Never played a game online..how much time to be decent?

[Kamwah]

No but its got one of those awful pc communities that don't seem to get it when you claim to be learning the ropes.

Oh so you mean you haven't read up on the finer points of counter attacking and want to simply learn from PLAYING?!

Why, are you some sort of escaped lunatic?

You're totally wrong.

All games are like that these days online, there's always some kid **** talking whether it be CoD,Sc2,LoL,Bf3 or some other online game.

Starcraft probably has the biggest and most mature community in general when it comes to a game. Of course there's a lot of ass hats but look at ocuk, there's ass hats all around here but in general it's a great community.

Plus if you listen to some kid who talks **** then quit the whole game just cos of it then is not the community or the game. It's you.

As for the game its a great game to be casual or competitive with and anywhere between. Learning while playing is the correct method of learning but there's also a certain level of knowledge about units,strategy and general RTS play that you'd need to know before you actually aim to get out of bronze league.

 

[FrenchTart]

Using mobile internet really is not feasible for online gaming - you need to go back to a wired connection (decent ADSL or cable) for it not to be massively frustrating to both you and your opponent.

In regards to time required to be "good", it depends on the game and your natural ability. Some of the less skilled FPS games (for example, CoD and BF series) won't take long to get to an acceptable standard...same is true for the less skilled RTS/etc games. Other games or modes you could play for a long long time before you get to above average and an insane amount of time to be awesome, unless you are massively naturally talented.

Then again, do you really need to win every game?

 

[RiseAgainst]

The SC2 community on average is one of the most well mannered around.
One of the few games where its customary to wish you opponent good luck etc

Yeah there are a good few ***** out there but they are present in any game.

If you feel that the game is hard to get into then there is no shortage of guides and casts on youtube to get you started ( that's how I got started)
Its also a game with an almost limitless skill threshold , there is always ways to improve and to get better

 

[413x]

Using mobile internet really is not feasible for online gaming - you need to go back to a wired connection (decent ADSL or cable) for it not to be massively frustrating to both you and your opponent.

In regards to time required to be "good", it depends on the game and your natural ability. Some of the less skilled FPS games (for example, CoD and BF series) won't take long to get to an acceptable standard...same is true for the less skilled RTS/etc games. Other games or modes you could play for a long long time before you get to above average and an insane amount of time to be awesome, unless you are massively naturally talented.

Then again, do you really need to win every game?

Oh, no multiplayer for me then lol.

I can see that yeah, fps from what I have seen is a shorter learning curve, quick reactions etc,and rts requiring you to learn a solution? Seems to me to get amazing at a rts takes the fun out, almost like one of those super teken moves where you must press 100 buttons in a row, miss one and it doesn't work. You have to build a base so precisely and perfectly timed that if you delay placing a building your opponent is then enough seconds ahead to win.

I can imagine lower casual rts to be the most fun with every game being different as no one knows the perfect strategy and every player plays in their own way, ie no set victory route

 

[Indy500]

Oh, no multiplayer for me then lol.

Never mind then. What about turn based strategy games instead?

 

[Rroff]

Oh, no multiplayer for me then lol.

I can see that yeah, fps from what I have seen is a shorter learning curve, quick reactions etc,and rts requiring you to learn a solution? Seems to me to get amazing at a rts takes the fun out, almost like one of those super teken moves where you must press 100 buttons in a row, miss one and it doesn't work. You have to build a base so precisely and perfectly timed that if you delay placing a building your opponent is then enough seconds ahead to win.

I can imagine lower casual rts to be the most fun with every game being different as no one knows the perfect strategy and every player plays in their own way, ie no set victory route

FPS games may have a shorter learning curve - you can get to a fairly decent skill level where the average player won't stomp you in 2-3 months... but theres a whole level beyond that - some people having been playing FPS games for 10+ years and have instincts honed beyond anything you can compete with.

Just as an example as a new player you might be running away from someone dive around a corner and then wait for them you might have nicely set them up to run into your damage as they come around the corner and another average player would die nicely to you... but the other player has been playing for years and knows to spam the blind spot with area of effect damage to flush you out and as a fair new player even a good one the thought to position yourself so you couldn't be hit by that blind fire never even occurred to you.

I get called a cheat playing FPS games a lot online (and I'm not terribly good) but having been playing them since about 1995-6 my instincts are dead on and my aim honed even tho my reaction times are so so.

I stopped playing starcraft once it became all about clicks per minute, etc. and practising the same routines over and over til you had them dead on millisecond accurate it leeched every single last bit of fun out of it.

 

[Kamwah]

FPS games may have a shorter learning curve - you can get to a fairly decent skill level where the average player won't stomp you in 2-3 months... but theres a whole level beyond that - some people having been playing FPS games for 10+ years and have instincts honed beyond anything you can compete with.

Just as an example as a new player you might be running away from someone dive around a corner and then wait for them you might have nicely set them up to run into your damage as they come around the corner and another average player would die nicely to you... but the other player has been playing for years and knows to spam the blind spot with area of effect damage to flush you out and as a fair new player even a good one the thought to position yourself so you couldn't be hit by that blind fire never even occurred to you.

I get called a cheat playing FPS games a lot online (and I'm not terribly good) but having been playing them since about 1995-6 my instincts are dead on and my aim honed even tho my reaction times are so so.

I stopped playing starcraft once it became all about clicks per minute, etc. and practising the same routines over and over til you had them dead on millisecond accurate it leeched every single last bit of fun out of it.

It's an RTS. It's not about clicks per minute, it's about multi-tasking which is APM.

