This has actually shown up on a number of sites in the past few months, but I wanted to be sure to share this with everyone on here.  I’ve always been a big fan of arcade cabinets wheter they be you standard old-school designs or sleek and modern gaming stations.

The Sega Lindbergh-based Virtua Fighter 5 arcade cabinet is a great example of a modern design and I know many people would love to get their hands on their own.  However, due to the price of the machine itself and the necessary shipping, it’s not exactly practical for more people.  L_A_Akira  from the VirtuaFighter.com forum took matters into his own hands by desiginng his very own relatively low-cost, homebrew setup.  It helps that he’s a skilled 3D modelist, but you can see from some of the shots below that it turned out quite well.

The images on the original forum thread seem to be broken, but Tatoon seemed to grab most of them and put them on Flickr.  You can see all the images here and also view them in slideshow mode.

Japan always gets the best videogame artwork. I’m not bitter, but it definitely makes decorating a grown-up-friendly game room more challenging. Since we can’t just wander into your average gaming shop and expect to find a wide array of frame-worthy artwork, we have to be a bit more creative in finding suitable pieces.

This time around, I just happened to be browsing around some Nintendo-themed photos on Flickr and found a collection of framed Famicom Disk System posters belonging to djdac. Considering how pathetic most of the NES-era art is here in the US, I was amazed by how much some of them reminded me of epic posters you might see in a movie theatre.

It turns out that these posters were distributed in Japan either at game stores and on the streets for advertisements or folded up and included with the actual Famicom Disk System games. They measure up to about 11.75 x 8.5 cm, so they aren’t very large, but when matted and framed, they can be a great addition to your wall. Even though there are some good Nintendo Power posters out there, these Famicom posters (sometimes referred to as handbills) typically have a more artistic look to them in addition to the Japanese charm that intrigues us foreigners. I did an eBay search for “Famicom poster” and found a handful of other excellent examples that I didn’t see on Flickr.

The Metroid poster is my personal favorite (especially when compared to an American alternative) due to the finely detailed drawing, beautiful color work, and the creative use of animation frames accenting the background. You can see the rest of my favorites below including the epic, old-school Link saving Zelda and the geeky Japanese kid pwning a terrified adult at Tetris.

If the original prints are too pricey or hard-to-find for you, you can pick up a few reproductions for a low price from “i heart yuna” on the FamicomWorld forums. From the 8.15″ x 11.6″ dimensions he mentions, it sounds like he enlarged them, so these may actually be a better solution for hanging in a game room. If you know of any other sources for these posters, let me know in comments section below.

Seating, in particular, can make a huge difference in longer gaming sessions as the comfort level and posture can vary between different types of seating. There is not a perfect solution for game room seating since different types of seating suit different gaming environments. However, there are a number of unique options for gaming relaxation and I hope to show you the benefits and drawbacks of each in order to help you choose your best option.

Office Chair

If you typically play games on your PC by yourself (either PC games or emulated consoles), you may want to invest in a higher-quality office chair.

I would definitely stay away from really cheap office chairs if you can afford it as they are usually quite uncomfortable and tend to break often.

More popular chairs like the Herman Miller Aeron have been praised for their comfort level and design, but they tend to be quite pricey and don’t always hold up as well as they should. There is also the Mirra, which is the Herman Miller’s more affordable alternative.  If you want to look through some cheaper brands, take a look at other office chairs on Amazon.com

Advantages:

• Great for small spaces and small screens
• High comfort for individual players
• Usually maintains good posture
• Adjustable

Disadvantages

• Quality chairs are quite expensive for a single seat
• Aren’t very practical or attractive for large setups
• Can break fairly easily

Sofa / Couch

The couch is probably one of the most common seating arrangements for large living room environments that have larger screens. However, for those that are starting out with their own place, budget can keep you from getting a nice one as well. For the typical gamer budget, I recommend checking out IKEA or checking your local furniture chain’s clearance section. Sometimes you can find a good deal.

Advantages

• Great for party console gaming
• Quite comfortable
• Allows you to lay down
• More practical for other entertaining situations

Disadvantages

• Nicer-looking couches can be quite pricey
• Take up a lot of space
• Difficult to move around

Recliner

Think of it as a one-person couch, but the recliner may serve as a great living room seat for the single gamer or a complement to a full couch. There are many different styles and manufacturers, but La-Z-Boy is the most common recommendation for big-time comfort. Other options include Ekornes’ Stressless chairs, which, according to some, put La-Z-Boy to shame. They comfortable and supportive in addition to well-padded armrests (bare wood armrests suck for gaming). They come in 2-3 sizes per style, so you can get the one that fits you best.

Advantages

• Doesn’t take up much space
• Very comfortable
• Attractive if combined with a couch
• Practical for other entertainment uses

Disadvantages

• Not very easy to move around
• Can be quite pricey
• Higher price-to-seat ratio than a couch

“Gaming” Chairs

You would think that a chair made specifically for console gaming would be your perfect choice, right? Well, while they have some positive aspects, they are far from the most practical solution. They are easy to move and place closer to the TV, but are basically one-size-fits-none, and the padding is typically very thin. Many models also are void of any armrests. Finally, since they are a new and trendy piece of furniture that is specialized, they are not the most cost-effective solution either.  If you are interested, take a look at the selection at Amazon.com

Advantages

• Easy to move
• Some have specialized hardware like built-in subwoofers

Disadvantages

• Not very comfortable
• Not much of a value
• Most aren’t very stylish

Beanbag Chair

The oft-overlooked genre of seating has most of the advantages of a specialized gaming chair with added flexibility, style, and value. A top-quality beanbag can be molded into a number of positions and will actually hold a comfortable shape quite well. They are also easy to move, store, and transport which make it great for apartment dwellers and students that don’t want something big and bulky.

