Tips for Gamers: Taking your Game to the Next Level

So, you’ve decided to focus on becoming a better gamer? Good for you! Now that gaming has truly entered mainstream culture, it’s become a rewarding pastime for many and can even lead to lucrative career opportunities.  

Whether you’re looking to go pro and compete in major eSports tournaments or just want to play better than your friends, there are several things you can do to take how you play to the next level.  

Keep reading to discover the most useful tips to ensure your growth and development as a gamer.  

The right gaming gear makes all the difference 

Sure, it’s a poor workman who does blame his tools, but when it comes to gaming, using inferior gear can affect how you play. While not everyone has the budget or resources needed to be able to invest in the latest gaming hardware and peripherals, if you know what to focus on, you can make some changes that will improve your gaming experience and performance.  

The focus here is on latency, or, specifically, reducing latency. Latency is that annoying glitch in the system that happens when you initiate an action in a game, but there’s a slight delay before you see or hear them taking place. In high latency situations, you simply don’t have the chance to act fast enough, leaving you open to defeat.  

One of the best ways to minimise latency is to improve the quality of your internet connection. Wireless connections have their uses, but when it comes to a hardcore gaming session, you’re better off using a wired connection.  

Continuing the wired theme, ditch the Bluetooth mouse and keyboard combo for a good old-fashioned pair of wired devices. And, as appealing as massive TV monitors are for gaming, a simple monitor that’s been optimised for gaming will be much more effective at reducing lag.  

Look after body and mind 

Forget the stereotypes of the chairbound loner gamer. If you really want to excel in your craft,, you must take good care of your body and mind. Look at the world’s best pro gamers, and you’ll see that they follow a rigorous daily schedule that is optimised just like any athlete’s. 

While you may not have the time or resources at your disposal to build your life around gaming, there are a few easy things you can implement. Notice yourself reaching for crisps and sweets while you play? Nourish yourself with nutritious meals throughout the day and swap the sugar rush for nuts and seeds. Get up from your chair and move around as often as possible; just five minutes of gentle movement interspersed throughout a long gaming session can have noticeable results. 

Getting Better at Poker 

Online poker is one of the most popular segments in the digital gaming industry. In fact, it’s never been easier to play the game, thanks to the wealth of platforms and mobile gaming apps that have flooded the market in recent years.  

If you’re a regular player but aren’t seeing much progress, you might be focusing on the wrong things.  

One of the most effective things you can do to improve how you play the game, whether in online tournaments or simply playing against your friends, is to have a genuine understanding of the game. We’re not just talking about knowing the rules of poker here; it’s just as important to have a grasp of poker terminology – after all, if you can’t tell the big blind from the button, you’re not going to get very far.  

Getting Better at eSports 

Both as a professional career path and a viable gaming genre in its own right, eSports is blowing up right now. Across the world, tournaments and competitions are being held that give amateurs and pros alike the opportunity to compete while playing their favourite games.  

As an aspiring eSports player, you’re probably spending a fair chunk of time practising your gaming skills, but there’s another helpful tip that could take you to the next level. One of the most effective ways to become a truly great gamer is to surround yourself with the best of the best and study what they do. Sure, you may not be able to play directly with the likes of Ninja or AuronPlay, but these pro gamers have such high profiles that you can easily make yourself a student of what they do by tuning into their Twitch streams.  

The same applies to practical gaming too. Don’t be afraid to seek out players who are at a more advanced level than you to practice with during online sessions. This will help you enhance your skills, and you should find that the way you play games is improving. It might not be dramatic, but slow and steady wins the race!