The video gaming industry has matured hugely over the last decade. Gamers can now enjoy a wide range of experiences, from highly personal indie games to big blockbusting open-world adventure games. Despite some popular stereotypes, video games have become largely sociable and inclusive, with large supportive communities and exciting gaming events.
If you’re new to video gaming, some obvious questions that come to mind when starting out. Where should I start? What games should I play? Where do I get the best video games? What accessories do I need for a complete gaming experience? Here’s you entry-level beginners guide to video gaming.
Video Gaming Options
If you already have a budget or high-end smartphone or tablet, then you already have a gaming machine. The latest Android, Apple and Windows handsets feature large displays, powerful processors, and vast app stores with a great selection of games. For those looking for a more advanced gaming experience with the best visuals, a gaming PC is recommended.
However, you don’t have to spend a fortune on a top-of-the-range gaming beast. You can start off with your day-to-day PC or laptop. But to enjoy the latest range of games, you may have to consider building a gaming PC or buying one that’s built for gaming, according to The Guardian. You can also get yourself gaming consoles like PS4 or Xbox which are perhaps the best alternative to PC gaming. They’re cheaper and have fewer compatibility issues.
Where to Buy Video Games
For those who opt to play video games on smartphones or tablets, all you need to do is visit the online app store supported by your device and search for an interesting video game that you can play. For PC or Mac gaming, the best option is signing for Steam, which is the largest online gaming shop where you can buy the latest blockbuster hits and a wide range of interesting independent games as well as a catalog of old classics. Look out for regular sales too.
For console games, you can search through local supermarkets and gaming stores and online stores like Amazon where you can find the cheapest deals for the newest titles in the market. Xbox, PlayStation and other console brands also have their own online stores where you can purchase new games and access a selection of free titles if you’re a monthly subscriber.
What Else Do You Need?
If you love PC gaming, there are a few things you’ll need, including a decent full HD display flat screen monitor, a gaming mouse and keyboard, quality gaming headphones with noise cancellation, great fit and comfort and probably a joypad for action games, according to Gearscope. If you’ll be playing space or flight games, a specialist joystick would also be a good idea. Smartphone/tablet games don’t need any specialized equipment to play.
For console games, a full-HD flat screen TV is the ideal option, though an older 720 HD-ready set would also work, so long as it has an HDMI port at the back. Make sure to check out the input lag (the time it takes for a TV screen to respond to gaming joypad movements) on your screen, as this could affect your gaming experience. Some TVs come with special gaming modes that you can tweak for motion blur and speed.
What Games are Available to Play
There’s a vast array of video gaming genres you can choose from. From first-person shooter games, third-person shooter/brawler games, role-playing games (RPGs), real-time strategy games, massive multiplayer online games like World of Warcraft, multiplayer online battle arena games like League of Legends, open-world shooter games like Grand Theft Auto, racing games to fighting games. You can start out with some popular games for beginners.
How Do You Play Online?
To play video games online, you’ll need a reliable high-speed internet connection and router. Go for a broadband provider that offers a stable connection and fast download and upload speeds. If you’ll be downloading games, then unlimited data downloads is a must. Once you’re set up, simply plug in your PC or console via ethernet cable or Wifi and enjoy gaming.