Personally, I have a black Sumo Omni that I have been quite satisfied with . Unlike some cheap beanbag chairs, the “beans” inside are a bit bigger and more durable which results in a long-lasting ability to maintain its shape while being comfortable. You can flatten it out and you can lay out easily on it. Fluff it back up and it will have plenty of extra space providing adequate neck support so you can actually lean back. Cram it up against a wall and the neck support is amazing. Most quality beanbags like the Sumo Omni or products from LoveSac or FOOF, will run you around the $100 range with shipping included. While the price initially sounds high, I’m sure a lot of it goes to pay for the shipping.

On a side note, as a person that moved 6 times, to three different corners of the US in the matter of three years, I can appreciate the advantages of light and flexible furniture. I fell into the temptation of going with inflatable furnature, but was severely disappointed with the discomfort and constant leaking from even the “best” blow-up furniture. While the beanbag chair doesn’t compress down quite as much, it is the best compromise for the frequent mover.

Advantages

• Infinitely adjustable
• Easy to move & hide
• Modern look
• Relatively inexpensive
• Comfortable

Disadvantages

• Not suitable for a formal setting
• Not practical for more than one person

As I mentioned in my article, “Game Collecting: How the Internet Changed the Hobby“, gamers typically get carried away with accumulating all the games they can get their hands on in order to build an especially impressive collection that they can show off to their friends and the world.

This collecting habit can lead to a very messy gaming environment if extra effort is not made to organize your library with the proper storage furniture such as shelving and cabinets.

The Benefits of Shelving

• Storing your library vertically can make a very good use of space
• Open shelving allows your to show off your collection easily
• You can also absorb the view of your meticulously organized sea of games at any given instant.
• Adding cabinet doors (covered in detail later in this article) has similar benefits, but allows you to hide them when desired for cleaner presentation.
• Making a larger investment in quality shelving may definitely enhance your collecting experience.

Sizing Up Your Collection’s Needs

• A smaller collection may require as little as a single, 3 ft. shelf, while more expansive ones often require numerous shelves at 6 ft. or higher.
• Don’t forger about what other non-game items, such as magazines and figures, may occupy your game room, if any at all.
• You should plan for slightly larger shelves than your initial estimate as it leaves more room for growth.

Shelf Depth Is Important

• The depth of a shelf is one of the most overlooked aspects of a shelf.
• Typical shelves, and those most easily obtained are usually 10-12 in. in depth. Most boxed or encased games, regardless of format, are typically half of this size.
• There would be a good amount of unused space on each shelf if the games were not multi-layered.
• You might wish to use this leeway for alternate gaming items, such as handhelds, toys, accessories, etc.

CD Shelves for Minimalist Approach

• If you don’t need extra space, CD shelves may be your simplest option
• These common shelving are not much deeper than the CD cases they are designed for.
• They often have adjustable shelves, so you could easily adapt them to hold DVD cases or vintage game boxes.
• Just remember that non-game items typically cannot be held on such units without their own dedicated area or extra unit altogether. (Which will defeat the minimalist concept)

Keep the Weight of the Items in Mind

• If you are like me and have a large collection of gaming magazines (see picture below) or other heavy items, you need solid, reinforced shelves.
• Always be sure to place heavier items such as arcade sticks or magazines on the lower shelves, namely the bottom one.
• The higher shelves, whether held by pegs or secured strongly, offer less resistance than that of the stable bottom shelf.
• Pegged shelves generally offer 35-45 lbs of support at maximum (check instructions to be sure), but are susceptible to contorting.
• If your shelf it tall, you may need some way of fastening the shelving unit to the wall to prevent the unit from tipping over.

Taking It To Next Level With Cabinets

• With cabinet doors on your shelves, the room that has a much more mature feel
• The space seems instantly cleaner and more organized
• With doors are shut, everything looks in place, even if things aren’t organized perfectly
• The environment is more suitable for having guests over
• You will win major points with your parents or significant other
• While the cabinet picture below is not showing video games, the concepts can be applied the same way: shelving for boxes, cases, and extra consoles along with containers for extra controllers and cables.

How To Obtain Shelving & Cabinets

• You can buy brand-new cabinets (Ikea, Target, etc)
• You can build your own (mine are all hand-made, but not by me)
• You can recycle older cabinets (from your kitchen, bathroom etc.) and paint or re-finish them and touch them up with some new hardware.

My Thoughts and Experiences

There is something about having cabinet doors covering up the array of items that is actually refreshing. It gives the room more consistent and clean feel.

When I was first married, my wife told me she didn’t want all my games sitting out in the open (whether they neatly on shelves or not). At first I was a bit upset because I liked showing off my collection. However, after we recently moved into our new house, I have some built-in cabinets in my office and media area in which I can hide my gaming collection. I have to say I wouldn’t go back to normal bookshelves again.

If I need to browse or show off my collection, it is easy as opening a few cabinet doors. I personally feel that it’s more of a thrill to open the doors and be welcomed to an array of games than seeing them every moment I’m in the room.

Obviously, these storage cabinets don’t need to be as elegant and expensive as those you might find in a newer kitchen or bathroom. Mine are very simple wood that has been painted with white paint. The hardware (handles and hinges) can actually make the biggest difference and give them the most personality.

Obviously cabinets aren’t something that everyone needs in their game room, but those of us that need to keep our rooms looking presentable to the general public, they can be quite beneficial.

Personally, I’m still working out all the organization for specific things like controllers and spare cables. I’ll have to work on a guide for all the specifics another time.

Note: I want to say a special thanks to SegaVega who helped me write some of this article a while ago.