GamerChair.org: Buyer's Guide

Is it really worth the money to invest in a new gaming chair? When it comes to creating the ultimate video game experience, most people think of consoles and accessories as being the most important ingredients.

Serious gamers know that the surrounding environment and furniture can make a tremendous difference when it comes to your comfort and level of enjoyment. After all, sitting on the couch or in a desk chair just doesn’t provide that immersive environment that most gamers are after!

Imagine playing a heart-pounding action game as a powerful sub-woofer behind your back generates thunderous bass and surrounds you with life-like sounds. Why settle for a boring couch or recliner when you can unleash an adrenaline-pumping ride that engages all of your senses and makes you feel like you are part of the game?

Knowing Where to Start

Well, that certainly sounds good but with so many different styles and brands available, how do know where to start? Buying a gaming chair can be much like shopping for any other kind of furniture; there are entry level models with basic features and there are high end choices that can enhance your gaming and help to create a more realistic and engaging setting.

There are several different types of video game chairs to choose from including folding, fixed position, bean bag, rocker, and swivel chairs. When deciding between them, you should take into consideration the amount of space you have to work with, your budget, and your own personal style. In addition, comfort and durability are also important and should play a role in your decision making process.

Pricing and Features

Basic video rockers that don’t take up much in the way of floor space start at around $35-$45. Once audio connections and speakers are added, average prices move up to the $99 to $169 range. The higher end gaming chairs usually offer better speakers with surround sound and additional features such as vibration or built-in game storage compartments. Many of the top selling models are system compatible and are designed specifically to work with common components such as the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Gameboy, PSP, iPod, DVD players, and even home theater systems. A convenient side control panel is included with most top brands such as X Rocker, LumiSource, and Repose. This allows you to adjust key settings such as volume and bass without leaving your seat. Is it worth it to spend a little bit more for the extra features? When you consider how much better and more interactive the gaming experience can be with surround sound and vibration, it almost always makes sense to invest a few more dollars and get a higher quality model that provide you with countless hours of entertainment.

Whether you have a dedicated media room or need comfortable seating for a corner in your bedroom, adding a gamer chair or other specialized piece of furniture designed specifically for playing video games can be an excellent way to make your free time more fun and rewarding!

One of the best-selling chairs for adults this year has been the Ace Bayou X-Rocker II with built-in speakers. The unique combination of quality and price have come together in digital zen to create an accessory that is not only affordable to most folks, but really delivers an incredible amount of value for the price. While the audio system only features a 2.1 level system, the sound quality is excellent when combined with the deep and powerful included sub-woofer. The convenient volume control panel sits right within reach of the operator making it a snap to personalize your experience within seconds of getting set up. In addition to being compatible with each of the major console systems including Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Gameboy, Nintendo Wii, iPod, and most DVD players, the Ace Bayou X-Rocker II SE is the perfect companion to your home theater system for enhancing your favorite movies.

The seat itself is made from heavy-duty vinyl which makes it very sturdy and resistant to everyday wear and tear along with the occasional spill. This is an accessory that clearly was designed to be used and was built to last. The two armrests are made from rock-solid brushed aluminum to provide support for players of all sizes without the user ever having to worry about rips or worn-down upholstery. Each armrest can conveniently be flipped up to create additional room or to accommodate games requiring additional space. One of our favorite features of this particular model is that it can be folded in half for quick and easy storage when it is not in use. Even if you don’t have a lot of space, this can easily be brought out and set up in seconds when you are ready to enjoy a new game or movie.

Standard controls include an input/output jack, an adapter for headphones, a power adapter, 1 RC stereo to mini plug adapter, 1 RCA male to 3.5 mm plug adapter, and 2 RCA female to female plug adapters. The product weighs in at a very managable 48.6 pounds making it easy to adjust or relocate.

This continues to be one of our favorite game seats and carries a very high recommendation. This model continues to make best seller lists at a number of different online retailers and we believe that it has earned its position at the top. The price recently dropped from $150 to $99 on this unit and it currently represents one of the best values in its category.

