Table of Contents
Gaming 101
So, you’re interested in gaming! Well, get ready to join a world where anything is possible: where dragons and magic spells are real, where you can drive on the roof and walls of a tunnel, where demons, princes, and princesses await you, and where you can face hordes of brain-hungry zombies any time you like. The world of gaming, console, phone, and PC, is wide and deep and there is a lot to consider before you dive in. While you’ll learn a lot of what you need to know as you play (like discovering your preferences in terms of game type), there are a few key things that you should think about before you get started. There are gaming era smartphones that could set you back a ton of money, game platform subscriptions, and some games that are much too complicated for new players. It’s a good idea to think about some of the basics before jumping in, so let’s take a look at them!
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Establish A Budget
There are lots of games to choose from, lots of shiny and exciting bells and whistles on offer, so if you don’t have a budget going in you could find yourself in a heap of trouble. Do some research on the basics that you’ll need. PC gaming requires the most add-ons, so this is likely to be a little more costly, but most people already have access to a computer, keyboard, and mouse already! Remember, you can start out with the basics at the best price you can find and add on to your setup as you get better, learn more and decide on any “specialty” additions that you might need, such as a joystick. You’ll need to keep the number of games you purchase within your budget as well, so keep an eye out for any special offers. Don’t live above your means: it can be frustrating to have a small budget, but you’ll feel much better knowing that what you’ve purchased is within the guidelines you set for yourself.
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Figure Out Which Games You Like
It’s usually pretty easy to tell what you might like at the outset of your gaming journey because the idea of the game will appeal to you straight away. Of course, there will be some trial and error here: games you purchase but don’t enjoy as much as you thought you would or games that you purchase on a whim and end up loving.A good way to get some ideas is to check out axie tier list and other lists made up by professional or experienced gamers, featuring all the different kinds of games out there and some titles that might be good to check out. It might be worth finding a few Twitch streamers to follow (these are usually professional or at least excellent gamers) and watching some game play-throughs before committing to a purchase.
Choose Your Platform
Here, again; you might need a little trial and error to see what works for you. If you have friends who are already into gaming, perhaps they might consent to let you try out their console, phone, or PC gaming setup so that you can see what you’re comfortable with and what feels like it will be the most fun. Watching gamers on Twitch or YouTube can help you here as well: you can usually get a good idea of how well a particular game plays on each different platform and get a feel of how it would be to play on console, phone, or PC as well. Mobile gaming will be the most cost-effective option, and the industry has advanced in leaps and bounds: many mobile games are currently at a visual quality almost in line with PC games! Console gaming means purchasing a console that ONLY offers you the ability to play games, in some cases perhaps messaging and a few other odds and ends as well. PC gaming will provide you with the most options in terms of the games you can play and the different levels of quality that you might want to access.
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Extra Considerations
Your internet connection is a crucial factor in how you’ll be able to enjoy gaming as a hobby. If it is low quality, you’ll have a lot of dropped connection and lag issues which will become very frustrating very quickly. You’ll need to work a good quality internet connection into your budget if you don’t have one already. There are extras that you will need pretty quickly; a headset is the main one. If you play team games, you’ll need a good quality one to stay in contact with your teammates. The best way to select any accessories is to read the reviews left by customers who have purchased them before. Getting involved in gaming social media like Twitch, YouTube, and even Instagram is a good idea. You’ll have a community around you who you can turn to for inspiration and for help if you need it.
Wrap Up
These points should help you get started, but the most important thing to remember is to have fun! That’s what playing video games as a hobby is all about.
