News
Creating a family gaming space
November 18, in the year of our Lord 2014
-- The world of video gaming used to be defined by the
stereotype of the cerebral, socially challenged young man who,
in many ways, lived through video game play. Today, however,
that stereotype has been thrown under the bus as video gaming
has gone mainstream. From kid games and multi-player fantasy
role-playing games to interactive games requiring physical
movement, people of both sexes, of all ages and life stages, now
play video games alone and in groups.
With the rise to prominence of interactive gaming systems and a
host of more family-friendly gaming options, family video gaming
has become much more popular. Playing a PG-rated role-playing
game or bonding over a round of interactive fishing, golfing,
bowling or dancing is a great way to spend quality time with
your family. The opportunity to talk to each other while
playing, to laugh together and even to get some exercise
benefits all the members of your family, young and old.
The ideal family video gaming room
There are two factors that determine whether your family video
gaming room will be a well-loved destination: seating and
electronics.
First off, the seating. You will want plenty of comfortable
seating and a variety of seating options is a good choice. A
four-seater sofa, with perhaps some video gaming chairs or
beanbag chairs, even some floor pillows, can all come together
and offer comfortable, flexible seating options for children and
adults. When you arrange the furniture in the room, keep in mind
that many video games, particularly those played on
movement-based systems such as the Wii, require plenty of room
for said movement. Make sure that there is plenty of floor space
in front of the television so that these games can be played
safely and to ensure that other family members may still watch
comfortably from their seats.
Next, the electronics. Of course, you will want to have a
high-quality television that can deliver excellent picture and
sound quality for whatever type of video game you are playing
together. Plasma screens offer excellent black screen
resolution, perfect for those deep space shooter games. For even
better sound quality, consider additional speakers such as a
sound bar or other audio system. Your choice of gaming console
or system is entirely up to you and your family’s needs; many of
the consoles available today also feature technology that allows
for video playback, including movies and access to online
programming, so that may be a consideration as well, especially
if the room will also serve as a non-gaming gathering place.
Once you have put together your family gaming space, it should
not simply be a matter of plopping down and zoning out for hours
on end. Family video gaming should be primarily about bonding
with your family so remember to make it interesting. Encourage
friendly competition by planning your own family tournaments.
Spend your Sundays (after church) preparing to watch football on
television by playing a bit of football together in the game
room. Take advantage of dance and musical games to learn new
skills together. Spending quality time together while playing
video games may sound like a contradiction in terms but all time
spent as a family learning, laughing and cheering together is
without a doubt time well spent.