Any person of a certain age who spent their younger years playing games will know that the gaming landscape is very different today compared to a few decades ago. One key difference is the debate of playing games online vs offline.
Playing Games Online vs Offline
If you were gaming in the 90s, you’d have spent many an evening crowding around your TV with PlayStation DualShock controller wires stretched across the room so that you could enjoy a split-screen race on Gran Turismo or a battle in Quake II or Duke Nukem 3D.
If you were really adventurous, you might have invested in a PlayStation Multitap so that you and three others could compete in Crash Team Racing or Twisted Metal III on a single screen.
Gaming in the 21st century is very different. Of course, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo did away with wire controllers in the early 2000s, removing the trip hazards they created in your living room. But there’s also no need to share a screen, a room, or even a continent when you play together today.
Thanks to the internet, it’s possible to compete with anyone, at any time, in almost any game. You don’t even need to be using a console or a big gaming computer, online multiplayer options are available in a plethora of smartphone games.
However, playing games online is very different to enjoying the same titles offline. The skills required, the mechanics, and the overall feel of games change a lot once you move into an online lobby. So if you’re thinking of making the jump, here are some key things to consider.
Recognise That It’s a Learning Curve
You might be the world champion when you’re playing single-player games or competing with your buddies, but remember that online gaming is much more competitive.
If you start competing in a Call of Duty multiplayer deathmatch for the first time, you can expect to be surprised by how quickly many other players will be able to aim at you and pull the trigger.
It can be frustrating and deflating to begin with, but perseverance can help improve your skills.
Be Aware of the Behavor of Other Players
Online gaming exposes you to complete strangers. Like in every other setting in life, many people are nice, friendly, and courteous. Unfortunately, some may be less savory and let the competitive nature of most online games get the better of them as they spew unfriendly words and phrases.
Thankfully, there are plenty of tools you can use to mute, block, and report players who behave in ways they usually wouldn’t in the real world.
Additionally, you need to consider that human players have better logic than non-playable characters (NPCs). They will be more able to outsmart you and won’t fall for tricks that computer opponents will.
Similarly, if you’re used to playing games like poker in an offline setting, there are different behaviours and tells that you should look out for online compared to when you’re sitting at a physical table. If you’re skilled and observant enough, it’s possible to notice these behaviours, including whether a player’s speed changes when they have a good/bad hand and if they’re choosing larger than usual blinds. While these tells can appear in offline play too, they’re much more important online because physical behaviours can’t be observed.
Cost
Many casual games, as well as some other titles marketed specifically as free-to-play titles can be enjoyed without handing over any cash, you are likely to be nagged by the software to buy in-game items.
In some of the most popular titles like Fortnite, these items are cosmetic or for access to new levels. However, in some, they allow you to buy tools, weapons, and skills that improve your chances of winning.
Whatever you’re buying, these costs can quickly add up to be much more than the cost of even the priciest newly released AAA games.
On top of that, if you’re playing through an Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo console, you’ll need to play a subscription to get access to online features. They now all offer bundles which include access to game libraries for that fee, which can make it more cost-effective, but it’s still a key consideration to make.
