How to survive your first foray into on-line console gaming
by JayCatLook, on-line FPS is not easy to break in to. I am relatively new to FPS games; I like what I see so far, I always have fun, but it ain’t easy.
As we know, more and more women are getting into gaming, but they have yet to significantly crack the on-line FPS market. Here is what I’ve learned, and if you are trying to get someone into FPS games, make sure they read this first.
#1. Be Prepared to Die...
...and die, and die, and then get shot in the head, and then kill yourself with a grenade, then kill your team with a grenade... Then accidentally kill a bad guy, and get so excited... that you lose track of what is going on and get shot from behind...
In FPS games if you are just joining, you are behind the curve. It doesn’t matter that new games have different gameplay, they generally play the same. Yes, yes, yes, I know that Rainbow Six is a totally different type of play than Halo, but the bare bones are quite similar. Let’s just say that when an RPG junkie picks up her first Needler (cough, raises hand), they will have a tougher time getting a kill than a Tom Clancy junkie in the same situation.
Don’t be surprised or discouraged when you are at the bottom of every ranking. Everyone who plays the game was new once too. Everyone has to learn. Every single person who is the master of their own little clan was once a total noob who couldn’t tell an assault rifle from a sniper rifle. Anyone who tells you different is an immature moron, whose mommy and daddy probably shouldn’t let them play with the big kids; or a jackass with a bully problem who gets their rocks off beating up on those whom are weaker. But more on dealing with these scum later.
The point is to bring a willingness to learn, and a great attitude. Learn to enjoy your deaths! Analyze the death scene animations. I must give kudos to Bungie, when my Spartan goes flying off a ledge, the arms and legs waving, it’s quite enjoyable to watch. I mean, try to get better, but don’t get bent out of shape when you suck. Cause you will.
#2. Be Prepared to Hear the worst of human kind
It’s astonishing how rude people are on line. I mean if you are reading this, you are familiar with the thing called the webbernets. And if you are on the webbernets, you have seen forums. And if you have seen forums, you have seen the following type of post:
U (play/do/ whatever/ something that the poster doesn’t like) U R the suk! U gots tehGay!!1!11!!!
Okay, now imagine this type of immaturity combined with racial hatred, sexism, raging hormones and too much Mountain Dew. Mix and Viola: Timmies and assorted jackasses. Honestly, as a women gamer I have heard it all. But as a side note, I thoroughly enjoy when a young boy asks “You’re a GIRL?!”. I am honored to be the first female that the lad has talked to after 9PM. It’s cute.
Anyway: back to the woman bashing thing. I don’t think it’s because I am a woman, I think it’s because I’m different. I have a higher voice, a feminine sounding gamertag. I am not that good. And because of all that, I am different. I stand out. And because I stand out, I am a target. I just let it go. Now the stuff that I am truly shocked, disgusted with is the racial slurs. Unbelievable. This is 2008, people. Grow the eff up!
So the point is this: expect it. Forewarned is fore armed. Think of things to say when people break out the “N” word, or homosexual slurs. Or think of things to do. Mute/Report/Pwn is a good solution. My fave comeback was from JeepChick. It was during Call of Duty, some ass hat used the “N” word. Her comeback was the following (you have to imagine one kick ass lady gamer using a very good “military radio voice”) “PSSHT! That’s a negatory (insert gamertag here), We run an all inclusive company here, over.” Got laughs from everyone. I mean, c’mon. That is funny stuff.
Just have a plan, don’t get intimidated. In my first foray into Call of Duty, I leveled up and said something about it. Some jerk in the lobby said “It’s easy to do when you are level 3". No duh! Really?! Trust me, I know my numbers, 1, 2, 3... I know how they work, my friend. Why cut someone down. It surprised me that something so offhand could generate such scorn form experienced players. But then I realized something powerful. I am just much cooler than that guy. Yeah, so I am not so great at Call of Duty, but ya know what? I just a much more gracious person. People like to play with me. I get numerous invites when I go on line... which brings me to my next point....
#3. Don’t go Alone
I never ever have gone into multiplayer FPS games alone. I am in a clan, a group of like minded individuals who play on line games together. The benefits of a well run clan that is a good fit is legion. You can learn from each other, you laugh together, you are more organized so you can run tactics, you also are in a better position for competitive play. By competitive play I mean everything from MLG, to simple scrimmages for bragging rights and laughs.
With a clan, you also are guarded against jackasses. I mean you might play against them, and have to deal with them in the lobby, but if you have a full team, the guys on your side really got your back.
Join a site, get a clan. If one game you really enjoy, go to their official site, there may be people looking for clan members on their site. Just make sure it’s a good fit. Clans are fun, but they are also known to be pits of drama that make high school look sophisticated (clan drama=clanma, it’s a word I made up and I resolve to use it more often).
#4. Try other games
Without Call of Duty I would never be writing this. I originally was in a Halo clan. Great guys, but the game just wasn’t for me. Call of Duty? Love at first sight. I can’t move in Resident Evil, Half Life I did nothing but walk in circles and meet the end of a crowbar, so far I am doing not so bad at Rainbow Six Vegas 2.
Don’t like the game you are playing? Not getting a good vibe? And I mean, not cause you are dying all the time, but it just doesn’t float your boat? Wait 5 minutes. Something new is always waiting on the horizon.
If you are really new to console gaming, try other non FPS games. I cut my teeth on RPGs, and racing games. Got used to the controls there. Oblivion was one of the first Xbox360 games I ever played and the controls are quite similar to FPS games, but the pace is much slower.
#5. You know... you may actually have fun, and pwn.
I love this genre. Never thought it would be for me. The reason why I tried was I was part of a larger gaming community, most of whom were playing online. I was jealous. I thought I would take a stab at it, just for grins.
Today? I look forward to turning on the ol’ Xbox 360 and playing with my clan. I am so happy when I have a positive kill/death ratio. Doesn’t happen too often, but I always have fun. I am learning lots, I am part of a fantastic community.
You may do better than you think. As Jeepchick said of us lady gamers “FPS games require good communication skills and finger dexterity. I suppose all those years of knitting and gossiping have done us well, and you can quote me on that.”
So give it a try... it’s actually fun.
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Posted on April the 2nd 2008 at 10:00:00 AM by Jay Acevedo (AnodaJay)
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