How to get good at gaming
Some people are casual gamers. They are happy to aimlessly experiment in sandbox-type games with no real goal in mind or definition of success; they rise above micromanagement and usually lose shoot-em-ups when pitted against their friends, and they probably haven’t spent hundreds on good gaming equipment
Ah, ignorance is bliss. But not for gamers like us. We get our enjoyment out of the finer details, the art, and the nuance. We want to understand a game inside and out. We want to be good at it — really good. Maybe we can even become pros someday… Who knows? What’s for sure is the first step: freely indulging the joy we find in taking games seriously.
1. Play a lot of different games
Once you’ve made the decision to dive in head first, the number one item on your to-do list should be to play lots of different games. Don’t worry too much about becoming an expert at any one of them just yet. Instead, try out a wide variety of titles and genres. Developers often draw inspiration from one another, and you’ll quickly see that while each game is unique, there are common threads that tie them together with the rest of the industry.
It may be similar art styles, similar controls or similar concepts in general, but getting to understand how games are structured will give you the background you need to achieve greatness. Think of it like studying music theory. It’ll make your gaming experience that much more fun.
2. Now pick one — and practice, practice, practice
Once you feel like you’ve learned a few things in general about gaming, pick one of the genres or preferably just one of the games you’ve tried out. Now it’s time to get good. Dedicate your free time to playing and dedicate your un-free time to thinking about this one game. Plan ahead, enjoy analyzing your last game, be your own critic, watch lots of YouTube lets plays and join gaming communities where other players are no doubt discussing the same questions and issues that are in your head.
Getting really good at anything means giving it your entire attention and focus for as often as you can. Now, there’s no reason to be too hard on yourself if you aren’t going to be a pro — go hard for as long as you still enjoy it (and don’t neglect the real world entirely). If you are considering making gaming a career, however, your entire day should be spent on your one game. A 10-hr day in front of the screen should be considered a relaxed day off.
3. Equipment
There comes a time when a serious gamer needs serious equipment. Now, don’t rush into anything. You can drastically improve your skills in most games without anything too fancy. In fact, it builds character and makes you a better player to play the more grueling way. So use whatever equipment you’ve got for a while.
At some point, you’ll get frustrated. Then it’s time to improve your game by getting yourself the right gear. An absolute must is a system that’s robust enough to run your game without glitches, errors or any stalling. If you’re playing online against others, upgrade your internet connection. The sound is probably the least of your concerns, so don’t worry about a sound card or anything like that. If you’re properly splurging, go for a great screen and advanced video card instead.
The rest is up to you! What game do you plan on mastering?
