Getting your gaming setup right can take a bit of work, but if you’re serious about gaming it can make all the difference. Creating a special space dedicated to your favorite hobby is a great way to switch off and enjoy. Everyone will have a different idea about what their gaming setup needs, so we’ve cast a wide net in our guide here with the hope of giving you the overview you need to ensure you’re making the most of your space.
Consoles and Peripherals
There are many ways to play games nowadays. Perhaps you’re a retro gamer that loves to play vintage titles, or a Triple AAA FPS pro who needs the latest and greatest game on the Xbox or PlayStation. Zeroing in on what type of gaming you’re interested in will help you more clearly define and plan out your space. If you’re a collector of classic consoles, you’ll need to consider how to store and connect all your various machines in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. You could also consider what to decorate your space with to make it your own. There are plenty of great stores such as GameStop that stock the type of display items and curios that look great in any gaming space.
Nowadays there are many new ways to play and interact with games, and educating yourself on some of these can help you get the setup of your dreams. For example, investing in a good cross-platform Bluetooth controller such as 8BitDo SN30 Pro+ can be a good idea for both saving space and money, as nowadays most consoles and PCs accept any compatible Bluetooth gamepad. If you want to play classic games, but are not the collecting type, you can explore subscription services like Plex Arcade that offer a huge library of Atari games, as well as the ability to emulate ROMs, letting you get on with the business of gaming.
Monitor setup
Choosing the right monitor, or monitors, can go a long way to getting your gaming setup perfect. Do some market research and try to work out what the optimum resolution and refresh rate is for the games you want to play. If you’re playing a graphically intensive, fast paced game, a monitor with a high refresh rate and response time is essential in order to play at your best. If you’re planning on hooking game consoles up to your monitor, be sure to confirm that the monitor you’re looking at supports this with a HDMI In port. You can also invest in a HDMI switch, letting you quickly switch your display between multiple consoles or sources. For other games, such as online poker, investing in a dual-monitor setup can make a big impact on the way you play as this allows for easier multi-tabling between games. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for your monitor setup, but having a clear idea on how you want to play will help you figure out where you can potentially adjust expectations or compromise on cost.
Lighting
Lighting is one of the best ways possible to get the mood right in your gaming space. With a huge proliferation of full RGB LED lights now available on the market it’s incredibly simple to set up dynamic and exciting lighting around your setup. The market leader for quality and functionality remains Philips’ Hue lightbulbs that connect to a mobile app over Wi-Fi. These lights, which can be purchased in sets of multiple bulbs, feature 256 colors which can be set, cycled through or dimmed for ultimate customization. If you really want to bring immersive lighting to your setup, consider investing in a product such as the Govee Immersion LED strips. These attach to the back of your monitor, TV, or desk, and can be programmed to match the ambient light output of your display. What this means in practice is should the color on your screen turn predominantly red, for example, then Govee lights will match this color in real time. This mesmerizing display is sure to impress and excite anyone who sees it.
