While some rules are made to be broken, others are intended to keep the peace. Gaming etiquette is a collection of social expectations and standards that define how players interact with each other and the game in question. Not sure where to begin? Don’t worry – we’ve put together some of the most common etiquette guidelines to keep in mind as you play. Let’s take a closer look!
Is gaming etiquette important?
Gaming etiquette is an important part of the gaming experience and must be mastered to optimize your time. Whether you need to learn the complex rules of RPGs or the sometimes intricate nuances of casino etiquette, taking the time to learn what boundaries define the gaming community in question is always time well spent. That’s why we’ve taken the time to round up some of the most important rules to live by.
Follow the rules
The first tip we have for your next online gaming session is to play fairly. Don’t look for unfair advantages or cheat. This is important in just about any genre of game, but it is especially critical in skill-based games where a lot of practice and effort goes into perfecting character builds. Players of these kinds of games typically know them inside and out and can detect cheating fairly easily. Pair that with the zero-tolerance policy that most developers have against cheating and it is imperative to keep your actions above board if you intend to play for any length of time.
Don’t pick on newbies
Whether you are playing an FPS or a collaborative role-play game, it is important to treat new players as kindly as possible, even if that means ignoring them until they reach your level. If you are playing a game where there are different levels of characters, don’t pick on lower levels to gain an advantage. This is highly frowned upon in collaborative games and will likely earn you a poor reputation almost immediately. A poor reputation will make it more difficult for you to find groups to join while playing and can make the gaming experience significantly less pleasant.
Manage your emotions
It is understandable to be upset if something isn’t going your way. As with anything that requires time and effort, playing less impressively than you want can be frustrating. Even before your luck turns around (and it almost always does), you must manage your emotions. Don’t be a toxic player and ruin someone else’s fun. All this does is spread your frustration to players around you and make them less likely to play with you again in the future.
Following gaming etiquette improves your experience in a few different ways. Not only will players be excited to play with you on an ongoing basis, but your good example can also make a positive impact on your local online gaming community.
Conclusion
Are you interested in learning more? If so, keep the tips above in mind as general boundaries and do some research into the game you’re most interested in. You’ll be playing well and making friends in no time!
This is a paid guest post.