Gaming is one of the most popular social pastimes, attracting gamers of all ages looking for escapism, social interactions, and sometimes relaxation. Pro-Gaming is big business, and thousands of players are trying to transition away from casual gaming and break into elite leagues. The very best gamers can earn some serious cash in worldwide gaming tournaments. The biggest prize pool in 2021 was over $40 million, with the winning team taking home an $18.2 million 1st prize.
Are you interested in becoming a professional gamer? Do you want to up your game? Here are some of the most effective tips to get the most out of your gaming sessions and boost your gaming skills to the next level.
Optimise Your Gaming Space
Your gaming setup is one of the most critical ways to improve your gaming performance. Not only do you need suitable computing hardware capable of running the latest gaming titles, but you need a fast monitor with a decent refresh rate capable of providing low latency gaming. A 1440p resolution with a 144htz refresh rate offers a good balance between performance and a highly responsive gaming experience.
Make the screen brighter to highlight darker areas, letting you see what's around the next corner. Invest in a good quality keyboard, mouse, and controller setups. Ergonomic mechanical keyboards have fast response times and are highly durable because they allow the gamer to customise their controls to perfection.
Next, consider your desk environment. Do you want to stand or sit? If standing, you will need a suitable standing desk and an anti-fatigue foot mat. You may also want a good-quality gaming chair because it's not always possible to stand for extensive gaming sessions and perhaps an ergonomic footrest to keep your posture in line.
Natural light is essential for regulating the body's cognitive functions and helps gamers sleep better. Reflections on the monitor(s) should be avoided if possible. Good-quality blinds or curtains will help regulate the room's heat and brightness. Don't forget to have a window open to allow fresh air in to provide a subliminal boost.
Look After Your Well-Being
It's important to look after yourself when gaming. The temptation is to remain sedentary and to feed on sugar and caffeine. While this approach will provide a short-term fix, in reality, it will be detrimental to your performance. Dehydration reduces levels of concentration and can impact the player's motor skills, even causing a dip in mood.
Break up your gaming sessions throughout the day. Spending an entire Saturday gaming with friends may be tempting, but taking hours off to walk in the sun, interact with family members or play a sport will improve your well-being and eventually allow you to recharge. This will always have a positive effect on your gaming performance, especially if you eat sensibly before you start.
Exercise Before a Gaming Session
Gamers typically invest significant amounts of time in their hobby, resulting in extended periods of sedentary behaviour. Prolonged periods of inactivity are known to be detrimental to your health and put players at risk of chronic disease. The World Health Organization recommends 300 minutes of intense cardio per week to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise is key to gaming performance, and researchers have discovered that just 15 minutes of cardiovascular exercise can improve gaming performance by up to 17%. Specific sports like Tennis, Squash, and Badminton can enhance hand-eye coordination. At the same time, individual hand exercises such as squeezing a tennis ball or finger and wrist stretches and even juggling can improve reflexes, dexterity, and judgement.
Train Your Game
As with most things in life, practice makes perfect, and becoming an elite gamer takes time and hours of dedication. Turn down the in-game music; believe it or not, it's a distraction because part of your brain focuses on the music. Instead, turn up the in-game SFX and invest in a good quality pair of headphones to immerse yourself in the gaming experience.
It's important to analyse your gaming style. Watch replays of how you have been playing and check for ways to improve your technique. Most eSports titles feature enhanced replay features so gamers can pinpoint areas to practice on. Focus on which parts of the game you did well and what factors you struggled with. Use this knowledge to develop strategies to try next time you are in-game.
Don't be afraid to play with random or unknown players when practising. Different playing styles can influence your game by improving your awareness. Don't be scared to play against people who are better than you, either. These players can often demonstrate advanced play techniques that will up your game significantly.
Final Thoughts
Watch videos and live streams of tournaments and elite players, and look for help online by joining forums and interacting with other players. There is a world of information that will help you boost your gaming skills to the next level. Try some of them out and revel in the glory of your new and improved gaming skills.
