how can i improve on this?

I've just been playing this game in which I was trying to launch an attack, but ended up being checkmated before i could carry it out. I'd like to see how I could improve tbh.

While it is blooming obvious, it deserves mentioning that unless you LOOK at all of your opponent's forcing moves in response to your intended move, you will FAIL MISERABLY at chess.  Put the books down and train yourself to look for these on EACH move.  

Trying to learn copious amounts of new chess knowledge but not doing the most basic of things is like a 1st grade student reading advanced algebra but still ignoring  to carry the "1" when doing basic addition. 

Getting to the good parts  of the game: Nice and clean opening by you until

1.  8.b4 giving him a pawn for free (What's your reasoning here?)

2. Instead of 15.Bc4, why not reclaim your lost pawn by Bxb7

3. Bg5 is a blunder. You ignored the forcing move Bxf3 Qxf3 followed by Qxg5. Notice how this ties closely with the earlier comment about missing forcing moves.

4. Understanding that to launch an attack, your opponent needs to give you targets/weaknesses. Attacks don't come out of nowhere.  

Were there any weaknesses to go after here, really?

His fianchetto'ed bishop covering the dark squares, his e6 pawn stopping your b3 bishop and a vast majority of forces easily covering his king do not give you easy attacking chances there. Meanwhile => He's got a lethal bishop hitting your g2 square with a Q+N ready to chomp down on your king. 

As I mentioned on another one of your posts, you play what the position requires...in this case => ALL attention to defense + mitigating your opponent's threats before you can actually make an attacking plan that works.

You don't launch an attack if there is no weaknesses. You need to play where you have something to play for.  Center and queenside were reasonable choices in that position. One idea was to play a4 to stop b5 and put some pressure along b-file and start advancing pawns.

yes, and I would like to point out that whenever you seen the knight come into attacking the pawns near your king along with another peice attacking the same pawn (not just pawn, also knights, bishops etc) you need to have two defender (and eventually find a way to fend off the attack).

in short, a simple suggestion to remember  is (unless you have an even better move/take, or you can afford to lose the piece): for every attacking piece you oponent has on your piece, you need to defend with the same number of pieces.

in your position a the knight and the queen were both attacking your pawn, your defense was a knight and your king (except you moved away your knight and then the queen took the pawn)

I was under the impression that in 1.d4 games you should try to play c4 before putting the knight on c3. Small guideline is all. 8.b4? you know was a mistake. Ask yourself why did you move that pawn? Should have some idea why moves are made. May not get it right but asking is the key. 11... Qh5 should have a idea that Q is looking at h2. So how to handle the problem if the knight gets to >..18...Ng4, ask again why did he move there. Seems that asking yourself questions will help. Then look for CHECKS<CAPTURES>THREATS.. will help.

i'd agree with that. i think i need to play more longer games because that would give me more time to think of a good move. its a slow process and sometimes i overlook things - the pawn move was a mistake.

What do you think of this game I played just now then? I think I played much better, although I probably still made quite a lot of mistakes, I spent longer thinking about my moves and what was happening on different parts of the board. I think I play better when there are fewer pieces are on the board, although that isn't really an excuse! Quite pleased with this tbh :)

and i just spent ages typing out a commentary but then lost it all :(

So what do people think? Was that a better game?

Obviously!†¥Ωø§

18.Qf3 Kg8. Lool.

And remember to allways check your opponents King. Even if you have to give a piece or 2, check is a check. Also don't capture pieces. Check is better.

yes i also thought that was quite funny, mind you ive made even stupider mistakes in the past lol! 

awesome rat opening