OCD and ESO

SocialAssassin

I want to try and be serious for a minute. I and others like me have OCD And I would like to ask Zenimax to give me and other's the ability to turn off indicators. Like when we receive new items or get new crafting material. I know for some people this isn't a huge deal. But for those like myself that have O.C.D. and live with it. It would be nice to have the ability to do that. I don't really know the number of players that have O.C.D. and play ESO? But it's like people that are blind or deaf. They get consideration I think people with O.C.D. should get the same.

So for anyone out there that plays ESO and O.C.D. speak up and be heard.

http://nationalanxietyfoundation.org/interesting-facts-about-ocd/

TheShadowScout

[snip]

On a more serious note... its -far- more annoying that the various sets are so vexingly named to scatter their bits all over the list! I mean, some are okay... the ones with the "-set name-'s -piece name-" style of designation... but why oh, why do there have to be others that go with "-piece name- of -set name-" style of name so the pieces are not all together but all over the list? Things need to be in their proper order!

(Well, at least the inventory is a list and not a box square where I felt compelled to order vendor trash items by color... don't laugh, that really is a thing for me in some games!!!)

[edited to remove joke]

BisDasBlutGefriert

I hear ya there, especially the indicator for my crafting bag always being there.No matter how many times I run through the items, it always has a "new item". Sigh.

TheShadowScout

SocialAssassin wrote: »

But for me seeing the indicators in this game is a thing for me.

Yeah, I have my "things" as well, though I learned to deal with a lot of them by now... but still remember times when it was quite different (that having to stop to order vendor trash items according to rainbow colors? That was NOT a joke!).

Apologies when my CDO attempt to lighten the mood and releave some strass brought on my certain memories fell on the wrong ears with you!

As fot the matter at hand... I would say, it might be reasonable to give people more options as to what they want to see in their game interfece! I mean, if we can set up our chat window, it shoudl be quite doable to set up other stuff as well, right?
(and maybe let us friggin -save- our settings so we don't have to redo each character by hand, but only "load player template 1" or something)

Danikat

Short answer: I agree it would be helpful for many players (not just those with OCD) if there was a way to turn off those indicators.

Long answer:

People who are blind or deaf get some cursory consideration, but it's no where near as good as it could be. For example there's a lot of dialogue from NPCs which doesn't show up in subtitles or in the chat box. I suspect it's the same for all kinds of issues players can have with the game.

I don't think I have OCD, not that I've ever been tested for it but I've never had reason to (unless you ask my mum, who thinks keeping books in order by series and CDs grouped by artist is proof of severe OCD dominating my life) but there are some things in this game I find odd which I can imagine would frustrate someone with OCD.

One is the indicators the OP mentioned - especially the ones for new outfit styles. If I use a motif I'm aware it unlocks the outfit styles and don't want to have to go through and click on each individual category and then find the right tiny icon just to clear the indicator that it has done exactly what I expected it to do when I used the motif, but if I don't the little exclamation mark keeps drawing my attention.

The other is when crafting writs list the items you need to make 'out of order'. For example listing cuirass, sword, greaves. To my mind it should be sword, cuirass, greaves because the blacksmithing menu shows you weapons first and the cuirass appears before the greaves in the list so that's the order I'm going to make them. Most of them are like that and while it is trivial for me I have sometimes wondered if it bothered anyone else and if there's an addon which changes it. But I'm not sure it would be possible to solve that one even if they wanted to, because I suspect other people would want a different order (alphabetical for example) and it's really not worth doing something like they did with the character select menu where you can sort them yourself.

SocialAssassin

TheShadowScout wrote: »

SocialAssassin wrote: »

But for me seeing the indicators in this game is a thing for me.

Yeah, I have my "things" as well, though I learned to deal with a lot of them by now... but still remember times when it was quite different (that having to stop to order vendor trash items according to rainbow colors? That was NOT a joke!).

Apologies when my CDO attempt to lighten the mood and releave some strass brought on my certain memories fell on the wrong ears with you!

