Having a spare room or an empty garage in your home presents many exciting possibilities. You could turn it into an office, use it for storage, or create a cosy guest room for when friends stay over. Alternatively, you could create a games room packed with video games, computers, tables, and more.
Having your own space to build a new Lego model, shoot some zombies, or have a permanent model train set is a luxury many dream of, but most don’t have the spare space to achieve it.
So if you’re lucky enough to be in a position to have a games room, here are some things you should consider including.
Multi-Purpose Games Table
There are a plethora of different games you can play on a table, including pool, foosball (table football), ping pong, and air hockey. All of them are great fun, but having separate tables for each will mean you run out of room very quickly.
Thankfully, there’s a solution: multi-purpose games tables. For a few hundred dollars, one of these tables will let you play all the games you want without taking up too much space.
The most versatile of these is the Tekscore Goal table, which has 21 different games built into the one table. As well as the table’s surface, which can be used for table tennis, table football, and chess, it also doubles as a small football/soccer goal. If you plan to use it for this, just be sure to use a soft ball and move any fragile objects to safety before you start.
If you’re still short on space, there are folding tables that will let you neatly package them away when they’re not being used.
Comfy Furniture
It’s a good idea to make your computer gaming area comfortable. Whether you play racing simulator games or online poker, you may find yourself taking part in an online event or tournament so competing in comfort will help you go for longer.
You should consider a comfortable chair that supports your back and allows you to rest your feet on the floor (or a support). If you’re using a computer, a gaming mouse and keyboard that has been designed to be ergonomic will help reduce the movements you have to make. Your monitor or screen should be positioned at eye level too, so you might need to find a separate shelf or stand to place it on.
If you’re using a console with a controller, you’ll need to adapt these principles slightly since your arms will be better placed close to your lap.
Polymega
Having multiple games consoles is common for anyone who loves video games. It can be fun to collect them and have them all set up in your games room, allowing you to show off to your friends when they come to play.
However, this can also be problematic since you’ll end up with a huge web of wires and you’ll need somewhere to store them all. Older devices may also have connectors that aren’t compatible with modern TVs, so you’ll either need multiple screens or some sort of converter device.
This is where the Polymega comes in. It’s a device that’s been in development for some time and provides support for several different retro consoles. With just one device you can play games from the 15 different CD-ROM based consoles like the Sony PlayStation. It also has support for cartridge consoles like the Sega Genesis and the NES, but this requires additional hardware.
It has one common interface and one controller that works with all the consoles it supports, or you can use optional retro controllers that are designed to be similar to the original. It also lets you install the games to the device, reducing the wear and tear on your media and making it much more convenient.
The device is now available for pre-order and is expected to begin shipping in July. Priced at just $400, the Polymega offers great value since you could end up spending similar amounts acquiring the retro consoles and the peripherals to make them work on modern displays.
By using these items for your games room, even the smallest of spaces can be transformed into your own personal arcade. You’ll have all the games you could want right at your fingertips and you’ll be able to enjoy them for hours in comfort.