While the idea of dedicated gaming furniture is somewhat new, 2012 may very well come to be known as the year of the video game chair. In a fairly short period of time, these have evolved from the concept rooms of developers to your favorite retail stores. Some of this technology has been around for a few years making cameo appearances at electronics shows and in high end arcades but was largely unaffordable to the consumer market. As this has begun to change, a flood of innovative new products have recently been released that can help transform your gaming space from average to spectacular. Below are some of the best video game chairs and home simulators currently available on the market.

Playseat GT Gaming Seat

For all of you who are fans of racing games and want to get the full feel of the race through immersion gaming, the Playseat GT SV sound and vibration gaming seat has the look and feel of something straight out of an exotic sports car. This chair features an adjustable center mount for a racing wheel controller along with a lower mount designed for foot pedals. The three point adjustment style makes it adaptable to gamers of all heights and ages which gives it a huge advantage over some of the fixed position seating that many have complained don’t fit adult gamers well.

Moving on to the fun stuff, the head rest features mounted 2 way speakers to give you clear and crisp sound at just the right angle. In addition to the head rest mounted speakers are a powerful subwoofer and rumble motor attached to the base to give you the vibration and feel of an actual race right in your living room! With measurements coming in at 51 x 20 x 39 inches, this isn’t exactly something you can stash away in a closet when you aren’t using it but if you have the room for it, the Playseat GT really delivers!

Once you get this beast going full-throttle, playing a racing game without it will definitely leave you feeling like you are missing out on something. It should be noted that the seat is pictured with a monitor, racing controller and a set of racing pedals to give you an idea of what it looks like when everything is set up but these are not included with the seat as packaged. We recommend the Logitech G27 Racing Wheel as the perfect partner to this set. The cool factor is off the charts on this one but it does come with a healthy price tag at $799. This is one of the most expensive models on our list so don’t get discouraged if you aren’t quite ready to invest that much money in your gaming experience. There are plenty of other great chairs that can fit comfortably into a more modest budget.

X Rocker Pro Series Pedestal Black Gamer Chair with Speakers

Taking a brief break from racing nirvana, it is only fit that we show some love to a great multi-purpose gamer chair chair that can elevate your gaming experience without breaking the bank. The X Rocker Pro Series pedestal chair provides the comfort and quality of a much more expensive seat while keeping the price affordable for recreational gamers. The problem with many of the gaming seats we tested was that they were poorly made or used cheap materials that weren’t very sturdy.

The black X Rocker Pro is built on a rock-solid chrome pedestal base that provides a sturdy foundation that can hold up to countless hours of use by gamers of varying sizes. The wireless capability gives you the freedom you need to set up your gaming space the way you want it, without having to accommodate a bulky wired-in piece of furniture. The chair is compatible with just about every common media device including the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PSP, Wii, iPod, DVD Players, and plenty of others.

The four speaker surround sound system handily outperforms what you would expect for the price as the carefully placed speakers offer a terrific sensory experience punctuated by a deep subwoofer and audio driven vibration that lets you feel the game. The retail price on this one is around $299 but it can be found for well under the $200 mark. This chair has continued to see positive reviews from gamers and is currently one of the most popular chairs on the market. This one has been known to sell out quickly so if you are able to find one, grab it before it disappears!

Ace Bayou Adult Video Rocker

There are times when you just need something simple, functional, and affordable which is why the Ace Bayou Adult Video Rocker has continued to appear near the top of the best seller lists when it comes to gaming furniture. This seat addresses the growing demand for a gamer chair large enough to comfortably fit teenagers and adults. These chairs are great when you need something light and portable to pull out when you have several friends over that still delivers comfortable low angle seating. They are made from durable vinyl with colored trim that allows you to match them to an existing color theme or style in a room. The material quickly wipes clean so you can relax and enjoy a snack while you play your favorite game without worrying that you are going to ruin your seat. Priced at just $39, these are a quick and easy way to add gaming furniture on a budget.