WipEout HD delayed due to epilepsy test failure

Way to ruin everyone else's fun!

It does suck that they have to tone down the visual flair to an awesome looking game. Booo epilepsy tests!

Nah, they'll only tone down the really trippy levels.

Thats silly. What kind of person prone to seizures buys this kind of game?

Exactly... heck, the games used to have Epilepsy warning on them. I'm all for not selling harmful products, but this is yet another case of liberalism dumbing things down to meet the needs of the lowest common denominator. The good of the few continue to outweigh the good of the many.

did you ever play the virtual boy? the red stereoscopic 3d display would cause epliptic reactions in people who never had them before. even if you didn't have them most people at least got headaches. that's the main reason (amoung many others) the VB failed. it's a liablity in a product that if they know or should know it has a regular occourance of happening could get sony sued.

LOL! 3 minutes later and I'm still laughing.

I think the problem is that those warnings that the game MAY cause seizures...

If it failed testing it must mean that Wipeout was causing seizures more times than it didn't.

So I suggest a sign like this
"This game may induce seizures. Those affected with epilepsy should obtain a pair of sunglasses, a stick to bite on, a cellphone with 911 pre-dialed, and a note from your doctor before pressing x"

You know how it is in America. No matter how many warnings you issue someone with epilepsy will play it, have a seizure and sue the crap out of Sony.

Yea , I agree with you , at least there ARE resposible people out there . Wouldn't be too happy if I had epilipsy and couldn't play this game .

The other people here are just plain mean , how would they feel if they had epilipsy . Hope the include both versions tho .

No offense, but if that was to happen without fixing the problem, that could actually cause it to get banned and we'd get no game. Besides, particle effects, lighting and shading are far more advanced now than last gen, so this would make sense.
I'd like Wipeout HD as much as the next guy, but I assume they're just putting in options to lower the intensity as default. I hope they don't actually remove anything during the process.

They try it out with a person who suffers from it and then when it fails that persons just throw in a bin and they tweak the game and try agian with a "fresh" person...

My friends had a go at me for saying that... so I shall post the true method...

They check for flashes per minute and if its too many then it won't pass... I'm not sure how many is the maximum...

I still think my method sounds better... I'd use ppl I don't like as my test subjects... first person to come to mind is that woman complaining about Fat Princess...

@Boltu222,

I laughed hysterically at your original response. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

I agree. I always figured that people with epilepsy could not play games because of the risk of seizure. I wonder if any people with epilepsy read PS3fanboy and what do they think?

AGADAUH O_O

HENCE THEY TEST FOR IT SO PPL WITH THE CONDITION CAN PLAY >_

I want the Pokemon thing with red and blue, you said it causes seizures in people not prone to that. I would like to try it and see. I don't think I'll die, and if I do... not a bad way to go.

Sorry but you're completely wrong.

First of all, there is no evidence whatsoever that "Reducing the amount of flashy lovely in the game will severely detract from the experience for those who aren't unfortunate enough to be born with a debilitating illness.". That was nonsense. This kind of thing can be toned down without ruining the game.

Secondly, car manufacturers don't design cars for the blind. But that's because people don't just go blind from driving a poorly-designed cars. What most of you don't seem to realise is that there are a lot of people out there who are susceptible to epilepsy, just as there are various grades of seriousness in the condition.

The reason that legislation was introduced in most countries to regulate this issue is that epilepsy is a common disease, meaning that those who have it shouldn't be discriminated against or placed in danger, and those who don't know they have it should be protected as far as possible.

If you really think it's acceptable to discriminate on medical grounds, or put loads of gamers at risk of suffering fits, just to get a few extra flashes in your copy of WipEout HD, then that's your problem.

Those that suffer from epilepsy to the extent that Wipeout needed to be toned down are those that are, in effect, already at risk to photosensitivity. Its a video game using particle effects, explosions and fast paced action. Toning down any of these detracts from their original focus. Thus the game begins something that it wasn't before. Stop trying to be the white knight you all want people to believe you are.

The world is a cruel place, we all know this except for you. People suffer from all sorts of disorders. I still do not believe it is up to a video game developer to protect you from yourself. Take for instance the concept posed by Kris earlier. Tobacco companies do not 're-engineer' their products because they may harm people with certain conditions. You're looking at the wrong industry to make your shouting match from. Take your righteous ideals and place it into something that actually matters.

People have epilepsy, its a horrid truth. Although 50 million people suffer form some form of epilepsy, its not what you think. Epilepsy should not be understood as a single disorder, but rather as a group of syndromes with vastly divergent symptoms but all involving episodic abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

30% of those who suffer from this are unable to control their outbreaks with medication. Only about 2-14% of people with epilepsy are affected by flashing lights, Tom. A total of 0.3%-3% of people IN THE WORLD suffer from photosensitive epilepsy.


Should we do everything we can to help these people? Yes. Is toning down a videogame the first step? No.

Its pure ignorance to assume epilepsy ONLY means seizures from flashing lights.

And its pure ignorance on your part to assume that changing a video game is a good start to cure these people. If that is all your noble intentions have to offer, then I really don't think they want your help.

Bonnie - the law's there for a good reason, and that's the end of it.

"If that is all your noble intentions have to offer, then I really don't think they want your help." - who exactly do you think you're talking for here?