StarCraft drastically effects my heart-rate.

[Hulkbot]

Is this just me?

I can usually keep it cool during a game or before, even then I'm a little jittery, but coming up to the climax of the fight and long after, my heart is *POUNDING* whether I win or lose!

It's exhillarating and addicting to win and very very painful to lose. (I'm not complaining ABOUT losing here, mind you) and I'm almost sure that all pros do not experience this as they have played thousands of games but do any slightly newer or moderately veteran people get this?

I just wonder if it has any effect on my game. Maybe I fumble too much with my micro out of nervousness when it's really critical or something... I dunno.

Just wanted to bring it up. Most people don't seem to know what I mean :(

[Kyr]

yeah, i get that. close games are rather intense imo.

[Atoi]

No, StarCraft has an EFFECT on your heart rate. Alternatively, StarCraft affects your heart rate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9hmN1O3MU

[Dalcyon]

No, StarCraft has an EFFECT on your heart rate. Alternatively, StarCraft affects your heart rate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9hmN1O3MU

Uh oh grammar police!! You prolly frequent the wow trade channel lol.

[Kyligula]

You're not alone. I get so freaked out in matches that I do really ridiculously stupid stuff -- I lost my first match because my mind went AFK and my hands just kept making un-upgraded zerglings.

Win or lose, I'm always *just* this side of a panic attack :D

[Sodamuffin]

I get the same rush OP. The nice thing about this game is that losses are often exciting enough to keep me playing(even knowing I'll probably lose), which was lacking in the first game and made people quit early.

[Hulkbot]

Haha, glad it isn't just me... It seems that the cure is just play many games in a row. Your heart will eventually shut up but you gotta play a lot.

No other game makes me feel this way except for like... a 1v1 in Quake III or something.

Ill often be too jittery to micro my zerglings properly when in group fights. Hilarious and sad when they all die because they just weren't in the right place :(

I'll correct the heading of the thread :P thanks for the help there.

[Potera]

1v1 games are starting to get me pumping! I had several good games today.

Although every time I'm "favored" I lose :(

[Kendaren]

I get it too. I love it :D Almost as good as cardio!

[Hungrydingo]

I had the problem at first. This was the exact reason I've yet to finish Dead Space. Now that I have a build order and a strategy and I'm familiar with the maps and gameplay it's business as usual, but it is very exhilarating playing this game.

[Ender]

i'm the same way..


especially at 1v1..

[Dipski]

Oh yes, it's ridiculous really.

I play in my dorm room, we have 3 PCs and 3 LCD displays running in here along with some nice speakers/receiver. Needless to say, it's quite warm. We have a fan running 24/7 just to keep the air moving.

My matches get so intense that my cheeks flush red and burn if the window is not open. Not only does my heart rate go through the roof, I will feel a little trickle of sweat that makes me jump.

I don't know if that's pathetic or awesome.

[Luckishot]

This is called an adrenaline rush. You'll get the same feeling if you get in a fight or get chased by a bear. Public speaking does it for some.

For whatever reason, your mind doesn't distinguish virtual danger (like zerglings) from real danger (omg bear) and reacts the same way by dumping adrenal hormones into your bloodstream.

[Neinball]

I had the problem at first. This was the exact reason I've yet to finish Dead Space. Now that I have a build order and a strategy and I'm familiar with the maps and gameplay it's business as usual, but it is very exhilarating playing this game.

HAHA! Same here man, same here. I can only play Dead Space in one hour increments! And as I've been playing more matches I've been trying to keep my cool more and helps me keep better focus on what I'm doing.

[Joana]

I used to have that issue. Now I do not and I am a much better player because of that. You need to learn to be calm, aggressive, and dont worry if you win or lose. Look at losses as a win rather than a loss and learn from it! I actually strive to find games where people can beat me!

[orb]

I get this in intense micro battles for sure.

If it's just a dumb attack move fight I don't, but if there's tons of sentries casting force fields and shit it's really intense.

[Ace]

It especially starts happening once I win a turning point battle, army vs army. If I lose I typically calm down, as it almost always means I've lost.

