For starters, I'm going to assume that you've played IVAN and that you have a general understanding of the game's stats, as well as being somewhat mediocre at the game.

For starters, you have to understand that 99.9% of all IVAN games end in death. If you are not playing the game with this in mind, you'll quickly become frustrated and quit. You're not here to play a game in which you are going to win. You're not here to play a game in which you're going to save the world and get the girl. You're here to play a game in which you respond to your surroundings with whatever tools and skills you've been randomly given--and use your wit and what you know about your abilities and skill to do the best you can in any situation. Not every situation is winnable. Luck plays a very large part of any game. You're not here to win--you're here to see just what adventure awaits you, and how you will adapt to that adventure. The journey is the reward, not the destination.