Here is a candid look at where I play console games. Right now, this is mainly an Xbox room, but I do occasionally play on older systems in here, like the Sega Genesis and Master System. My PC(s) and PS4 are in my office.
The retro aesthetic is not necessarily by design. The house is 60+ years old and built on a concrete slab. Virtually nothing has been changed in that time (outside of the owners).
You'll notice the This End Up furniture, it is from the 1980s, and my father used it for one of his businesses. It dominates the room. The faux wood paneling below the chair molding is original. The machine in the middle is a dehumidifier that I didn't remove for the photos because this isn't a glamour shoot. When your house is on a concrete slab, summers in Virginia can get moist, so you need one of these around.
"Retro Gaming"
I'm not big on those little Ikea cube things to display my collection. I place them around the room and keep them playable for when I want them. These days, I'm rather focused in my collecting. When times are good financially, I collect for the Sega Master System (my first real love). I'm not even big on calling it "retro." I was born in 1975, so I grew up with this stuff. It's a nostalgia hit, of course, but it's a reminder of much more, particularly, how a good game and a good experience are still good, even in comparison to what we have today.
Way too many people are settling for bad gaming experiences in their place of gaming (home, apartment, or otherwise). I despise gaming at a desk. That is for work. I think too many people do it, and it contributes to the bland, sterile, spreadsheet-like games we get too often now.
Nothing in this room is "high end." Again, not by design... we don't have a lot of money.
The TV: A TCL (HDR-enabled, so it is enough for me). Got it on sale for less than $300 a few years ago.
The Console: Xbox Series X. Purchased around 2021 sometime.
The Stereo: A thrift store find ($30). New enough to have an ARC port.
Speakers: The front speakers are inherited KLH from the 1970s. I have an old Pioneer subwoofer and Polk speakers in the back (not pictured).
In the Window: I have a 2+ year old petunia, basil, and four banana pepper plants.
The White Table: In the bottom picture, sitting on the white table, are "recent" things that I've either picked up thrifting or actively searched out for whatever reason.
This room is where I spend my time playing the Xbox Series X, watching movies, and watching soccer. My wife and daughter will often visit me here to hang out. We also use this room for when family comes over.
Up until the last six years of my life, I've lived a transitory life, never staying in one domicile for more than three years! So I've had almost a dozen "setups" in my life from here in Virginia, to North Carolina, to Ohio, and back again. There are things I like from each different place, but I'm most happy in this new one. Gaming, yes, but not moving around and having a little family makes it the best.
Thanks for reading. Questions, comments: ljbaby654 at Gmail
