Talk to me about front room gaming

I've been prioritising sofa gaming for probably 5 years now. In fact since moving in 2023 I haven't owned a desk at all.

I've made a couple of 6mm MDF boards to go on my lap or across an armchair. Velcro strips to hold the keyboard on, and for the second board I embedded magnets in the back side. Glue a couple of magnets inside the mouse and it was super convenient to store and grab my sofa KB/M kit.

Plus an Xbox controller :)

Also I have a little Bluetooth remote/keyboard gadget, which is useful for the odd email check or if we're playing a movie from the PC.

I find a lot of the games I play are really worth big screen for immersion or just beautiful scenery. Games like Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero dawn, etc are fantastic on a 55" or 65" OLED TV.
 
LuckyBenski said:
I've been prioritising sofa gaming for probably 5 years now. In fact since moving in 2023 I haven't owned a desk at all.

I've made a couple of 6mm MDF boards to go on my lap or across an armchair. Velcro strips to hold the keyboard on, and for the second board I embedded magnets in the back side. Glue a couple of magnets inside the mouse and it was super convenient to store and grab my sofa KB/M kit.

Plus an Xbox controller :)

Also I have a little Bluetooth remote/keyboard gadget, which is useful for the odd email check or if we're playing a movie from the PC.

I find a lot of the games I play are really worth big screen for immersion or just beautiful scenery. Games like Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero dawn, etc are fantastic on a 55" or 65" OLED TV.
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Sounds good. Post some pics
 
LuckyBenski said:

how to upload photos in internet

Excuse the dust, I am reflecting on weekend chores from the sofa :o

I actually can't find the lap board lately... Keyboard and mouse were in the gaming box but the board must have been slotted into something when we moved. I've been happy with controller for most titles lately so haven't looked for it.
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My plan is to go back to water. Nearly got all the bits ready to go. Hopefully the wife won't mind it being a feature
 
cjgardens said:
To small for my aging eyes :(
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Agreed, Steam deck is OK for a plane/train

Mrs plays on the 65" OLED (120Hz), and we have an over the knee keyboard and mouse rest made of very light weight wood, for playing games that require that input style. If you want something discrete, then look an ITX build like a Fractal Terra, but I wouldn't be running a 14900K in one unless it was locked to a low wattage. I think if you've never tried it then you mind find it a bit strange at first, but I got used to it, even managed to play Anno/Civ on it just took a wee while to adjust.
 
LuckyBenski said:
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That looks fine for some student digs or maybe a bachelor pad but I suspect that if someone's missus is already having issues with a desk and PC in the living room then having to put the TV off-center to fit a lit-up gaming PC + some novelty/items in a prominent position in the room isn't likely to fly.

OP might need to look at small form factor cases and getting the PC positioned somewhere discreet/out of sight, or switching to a console, like perhaps the Nintendo Switch.

I guess the other option with a full-size case is just to put it in a cupboard, maybe even say an understairs cupboard and get some cables run through the wall or under the carpet etc. have it set up as a media server + gaming PC but out of sight and with the wireless keyboard, mouse XBox controller(s) put in a draw.

Failing that he should use a spare bedroom or build himself a garden room/office/mancave if he doesn't have a bedroom spare.
 
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We have quite a big front room which is essentially two rooms with the wall knocked through so have computer in the front room in the corner with Xbox Series X and Switch hooked up to the TV.

Nintendo Wii hooked up in the kitchen on the wall.
Gamecube, Nintendo 64, Xbox 360, Xbox One in the bedroom. All hidden inside a drawer.
Super Nintendo mini and a vast array of handhelds in my sons bedroom.
Daughter just has an Xbox Series X and laptop in her room but takes the switch now and again.

Only place we do not have a console is in the bathroom.

I just cannot get rid of my old consoles and must 200-300ish games in baskets mounted on the wall above the stairs. Also never owned a Playstation console in my life which is odd.

My missus has no interest in gaming and hates it really but she is understanding. I was explaining to her the economics of Transport Tycoon today. :D
 
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dowie said:
That looks fine for some student digs or maybe a bachelor pad but I suspect that if someone's missus is already having issues with a desk and PC in the living room then having to put the TV off-center to fit a lit-up gaming PC + some novelty/items in a prominent position in the room isn't likely to fly.
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My wife wants to know if you have a wife :D She's the colourful one, we're just not minimalists as so many seem to be. FWIW the TV is centred to the sofa and the cabinet is off to the side to allow a fan in summer at the right. Not everything has to be symmetrical and bare. Appreciate some people have more rigid ideas of what is a nice lounge.

cjgardens said:
That's pretty cool. What have you do that with?
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It's an Aquacomputer Farbwerk connected to 2 RGB strips and a temperature sensor in the front radiator. Connects via USB for setup but is autonomous too so will still work if PC crashes or something. Aquasuite does the config.
 
LuckyBenski said:
My wife wants to know if you have a wife :D She's the colourful one, we're just not minimalists as so many seem to be. FWIW the TV is centred to the sofa and the cabinet is off to the side to allow a fan in summer at the right. Not everything has to be symmetrical and bare. Appreciate some people have more rigid ideas of what is a nice lounge.
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Surely what I'm pointing out isn't controversial, you pointed out yourself that many people don't like clutter, it was based on "if someone's missus is already having issues with a desk and PC". But sure, some people are quirky etc. different strokes and all that. And no, I haven't popped the question to my gf yet. :)
 
[FnG]magnolia said:
Oh hello @dowie

e: I jumped the proverbial. She'll have a fine man in due course, eh?
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Quite possibly... but more to the point why are the Benskis so interested:

flNQVOR.jpeg
:eek:
 
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cjgardens said:
Hahaha the TV is already there. But I'll need a better one because it's only 60hz

She doesn't know about the pc yet tho, need to find a nice spot for that hahaha
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Does she know the TV she watches TV on is going to be thrown out and replaced by a TV you use for gaming?
 
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