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Multiplayer games can get pretty competitive. As the technology behind these games keeps advancing, new games and innovative mechanics continue to revolutionize digital entertainment. If you’re looking for a live game to play, you might need some upgrade points to take your performance to the next level. Below we’ve managed to find 5 helpful ways to improve your multiplayer gaming.
1. Practice makes perfect
The main objective of any training, regardless of the game, is to perfect a given set of skills. Having a firm grasp of the fundamentals of gameplay means you’ll have a greater capacity for adaptive strategies. Repetition and practice will create automated responses in your muscle memory, giving you an advantage over the average player.
Once you’ve mastered the basics and know your way around, you should have some fluidity to your movement. The next step is to try and figure out the ideal pace of gameplay in any given scenario. For example, tactical shooters such as Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege require a slow pace at times, but if you’re playing too slowly then chances are you’ll be losing vital ground to your opponents.
Professional esports players train almost every day. If your hand-eye coordination isn’t as accurate as you’d like, or you want to sharpen some twitch reflexes; there are a number of training programs and practice-type games out there. Aim Lab for example, a highly-rated FPS trainer, is free for anyone to download through Valve’s Steam Store.
2. Get psychological
A good player knows when to strike and when to retreat. Working on your timing and self-preservation tactics will keep you in the fight longer. In the majority of esports, the longer you stay alive, the better your performance will be. Respawning means time wasted being idle. EA’s Battlefield series is a great example of this; if you’re the last member of your squad left alive, your dead teammates can respawn directly on your location. Tactical knowledge like this can be vital to winning games.
If you want to practice without the pressure of a PvP environment, many games offer single-player modes and practice arenas. Most games offer a choice between AI and human opponents, or even a combination of both. The main thing you should try to avoid is complacency. Always playing on ‘easy’ mode will stagnate your skills eventually. Try to play against players that are better than you; keeping yourself challenged will keep you on an upward skill curve.
3. Health is wealth
Practicing for a multiplayer game doesn’t mean you have to stay cooped up all day. Besides numerous health benefits, outdoor exercise offers plenty of ways to improve your gaming skills. Fresh air is usually a good idea, and there’s a plethora of ball and lawn games that help with hand-eye coordination or muscle strength. Grab a tennis ball or hit a gym session to keep yourself in good shape.
Keep your wrists flexible and your neck comfortable. Looking after yourself in the real world will extend to your virtual performance. Trying to stay hydrated and eating well are excellent tips for life in general, and keeping good habits will allow you to perform at your best.
Try to avoid bad habits like poor posture, or playing for extended periods of time with no breaks. If you can help it, stay away from unhealthy food and drink, bad lighting, and cramped spaces. Having good ventilation and a non-restrictive environment works wonders for health and concentration levels.
4. Inform yourself
You don’t need to be a spreadsheet expert to take advantage of game mechanics. Why not follow a few pro-gamers? Or keep an eye out for active tournaments? Search for your preferred game on Twitch or Youtube, and you’re almost guaranteed to find someone worth subscribing to. They could help you figure out the best loadouts in Call of Duty, or the best combo for a Street Fighter character.
You can follow game developers on social media for updates, patch notes, and gameplay changes. You could even join Reddit groups to keep track of the latest trends. Knowing what to use (and when to use it) will give you an advantage long before you jump into a competitive game.
5. Equip yourself
Depending on which game you’re jumping into, you may need to consider investing in premium products. You’ll need a good mic and a smooth framerate for team-based games like Riot Games’ DOTA 2, for example. An uncomfortable mouse can cause rapid hand fatigue, and will eventually affect your overall dexterity. No matter which way you look at it, bad hardware can definitely hamper your performance.
Having the right hardware won’t make you a better gamer, but it will eliminate any issues with game performance or response times. Performance-wise, high frame-rates and low latency (or ping) are ideally what you’re looking for. Keep in mind that some games are more demanding than others in terms of hardware requirements.
Final word
Don’t forget to have fun! Video games are meant to be enjoyed. Rage-quits and playground insults might be considered a norm for many multiplayer games; but the less you let the negativity affect you, the more enjoyment you’ll get out of games. Winning and losing are a natural elements of competition, so try to roll with the punches and use failure to your advantage. If you learn from your mistakes and keep practicing, you’ll be playing at your best in no time.