The trend known as cocooning was first created in the 80s, where people stayed at home rather than spend their leisure time outdoors. This trend saw the emergence of systems named home entertainment, which combined video and audio systems, within one of the rooms in a home. This later expanded into systems named home theater, which feature gaming, audio in surround sound, and televisions in a wide screen format. Concurrently, improvements on the technology that powers video games brought about games that featured role playing with action and graphics that are astoundingly realistic led to what are known as gaming chairs or media chairs. These are expressly designed for the comfort and relaxation of those who play video games, watching television, and listening to music.
When looking at the gaming chair’s main components, the first one has to be the actual chair. Some chairs are game specific, like those made specifically for racing games, which are built in the manner if actual racing car seats, and imitate their feel and look. Speakers on the rear and front of these chairs provide effects that are described as being surround sound. Depending upon seat quality, the speakers range from reconfigured speakers to the gaming chair to high quality specimens featuring realistic experiences of sound. Placement of speakers varies with these gaming seats, as some feature them on the arms and others placed a distance away.
Gaming chairs also feature sub woofers, for bass provision as well as a sensation of rumbling. This is known as user experience enhancement, and it is mounted on the under side of the chair and picks out movement and sound to improve the gamer’s tactile experiences. Amplifiers are also included in this sound experience, determining the sound channel numbers and power of the surround sound. Finally, control systems or panels are included to these seats, to control all the divergent media, including MP# players, game consoles, computer, CD player, DVD player, and television.
Gaming chairs are more practical for the individual, rather than a family unit. For family entertainment purposes, a better option may be a home theater arrangement, which includes a sub woofer and surround sound, which is easily enjoyed by more people. Secondly, space is another factor for consideration, as gaming chairs are manufactured for apartments or smaller rooms, due to the fact that they are made to be compact and fit into smaller spaces.