How to Get Good Feedback When Playing an Online Game

The world of online gaming is filled with taunting and trash-talking. Even during games of chess and Go, which are supposedly elegant and civilized, you can find players exchanging insults and bragging about their skills. This makes it hard for players who want to improve to get useful feedback about how they've played. If you're one of these players, there are ways to help you squeeze advice out of your opponents.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Request feedback from the other players. Drop a quick one or two lines into the chat client before the game starts and ask them to give you comments as you go.
2. Be courteous and polite to the other players during the game. Avoid trash talking, and gloating over any good plays you make. Instead, stay quiet and allow the other players to respond to your actions.
3. Speak in a relaxed and easy-going tone to your teammates. This is especially important when you're playing games with live audio chatting.
4. Be sure to tell the other players "good game" or something of that nature when you're finished. Many online gamers simply type "GG" for short, but you'll seem more genuine if you write out the words themselves.
5. Help other players out of sticky situations when they arise. Even if they're not on your team, they're still your fellow gamers, so take the time to show them the kind of courtesy you'd have them show you.
6. Accept defeat at the hands of better players. You won't always win, but you can always look at your performance and figure out what you can improve.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't lose your cool if you get negative feedback. Opening yourself to criticism has its benefits and its drawbacks.