One of the best things about the CoD series is that if you’ve played one you’ve really played them all. There isn’t a lot of variety in gameplay which means if you’re familiar with any of the previous installments then you’ll be able to take to this like a duck to water. Unfortunately, this also means that anyone familiar with the franchise’s origins in 2003 will have about 8 years of experience going into this, but don’t worry. We’re here to help.

The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure you have a fast and Clear internet connection going into this. The last thing you want is for the service to hiccup when you’re about to move in for the kill.

The CoD games have a pretty decent matchmaking service which often pits you against players who are about your skill level, but you do run into the occasional ace, but don’t let that discourage you. Part of getting good at CoD is exposure. Also, never underestimate the option you have to fire from the hip. Lots of players like to take the time to line up a shot in the iron sights of their gun, leaving them wide open for a split-second where they can either be shot or stabbed.

Also, no lone wolf heroics. Much like the real armed forces, victories are won by teams; not commandos. Most importantly, have fun. Don’t obsess and don’t get angry.

For the fighting game enthusiasts (Street Fighter, Marvel vs Capcom, Tekken), you’ll want to grab a Mad Catz Arcade Fighting Stick. There are a number of buttons with big sizes, so you don’t overcrowd certain commands with your fingers. Also, the joystick makes it a lot easier to do moves that require a 360 or 720 motion.

Another controller for the casual and hardcore gamer is the Das S Professional keyboard. This is a great asset to have because it’s very responsive. You never know, you could be in the trends in a war game or at a level boss, and you need to be quick on your feet. Well, with this particular controller, it’s durable so you’ll be getting the most out of it and it has two USB 2.0 hubs!

For the Diablo PC gamer fans, there is a special type of mouse made just for you! Not only is it a very versatile piece of machinery, that has a great shape for hand placement plus buttons you can program to do certain commands, it also has a really sleek design. It’ll look great in any type of gaming hall, or computer set up!

The Wiimote with the WiiMotion Plus is actually a pretty well put together piece of work. The accuracy, the usability, the size, and the mobility is quite unmatched right now. It’s a lot of fun to use whether you are playing games by yourself or with multiple people!

Playstation 3′s Dualshock is an exceptional piece of work. It is the ultimate controller. It’s Perfect for fighting games, shooters, and great for hardcore, RPG, and casual games!

1.Find a game that everyone will enjoy. Many games out there can be fun for the whole family. Does your family enjoy active games that have the players jumping up and down, or the kind of family that enjoys quizzes and trivia?

2.Find a game with the right rating: Games with the “E” rating means for everyone, games with “EC” stands for early childhood. For higher ratings, it depends on the individual; only the parent can deem what is acceptable for their brood.

3.Games can be costly, joining an online game rental program can be a great way to discover new games, and helps saves some money.

4.Read up on the latest games. If a popular game has you as parent concerned, then go find out more about it. Pick up a book, or ask a friend about it.

5.Have fun. Once you have found the perfect game, make a night of it. Move some furniture, and make up some teams and team names. Have some tasty treats in between turns, and let the good times roll.

Playing a game together is great way for a family to bond, and try new things.

One
Watch them play. See what they’re doing that you’re not.

Two
Practice, practice, and more practice. Sneak in that extra game time when they’re in bed.

Three
Read, look up whatever game you’re trying to master.

Four
Watch videos. Often you can find videos that show you how to get past the tricky part in a game.

Five
Try to think like a kid. Kids don’t worry about making that jump or pressing the button, they worry about winning and having fun.

Six
Remember it’s a game, it’s supposed to be fun above all else even if you do want a great score.

Seven
Don’t let it get to you. As adults we’re too prone to let our frustration take control, and the more frustrated you get the worse you’re going to play.

Eight
Compete. Competition drives most people, so find someone to hone your skills with besides your kids.

Nine
Let the world go, be free to ignore reality for a little while.

Ten
Walk through guides are your friend. They show you hidden game secrets.

One
You’re questioning your gaming time. If you’ve started to ask yourself if you are spending too much time doing it, then you most likely are.

Losing touch with real life friends and family? Take a look at how much time you’re spending with your family, or your friends outside of the game world. If you can’t remember the last time you talked to your mom, then maybe it’s time to ease off the game for a bit and venture back out into the real world again.

Three
Look around, does your house look like a hurricane missed the outside and attacked the living room instead? More than one old Pizza box? If so it’s time to put the controller down and clean up a bit.

Four
How’s your email? Is your inbox about to explode with unread emails? If so put down the controller and answer that important email from your sister.

Five
Skipping social events? If you’re avoiding going to your cousins wedding, or your brother’s birthday, then it’s time to limit your time behind the screen.

Cleaning Up

Removing registry errors and cleaning your computer’s cache will free up space as well as fix errors. You may also want to use a virus program capable of removing adware, spyware and any other viruses on your hard drive. Once the errors have been fixed, uninstall old files and programs that you do not need. Defragment your hard drive to reclaim space from unnecessary files.

Processes and Tasks

Before attempting to run a game, it is important to shutdown any unnecessary tasks or processes that could be running. If you are running multiple programs, or programs that can be shutdown, shut them down to free up your computer’s RAM memory. Your computer will utilize the free RAM towards running the game you are playing. Also it is wise to consider running a gaming optimizer program to assist in determining the tasks and processes to be shut down.

Software and Hardware Updates

Final steps to take for tuning up your computer are to keep your computer drivers updated as well as other important system updates. If your integrated graphics chipsets offer poor performance, you can opt to install a higher performance graphics card to assist with gaming performance. You may also install upgraded RAM cards or even a better motherboard or CPU to increase gaming performance.