Micromanagement (gameplay)

The term micromanagement (in this context, often abbreviated to simply micro) is used in strategy computer games to describe a facet of gameplay.

In turn-based strategy games, micromanagement is a style of play where the player manages the fine details of the game, as well as overall strategy. In real-time strategy games, micromanagement refers to a player's management over individual units in combat situations.

In strategy games where micromanagement occurs, it is usually an integral and skill-testing part of the gameplay; as such it is not considered a pejorative term as it is in its original, business management sense (see micromanagement). However, critics of this style of gameplay use the term in its pejorative sense, usually in such forms as "micromanagement hell".

Skilled players of real-time strategy games are distinguished by their strong micromanagement abilities. Quick reflexes allow such players to manage many units with fine control. Utility and add-on programs can be found for some popular real-time strategy games, such as StarCraft and Command & Conquer: Generals, that count the number of commands a player gives within a set period of time; this can be used by players to track their progress in learning greater micromanagement skill. The most skilled micromanagers give hundreds of commands per minute of play over protracted periods of time.

Macromanagement

The term macromanagement (in this context, often abbreviated to simply macro) is used in strategy computer games to describe a facet of gameplay.

In turn-based games, macromanagement is a style of play where the player manages the overall strategy of the game, such as the overall economy or armed forces. In real-time games, macromanagement occasionally refers to a player's management of the overall game or the management of large groups of units rather than individual ones, whether those units are involved in resource-gathering or combat.

More frequently, however, it refers to the art of creating and maintaining a good unit pump. It encompasses the skills of having a strong economy to afford units, having the ideal number of unit producing structures to maximize unit production efficiency, and being able to multitask between micromanaging battles and constructing new units.