[Ghozt]

Yeah this happens to me sometimes too. One time when I was sitting at base building stuff all of a sudden 4 Ultralisks 15 hydras and 25 lings come storming out of a corner I didn't have LoS in. A swift "OH CRAP!" promptly came out when it happened. Definitely got my heart beating a bit faster. It was both hilarious and scary as it was only 10 minutes into the game when this happened, everyone was *harmlessly* teching... or so me and my teammate thought... *ahem*

[Syon]

This is called an adrenaline rush. You'll get the same feeling if you get in a fight or get chased by a bear. Public speaking does it for some.

For whatever reason, your mind doesn't distinguish virtual danger (like zerglings) from real danger (omg bear) and reacts the same way by dumping adrenal hormones into your bloodstream.

LOL. special upgrade for zerg turns the zerglings into bears. No pic-a-nic basket is safe.

I do get the adrenaline rush while playing, probably because I'm afraid of losing, but I'm not good enough to win consistently. The game is so fun, I can't wait to begin playing at a higher level.

[Hulkbot]

This is called an adrenaline rush. You'll get the same feeling if you get in a fight or get chased by a bear. Public speaking does it for some.

For whatever reason, your mind doesn't distinguish virtual danger (like zerglings) from real danger (omg bear) and reacts the same way by dumping adrenal hormones into your bloodstream.


Haha, well put, I'm an idiot!

It's incredibly engaging and my mind is a product of its environment. My biggest threat in my household is losing in starcraft. Warps me mind.

ALthough it does make me wonder what would happen if i did go "omgbear".

I think i would auto-gg

[Char]

Haha, I feel the same way when I'm attacking and putting everything on the line. I notice my heart beating furiously. It is definitely a rush.

[Eternal]

That's exacly the effect of Blizzard games hehee

glad to hear i'm not alone !

[Kyrra]

It happened to me when I used to do arenas in WoW. After 100-200 games it started to go away. Eventually the newness wears off and you'll treat it like other games.

But ya, it happens to me with Starcraft again. :)

[Outofranch]

To compete well--try maintaining a balance of that adrenaline and use your hyper-active senses to your advantage but, keep a cool head. This should be what everyone trys to strive for.

[Hulkbot]

To compete well--try maintaining a balance of that adrenaline and use your hyper-active senses to your advantage but, keep a cool head. This should be what everyone trys to strive for.

Yeah I am really trying to do this... I know I could sure punch someone in the face wicked-hard with this energy but I can't micro my lings around my roaches to counter that protoss army.

Really hard to hone yourself in these things, I even stop for a second and tell myself out loud to calm the fuck down or do breathing exercises to slow my heart back down. Even after a match it's nuts for like 15 more minutes. Then I'm scared to go into another game right after because if it keeps up I feel like I will be dead irl.

Again, it seems to help to just fly headlong into game-after-game until it evens out.

[Ezra]

I'm usually pretty calm and collected, but in a close match , my breathing becomes shallow and my adrenaline is pumping. My heart beats out of my chest and I am positively frantic.

If I win while I'm on this adrenaline high, it's the greatest feeling ever to coast down from my euphoria. If I lose while I'm on the adrenaline high, it's like somone stabbed me in the chest.

It's very cool that this game can do this to us. =)

[Hulkbot]

bump for re-relevance.

[revenge]

No, StarCraft has an EFFECT on your heart rate. Alternatively, StarCraft affects your heart rate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9hmN1O3MU


We're talking about StarCraft II, not StarCraft I. Get your grammar corrections out of these forums, you don't even know what game we're playing!

[Hulkbot]

Nit-picking also has an effect on my heart rate.

[Thesatan]

You should watch some korean pros sometime. Some at times will be sweating like they just ran a marathon, and this is no exaggeration.

[Chung]

You should watch some korean pros sometime. Some at times will be sweating like they just ran a marathon, and this is no exaggeration.

Yep. The game is really exhausting to play perfectly. There are so many things to keep track of, so many things to think about, but that's what makes the game fun, right?

