How can I have a popup window that reminds me to stop playing a fullscreen game?

[ikomrad]

I tend to lose track of time when gaming since I turn the lights off ( cannot see wall clock ) , the game is full screen, and I get totally immersed in the game. It's always "one more objective" or "one more level" that causes me to go paste the time I set for myself.

However if the game was interrupted by a popup message that showed the time , perhaps how long I"ve been playing, along with the a reminder to stop playing, that would work every time.

Since the games I play are from different platforms such as Steam , Origin, EA, a platform specific solution won't work.

If a tool doesn't exist , I guess that I'll have to write one, but I wanted to see what other gamers are using first.

Note that I read this article hoping that time management was covered, but it wasn't.

 

[imrazor]

Do you have a cell phone? Most modern phones have an alarm function that should be loud enough to get your attention. If not, I think Windows 10 also has an alarm function in the Clock app - it may be in Windows 8 as well.

 

[USAFRet]

How about these:
https://www.howtogeek.com/225211/how-to-set-timers-alarms-and-stopwatches-in-windows-10/
https://lifehacker.com/5747056/five-best-windows-timer-applications
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/alarm-clock-hd/9wzdncrfj9xg

 

[gaius_iulius]

In case you don't have a cellphone or the suggested applications don't override a game played in full screen, you can always use the built-in Windows Task Scheduler.
Simply tell it to minimize the game at a pre-determined time and call up the clock or a text file you have prepared, saying "Enough! Go sleep!" 😀

 

[hwlr77]

I have Msi Afterburner display the time up in the corner

 

[ikomrad]

Thanks for the ideas. I've decided to write my own app to do this. I want it to be a really distracting, in your face type of notification that interrupts gameplay. The cell phone is not a bad idea, but it may be in Do not disturb mode or I may be wearing noise-cancelling headphones when I'm playing.

 

[gaius_iulius]

..... I want it to be a really distracting, in your face type of notification that interrupts gameplay.

If your full screen game suddenly minimizes and a personalised message reminding you that you've gamed enough now appears on your screen in its place ... would that qualify as an "in your face" reminder? 😀

This can be achieved in under 5 minutes, using the Task Scheduler.

Building an app is more fun, of course.