if i actually am the person, so in many cases i’m literally fighting for my life, and that is bound to have some kind of affect on performance.
I first noticed this when trying to unlock the “Big Baller” achievement on CoD:World at War. I was struggling with it. But one day the opportunity to purchase a replica SS officer jacket came up (i think they look stylish, so was looking to buy one anyway), i took it, and decided to put it on the next time i played Nazi Zombies.
Low and behold i got the 75,000 points required and the achievement was mine.
This graph shows my progress. I played the Der Riese Nazi Zombie map 20 times. 10 times in my regular clothes, and 10 times while dressed as a Nazi. To make the experiment fair, i switched costume after each attempt.
While this chart clearly proves that dressing as your in-game character has a positive effect on performance, you cannot conduct an experiment on yourself. Which is why i have devised a way in which to test the theory on a much wider scale.
In the meantime though, i'm anxious to put my theory out there for other gamers to contemplate, offer some feedback and just generally be aware of how i am going to change the way in which video games are played forever.
Comments
This is.....I have run out of words. To each their own, I suppose, but did it have to be Nazis?
It doesn't have to be Nazis. But in this instance it was because i was playing as Dr Richtofen, a Nazi officer.
But i have dressed up as other characters, such as Starkiller from The Force Unleashed, Shepard from Mass Effect and Louis from Left 4 Dead.
And in each game my performance greatly increased. I never would have completed Blood Harvest on Expert Difficulty, or beaten ME2 on Insanity otherwise.
How much do you spend on these costumes? I would think a Starkiller outfit would be difficult to assemble, and pricey, too. Also, how the hell do you dress up as Shepard? Did you build a form-fitting composite body armor suit?
The prices vary.
My Starkiller outfit was actually among the least expensive. The most pricey component being all the leather for his numerous belt pieces. That costume cost no more than £80.
My Shepard outfit was created using a scuba suit as a base, and is modelled on the Scorpion Medium armour from the first Mass Effect game. That was obviously a lot more expensive... but considering the total playing time of both ME games easily passes the 80 hour mark, and considering there is a third game to come, i have gotten a lot of use out of it.
Some games this wouldn't work for:
Metroid - Unless you're independently wealthy (and a pretty lady)
Transformers: War for Cybertron - for true immersion, you'd have to transform with your character. Painful
Spore - Just too many possibilities
God of War - Head shaving, shirtlessness, white body paint all over your couch.
Also, what does your girlfriend/significant other think of this practice?
Oh, of course. There are some characters that are so physically different from me, that no amount of costume/make up will bridge that gap. Though, as a huge Transformers fan, i really wanted to try putting a Starscream costume together for War for Cybertron.
Funnily enough, the first conversation i ever had with my girlfriend was about this. She thinks it's a little eccentric, which it no doubt is... but she and i both are into actual cosplay and attend various conventions as well.
Pics or it didn't happen.
Is this your final solution?
"My final solution"? I'm not sure i know what you mean, Field.
Thanks for the obnoxiously large image, MikeSadorf. I am using the internet, yes... but i'm more interested in exchanging ideas on my hypothesis than i am lame internet memes. Thanks.
HEY! It's what I do.
I see.
Perhaps you should get ass naked, play Leisure Suit Larry and report back.