As fot the matter at hand... I would say, it might be reasonable to give people more options as to what they want to see in their game interfece! I mean, if we can set up our chat window, it shoudl be quite doable to set up other stuff as well, right?
(and maybe let us friggin -save- our settings so we don't have to redo each character by hand, but only "load player template 1" or something)

Apology accepted. And thanks. I'm quoting from a website

" People with OCD know it’s no laughing matter.
Obsessions are persistent, uncontrollable thoughts, impulses, or images that are intrusive, unwanted and disturbing. They cause anxiety or discomfort that significantly interferes with normal life. A person who doesn’t have OCD is able to filter out recurring thoughts about germs, for example. But people with OCD who are obsessed with germs can’t stop thinking about being contaminated and may even avoid going into public places."

snoozy

TheShadowScout wrote: »

On a more serious note... its -far- more annoying that the various sets are so vexingly named to scatter their bits all over the list! I mean, some are okay... the ones with the "-set name-'s -piece name-" style of designation... but why oh, why do there have to be others that go with "-piece name- of -set name-" style of name so the pieces are not all together but all over the list? Things need to be in their proper order!

get the addon GearSetsSort by megawriter

TheShadowScout

SocialAssassin wrote: »

They cause anxiety or discomfort that significantly interferes with normal life.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.
And I can say, it IS possible to get through this... to some degree. For me, its more at "quirk-level" therse days (for those who know GURPS), but... people who never had these issues cannot even imagine how bad it can be, how you can be completely blocked by an obsessive issue that prevents some interaction with the world everyone normal takes for granted... and how the anxiety and discomfort can grow to levels where you simply -cannot- do that thing, and seriously start considering suicide as a preferable alternative. Same with phobias, really.

So, I can see why people who get told the old "don't be such a -insert downputting designation here-, its all in your head" too many times might want to keep repeating how such issues are not to be taken lightly.

Me, I often joke about issues, even and especially issues I myself have or had, it helps me get past anxiety and discomfort (and rising bad memories). But I definitely would not want to see my occasional silly psychic self-defense jokes get taken as attempt to hurt others!

Neoealth

When you say "indicators" what exactly are you talking about? If you mean notifications, then they actually can be turned off.

Edit: Okay just noticed you mean new items being briefly displayed. Not sure why that should trigger your OCD, I have OCD with some things as well and it normally happens with stuff I need to sort out or correct. Since crafting mats just automatically get sorted anyway, it's generally nothing to worry about. I used to have OCD with the notifications you get from people when they complete vma or a trial etc. I had to stop what I was doing to close it because I hated having the thing showing numbers above the chat window. But yeah turning that off fixed that issue.

Inaya

Neoealth wrote: »

When you say "indicators" what exactly are you talking about? If you mean notifications, then they actually can be turned off.

Edit: Okay just noticed you mean new items being briefly displayed. Not sure why that should trigger your OCD, I have OCD with some things as well and it normally happens with stuff I need to sort out or correct. Since crafting mats just automatically get sorted anyway, it's generally nothing to worry about. I used to have OCD with the notifications you get from people when they complete vma or a trial etc. I had to stop what I was doing to close it because I hated having the thing showing numbers above the chat window. But yeah turning that off fixed that issue.

Numbers showing above the chat window make me want to scream. I have to constantly stop what I'm doing to clear them. How do you turn that off?

ZOS_Ragnar

We have removed some posts from this thread that were causing some contention. Please ensure your posts create a welcoming atmosphere especially when posing in a thread with a subject such as "O.C.D. and ESO"

idk

While I wish you the best with this I expect it is a long shot. Mostly because an MMORPG is a OCD nightmare to someone who truly struggles with it and most of the stimulus is something devs cannot do anything about.

Further, OP specifically mentioned when we get new items or crafting material which brings to mind getting mail. I had thought it was a simple process in ESO to check our mail and we normally do not receive a lot of mail unless we take specific actions to which we are expecting it.

My point with the second paragraph is OP probably needs to explain themselves better.

SocialAssassin

Danikat wrote: »

Short answer: I agree it would be helpful for many players (not just those with OCD) if there was a way to turn off those indicators.

Long answer:

People who are blind or deaf get some cursory consideration, but it's no where near as good as it could be. For example there's a lot of dialogue from NPCs which doesn't show up in subtitles or in the chat box. I suspect it's the same for all kinds of issues players can have with the game.

I don't think I have OCD, not that I've ever been tested for it but I've never had reason to (unless you ask my mum, who thinks keeping books in order by series and CDs grouped by artist is proof of severe OCD dominating my life) but there are some things in this game I find odd which I can imagine would frustrate someone with OCD.

One is the indicators the OP mentioned - especially the ones for new outfit styles. If I use a motif I'm aware it unlocks the outfit styles and don't want to have to go through and click on each individual category and then find the right tiny icon just to clear the indicator that it has done exactly what I expected it to do when I used the motif, but if I don't the little exclamation mark keeps drawing my attention.

