First Person Shooter Basics: Prepare for battle

Gaming, nowadays, is more than just a recreation. It is a competition, and to some, a devotion; especially when it comes to the world of multiplayer first person shooters. I have often seen angry players flaming each other over a game of Battlefield 3, blaming each other for the loss. Given this, it is vital that you have the proper skills and FPS necessities so that you won’t be getting angry team mates blaming your incompetence for the loss.
Practice, Practice, Practice
There are many different first person shooter games. Each has their own rules, feel, controls, mechanics, and guns. Thus, besides shooting the enemy and taking cover, there are really no general tips that can be applied towards FPS games. So the answer is practice, practice, practice. Before going to a competitive mode, try taking on multiple bots or practice with your friends. This way, you can really get a feel on how the game is played and how every gun should be used.
Know Your Way Around
In Sun Tzu’s Art of War, knowing the terrain is a significant advantage. If the map is inside a building full of cramped spaces, you would not want to be caught with a sniper rifle. And if the map is one big open space, a shotgun would be a bad idea. The game gives you the option to explore maps. Abuse this and search for ideal sniping and ambush areas and surprise the enemy with how well you know your way around. This is also important if you plan on formulating team strategies.
Gear Up
Gearing up is essential for a great game. Be sure to have a mouse and a keyboard that you are comfortable with. Personally, I prefer a wired optic mouse as it is still the most responsive mouse around compared to the ball mouse and the Bluetooth mouse. With the keyboard, select something that your hands are comfortable with. If you are serious about FPS gaming, it is a good idea to stick to a single keyboard model throughout your career. A headset with a great sound quality is also essential as communication is important for strategy.
A second can mean life or death
This said, it is essential that your PC should be lag free. Always use the recommended settings and use high speed internet. If you are in a 4G LTE coverage area, it may be a good idea to take advantage of its speed and use a 4G LTE phone as a modem (if you have one, wired mode is preferable). If you find this too expensive, you may opt to use a Verizon Wireless promo code to subsidize the costs.


