I used to game on the couch, but bad eyes have forced me into a chair a little closer to the screen. I usually only have three games on the go at anytime: one single player, one online multiplayer (TF2), and one portable.

Nice idea for a post. Let's hope everyone posts how they game!

I usually sit 1.5 arm-lengths away (sorry - no tape measure) from my 22-inch monitor in a comfortable chair.

I usually play without food or drink. I tried playing Gears 2 with a friend while getting drunk - now I can't remember finding Dom's wife.

Cos I can't fit everyone into my student-halls room, I have to move my gear to the kitchen to play Rock Band with a group. That's a bitch, because there's no ethernet port in the kitchen, so no LIVE.

I game in my room on a recliner. I sit about six feet away and play on a 40-inch LCD HDTV. I usually don't eat while gaming because I don't like greasy controllers.

I generally play from anywhere between 20 mins to 4 hours.

I usually play one game at a time (occasionally two), because I won't end up finishing them, otherwise.

I like this post and I've long been curious about how other people game.

How I game depends on if I'm playing a PC or console game. If I'm playing on my PC, I fire up one of about 5 to 10 games I have going at one moment (as I play a lot of mods, I have lots of games going on at once). I generally have one "main" game and lots of little side games. I listen to podcasts as I play (usually politics/news or sports), and I pause a every now and then to check e-mail, do some work, or read articles. I usually play in the evening, though I get some daytime playtime in if it's work-related. I eat and drink while playing, too. My desk has special areas for food and beverages so I won't spill on my PC. 

If I'm playing a console game, I play in the evening in the recliner portion of my comfy couch. We have a nice plasma, and it's great for gaming. I play for an hour or so at a time, unless it's a game I'm really enjoying (I had some 6-hour stints with Demon's Souls a while back). If I'm playing Wii, I tend to sit up in order to have room to perform the motion controls.

I play my DS when I'm on public transit, when the wife's watching TV and I want to be with her but not pay attention to what she's watching, or in my recliner in my bedroom before going to bed. 

Pantsless, always.

Seriously though, I don't have much of a set pattern. I generally sit on the couch, but sometimes I stand in front of the TV if it's a dark scene and there's a bit of glare. I also have this crazy jerry-rigged headphone setup that I use when it's late or I don't want to disturb my roommates.

Lately I've found myself favoring shorter games and demos -- although at the moment I've deep into the not-so-short Mass Effect 2.

Like Jason, the way I game depends on the platform.



I mostly play games on my PC. I have a large desk, under which my tower sits. Most importantly, however, are my monitors. I have 3 of them. At this point, it's difficult to direct my entire attention to a single thing. So while playing Modern Warfare 2 online, I'll simultaneously watch a film and talk to friends on MSN -- I hate putting my extra desktop real estate to waste. I have a pretty big desk, which means I have space for snacks, drinks, and other munchables. I sometimes listen to music or podcasts as I game, but movies and televisions shows usually monopolize any extra attention I have.

On the flip side, my television rests on a small table at the end of my bed, which means I that I'm lying down whenever I play 360. Because my bed is on the other end of the room, I can't do much else beyond gaming.

But then again, I'm rarely on my 360.

Lastly (and sadly) the Nintendo DS gets next to no face-time with Omar. I'm usually busy at work, with school, or on the site.

My PC gaming nest consists of a comfy desk chair, some ergonomic pads, and enough desk space to allot any sort of peripheral or game guide. Like Alex, I sit roughly an arm's length away from my monitor. No food or drink.

For consoles, I like to lounge in my futon couch while peering over the Rock Band drum kit that sits right in front of the screen. I guess my height is to blame for my lack of initiative in moving the darn thing.

I usually hover around one or two games in my play queue, depending on my mood: multiplayer games of varying calibers (shooters, MMORPGs) to some single-player titles. I'm a night owl, so I usually game until the wee hours of the morning, 1 or 2 AM.

I do nearly 100% of my gaming in front of a computer screen. I don't have an HD television, but I do have a really nice 22" LG monitor (my roommate has a Samsung monitor with similar specs). My roommate and I are both big gamers, so he keeps the 360 hooked up in his room and I keep the PS3 in mine -- that way we don't have to fiddle with switching video cables all the time. I'm playing Final Fantasy 13 on the PS3 right now.

Wii gaming is done in the living room on an old SDTV, and I don't do a whole lot of portable gaming -- I have a DS Fat and it makes my hands go numb if I play too long.



On the PC side, I have a computer with decent specs, and since I'll will only play FPSes with a mouse, I do most of my action-oriented gaming on my computer.

With duration, it has a lot to do how much I like the game. When I'm really in to a game, I'll play in huge  blocks the moment I have free time. Luckily, I'm on spring break. Right now, I'm on hour four of a Final Fantasy 13 marathon (I'm just taking a break to check my email). As for eating and drinking, I tend to do neither while gaming.