The other is when crafting writs list the items you need to make 'out of order'. For example listing cuirass, sword, greaves. To my mind it should be sword, cuirass, greaves because the blacksmithing menu shows you weapons first and the cuirass appears before the greaves in the list so that's the order I'm going to make them. Most of them are like that and while it is trivial for me I have sometimes wondered if it bothered anyone else and if there's an addon which changes it. But I'm not sure it would be possible to solve that one even if they wanted to, because I suspect other people would want a different order (alphabetical for example) and it's really not worth doing something like they did with the character select menu where you can sort them yourself.

I couldn't agree with you more about blind and deaf people. Which is sad when you really think about considering how of them are gamers and play ESO. I don't know the actual percentage. But I would guess more than 2%? It's both frustrating and annoying and distracting all at the same time. And I do try to ignore it. But it's hard knowing it's there. And then I have to stop and look at every individual item until that "!" goes away. And then do it again a minute later. GRRR!

SocialAssassin

Neoealth wrote: »

When you say "indicators" what exactly are you talking about? If you mean notifications, then they actually can be turned off.

Edit: Okay just noticed you mean new items being briefly displayed. Not sure why that should trigger your OCD, I have OCD with some things as well and it normally happens with stuff I need to sort out or correct. Since crafting mats just automatically get sorted anyway, it's generally nothing to worry about. I used to have OCD with the notifications you get from people when they complete vma or a trial etc. I had to stop what I was doing to close it because I hated having the thing showing numbers above the chat window. But yeah turning that off fixed that issue.

Sorry, I meant the "!" you get next to a new item or crafting material. Okay, how do you turn off notifications then? OCD is different for each individual. It just triggers mine. I really can't explain it? It just does.

SocialAssassin

snoozy wrote: »

TheShadowScout wrote: »

On a more serious note... its -far- more annoying that the various sets are so vexingly named to scatter their bits all over the list! I mean, some are okay... the ones with the "-set name-'s -piece name-" style of designation... but why oh, why do there have to be others that go with "-piece name- of -set name-" style of name so the pieces are not all together but all over the list? Things need to be in their proper order!

get the addon GearSetsSort by megawriter

Sounds good but most of us are on console.

SocialAssassin

TheShadowScout wrote: »

SocialAssassin wrote: »

They cause anxiety or discomfort that significantly interferes with normal life.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.
And I can say, it IS possible to get through this... to some degree. For me, its more at "quirk-level" therse days (for those who know GURPS), but... people who never had these issues cannot even imagine how bad it can be, how you can be completely blocked by an obsessive issue that prevents some interaction with the world everyone normal takes for granted... and how the anxiety and discomfort can grow to levels where you simply -cannot- do that thing, and seriously start considering suicide as a preferable alternative. Same with phobias, really.

So, I can see why people who get told the old "don't be such a -insert downputting designation here-, its all in your head" too many times might want to keep repeating how such issues are not to be taken lightly.

Me, I often joke about issues, even and especially issues I myself have or had, it helps me get past anxiety and discomfort (and rising bad memories). But I definitely would not want to see my occasional silly psychic self-defense jokes get taken as an attempt to hurt others!

I understand that better than anyone could. But none the less I appreciate the apology

SocialAssassin

idk wrote: »

While I wish you the best with this I expect it is a long shot. Mostly because an MMORPG is a OCD nightmare to someone who truly struggles with it and most of the stimulus is something devs cannot do anything about.

Further, OP specifically mentioned when we get new items or crafting material which brings to mind getting mail. I had thought it was a simple process in ESO to check our mail and we normally do not receive a lot of mail unless we take specific actions to which we are expecting it.

My point with the second paragraph is OP probably needs to explain themselves better.

Really?! Why can't they? We have the ability to turn off chat boxes from popping up in our game. I really don't see how hard this could be? Go into options and turn off Equipment Notifications. Pretty simple if you ask me? I am talking about the "!" every time you get a new crafting material or new equipment. Someone says you can turn off notifications? How? Because I would love to know?

VaranisArano

SocialAssassin wrote: »

Neoealth wrote: »

When you say "indicators" what exactly are you talking about? If you mean notifications, then they actually can be turned off.

