Video:Tips for Playing Real-Time Strategy Games on a PC
with Mark ZamoraWant to step up your skills playing real-time strategy games? Watch this About.com video with 5 great tips for refining your strategy and commanding these PC games.See Transcript
Transcript:Tips for Playing Real-Time Strategy Games on a PC
Hi - I’m Mark Zamora for About.com and I’m going to give you a few tips to improve your real-time strategy game skills!
Real-Time Strategy Game Tip #1
The first is pretty obvious: Gather and use resources! Gathering is easy - it’s the spending part that people have trouble with. Unless you’re saving up for those super strong units - you need to focus on building a bigger army than your opponents. This means gathering and spending! Don’t be stingy - it could hurt you in the end.
Real-Time Strategy Game Tip #2
Secondly, know that knowledge is power. As you are building armies, forts and bases - send small units out to survey the land. Learn where the enemy is - where possible large resource caches are and start building your strategies based on the maps! You’ll never know what you can find that may give you an advantage.
Real-Time Strategy Game Tip #3
As you engage in battles, it’s tempting to command your units to attack and start doing something else, but you need to multi-task and more importantly - you need to micromanage! Observe all your units and strategize. If you notice a certain group of your units is getting injured - have them pull back and unleash stronger units to finish the job as your hurt forces heal. Cycle through your army to always keep the battle fresh.
Real-Time Strategy Game Tip #4
Of course, you can’t win them all - so sometimes it might be a better idea to run away. Units are expensive and you have to play smart. So, if your squad is taking a hit, distract the enemy with weaker units so you can save your best troops.
Real-Time Strategy Game Tip #5
And finally, while playing single-player and against computer AI is a great way to learn the basics, you’ll only get better if you start playing other players - either online or through LAN. Human players are much more unpredictable and can come up with unique strategies that computers may never process! It tests your wits and makes sure you are quick on your feet and ready for anything.
Practice makes perfect, so practice these tips to become the best! And for more gaming tips, be sure to visit gadgets.about.com! Thanks for watching!