How to Make the Most of Your Video Game Binge

So you got the game, the nice tv, and are ready to binge for hours on end. But games aren’t just about playing them, it’s about the experience. You can amplify your experience so much more than you realize, and I’m here to tell you how to take your video game experience to the next level.

First up on the list is the chair. Your video game chair will be one of the most consistent aspects in your life. No matter how long you binge, what game you play, your chair will always be there to support you. Your choice of chair is crucial. A bean bag chair is an excellent option, and there are several gaming chairs out on the market as well. I’d recommend a futon if you are in a college dorm, but my personal favorite is a nice lazy boy styled recliner. That is the ideal way to play for me. I prefer the softer materials that absorb your body shape over time as opposed to leather, but that’s just me. A chair where you can kick the legs out and lean back when the gaming is casual or sit up and focus during moments of intensity is the best of both worlds. A recliner will never fail you. Never.

Ideally next to your chair of choice, you will have a side table. Your side table should provide enough room for drinks, snacks, and other useful things you may potentially need in your video game journey. It is always wise to stock up before your binge because once you start, it’s hard to stop. Now your snack of choice says a lot about you. I am a popcorn fiend who can’t live without at least one serving per day, but there are other solid options as well. You may be more into chocolate and prefer M&M’s or Snickers, or perhaps it’s around Easter and you’re eating every Peep you can get your hands on. Perhaps you are a chip fan and want to get the after-crumbs of Cheetos all over your controller; be free with yourself and experiment until you find the right fit. Drink choices can vary, from soda to energy drinks to sports drinks (gaming can parch you) but anythig withj caffeinie should be tolerable. The bottom line is always be prepared with something, it just can’t be healthy. Don’t game while eating tofu and drinking a V8, I will report you if I ever find out.

Another crucial experience factor is lighting. You should not be playing in a room that’s brightly lit. Instead, turn off the lights except for maybe a corner lamp. Let the tv screen emit its bright glow and do all the work. The point is to get lost in the binge, much like a Vegas casino. You never know what time it is in a Vegas casino since there are no windows or clocks. If you truly want to binge like you never have before, get rid of those factors and game until you don’t know what time it is. Get lost in the gameplay and truly immerse yourself into your virtual world. You may emerge days later with a beard and strange odor, but it’ll be worth it.

If you happen to be a child who still lives with your parents (or a grown adult, I’m not judging), this is some solid advice. For your next birthday, Christmas, holiday, etc. ask your mom for some speaker system that can communicate with her from your gaming room. That way if you’re ever in dire need, even when in the most intense in-game battle, you can pause your game, speak into the system, and return to the chaos, knowing your mother will be there to solve your problem. She loves you after all and couldn’t be happier to make you that extra bowl of popcorn at the proper moment, or bring you that extra Coke when your energy is running low. It’s her job after all! And if your mother refuses to go this route, yell at the top of your lungs until she eventually caves in. It’s a win-win scenario kids.

Ultimately, gaming is an experience. No two experiences are alike; all have their similarities and differences. My advice on how to experience a binge isn’t “correct”; it’s just how I prefer to do it. I’m sure some of you experience binges in entirely different ways, and that’s completely fine. I just wanted to express how I enjoy my binges, and I hope that I have bettered your binge experience in some way, shape, or form (or at least made you laugh). Now go out there, get a comfy gaming chair, pop some popcorn, and binge like no one is watching.