7 reasons why you always lose at computer games

Bang. You died again. Another Spartan has shot you in the head. An Orc has cut you down with a blade and now hovers above your dead body. Your car lies in ruins at the side of the test track as every other racer passes by you. And it’s soul destroying, isn’t it?

Few of us are ever going to be good enough to make a living from playing games, but it’s not an impossibility that we can all become at least a little bit better. As always, we’re here to help. Here’s seven ways that might make a difference between life and, er, reloading.

1. You’re not devoting enough of your free time to playing them. Studies have shown that playing games regularly can be good for you.

2. But on the other hand, you might be playing too much. Take breaks, get a comfortable mouse, keyboard and/or a wrist rest, and don’t subtitute game play for sleep.

3. AI is rubbish. you need to play against real people to increase your skill level. Now PC gamers can play Xbox 360 gamers with Games for Windows – LIVE. Find out more about it with our 5 Step Guide to Windows for Game – LIVE!

4. Your games are running slowly. Buy a new graphics card, ideally a DirectX 10 one, and look for games that are optimised to work with Windows Vista. They carry the Games for Windows logo. Here’s some handy advice on not buying the wrong type of graphics card.

5. You’re playing the wrong kind of game. Herding pink fluffy Gobos might be amusing, but it’s worth trying your hand at as many different games as possible. See our Top Ten PC games you can buy for some inspiration.

6. You need advice. You can find plenty of help forums on the Internet, so if you’re wondering why you can’t shoot a grain of rice from 150 miles away, you’ll be able to find out why. Check out gamesfaqs for the most comprehensive place to get help.

7. You’re using the wrong tools for the job. Try experimenting with different key set-ups to find the most natural hand position.