Edit: Okay just noticed you mean new items being briefly displayed. Not sure why that should trigger your OCD, I have OCD with some things as well and it normally happens with stuff I need to sort out or correct. Since crafting mats just automatically get sorted anyway, it's generally nothing to worry about. I used to have OCD with the notifications you get from people when they complete vma or a trial etc. I had to stop what I was doing to close it because I hated having the thing showing numbers above the chat window. But yeah turning that off fixed that issue.

Sorry, I meant the "!" you get next to a new item or crafting material. Okay, how do you turn off notifications then? OCD is different for each individual. It just triggers mine. I really can't explain it? It just does.

Loot History is the setting that changes whether or not the game flashes those little messages when you pick up a Columbine and it goes in your inventory or craft bag.

Under Social, there should be a setting to turn off the leaderboard notifications, which will turn off the "so and so got this score in such and such trial" type notifications.

I'm not sure if there's a setting that can stop the game from recognizing that you picked something new up for the first time, but you can check around in the Options and Setting.

AlienSlof

The gear name thing is a nightmare, OCD or not - some sets have 2 names FFS! Or they are named in an odd way that makes them appear in the wrong place in the alphabetical list. The devs really need to go through the sets and rename them.

Advancing Yokeda/Berserking Warrior I'm looking at you. One set, one name, one naming formula.

Davadin

i use BanditUI to suppress notifications....

SocialAssassin wrote: »

snoozy wrote: »

TheShadowScout wrote: »

On a more serious note... its -far- more annoying that the various sets are so vexingly named to scatter their bits all over the list! I mean, some are okay... the ones with the "-set name-'s -piece name-" style of designation... but why oh, why do there have to be others that go with "-piece name- of -set name-" style of name so the pieces are not all together but all over the list? Things need to be in their proper order!

get the addon GearSetsSort by megawriter

Sounds good but most of us are on console.

ah crap.

Neoealth

Inaya wrote: »

Neoealth wrote: »

When you say "indicators" what exactly are you talking about? If you mean notifications, then they actually can be turned off.

Edit: Okay just noticed you mean new items being briefly displayed. Not sure why that should trigger your OCD, I have OCD with some things as well and it normally happens with stuff I need to sort out or correct. Since crafting mats just automatically get sorted anyway, it's generally nothing to worry about. I used to have OCD with the notifications you get from people when they complete vma or a trial etc. I had to stop what I was doing to close it because I hated having the thing showing numbers above the chat window. But yeah turning that off fixed that issue.

Numbers showing above the chat window make me want to scream. I have to constantly stop what I'm doing to clear them. How do you turn that off?

Settings > Social > Notifications > Leaderboard notifications

FierceSam

I’d be really interested to know how game developers like ZOS work to cater for people with OCD and other conditions that have a bearing on game and interface design. Especially on consoles where I can imagine there are console manufacturer’s guidelines that have to be obeyed.

I think on a general level it would be great if there were more options to manage the display of inventory and other items in game.

Thanks for raising this issue.

idk

SocialAssassin wrote: »

idk wrote: »

While I wish you the best with this I expect it is a long shot. Mostly because an MMORPG is a OCD nightmare to someone who truly struggles with it and most of the stimulus is something devs cannot do anything about.

Further, OP specifically mentioned when we get new items or crafting material which brings to mind getting mail. I had thought it was a simple process in ESO to check our mail and we normally do not receive a lot of mail unless we take specific actions to which we are expecting it.

My point with the second paragraph is OP probably needs to explain themselves better.

Really?! Why can't they?

I did not bother reading beyond what I quoted as you are clearly trying to start an argument for the sake of having one. I never said they cannot. I merely said it is probably a long shot and wished you the best in this endeavor.

SocialAssassin

VaranisArano wrote: »

SocialAssassin wrote: »

Neoealth wrote: »

When you say "indicators" what exactly are you talking about? If you mean notifications, then they actually can be turned off.

Edit: Okay just noticed you mean new items being briefly displayed. Not sure why that should trigger your OCD, I have OCD with some things as well and it normally happens with stuff I need to sort out or correct. Since crafting mats just automatically get sorted anyway, it's generally nothing to worry about. I used to have OCD with the notifications you get from people when they complete vma or a trial etc. I had to stop what I was doing to close it because I hated having the thing showing numbers above the chat window. But yeah turning that off fixed that issue.

Sorry, I meant the "!" you get next to a new item or crafting material. Okay, how do you turn off notifications then? OCD is different for each individual. It just triggers mine. I really can't explain it? It just does.

Loot History is the setting that changes whether or not the game flashes those little messages when you pick up a Columbine and it goes in your inventory or craft bag.

