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Game Mechanics
11 Oct Delay or rollback? How online games hide lag: netcode explained Online games have to keep two computers in agreement while messages take time to travel. Delay-based netcode waits for both players'… Consoles
11 Oct Why does your TV feel laggy for gaming? Input lag and Game Mode explained Your TV can add dozens of milliseconds between pressing a button and seeing the result, because it spends time on picture processing meant… Making Games
10 Oct How does a game remember your progress? Save files explained How does a game remember where you stopped? It writes a small file of facts, called the game state, and reads it back when you load. Try a… Subscriptions
9 Oct Will you finish it before it leaves? How subscription catalogs rotate Games come and go from subscription catalogs, and a leaving soon label can turn a relaxed hobby into a race. This guide explains why… Game Mechanics
9 Oct Why does 60 FPS still feel choppy? Frame time and stutter explained Your game says 60 FPS but still feels choppy? The counter shows an average. What your eyes notice is frame time, the gap between each… Getting Started
8 Oct What is V-Sync? Fix screen tearing without adding lag Your monitor redraws on a fixed clock, but your graphics card finishes frames whenever it likes. When the two collide you get screen… Consoles
6 Oct Can you use a PC monitor with a PS5 or Xbox? HDMI 2.1, 4K and 120 Hz explained A PC monitor can be a great screen for your PS5 or Xbox, but only if its HDMI port can carry what the console sends. HDMI 2.1 is the… Getting Started
6 Oct What is a controller deadzone? Fix stick drift and sticky aim Your controller stick never rests at exactly zero, so games ignore a small circle around the centre. That circle is the deadzone. Too big… PC Building
6 Oct How much RAM do you need for gaming? 16, 32 or 64 GB explained RAM is where your PC keeps everything it is using right now. If the game, Windows and your browser all fit, extra RAM does nothing. If they… Making Games
5 Oct How does a game enemy decide what to do? State machines for beginners Ever wondered how a game guard knows when to chase you? Most enemies run on a state machine: they are always in exactly one state, like… Game Mechanics
5 Oct What is a hitbox? Why some shots miss when you swear you hit Games don't check your shot against the pretty model. They check it against simple invisible shapes called hitboxes, and only those decide… Game Mechanics
4 Oct How does matchmaking work? Elo ratings and fair matches explained Matchmaking in most games starts with one number: a rating that estimates how likely you are to beat someone else. Elo, MMR and similar…
11 Oct Delay or rollback? How online games hide lag: netcode explained Online games have to keep two computers in agreement while messages take time to travel. Delay-based netcode waits for both players'… Consoles
11 Oct Why does your TV feel laggy for gaming? Input lag and Game Mode explained Your TV can add dozens of milliseconds between pressing a button and seeing the result, because it spends time on picture processing meant… Making Games
10 Oct How does a game remember your progress? Save files explained How does a game remember where you stopped? It writes a small file of facts, called the game state, and reads it back when you load. Try a… Subscriptions
9 Oct Will you finish it before it leaves? How subscription catalogs rotate Games come and go from subscription catalogs, and a leaving soon label can turn a relaxed hobby into a race. This guide explains why… Game Mechanics
9 Oct Why does 60 FPS still feel choppy? Frame time and stutter explained Your game says 60 FPS but still feels choppy? The counter shows an average. What your eyes notice is frame time, the gap between each… Getting Started
8 Oct What is V-Sync? Fix screen tearing without adding lag Your monitor redraws on a fixed clock, but your graphics card finishes frames whenever it likes. When the two collide you get screen… Consoles
6 Oct Can you use a PC monitor with a PS5 or Xbox? HDMI 2.1, 4K and 120 Hz explained A PC monitor can be a great screen for your PS5 or Xbox, but only if its HDMI port can carry what the console sends. HDMI 2.1 is the… Getting Started
6 Oct What is a controller deadzone? Fix stick drift and sticky aim Your controller stick never rests at exactly zero, so games ignore a small circle around the centre. That circle is the deadzone. Too big… PC Building
6 Oct How much RAM do you need for gaming? 16, 32 or 64 GB explained RAM is where your PC keeps everything it is using right now. If the game, Windows and your browser all fit, extra RAM does nothing. If they… Making Games
5 Oct How does a game enemy decide what to do? State machines for beginners Ever wondered how a game guard knows when to chase you? Most enemies run on a state machine: they are always in exactly one state, like… Game Mechanics
5 Oct What is a hitbox? Why some shots miss when you swear you hit Games don't check your shot against the pretty model. They check it against simple invisible shapes called hitboxes, and only those decide… Game Mechanics
4 Oct How does matchmaking work? Elo ratings and fair matches explained Matchmaking in most games starts with one number: a rating that estimates how likely you are to beat someone else. Elo, MMR and similar…