Using video games as LD simulators

I had this idea the other day while playing a first-person video game and doing a reality check with my hands directly in front of the monitor.

Perhaps a training technique might be to engage in a virtual world type simulation or game and whilst doing so, keep telling yourself its a dream as you navigate around and explore the virtual space.

The advantage, I'm thinking, is that you could but yourself in very bizarre environments where strange things are occurring, all the while telling yourself your dreaming. This awareness while in the virtual world my train the brain for the same experience in sleep.

I know some people claim immersing yourself in a virtual world during the day may impair lucidity, so I was curious to hear your thoughts...

In my opinion, video games are bad for lucidity, because you seem to lose some awareness of the world around you while playing, however if it works for you, then go for it!

If you can remember to reality check during an engaging, immersive activity such as reading a book, playing a video game, or watching a movie, you are on the right track. It is easy to be aware when you are not doing anything. Holding onto your awareness while being distracted is difficult.

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Originally Posted by Robot_Butler

If you can remember to reality check during an engaging, immersive activity such as reading a book, playing a video game, or watching a movie, you are on the right track. It is easy to be aware when you are not doing anything. Holding onto your awareness while being distracted is difficult.

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Yes, remembering to RC during a movie is very difficult.

This would probably work best if you have a lot of dreams that feel like a movie or a video game. It can be really difficult to become lucid in dreams that happen in the third person. Practice reality checking in their real life counterpart, and it might carry over.

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Originally Posted by Robot_Butler

...Practice reality checking in their real life counterpart, and it might carry over.

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Could you elaborate a little more on how you would perform these reality checks?

Visualize the game whilst you are falling asleep.

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Originally Posted by theCambino

Could you elaborate a little more on how you would perform these reality checks?

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In that very post, there is a link you can click which will send you to a page explaining how to perform reality checks. :)

Or to make it stick out a little more - Reality Checks - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

I think what would be totally awesome would be to have a setup with virtual reality glasses so the experience is 100% immersion. Then in the 'game' have random weirdness and sudden scene changes (just like a dream) so you could actually practice spending time inside a lucid dream (doing reality checks, exploring, etc).

If the game were really fine tuned you could have the scenery suddenly become dark and blurry and a voice command or action like rubbing the hands together would make it go back to HI-Def. Again simulating what you should remember to do in an actual lucid dream.

While this would be awesome my original thought with this post is maybe we can sort of simulate this experience just using current technology and games available by practicing reality checks and maintaining ADA WHILE playing the game and perhaps telling yourself your dreaming while playing.

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Originally Posted by Jdeadevil

In that very post, there is a link you can click which will send you to a page explaining how to perform reality checks. :)

Or to make it stick out a little more - Reality Checks - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

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:facepalm:

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Originally Posted by imfivebyfive

While this would be awesome my original thought with this post is maybe we can sort of simulate this experience just using current technology and games available by practicing reality checks and maintaining ADA WHILE playing the game and perhaps telling yourself your dreaming while playing.

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And that's where I thought Robot_Butler was taking it with "their counterparts".

Adding to what you've said imfivebyfive, I've already started practicing mental reality checks while playing videogames, asking if I am dreaming, and basically questioning the reality inside the videogame -- especially in those moments that I've been incredibly submersed by what is happening in the videogame or movie, I will try focusing on performing a mental reality check.
Though practicing physical reality checks within a videogame would be an incredible feat. Maybe it could be done with videogames that utilize the Kinect feature. I'll have to try next time I get my hands on a Kinect.

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Originally Posted by theCambino

:facepalm:

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What? You asked how to perform a reality check.

If I play starcraft 2 before bed, basically all my dreams are about the game, and running through strategies xD (It gets annoying sometimes...)
Though i have never tried it, that could be a dream sign if you have the same thing.

Slightly related, myself and a couple other members of DV are making a 3D video game that will help induce lucidity with optional in game subconscious cues, as well as just being a cool game :P

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Originally Posted by Aliasmk

If I play starcraft 2 before bed, basically all my dreams are about the game, and running through strategies xD (It gets annoying sometimes...)
Though i have never tried it, that could be a dream sign if you have the same thing.

Slightly related, myself and a couple other members of DV are making a 3D video game that will help induce lucidity with optional in game subconscious cues, as well as just being a cool game :P

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That's pretty cool, I can't say I've ever played a video game and then had a dream about it. I might have but I don't remember.

I hope you're using Desmond's Journey from Assassin's Creed: Revelations as at-least a bit of inspiration. :D

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Originally Posted by faceonmars

Visualize the game whilst you are falling asleep.

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This.

This would honestly work really well for me. I always dream of combat missions, just like the video games I play. I'll keep this in mind.

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Originally Posted by Tucane

This.

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This what?

Used a single word to highlight a quality post.

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Originally Posted by imfivebyfive

I know some people claim immersing yourself in a virtual world during the day may impair lucidity, so I was curious to hear your thoughts...

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A long time ago I found a study that indicated, that playing video games trains your dream control and increases the chance to get lucid or something like that.

I made a quick google search ("videogames study dreams") and found something that sounds like this study, but I am not allowed to post links.

So the act of playing should be enough to induce LDs. But maybe one can increase the chance with your method.