If I'm getting down with some online or local multiplayer, though, I always make sure to have libations on hand.

As a last thought, one quirk I have is that I'm really indecisive about what I want to do when I have free time. Sometimes I actually get paralyzed by my options (play a game, watch a movie, read a book), and I end up wasting a lot of time putting things in or on or whatever then turning the off or taking them out. Does anyone else do this?

I think many people can relate, and I know I can.  Sometimes the magnanimous decision of simply choosing which game/console I want to play is so epic that I go back to the safety of my computer and dick around on the internet for another half hour.  I've been getting better about that though, by actually making a rough schedule of what I plan to play for each day of the coming week.  Sounds a bit ridiculous, but it's working.

Back on topic: I do all my gaming on consoles, in an office chair, in my room, on a 20" SDTV, using my stereo for sound.  Like Lance, I usually only play one major single-player game at a time (unless it's massive time-consuming RPG, then I may simultaneously play another single-player game as well), and then have one or two multi-player games to occasionally turn to.  I'm also a music game nut, so I'll throw in some Guitar Hero or Rock Band to mix things up.

I have almost always have a box of Ritz Bitz PB by my side while gaming, and I always have a water bottle.  Depending on the game, I've been known to play anywhere from half-hour to eight-hour spurts.  It's amazing how fast time flies when you're playing MW2 with friends.

James, not only do I spend too long taking a game out, putting it away, then getting out a book and putting it away, then playing some tunes -  but I also get "numb fingers" when playing the DS or PSP as well.

I've never given this too much thought; regardless of the minute differences between platform choice, though, one constant I have is the need for concentration.

I like to play a lot of challenging games with complex systems, which tends to require significant focus. I don't like to listen to records overtop of whatever I'm playing, and I also try to finish up any loose ends around the house so I can devote a large chunk of uninterrupted time to the game at hand.

I do tend to boot up PC and PS3 games most often, but my DS gets a lot of play on the train while I commute to and from work.

I have a nice huge recliner about 5 feet back from my 42 inch plasma. Behind the recliner on both sides sits the two rear speakers of my surround sound set-up. I plop my behind on the recliner, lean back about 70% of the allowable recline, grab my little travel pillow for neck support, and either turn on my air conditioner or heat depending on the weather.

I never eat while gaming or even drink. I find a comfortable spot on the recliner, even if it takes me 10 minutes, and I sit still and get lost in the game. I never understood how some people play games walking around or while talking to people, etc. In order to be engulfed in the game and get the true experience you have to treat it like you are in a movie theatre alone.

Where did you find these pictures? 

Usually on my bed, made into a makeshift couch with the help of several pillows, constantly changing positions because I'm one of those people who can never get comfortable.  I usually have several games on my plate at a time, but only ever stick to one or two seriously.

I have a short attention span so I can usually only play for an hour or two before losing interest and I take frequent breaks to check Facebook, watch a few minutes of TV, or get a snack (which I do not eat while playing).  Depending on the game--if it's not heavy on plot and/or if I don't find much interest in its soundtrack--I might listen to music or podcasts.  For example: FF13, ME2, Uncharted 2, Fallout 3 = undivided attention; Borderlands (or any loot-driven RPG), most MMOs, racing games, fighting games = catch up on podcasts/listen to some tunes.  I actually have a hobby of trying to match music to game.  If I am playing a game for a long session, I often do so with beer, wine or (preferably) Jameson close at hand

If it's a DS game, and I'm home, then it's a real spectacle.  I'm playing that, listening podcasts/music, watching TV (possibly while also listening to music), chatting on AIM and/or Facebook...it's a marathon of media saturation that cannot possibly be healthy for any human being.

@James: I do the same thing!  I seriously waste a lot of time--to say even approximately how much would be embarrassing--just doing nothing because I can't decide on what to do.

EDIT: Oh yes, I forgot to mention my biggest quirk: I have a really hard time playing games while the sun is out.  I run every morning, but other than that I don't do a whole lot of outdoor activities, so this restriction clearly makes no sense.  But if the sun is shining, I feel guilty for not doing something more productive.  If it's cloudy, I have no problems.

@Christian You can justify daytime gaming with this: It's for the good of Bitmob. 

I do almost all of my gaming in the living room. I sit in a armchair made of leather with my feet on the footstool, around 2-3 meters from the TV (a 42" Kuro plasma). Since we don't have a good surround sound yet I usually play using headphones. When I play games I usually sink down to the point where I am almost lying instead of sitting. Although when I play multiplayer games online or a really tense game I find myself often standing up or sitting in a tense position. I almost never eat or drink anything while I play since I get so caught up in the action or atmosphere that I simply can't eat or drink anything because that takes me out of the game. Sometimes I listen to podcasts while I play but only if I play "simple" games like Burnout or something else that doesn't require to much attention or concentration to be played.

