There are just so many times you can brush off being called a “noob” by your team.
It’s okay. Naturally, most people are not as good at certain things as other people. And it has nothing to do with a lack of practice. Take competitive sports, like soccer, for example. You don’t get good at it with practice alone. It takes strategy and skill to make a successful tackle against players who are more experienced than you.
The same applies to video games. It’s easier to get the hang of action-adventure, single player games, like Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, than multiplayer RPGs, like World of Warcraft, where you have endless setting options, and leveling up requires strategy and critical thinking.
The best way to be better at anything is to start with the basics. If you want to learn how to be good at video games in 2018, here’s what you can do:
Be Proactive and Get Things Done
You don’t get a promotion by sitting on your haunches every day. You determine what you need to do and take prompt action to make it happen. Similarly, no gamer has ever succeeded by standing still, waiting for adventure to knock on the door.
To put it simply, if you want to improve as a gamer, you have to spend time sharpening your skills. If you keep finding yourself idling behind your team or relying on them to get you through battles, you aren’t doing enough. Plus, you are probably dragging other players down (in case of multiplayer games).
If you want to know how to become a great gamer, you have to be willing to put in the required work.
To illustrate, let’s say that the healers in your team keep running out of MP (Mana Points) because they constantly have to keep reviving your character during every boss battle. You can cut them some slack by leveling up through side quests or saving enough “coins” or money in-game to buy stronger weapons and armor.
Check Out Forums to Learn From the Best
Do you know the players with the best weapons and unmatched skills? The ones who are always on top in tactical shooter games?
Make them your online buddies, and ask them to teach you the ropes. If you can’t find a mentor, look for one online. There are several gaming forums, like GameSpot and Kotaku, where experienced gamers often hang out. Some members may be pros at the games that you are currently playing and aren’t afraid of sharing their strategies. If you want to learn how to become a better gamer, seek these people out.
Challenge Yourself to Get Better
At the end of the day, you can’t improve if you keep playing at the same level. Playing with AI bots in easy mode or as a beginner is good for a warm up, but there should be a limit to that. For starters, don’t be intimated by players who are better than you. To improve, make a habit of playing against them. After every defeat, learn what you can do better to gain the upper hand.
For example, let’s say that you, playing as a sniper, keep getting picked off by soldiers of the opposing team in CoD (Call of Duty). It might be because you keep shooting from one location, which makes it easier for enemy soldiers to find you. To improve your strategy, keep changing your location after every shot.
If you want to learn how to be good at video games beginning this year, start by improving your basic strategies and skills before you can work your way up. And remember, even the pros weren’t always as good as they are now.
