An independent gaming handbookFor gamers on the go — since 2001

05

Competitive

Latency, ranking systems and what competing actually costs.

Input Lag or Ping Which One Is Really Losing You the Fight - illustration

Versus

Input Lag or Ping: Which One Is Really Losing You the Fight

One is in your room. The other is on the wire. Only one is your problem.

The takeawayKnows which chain to attack and roughly how much each fix is worth.

What It Actually Costs to Start Competing, From Peripherals to Entry Fees - illustration

What it costs

What It Actually Costs to Start Competing, From Peripherals to Entry Fees

Peripherals, entry fees, travel - and the cost nobody prices.

High-Refresh Monitors Who Actually Sees the Difference, and Who Is Paying for Nothing - illustration

Worth it?

High-Refresh Monitors: Who Actually Sees the Difference, and Who Is Paying for Nothing

Who sees it, who cannot, and what the machine has to manage first.

How Ranked Matchmaking Decides Your Opponents, and Why You Stall at the Same Rank - illustration

Explained

How Ranked Matchmaking Decides Your Opponents, and Why You Stall at the Same Rank

A hidden number, an uncertainty, and why the win rate settles near half.

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