To create the ultimate gaming room, you need to start at the center point – your television. In this age of high definition, the only real options are LCD
or Plasma, and for the ultimate gaming experience, the biggest you can afford. Space and money aside, one thing you may notice with large TVs is that even though they are in HD, once you start to go above 40 inch screens you can notice a slight drop in quality over some of the smaller HD screens. It really depends on what you want the room to look like and the impression you want to give. Either you can have slightly – and I do mean slightly – reduced quality but have extra “wow” factor with the larger screen, or opt for the better quality, but less thud when entering the room.
Me? Give me the slightly smaller screen with the higher quality. It’s also a little cheaper.
Although the ultimate game room would have all three consoles in it, I’m not suggesting that now. But you do want options to add other consoles and switch between them. You will need to invest in an HDMI Hub… that is, if your TV doesn’t have 2 or more HDMI sockets and that they aren’t in use by anything else. This will let you have your PS3 and Elite 360 hooked up through the same HDMI slot and have the ability to switch between them with ease.
As you work your way out from the TV, the next thing is your sound system. This is key. Any home theater enthusiast will tell you that the right type of speakers can make all the difference. First you might want to check what your television’s manufacturer offers as these will probably be the easiest to add to your TV. And then, check out your local hi-fi and stereo shops for some ideas. Talk to the salespeople, but do so cautiously. You’re looking for the one whose eyes light up when you start talking about game systems and sound systems to go with it. You could simply connect the speakers directly to the TV, but for more control and probably better sound, you should also consider getting an amp which acts as a hub for all your speaker needs. This is especially important with surround sound set ups.
Once you have your sound system set up, you’re going to need somewhere comfy to sit. Now, don’t skimp on this.
This is where you’ll come to a dilemma. Do you buy a couch and sit with all of your friends together? Or get a smaller couch for them and a very plush office chair for yourself so you can look down on them as you please? The choice is yours! Obviously this choice could be as expensive as your TV… this one requires a bit of thinking, so don’t rush in.
If you are using the Nintendo Wii
, you made need to make some extra considerations for room. For example, if you want to use the Wii Fit
, you will want plenty of space in front of the TV for you to move around. At the very least, you will want your furniture to be light enough to move out of the way, if needed.
Once you have the basic things set up and can now play games in comfort, your next task is to think of accessories and extras. First up has to be the mini fridge. Nothing better than being in the middle of heated gaming session and just being able to reach over and get a hit of caffeine or “other beverage”. There are many different types and all sorts of different sizes. It might be a good idea to consider one that can be dual-purposed. Are you getting ready for college? Will you need something in the office? Is someone moving out on their own? Maybe you can anticipate something in the future that you can also use the fridge for. (The same goes for the furniture, by the way.)
After a fridge is added, your choices are now endless. You could get a microwave, a toaster oven or, if you are feeling extra cool, a mini George Foreman Grill
(although size does depend on how ultimate you want your gaming room to be). Although I would stop at getting a toilet put into the room, for those “moments” during extended play sessions 
Useful Links for Building the Ultimate Game Room:
