How to hone FPS skills

Competitive gaming has become more popular in recent years, the most influential of the genre is of course Counter-Strike. Honing your first person shooter skills is necessary for enjoyable game play and for any semi-serious gamer interested in becoming good at what they do.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Having a decent computer, and internet connection is important for online play because lag and stuttering frame rates will cost you the game.

2. As you may have noticed the game mechanics change slightly from game to game, therefore when switching between games you will feel a little "off." Start by choosing one game and sticking to it until you have a kill ratio that is well over your deaths.

3. Movement is important and learning to do it effectively will keep you alive. Using the environment such as walls, crates, cars etc will help protect you during combat and knowing where and when to shoot and move will come to you over time. It is important to be unpredictable when moving across open areas or in close combat so that others can't easily pick you off. Side step, back step, move diagonally, change angles, and remain as close to cover as possible at all times.

4. Knowing the maps and developing reflexes will naturally happen over time and practice. You will learn the camping spots and dangerous areas as well as how to counter them with practice. You may find your self aiming at targets you didn't even consciously register, this is when you know your reflexes have developed.

5. In order to develop your aim you will need to know the weapon you are using. Stand at various distances from a wall and fire a few rounds and examine the decals. Seeing where they land will help you have an idea of the weapon's accuracy and where you should be aiming when you want to hit something. Burst fire is more accurate, aiming for the chest and letting the recoil move up to the head is a good tactic for a shots fired under pressure.

6. 

   Set your mouse sensitivity very low (below say 10) so when you aim for the areas on the head and chest you can navigate to them with precision. Unfortunately this limits your ability to turn so it is important to find a balance. Professional gamers use large cloth mouse pads to accommodate the low sensitivity. In order to make a full 360 degree turn they may use the entire width of the pad.

7. Practice moving while trying to fire in one small area, this will help you develop aim incase you are caught in the open. Choose a target somewhere in the game and try this at various distances, always mixing up your movement patterns and firing at your small target as accurately as possible.

8. Being patient and remaining calm during gameplay is important to keep yourself from making stupid mistakes such as taking it personal and attempting revenge, or going commando on an impossible situation. Over time and practice your skills will develop.

Resources

• How to play Call of Duty

[sonni57]

on 7/7/2009 Good article on improving fps skills you make it sound easy.