Even if you don't know what you're doing…
One of the most intimidating parts of getting started with online gaming is getting over the fear of screwing up other players. It's one thing to play a game and make mistakes at home, but it's quite another to play a game and make mistakes that can cause others to fail in their game. But there's no reason to let that fear stop you or another gaming newcomer from having fun. This article will give you the pros and cons of online gaming so you can get started with the confidence you need.
The first step any new online gamer should take is to learn how to play offline. You can read the game's manual and save yourself from the infamous "RTFM" acronym scrolling across your screen. Do you know what that acronym means? It's short for "Read The Fu**ing Manual" and serious players spout it to vulnerable newbies who interrupt the game with questions like, "What's this place?" or "What should I do?"
You can search the site for game-related newsgroups, FAQs, and tutorials. And you can learn more from game-specific Usenet newsgroups. In other words, you can do your "homework". Some of the information you want to learn includes how to play, how to create characters, how to collect equipment, and how to implement some smart strategies. Trust us when we say your fellow gamers will appreciate it!
In addition to reading how to play the online game, you can familiarize yourself with the game interface. Just as you searched the Internet for text instructions for a game, you can additionally search the Internet for a game screenshot (or a series of screenshots). A graphical representation of the game (a jpg image) on the screen gives you the ability to remember where all the game controls are. Knowing where things are in the game before you even play makes it faster not only for you, but for everyone else as well. No one wants to wait around looking for an inventory panel or in-game message screen when the location of those items is obvious to everyone else.
Once you start the game, don't let the pressure of staying in the game stop you from doing the unthinkable: dying. Character dying in the game is inevitable at certain points, and if you don't willingly get out of a lose-lose situation, you risk delaying the game for everyone else. It's like a game of chess. If it's checkmate - it's checkmate. Call it a day and start over. Whatever you do, don't hang around and wait for some magical fairy to come rescue you.
You also don't want to take dying personally. Remember that online gaming is still just a game. A character that dies in the game does not represent your character as a person. Turn death into learning. At the very least, you'll learn to navigate the online game by learning all the things you shouldn't do!
Above all, make sure your computer has everything it needs to keep up with the current pace of online play. Do not try to play an online game with a slow computer or slow internet connection. In fact, if you're still using dial-up, find another hobby. A slow processor and connection will ensure instant death as other players will not politely wait for their own defeat. They squish you like a bug.
Find a computer that was built for online gaming and get a DSL or ISDN Internet connection. You'll need a fast processor, a high-quality graphics card, and a sound engine to match.
If you follow these simple recommendations, you'll pass the "newbie" test and gain respect as a serious gamer much faster than if you stumble through what others consider to be "the ultimate hobby."
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