Physiological Aspect of Color

Please note: Images may substantially suffer a drop in chroma due to the camera's image reproduction process involved in capturing an image from a lit LCD screen. If a loss occurs, the author of the following posts will state whether or not the original image was high or low in chroma.

Note: The game examined for all of the Physiological Aspect of Color posts will be Resident Evil 5 (XBox 360 version).



Color in video games can be used to affect a people physiologically; in this regard color can elicit a physical response from people, one that is produced by its mere presence, use, and intensity. In the following examination of color, images from games will be brought up and examined in terms of the physiological effects that may have been intended by the game developers to produce a stimulating and interacting game experience for the targeted players.

(The image above has suffered a loss of chroma, the red in the image was originally quite high in chroma)

Red- Red is a vibrant color which can be startling and intense. The color is visible throughout daily life constantly, from stop signs to sports cars, red is an attention getter. Red can be used in video games for this exact purpose; to grab one's attention. Red can physiologically effect a player in terms of quickening their heartbeat and raising blood pressure. The color is meant to put a player on edge and single out their attention. In the image above, the color red is used as a vertical pulsing beacon for a box of ammunition. On the scale of other objects present or actions occurring within the game, although the box may be small and easy to miss amidst game play, the pulsing red is visible from afar, even if the object emitting the beacon is not. Red is what you see far before you know what you are seeing. It stops you, creates a physiological change, and redirects your attention.

Of further note, the area in the image above (indicated by white arrows) reinforces the use of red as an attention grabber as well as a cause for physiological response. The character in the image above has been shot, and as a result the circle of his health/life (indicated by the top arrow) rapidly changes from green to red. Once red, it starts brightly flashing, an indication the character is close to death. If this is the player's main character, the color can elicit a panicked response, rapid heartbeat, and heightened blood pressure as they attempt to avoid another wound. Note that there is no warning flashing across the screen saying "Careful! You are about to die!" The color red alone conveys that message and creates a response.