Rewiring Your Mind for Optimal Performance in CS:GO

If you do plan on becoming a successful player in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), you may need to think as more than just a tactical player

If there is a time in our lives where we can justifiably be in control of our time and play games at home, it is now. The ongoing pandemic is a global event that is affecting our daily routines and accompanied health risks (ie. COVID-19 virus), but it may actually be a blessing in disguise for the gamer at heart. This year, we are not playing video games to escape the daily grind anymore, we are playing to recreate wonderful memories of gameplay. It is evident in first-person shooter games like our favorite CSGO.

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The popular first-person shooter has stormed to yet another eye watering new player count record, smashing its previous all-time high and even beating Valve’s own Dota 2. Following a sustained increase in the number of players heading into the shooter’s fray over the past few months, today CS:GO has surpassed 1.3 million concurrent players in April 2021. Many players have made use of the newfound opportunity to practice on their gameplay as well as to buy and sell CSGO skins.

Furthermore, an academic at the University of Glasgow’s Centre of Computing Science, Dr. Matthew Barr has determined that video games like CSGO can be used to develop skills, adaptability and critical thinking, as seen in the CSGO esports scene where CSGO pro players pit against each other regularly with their skillset as well as their experience in engaging in thousands of firefights in CSGO. However, such conditioning exercise is not limited to just professional esports players, as Michaela ‘mimi’ Lintrup, one of the most popular CS:GO female players, has pointed out how a regular CSGO player can still hack the brain into making quicker and more strategic decisions at any given match in CSGO. She has shared recently in an interview with Redbull on how everyone can alter their state of mind to eventually become a better CSGO player than before.

Take occasional in-between breaks

Like any other video games, avid CSGO players spent a lot of time staring at the screen while refusing to miss out on any opportunities to eliminate their enemies. While playing CSGO can be intense and demand a high level of focus and reaction time on screen, it is important to consider catching a breath of ‘fresh air’ whenever possible. While many of us may be bound within the confines of our homes these days, it is still possible to give yourself a break off the glaring computer screen for a couple of minutes to prevent digital eye strain while recalibrating your mind at the same time. 

In fact, nature can restore our attentional abilities after indulging in strenuous activities like playing hours on CSGO. Look out of the window for greeneries or if it is daytime, expose yourself to natural light in order to absorb that much needed Vitamin D. Failure of which may affect your sleep, and consequently your cognitive abilities. Thus, it is advisable to place your gaming computers near a window so that you can be reminded to get yourself a few minutes of rest after every match. It is only through developing a healthy habit that you will be able to focus more and ace your match. Alternatively, if you are able to head outdoor, do take a quick 15 to 30-minute walk to keep yourself sane and sharp. 

Analyse and improve on your gameplay

With the plethora of streaming services and in-game highlights bundles that are now available on consoles and PCs, it is easier than ever to watch a playback of your gameplay these days. While we may not turn back time to undo our mistakes from our previous matches, it is still possible to rewatch your gameplay and improve on your techniques and strategies as you review your earlier matches. 

Through watching your games, you can find that you tend to make the same critical mistakes that can determine the outcome of your match, and this applies even for CSGO pro players who play in major tournaments. As a casual CSGO player, it will also be good to discover what we could have done better in the next round of match.

However, if you did not review your recent gameplay on time, and leave that idea on the backburner, you may eventually forget about doing so. Inevitably, the longer we procrastinate in reviewing our earlier performance, the harder it is to identify our mistakes which occurred in the earlier gameplay. Hence, it is recommended for anyone who wishes to improve on their gameplay to allocate some time to reflect on your past performance and what should be done, moving forward. 

Moreover, there are multiple game streaming platforms such as Twitch, where you can share your gameplay with other players to watch and give you real-time feedback on your performance. Take advantage of these options to identify your flaws and work on them. Also, it is best to take on feedback with an open mind in a relaxed atmosphere. It is only through your conviction and willingness to improve that you will become a better CSGO player.

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Play with randoms

Knowing when to give orders or relay a role will prove equally vital to the success of your CSGO team. Through adding in a raft of new players or new talents to your team, they will significantly improve, keeping every player on their toes and improve communication skills as well, since  they were forced to play with people with different abilities

So if you’re playing with a bunch of people you know, there may already be a short way to communicate, a lot of which may go unchallenged. When you move outside of this comfort zone, you improve your communication skills.

“It’s also important to remember how the gamer you communicate with is like a person, according to Duffman:” There’s no point talking to everyone in the same way that you’re not going to reach them all in the same way. Many players need to move more than others, many players shut down with harsh criticism-each person is different so you can’t go around like a wrecking ball that treats everyone the same way and expect it to work all the time.

The other bonus for learning to play with others is the opportunity to take part in the gameplay of other people and add it to your own, says the G2 analyst: “There’s only so much you can do alone, so it’s important to take advantage of other approaches and experience, whether it’s copying individual play styles or how a whole team plays specific parts of the game.”

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What’s more, with strategies continually changing it can be doubly vital to see first-hand how other players and teams approach the meta, says mimi: “Metas can only work for a certain period of time before someone else begins to do the same, so it’s important to learn about new approaches to the game.

Enhance your gaming setup with an optimal setting

Be damned Slouchers. According to Barr, who recommends investing in a solid gaming chair to support your back, sitting upright against lying back more passively would make you “more focused on the game” Meanwhile, Ohio State University research has found that improving body posture can also give you greater confidence in your own thoughts.

“The results show how our body posture can affect not only what others think of us, but also how we think of ourselves,” said Richard Petty, co-author of the study. Clearly during the testing he didn’t have Dragon Ball FighterZ in mind, but if it helps you master Ultra Instinct Goku as well, it’s a win-win.

In addition, Barr suggests eliminating as much external noise around your gaming station as possible – i.e. the radio or spotify. “There’s evidence that shows students who listen to music while studying don’t really do as well because they’re distracted. It’s good for the brain to filter out what’s important and what’s not, but a decent set of ergonomically fit headphones can be of great help.”

But just how those headphones should feel? Allow mimi to fill you in: “First of all, you’re supposed to feel they ‘re sitting right on your head and not moving when you move your head-otherwise you won’t get the perfect sound. They’re supposed to be relaxed so you know you can sit on it for hours.

You’ve hit the jackpot if you don’t even know you ‘re wearing them! Quality also helps, of course, because games like Counter-Strike are very sound based because you want to be able to hear the game’s footsteps and gunshots.

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Anyone can be a legend in CSGO

Now that you’ve learned how to program your mind into becoming a better CSGO player, it is necessary to translate them into actions. Most of the above suggested points can be done without much restraint. However, if you do find yourself unable to fulfill any of the recommended purchases to enhance your gaming setup, fear not. One of the most amazing things in CSGO is a lucrative CSGO skins economy that you can potentially sell CSGO skins for real money, and even Bitcoin. SkinCashier is one of the leading CSGO skins marketplace to offer you a secure platform to sell your CSGO skins in exchange for real money, which you can use these proceeds to fund your next gaming setup.

Remember to always communicate with your teammates, work on your flaws, get well-deserved breaks in between gruelling matches and, most importantly, have fun at CSGO. It is through discipline and a willingness to learn that you will become a better CSGO player than you were yesterday.