You don't practice the same routine over and over, there are dozens of build orders I can name of the top of my head for each race and there are always new ones popping up.

You also don't have to be millisecond accurate. I just think you've misunderstood the game completely.

 

[scrlk]

It's an RTS. It's not about clicks per minute, it's about multi-tasking which is APM.

You don't practice the same routine over and over, there are dozens of build orders I can name of the top of my head for each race and there are always new ones popping up.

You also don't have to be millisecond accurate. I just think you've misunderstood the game completely.

This. There are 'timings' you could hit which is usually when your opponent is at their weakest (therefore being the best time to attack), but apart from that you can still delay/speed up your build as it suits. Also, practising the same routine over and over is not a guaranteed win - I could learn the 6pool if I was playing Zerg, but that doesn't mean I will win the game.

 

[Guest2]

Start SC2 in multilayer ranked. You will get categorised as low league bronze but that doesn't matter. You pick up the basics fast then its just about learning counters, when to attack best units for different situation etc

 

[iviv]

Oh, SC2 will drive you absolutely mental. I'd avoid it if I were you.

There's just no entry point, you're beleagered by robots who have studied the one build routine they only use calling you a new person.

Just avoid that game altogether! I'm not a skilled player but I enjoy playing a wide variety of games, just ones that don't invite lifeless potty mouths with their supposed "hardcore" gameplay.

I'd disagree with that. Up in the gold/platinum I would assume that is the case. However, people in bronze league are going to be those playing for fun, no build orders, not tons of exp. Which is where the OP would be placed.

 

[ThomBassmonkey]

For things that include "builds" (RTS, DOTA clones etc) be prepared to do research. If you build things in the wrong order, you've already lost.

Be prepared to lose a lot whatever game you play when you first start online, playing bots is nothing like online. Even if the bots have good AI generally they'll only have one strategy that you can learn to counter. Same with your mates, most people have a certain playstyle that you can learn and counter.

 

[413x]

Shame my network won't cut it.

Yeah I would definitely play in the lower tiers, i have zero interest in playing set routines every time. Doesn't seem much fun for me, googled some sc2 strategy, very complicated, does seem that there are a certain amount of scripts to follow!
and lots of strategic plays that end the game in a few mins

Only turn based game I like is civ, but surely that take ages to play through?

 

[KatanaDV20]

I don't worry about winning all the time, just being entertained. If I'm not being entertained, I stop playing.

This nailed it.

A LOT of my freinds forget this when playing online. They get on there with a mission to loot loot loot, win win win, level up must level up must absolutely MUST get the swordofunholypowerwithelectricboltsofenchatment yawn yawn.

They forget...to have fun

 

[Guest2]

Shame my network won't cut it.

Yeah I would definitely play in the lower tiers, i have zero interest in playing set routines every time. Doesn't seem much fun for me, googled some sc2 strategy, very complicated, does seem that there are a certain amount of scripts to follow!
and lots of strategic plays that end the game in a few mins

Only turn based game I like is civ, but surely that take ages to play through?

That's the joy of SC2, the average game probably lasts only 25 minutes. Knowing when to attach 5 minutes in or counter an attack can make it or break it. If you fail, just start another game and learn from your mistakes

Its like advanced chess

 

[G18241]

Depends what kind of game you are after, Team Fotress 2 for example, its completly free, very fun, and if you are any good at FPS it wont take you long to find a class you are good with and have fun, if you do then get bored, switch class

 

[nitram100]

Play some Team Fortress2, even when you get your ass kicked it is guaranteed to make you laugh

 

[HangTime]

Depends what level you want to get to, most online games require a lot of dedication to reach the top but if you are happy pottering along then you should be able to find enjoyable matches in any popular/modern game (older games are more likely to have a heavier bias towards 'elite' players).

Your concerns about RTS are probably valid, even 'average' players probably follow reasonably set openings (build orders etc). There may be some where that is less of an issue though.

 

[Rroff]

It's an RTS. It's not about clicks per minute, it's about multi-tasking which is APM.

You don't practice the same routine over and over, there are dozens of build orders I can name of the top of my head for each race and there are always new ones popping up.

You also don't have to be millisecond accurate. I just think you've misunderstood the game completely.

I've not played SC2 so not sure how it is there. But SC1 very definitely got to a point where it was all about repeating one of a number of set patterns (depending on race and map) as your opening moves and being even slightly off timing wise on the pattern would cost you the game - i.e. being less than a second late on starting an upgrade or building something could mean the difference between the opposing player getting their science vessel into an overwatch position for their siege tanks before your advanced attack moved through an area or if you got in done in time you'd push through moments before they gained the extra range on the siege tanks via the science vessel's extra "seeing" range to massacre you.

 

[Kamwah]

I've not played SC2 so not sure how it is there. But SC1 very definitely got to a point where it was all about repeating one of a number of set patterns (depending on race and map) as your opening moves and being even slightly off timing wise on the pattern would cost you the game - i.e. being less than a second late on starting an upgrade or building something could mean the difference between the opposing player getting their science vessel into an overwatch position for their siege tanks before your advanced attack moved through an area or if you got in done in time you'd push through moments before they gained the extra range on the siege tanks via the science vessel's extra "seeing" range to massacre you.

Brood War was very unforgiving in comparision to SC2 but it's still not that hard to pay attention.

 

[Worthy]

Don't put a time on it, just pay no attention to your scores or results at first, and keep playing until you don't suck any more. The important thing is not to think you're better than you are too early on. Madness and frustration lies down that road.