[Raislin]

I get it too. I love it :D Almost as good as cardio!

If only that could be true. Cardio by playing Starcraft II. It's a shame the heart rate is a chemical induced reaction, and not exercise induced.

And yes, I used to get pretty shaky after some really close Smash Brothers Melee matches, and I've noticed that it can be that way in Starcraft II, as well. I keep a cool head, but when I'm forced to turtle, I'm frantic until I get some way to scout. And when I see a force being controlled skillfully, I definitely get nervous.

[Malkgray]

My first few games made me wonder about my cardiovascular health too, but just like in other player versus player games I've played, I found I acclimated fairly quickly. I tend to play better when not all jittery so it is important for me to acclimate. So 1v1 doesn't scare me anymore. 2v2 still scares me, though, because I haven't gotten out of the practice league yet, lol.

[Raislin]

2v2 still scares me, though, because I haven't gotten out of the practice league yet, lol.

I've added you as a friend, Graymalk, if you want to do some 2v2s.

[Jbansmithe]

i've noticed that too, sc1 didn't make my heart race at all....but now i can't help but notice my heart-rate go up and my breathing increase

[Oathmaster]

I can just see it labeled on the Starcraft 2 box now "Warning online gameplay experiences can cause excessive adrenaline build ups that may be too awesome for some players"

Starcraft II just raises the bar in gaming, just imagine the rush when the game is eventually balanced out with these rushes, knowing that even the slightest mistake could cause a loss! Now that's intensity

[Malkgray]

I've added you as a friend, Graymalk, if you want to do some 2v2s.

Oh sorry didn't see this until someone bumped. Would love to. Message me any time. edit: I added you too. I keep forgetting that the forum conveniently gives us the full toon name.

[Wintermute]

I don't really notice my heart racing, but I KNOW that it must be, because you could fry an egg on my head after a hard fought game. I am covered in sweat and feel like steam is coming off of me, and I am not one of those sweaty hairy dudes.

I don't know if it's making my heart any healthier, but it's sure as hell working out my mind and reflexes like nothing else since the original Mortal Kombat.

Not even the original SC/BW was this much of a rush.

[Hazelroo]

starcraft is the one game where i actually SWEAT in response to playing;
literally feel a drip drip on my ribs and realize its my pits >_>

[Yarso]

I get the same rush OP. The nice thing about this game is that losses are often exciting enough to keep me playing(even knowing I'll probably lose), which was lacking in the first game and made people quit early.

Very well true. I've met like 4 quitters only so far, majority are playing it to the last building. Doesn't happen in SC1 as you've said and heck, the winning team will even tell you to click the Surrender button.

"Bleh. Destroy all my buildings! You surrender not me!" :D

[Coldvoltage]

Along with that, I notice that 100%... no 110% of my brain power is focused on the game. I can't even respond to people trying to talk to me. Hell I probably wouldn't notice if the house was burning down around me.

[Fatandpale]

the adrenaline rush actually increases the likelihood of an emotional decision over a rational one. Your survival instincts kick in and you will be very alert, but unable to think as clearly as otherwise.

And yeah, in close fights my heart goes crazy.

[Lynart]

....-____-

No offense guys, but I think a lot of you need to start hitting the gym if this game is making your heart go insane.

I barely feel adrenaline rushes unless it's accompanied by anger (good luck holding me down then).

If you're healthy, being jittery is fine, but being able to feel a 'drastic increase' in heart rate means you''re cardio system blows.

[Mecha]

I get the same way especially with new games. The more I play the better I calm down. Better hit the P90x before launch date.

[Oathmaster]

I'm in real good shape here I like to think, health wise anyway, and I can tell you I still get a real rush out of these games, although not as much as I think you've interpreted Lynart

[Yarso]

Along with that, I notice that 100%... no 110% of my brain power is focused on the game. I can't even respond to people trying to talk to me. Hell I probably wouldn't notice if the house was burning down around me.

I think you should start learning how to control yourself :p Probably not noticing if the house is burning down is very bad already. Life or death? Choose life ;)