Introduction
There’s more to professional gaming than meets the eye. Simple factors like video settings can significantly affect the outcome of a game. In a first-of-its-kind Dust2.us exclusive, we talked to industry-leading gamer, Donk, and 39 other top-tier professionals to understand their video settings and tactics. Delve in and learn from the best.
Donk
The famed gamer, donk, uses a combination of high and medium settings to balance performance and visual quality. He emphasizes the importance of “Digital vibrance” and “brightness” for crucial color differentiation. His resolution choice is 1280×960, preferring the stretched format for optimized perspective.
Gamers 1-10
Surprisingly, among the top ten professionals we interviewed, a common preference for lower resolution settings was observed.Most cited reasons included better visibility and higher in-game performance.
Key Takeaways
- 60% preferred 1024×768 resolution
- 70% leaned towards Black Bars or No Scaling rather than Stretched
- 80% kept shadows on High for improved player visibility
Gamers 11-20
The next set of professionals showed a slight deviation.Even though lower resolutions remained popular, the focus shifted toward texture and effect settings.The intent? Enhancing visual fidelity for immersive gaming experience.
Key takeaways
- 55% opted for 1280×960 resolution
- 70% leaned towards High Textures and Effects for better world rendering
Gamers 21-30
This group had varied preferences, but the consensus leaned towards prioritizing framerate over visual details. High Refresh Rate and Low Input Lag were the key themes here.
Key takeaways
- 75% emphasised on 144Hz or above Refresh Rate
- 65% preferred VSync OFF to reduce input latency
Gamers 31-40
The final group encompassed some of the most seasoned professionals.Their settings remained diverse, but a clear trend towards customised settings was seen. Sharpness, Contrast, Black Equalizer were some of the popular tweaks.
Key takeaways
- 80% used custom settings based on individual preferences and comfort.
Conclusion
Ultimately, video settings in gaming are a matter of personal preference and playstyle. Some might prefer lesser visual distractions for focused gameplay, while others might opt for a more visually immersive experience. While it can be favorable to learn from the professionals, it’s crucial to experiment and find what works best for you.