Button-mash gaming is as dead as Ghost from Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2.
Gone are the days when a hammering of A or B (often together) would see your Blanca bully even the most adept Ryu at the arcade.
Nowadays, gamers are flexing their financial muscle to power their way to pixel hall of fame status, cashing in on the gains that crystal clear comms and liquid-smooth connections can offer.
Here are the five bits of gear every gamer needs in their arsenal.
The headphones
Razer Kraken Ultimate Headset
Gamers are split into two camps: console players and PC purists. But campaigners on both sides of the debate can agree that a beasty pair of headphones can mean the difference between taking an L and securing the dub. This ultimate headset delivers precision audio to the wearer, and the noise cancellation tech tending to your canal in the other direction means you’ll only have ears for the game. Time to make some noise.
Cost: Dhs399.
Games it will give you the edge in: Tactical shooters such as Tony Clancy’s Rainbow Six rely heavily on stealth, so being able to pick up on the faintest of mistakes from the enemy while tip-toeing around the map is critical.
The mouse
Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum
With more buttons than Batman’s utility belt, a properly configured gaming mouse puts the power to turn the tide in the hand of the player – quite literally. This ultra-fast Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum gaming mouse slashes lag to near non-existent levels, and it’s a favoured tool for may esports pros. Battery life runs up to 30 hours, and weighing in at just 110g, it’s a smooth ride across the pad to the winner’s circles.
Cost: Dhs475.
Games it will give you the edge in: Real-time strategy games like the soon-to-be-released Age of Empires reboot rely on razor sharp reflexes, and with the ability to pre-set functions into a single click, these types of games give those who can master the gaming mouse a serious edge.
The router
ASUS ROG Rapture WiFi Gaming Router (GT-AC5300)
Forget Bowser. Forget Ganon. Forget Pyramid Head. The real villain facing gamers in 2021 is lag. Investing in an ASUS ROG Rapture WiFi Gaming Router (GT-AC5300) is a smart way to keep static-screen nightmares at bay, giving you more time to slash down enemies – NPC or otherwise. This bit of kit keeps tabs on all the important gaming stuff and intelligently prioritises traffic to keep your aim true.
Cost: Dhs1,500.
Games it will give you the edge in: Literally anything and everything. Love the (virtual) smell of hot rubber? This will keep you in the fast lane in F1 2021, while also keeping your squad in formation for FIFA 2022 (releasing this year).
The set-up
DXRacer Coding Pod T7
As far as gaming accessories go, this one takes the entire bakery. Gaming chairs have evolved at an eye-blistering rate down the years, and some of the set-ups today have us needing to sit down just to take it all in. This DXRacer Coding Pod T7 beast stands out from the pack, and rings in at a frosty Dhs12,000. But what you get back is electric button control, cabin lights, monitor position adjustment control, Bluetooth integration and the kind of plugged-into-the-zone environment that can’t be replicated on the sofa.
Cost: Dhs12,000.
Games it will give you the edge in: Shooters put a lot of strain on concentration, particularly the crazy-popular battle royale phenomenon that has stormed the industry over the past four years. If you are planning to swing your Energy Sword at the new Halo Infinite game (releasing this year), then this seat could land you on Master Chief’s throne.
The travel station
Case Club Waterproof PlayStation 5 Portable Gaming Station
Every now and then gamers are inclined to take a vacation, but now there’s no reason to go offline. The Case Club Waterproof PlayStation 5 Portable Gaming Station allows hard-core players to keep up their killstreaks while on their travels. Complete with built-in 24-inch 1080p monitor, cooling fans and speakers, it fits PS5 (disc or digital) consoles, controllers and games.
Cost: Dhs3,850.
Games it will give you the edge in: While never going to oust your home set-up, these portable packs make for the ultimate travel buddy. Worried about diminished returns in battle royale on a smaller screen? Stay offline and lose yourself in the blockbusting Last of Us 2 instead.
