Whether you are a fan of PUBG or a champion Fifa player, gaming has provided real comfort (and distraction from the boredom) during the various lockdowns and periods of isolation we’ve all had imposed on us.
With a new lockdown looming, it’s only natural that keen gamers are contemplating getting their gaming environment on point, holing up for months ahead, and playing right on through until Spring. Indeed, in order to take your gaming to the next level, having the right gear can make all the difference.
Despite common misconceptions, creating a professional-level gaming setup really doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. That’s fortunate, since you need that arm to hold your console’s controller. Yet still, so many keen gamers are labouring under the assumption that the dream set up is just that, a dream. Rest assured, even on a modest budget, you can get this thing done; here’s how to build the IDEAL gaming setup in 5 steps.
IDENTIFY AND SOURCE YOUR GEAR
The first thing you need to do when building a gaming setup is to identify the gear which you want before you visit a store or look online. This will stop you from making impulse purchases that don’t actually add anything to your gaming experience, and potentially missing essential items in the process. Doing so also enables you to shop around in advance, comparing prices and finding discounts and deals on all the gear you need.
There are many specialised stores in the UK which exclusively sell gaming equipment but this tends to come at a cost. Sometimes, you’re paying for the experience of going to a dedicated gaming store to buy your goods. And whilst the free soft drink on arrival and chance to have a quick spin on the latest version of COD is certainly welcome, your gear will likely be severely marked up to compensate.
Indeed, the good folks at this computer shop in Weymouth explain that you’ll be able to source cheaper gaming equipment at a general computer store and may even be able to find some great second-hand bargains. Computer shops often sell barely-used or refurbished computers and accessories which are ideal for gamers working on a budget but which still provide all the specifications which you need to play your favourite games.
HD MONITOR
Your monitor is one of the most important parts of any gaming setup because there is no point having a computer with top processing and gaming specs if you are playing it on a fuzzy screen. Modern video games have incredible graphics, and in order to truly enjoy the experience to its full potential, an HD monitor is absolutely key. If you already have an HD TV in your home then you can link your computer up to that, but if not, invest in a quality monitor and it will really lift the whole gaming experience to another level.
CREATE A GREAT AUDIO SETUP
The best gaming setups are totally immersive and allow you to completely lose yourself in your game. And we all need a little escapism at the moment, right? Modern video games are designed to hit all of your senses as long as you have the right gear, and as well as an HD monitor, your audio equipment is key to creating the ultimate gaming setup. Invest in a top of the line sub and speakers, or if noise is a factor in your home, buy a great pair of gaming headphones. The noise of the Fifa crowd, or of bullets whizzing by as you complete a mission on Call of Duty, can really make the difference between a decent gaming setup and a great one.
A DEDICATED ROUTER
Love online games? Don’t we all? Tired of the rhetorical questions? Yeah, us too.
But if you answered in the affirmative to the first question, then it’s best to install a dedicated wireless router used only for game playing online. This will avoid issues with slow load times when other residents are using the household network, giving competitive gamers an edge and preventing unnecessary interruptions. You wouldn’t want to reach the iconic final life of Half Life 2 only for it to crash because your dad started streaming Netflix upstairs, now would you?
FIND THE IDEAL GAMING CHAIR
So you’ve sourced the focal point of your gaming set up; now, it’s time to get comfy. Top gamers spend a huge amount of time sitting down in front of their computer, and as everyone who works all day at a computer in an office knows, this can lead to various aches, pains, and strains. The best way to overcome this is to find the perfect gaming chair so that you can put in the necessary gaming hours in complete comfort. There are hundreds of different gaming chairs available and their features (and prices) vary widely.
The best ergonomic gaming chairs are specially designed to support your back and neck and come with adjustable heights so that you will always be at the right height and angle to your screen to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and eye strain.
You can also get chairs with swivel capability, massage function, and speakers built into the headrest. When it comes to buying a gaming chair, it is always worth trying them out in the shop before you buy one so that you know that it feels comfortable before you part with your money.
UPDATES NOT UPGRADES
If you’re looking for the ideal gaming setup but are on a limited budget, one of the easiest ways to breathe some new life into your gaming room is to upgrade your tech. Simply by focusing on parts of it which are lagging, rather than investing big bucks in a whole new piece of hardware.
Upgrading the hard drive of your PlayStation or Xbox for your gaming room means that you can improve on loading times, without having to invest in a new device. Likewise, adding more storage can make everything run more smoothly on your smartphone. Hey, it might even mean you have more room for all the newfangled apps that are released each day – during August 2020, 111 thousand mobile apps were released through Google Play Store. Wow!
THE BOTTOM LINE
The difference that a top gaming setup can make to your overall experience cannot be overstated. With the incredible advances in visuals, sound and playability in gaming in recent years, it is only right to give yourself the best setup to unleash the potential of these games. Source all of your gear and look at ways to reduce the cost of creating the best gaming PC. After that, find everything you need to create a comfortable, sensually immersive experience. Happy gaming!