I too can't play more then one single player game at a time. I usually mix things up by playing some Bad Company 2  multiplayer (since of last week) or some Street Fighter IV online. If I just want to relax and not think to much I play games like Eden and Flower. Most of the time I play for an hour or two, although some games make me sit and play for hours. Last time that happened was with Uncharted 2. But this can also happen when I play Fifa with my friends, hours just fly by in what feels like minutes.

I usually game from either my recliner or the papason (sp?) chair in our living room. I usually have some sort of beverage handy, and I've recently rediscovered the greatest gaming snack of all-time. Now, I like Gamer Grub, and I would buy more of it if I could actually find it in stores, but an easier to procure substitute is a bag of Goldfish crackers. I like the flavor-blasted pizza and it even pours easier than Gamer Grub.

When I was a kid, my brother and I had a pair of video rockers in our bedroom, and we played from the NES to the Playstation on those things. Now I play NES on a loveseat in the basement, but it's still on a 13" TV.

This is such a great article! Also, the guy in the second picture is my new hero. How on earth do you eat, smoke, drink, and play games all at the same time? And he makes it look so damn easy. Is he wearing a beret? Awesome.

Seriously, that picture should be to Bitmob as Tingle cosplayer was to EGM.

@Luke What the hell is a "papason (sp?)"? I've never heard of a piece of furniture like that. 

OK. I know I already spoke about that second picture, but there is just so much going on there. I didn't even notice the stains on his shirt right away. Or the fact that he's got a beer between his legs, and he's surrounded on all sides by empties. This guy has got it all figured out.

It's papasan. And it looks like this:

@James/Jason/Luke: Oh man!  I have one of those but never knew what it was called.  Those things rock.  It's in my garage because there's no room for it in my room (much less anywhere else in the house).

@James @Luke @Christian That's a papasan? How in the hell is that contraption comfortable? No lower back support? No neck support? I'd be in a great deal of pain after "sitting" in that deathtrap.

@Jason I concur wholeheartedly. But we had one when I was a kid, and I will tell you one thing: They are great for making forts. Put it upside down between two elevated items like tables or couches, and bam! Your fort has a vaulted dome ceiling. You can then put a sheet over it and put the pad directly beneath it.

@Jason: You "sit" in it more like a bed than a chair.  You have a point, though; I haven't used it since I was a kid.  Now that I'm a grown-up--with lower back problems at 24 (thanks, mom's family's genes)--it might not be quite what I remember.

EDIT: Or should I say, "Thanks, papasan"? ;)

It's something you really have to lounge in. You kind of feel like that guy in the Warcraft episode of South Park, that's how far back you lean. I haven't had any back or neck pain when using it, but it gives you a weird viewing angle that doesn't work with most fps games. Big Lots always has them, so if you want to try one out, that's the place to go.

I game on my side of the couch. I say my side cause it has my body molded into it( and its cloth).  How I sit depends on what kind of game I am playing.  ex. COD:MW2  sitting forward  looking at the screen most likely with my tongue part way out of my mouth. If I'm playing something like Mass effect then I am  laid back chillin, cris cross apples on the couch. One thing that does not change is what's next to me, a drink to get me drunk and a drink to keep me hydrated  both to be enjoyed.

What want to know if people have a specific attire they like to wear when gaming?? I like to come home from work( at six am) take a shower get and into my sweats and sweatshirt. SWEATS= warmth/ bloodflow haha

@Ryan Baldassin If I'm home, I'm in T-shirts and gym shorts, unless it's very cold.

@Ryan Pajama pants and a long-sleeve t-shirt.

I mainly play on the PC. I usually play with headsets on and the lights turned off. To not strain my eyes to much, I've installed a backlight behind my monitor to even out the light in the room. I like it that way, it sort of sets the mood. 

As for food, I rarely eat while gaming. One reason is that I don't want grease on my keyboard and mouse and also because I want to concentrate on what I'm playing.

This means that when I play, I do it straight with no interruptions for around 2-3 hours. This holds true especially with long games such as Dragon Age. When I'm exhausted with Dragon Age, I usually take a short break and switch to some shooters and play them from checkpoint to checkpoint. Once I'm done with that, then I'll go back to Dragon Age.

I usually do my work for the day before I play, that is because I easily get distracted from my gaming whenever I have something important that needs to be done.

Well, that's how I game! Good post!

Now that i have moved, i have gone from having the best couch in the world which i loved to sit on for hours and play games (and even sleep on instead of walking to my bedroom five feet away.) 

Now i sit in a leather computer chair in front of a 32inch LCD that i bought recently to play games on. If i am playing a game with that doesn't involve all of my attention i will turn on a movie on my computer that is to the left of me when i am gaming. I almost always have a soda or bottle of water next to me to drink and when i eat i do it in front of the computer and browse the internet.

If i am working, i only get in a couple of hours of gaming a night, if that. On my days off I will game anywhere from short bursts like 10 to 30 minutes to 15 hours or more. It just depends on if anything is going on that day and how long i actually want to invest in gaming that day.