Billiards and ping pong tables are passé. If you’re looking to impress guests, or just entertain yourself, you’ll need a game room with a bit more byte.
Below we’ve outlined the ultimate next-gen gaming setup, as well as some options for the classics crowd.
More:Upgrade Your Entertainment System
The Optimal Set-Up
Our selections are made to accompany your next-generation gaming console of choice, from Playstation to PC.
The Space
Where should your game room go? Ideally, in the world’s most wi-fi enabled cave.
Acoustics and lighting are of utmost concern. You’ll want to cultivate an immersive soundscape, and avoid the lens glare and saturation generated by naturally well-lit rooms.
While "windowless room" doesn’t always evoke the most enjoyable of images, remember what you are going for here: the ultimate at-home theater of gaming.
Basements more often than not make the most sense. Be sure you have a solid wi-fi connection in the subterranean space if you go this route, or be prepared to invest in an extender (or separate router), as online play is an essential component of so many of the latest games.
More:Keeping Connected Through the Intercom
The Display
The LG E6
lg.comLast week, when talking about home entertainment systems, we (rightfully) sung the praises of Sony’s $60,000 projector and the IMAX Home Theatre. And while both would provide truly unique gaming experiences, we recommend the LG E6 65" Class Smart TV, for two reasons:
You’re building a game room, but you don’t want to employ an IT department. With multiple HDMI and USB ports,the E6 will let you connect any, or all, of your gaming devices, be that Playstation, XBox, Nintendo or a customized PC gaming rig, with ease. And the E6's 4k panel means the TV is a good fit for any of your gaming devices. It’s a really solid system for gaming—perfect blacks, impeccable picture quality and virtually no motion blur due to the display’s OLED (organic light-emitting diode) capabilities.
The E6 is available in 55" ($3,499.99) and 65" ($4,999.99).
The Sound
Wireless 5.1 Surround Sound Package
sonos.comWhen it comes to superior sound, it’s hard to rival Sonos.
The Sonos 5.1 Surround Sound Package comes with the PLAYBAR, the SUB and two PLAY:1 speakers and offers the full-theater experience from earth-shattering to whisper sharp sound.
From cut scenes to combat, Sonos Surround Sound will give gamers that additional, and very essential, immersive element.
The Sonos 5.1 Surround Sound Package is available for $1,796.
More:Adding Audio to Your Smart Home
The Seating
The Cinema Series
elitehometheaterseating.comThere is a whole industry of dedicated "gaming chairs," but the options range from the garish to...the gaudily garish.
For the purposes of a top-of-the-line gaming theater, we need top-of-the-line theater seats.
There are a wealth of options, including the option to customize your own chair piece-by-piece, at Elite Home Theater Seating.
We recommend checking out the Cinema Series, which offers motorized recline and lumbar chiropractic support in a variety of layouts for $1,950 per seat position.
Bring the Arcade Home
For those looking to recreate the lost afternoons of their youth, albeit without the endless expenditure of quarters, pinball and arcade machines are the obvious choice.
Sites like Gameroom Champ and The Pinball Company offer an impressive arsenal of arcade-ready, modern-era pinball machines—new and used—ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
If your tastes run a bit more Street Fighter than Stern, Dream Arcades and Home Arcade Systems have all the architects of your misspent childhood, with a myriad of customizable options.
For those interested in a pinball investment, remember: buying one is just half the battle. Pinball machines, particularly older models, won’t maintain their "crispness" forever, particularly if you are a more aggressive player. Unless you are prepared to teach yourself pinball machine maintenance, plan to pay a professional for upkeep.