The Top Five Ways Real-Time-Strategy Games Improve Your Life

Often, the more serious gamer finds their niche and proceeds to pwn. Some have a natural set of 1337 skills for FPS, others enjoy intense fighting games, or thrive in the splendid solitude of the MMO. Whatever it may be, the results of their efforts influence and define their character. With the RTS genre, it’s hard to find many negative traits amongst its followers, except for maybe a higher-than-usual competitive spirit. In fact, RTS games actually improve quality of life, imbuing fans with these championed virtues and skills:

1. Improved Micro: All the hours spent honing your micro-management of Zerglings or Scorpion Tanks undoubtedly pays off, right? Of course. One’s reflexes and multi-tasking abilities are practically doubled through these types of stress-related games. Next time you consider building upon your portfolio, be sure list this particular mastery under “1337 Skillz: flawless Micro.”

2. Greater Patience and Time Management: Sure, researching technologies and upgrades for your units can be a time-consuming RTS staple. But this seemingly cruel standstill teaches patience, while also helping macro-management skills. Instead of waiting for units to slowly produce or upgrades to finish, lay an ambitious foundation; building a strong war machine requires multiple unit-producing structures. Get your +1 armor and weapon upgrades just as your opponent is reeling from the sight of twenty Siege Tanks knocking down his front door. Waiting in line at the grocery store? No problem. Return your local movie store’s angry messages regarding that long-lost film, assuring them of its existence while, on your way home, you pick-up another copy in the mail that you ordered from Amazon. Success!

3. Assess and Save Your Teammates: Almost Immediately, in any team-based RTS, you can tell who is going to fair well — and who will be lagging behind the entire game. It all comes down to observing build-order, speed and overall cleverness in playing style. Make certain that you know the signs. For, the next time you see grandpa thwarted by the mysteries of technology, as embodied in his VCR, you’ll know what to do: rush the tech-tree for the win! Head out to any electronics store and pick up an easy-to-use DVD player, saving him from his noob-ness. (Who really uses a one worker VCR build anyways?)

4. Unconventional Thinking: Strategy games are all about problems. Though, knowing the solutions can be tough. If your opponent surprises you, you’ll have to know your way around it. And there’s always room for new tricks. In this way, the RTS genre is constantly evolving — new strategies = new trophies, often saving players from falling victim to boredom. Who would have considered a SCV rush until ‘BoxeR’, arguably one of the greatest Starcraft players ever, owned his opponent with just five Terran marines and an army of mineral-loving SCV’s? To become excellent, you must think excellent thoughts; that is, you must think unconventionally. Apply this concept to RL, and you’ll to obtain pro status in no time.

5. Learn from Defeat: As humans, we often misconstrue events. But to get better at any RTS game, you must always learn from your mistakes. Conveniently, a ‘re-play’ function has been added to most popular RTS games in order to encourage players to do this, showing exactly what took place in their matches. Expand to early? Didn’t scout your opponent? Built the wrong counter unit? No matter. Next time, you’ll be exponentially better than your last game. The modern world is slowly catching on to this idea, but not fast enough to make it to WCG or anything…