Browse Forums Home Theatre & Automation 1 Dec 30, 2007 10:41 pm I've generally resisted the trend to buy fancy electronic games for my boys, (for reasons good to me) I have buckled at the knees though (it don't happen often) and bought them a Wii for xmas. Have to say I'm quite impressed, yet there's this thing about it....
You really need to have a place that lends itself to this kind of physically active gaming. Playing tennis and such, you do need the space to move around without wrecking the lounge/living room or wherever it happens to be. In our case, we are pushing aside coffee tables and a lounge, to make room. Then I think about the trend for home theatres. Much to the displeasure of some, I (& others) have queried the wisdom of spending big $$$$ on a home theatre, which basically promotes passive viewing. BUT ... Combining the two functions makes perfect sense (to me at least). So, are those of you planning (or already have) a h/t using it as a centre for active gaming? Having a few metres up front before the seating would be the ideal place. What IS necessary though, is decent cross-flow ventilation. So what do ya think? Ash. Re: Home theatre/gaming room 2Dec 30, 2007 10:58 pm Ash, that's exactly what they had at our last place. We had the lounge room converted into a part time theatre set up, with the big tv, playstation 1 & 2, an air hockey table as well. It suited the purpose as it wasn't a dedicated home theatre.
In the new place though, we've decided to make it a dedicated HT, and we've changed the formal lounge room to a kids room by plastering the open wall and adding double doors onto in to close it off....so this is their room... So the hockey table etc will be there for them to use. We thought of getting them a Wii afterwards, but ssshhhhh don't tell them that... It is 4400 x 3680 in size and it should keep them occupied....for a while at least...if not they can help us with the gardening... I don't think the die hard HT addicts will compromise such a room once built though... Re: Home theatre/gaming room 3Dec 31, 2007 10:11 am royalblue So, are those of you planning (or already have) a h/t using it as a centre for active gaming? Yes. But we like to refer to ours as a rumpus or a multi-function room. It's still bare at the moment - only got a rug, a lamp, two bean bags, a tv and a couple of gaming consoles. We hope to use it as a sort of movie and games room. And in the future (when the pitter patter of little feet arrive) a play room. I personally think a particular space/room is at it's best when it's multi-function. But it's not always easy to achieve. So, I guess it just comes down to different people's lifestyles and what is and isn't important to them. [sneakersss] Re: Home theatre/gaming room 4Jan 01, 2008 7:56 pm Other uses for such an area might be kids watching stuff like Wiggles (dancing etc) or video exercise workouts or aerobics.
All of these would need a bit of space, decent cushion in the floor-covering, and plenty of ventilation. Ash. Re: Home theatre/gaming room 5Jan 02, 2008 7:49 am Hi guys.
My theatre has about 3.5 - 4m between the screen and the seats (although there is a coffee table in this space that sometimes needs to be moved), and the room is currently used for (in order of how much): 1. Watching TV - live, recorded, downloaded - on the Media Centre PC, most evenings and whenever a break is needed. 2. Watching movies - sometimes on the rear-pro TV, sometimes on the projector. 3. Playing PS2 - often needing room for playing stuff like guitar hero, gun games (Matt and I imported special light-guns that work with flat panel and projection technologies ) and for setting up the Hyperdrive rig with the steering wheel for Gran Turismo 4 etc. (try that on a 115" screen!!!). 4. Wifey exercising to aerobics DVDs. 5. Listening to music. 6. Playing board games (including DVD assisted board games like "Trivial Pursuit DVD" and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire DVD") with family/friends. This room caters very, very well to all of these activities, so I reckon it was well conceived and money well spent . Re: Home theatre/gaming room 6Apr 21, 2008 10:43 pm Hi everyone,
We're looking at a H/T room which is about 4.5 x 4.0. My lovely fiance has given me permission to have this room as my "trophy" room. So in it will go the 42" lcd a pool table and either 3 recliners or a 3 seat couch. It will probably be a tight fit, but with some careful measurements and low height seating we should fit everything in. As for previous topics, I love the idea of a motorized screen! Re: Home theatre/gaming room 7Apr 22, 2008 12:03 pm Our current plan idea has a home theatre room that has bifold doors that open up to a rumpus room - so it can be closed for 'intimate' movies when there's just the two of us or a small group of friends, or opened up if we have a big group around for a movie or need more space for the wii etc.
I am also in a band so it will help with rehearsals (being able to fit drum kits etc.) - especially if we put proper sound-proofing in. I definitely think that multi function is the way to go though - as I can't really justify having a dedicated home theatre room. After 2 false starts, a year living overseas, two more world trips and 3 years of uncertainty we are now starting the build process again - hopefully for real this time! Re: Home theatre/gaming room 8Apr 22, 2008 12:47 pm muzzman I can't really justify having a dedicated home theatre room. I CAN and I DID! Oh the joys of owning your own Home theatre business..... Re: Home theatre/gaming room 9Apr 22, 2008 2:52 pm **Phoenix** an air hockey table as well Hey P - was your table one that required power? (to create the air cushion) After 4 years - we're in! Hey, I am wanting to add a second toilet to my house, bit we have limited room. There is a hallway/entry that is never used, so was thinking this could be an option. Only… 0 4673 Hi all, My first post, we are building a house and can’t decide the layout of the lounge room. We have a large N/W facing window and are wanting to have a wood slow… 0 13694 sorry mate, not wasting more time on this. Youve completely missed the mark on some fundamentals and regardless of how many times i try and put it to you differently, you… 11 9153 |