With the millions of options that gamers have at their disposal today, it’s possible to play practically any way you like. Even if all you want is a short five-minute session whilst you’re waiting for your kettle to boil, there are hyper casual mobile titles that you can start and finish in this time.
Gaming on the go is also a popular choice. Head onto any bus or train and you’ll find plenty of people enjoying games on their smartphones or tablets.
But whilst there are many different ways to play, many of us still enjoy sitting down at home for a fully immersive gaming session that runs longer than just a few minutes. Just a few decades ago, this was the only way you could have played and, today, it still remains a popular choice.
If you’re planning to play like this soon, here are some things you can do to prepare and get the most enjoyable experience.
Choose the Right Platform
If you’re going to settle in for a long gaming session, then it’s important to choose the right platform to do it on. Of course, you can, in theory, use any device but some are better suited for this task than others.
The reasons so many gamers love the bigger format of a computer of console are numerous. In particular, playing this way provides the best graphics, the largest screens, and a more immersive experience.
Controlling fast-paced games via a gamepad or keyboard and mouse is also much easier than a touchscreen, making this more suited to first-person shooters and racing games. These input devices are also less likely to cause repetitive strain injury during a long gaming session.
Also consider how long you plan to play. Battery-powered devices like smartphones, handheld consoles, and laptops may need to be charged to make it to the end of your session. This can be awkward, especially on smartphones where the cable might impede your hands.
Make Sure to Schedule Breaks
No matter what you’re playing, there’s always time for breaks. These can be built in naturally, for example in between games in first person shooters like Call of Duty, or at agreed intervals if you’re playing something like Minecraft.
You should make the most of this time and plan ahead for how you will do this. Seasoned poker players will plan what they intend to do during these times and prepare to make the most of breaks by getting up, stretching, doing some other light exercise, eating, and drinking.
By doing this, you can stay hydrated, maintain your energy levels, and get the blood flowing around your body, helping you to stay sharp.
This is an approach that many esports athletes also take. For example, the British Esports Federation recommends that players take a five-minute break after every hour of playing.
Make Sure You’ll Be Comfortable
It’s not just the platform you’ll be playing on. You will also want to consider where you’ll be sitting. Will your chair be comfortable? Is the screen at a comfortable angle or will you have to strain your neck to look at it? Can you comfortably hold the controller or use the mouse and keyboard? Will there be any glare on the screen that will distract you?
In addition to these important questions, consider whether you’ll be disturbed regularly by other people, whether the temperature will be right for you, and if you can get the right sound level.
Check Your Internet Connection
Lag is a gamer’s worst nightmare. A high ping hitting in the middle of a game and causing you to lose is infuriating, so it’s a good idea to try and avoid it if you can.
Whilst you can’t stop every cause of lag, you can prepare ahead of time to ensure you minimise the chances. Pause any software updates and file syncing during the session. Similarly, check there are no virus scans scheduled on your computer during the session.
Try to avoid streaming video at the same time and make sure other people in your house aren’t hogging all the bandwidth.
If you can’t pause all the potential drains on your internet speed, you may be able to add throttling or priority to your router so that your computer or console gets a fast lane to the internet whilst other devices are left with whatever bandwidth you don’t need.