Under Social, there should be a setting to turn off the leaderboard notifications, which will turn off the "so and so got this score in such and such trial" type notifications.

I'm not sure if there's a setting that can stop the game from recognizing that you picked something new up for the first time, but you can check around in the Options and Setting.

Okay, thank you very much that was very helpful Unfortunately, it didn't work but thanks none the less.

SocialAssassin

FierceSam wrote: »

I’d be really interested to know how game developers like ZOS work to cater for people with OCD and other conditions that have a bearing on game and interface design. Especially on consoles where I can imagine there are console manufacturer’s guidelines that have to be obeyed.

I think on a general level it would be great if there were more options to manage the display of inventory and other items in game.

Thanks for raising this issue.

You're welcome and that's why I did it. Hopefully, Zenimax will read this and pay attention.

PrayingSeraph

I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 17. It started right after Christmas break in highschool. In less than a month, I went from a "normal functioning" person to someone who could not function hardly at all. I had no idea it was OCD then, I had to wait a couple months just to freaking see someone in Canada's "glorious" healthcare system, despite the times I was taken to the hospital due to fears of suicide. Fortunately once I saw professionals, I was quickly diagnosed with OCD. I've spent the last 7 years reconstructing my life just to be where I was before. While in hindsight there were subtle hints before my OCD came on full force, back then I would never have imagined such a condition would happen to me and that my life would unravel because of it. It's rather sobering, truly realizing just how unpredictable life can be...

Anyyyways, just wanted to say I have full sympathy and understanding of OCD. As someone who can relate, not just in concept but in experience too.

SocialAssassin

PrayingSeraph wrote: »

I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 17. It started right after Christmas break in highschool. In less than a month, I went from a "normal functioning" person to someone who could not function hardly at all. I had no idea it was OCD then, I had to wait a couple months just to freaking see someone in Canada's "glorious" healthcare system, despite the times I was taken to the hospital due to fears of suicide. Fortunately once I saw professionals, I was quickly diagnosed with OCD. I've spent the last 7 years reconstructing my life just to be where I was before. While in hindsight there were subtle hints before my OCD came on full force, back then I would never have imagined such a condition would happen to me and that my life would unravel because of it. It's rather sobering, truly realizing just how unpredictable life can be...

Anyyyways, just wanted to say I have full sympathy and understanding of OCD. As someone who can relate, not just in concept but in experience too.

Thanks, I really appreciate hearing that

Radiance

I also have OCD so, I feel you but, that is a purely psychological disorder. Please don't compare that to blindness or the hearing impaired.

I study psychology and my understanding is that OCD is a Physical manifestation of your subconscious trying to assert control when you feel helpless.

My advice is not to indulge your compulsions when you feel them but to dig deeper and find the underlying issue that pushes you to Obsess over small things as a distraction from your real problems you may intentionally be avoiding.

That being said, I think that small setting would be a great addition, not bc of my OCD but just bc those notifs are a bit excessive and do get rather annoying indeed!

daemonios

I have no experience with OCD, so feel free to correct me, but I feel there's something wrong about this thread.

OP talks about OCD as if it's something that can be specifically targeted by developers. Kind of like colour blindness, where there are tools to check how people with different types of colour blindness would experience the game, so you can address it during development, or filters that actively change a scene in real time to improve readability by people with colour blindness.

I would be very surprised if OCD worked that way and if it were as simple as adopting a few development guidelines. What triggers OP's OCD may not trigger someone else's, and they may be triggered by a completely different aspect. Am I seeing this wrong?

barney2525

FierceSam wrote: »

I’d be really interested to know how game developers like ZOS work to cater for people with OCD and other conditions that have a bearing on game and interface design. Especially on consoles where I can imagine there are console manufacturer’s guidelines that have to be obeyed.

I think on a general level it would be great if there were more options to manage the display of inventory and other items in game.

Thanks for raising this issue.

They are not going to cater to anyone. There are players who Like all the detail. The more, the merrier. So they just design it to what 'they' (the devs) think will work best - which is of course purely their own opinions.

Having more options to customize your display for your own tastes is always a good thing tho.

IMHO

WiseSky

I been Collecting Cyrodill Maps diligently.
Every map I get I put it in the Storage box for future treasure hunting.
My dream was to find all 18 maps.

So I asked the Money-Paw to bless me with RNG to find them all.

Granted: But the Map IX is not where its supposed to be and your OCD will SPIKE every time you open this storage box.