By Shibby
Hi! Welcome to the Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House blog, where the crew and I will be blogging throughout the year about all things UGH. Each month we’ll be talking about different UGH topics—whether it be behind the scenes stuff, how to make a successful submission video, how we pick a winner, the prizing, etc. We’ve got a great year lined up already and our main goal is to bring you even closer to what really goes on with the Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House. Let me start off this blog series with a quick guide on how I turn a regular gaming room into an Ultimate one. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even give you a kick start on redesigning your own room! After two seasons and nine different game room makeovers, here it is: how to successfully pull off a Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House.
To make things easier I’ll break it up into three sections: Floor Plan, Furniture, and Electronics
Floor Plan:
Don’t noob it—creating a floor plan is always the first step I take when working with a new room. This is the most important part of the process and if you mess up here then you could end up very disappointed. If you don’t create a floor plan, you either won’t make the most out of your gaming area or you’ll end up overcrowding your space and having things that don’t fit. Head over to Floorplanner.com and make a free account, then get out your tape measure and gather your room’s measurements. The software at floorplanner.com will allow you to easily design a 2D and 3D diagram of the space you have to work with. Every measurement of an item is customizable. It’s the best way to see what you can actually do with your room.
*Pro tip: When planning your room, make sure to record the measurements of the items you’re going to purchase and apply them to your diagram. This way, you maximize your space and don’t fool yourself. I always check the width and depth specifications on each item I purchase and then go on to update my floor plan accordingly. Check out this example—I designed it in five minutes, and it closely resembles Rod’s setup from the 5th episode of Season 2.
Furniture:
Trying to upgrade a room on a tight budget is tough, especially when you’re looking to upgrade the furniture; this is exactly why my favorite place to look is Ikea. The IKEA website is easy to use, lets you know where your closest store is, and will also tell you if a specific item is in stock at the store you want to buy it from. IKEA also has just a huge variety of items. While they may not be top-of-the-line products, I personally think they do the job perfectly. I’m also a fan of the modern look that their products have and how easy they are to put together. Plus, if you haven’t been to an IKEA then you should definitely go—the store is quite an experience! Overall, the selection is vast and the prices are hard to beat.
Typical items I purchase at IKEA are beds, desks, coffee tables, computer/gaming chairs, futons, lamps, dressers, etc. It all really depends on the needs of the room. Below are some item models that I’ve purchased in the past. I’ve also included the prices so you can get a sense of what IKEA items will generally cost you.
MALM bed $129.00 (Twin) $179.00 (Full) $199.00 (Queen)
LACK coffee table $19.99 (Small) $39.99 (Medium) and
EXPEDIT coffee table $69.99
Computer/Gaming Chair – MOSES $39.99
Electronics:
One of the most frequently asked questions I get from avid gamers that watch the Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House is, “What gaming TV do you buy the winner?” The answer is the Acer H233H 23’’ monitor. That specific monitor is MLG-approved, won’t cost you an arm and a leg, produces a great picture, and gives you an awesome gaming experience.
I have been using Newegg. I mainly use Best Buy, though, because they make it easy to have an entire order available for in-store pick-up, so it’s a one stop shop—which comes in clutch when you have to spend an entire day driving around and picking up UGH prizing items!
If you’re only looking to upgrade a couple of items then I would definitely take the time to compare prices between those three sites to get the best bang for your buck. When it comes to buying cables, let’s say HDMI cables for example, I strongly recommend searching for them on Amazon. Even after the cost of shipping is added they’ll still cost significantly less than if you’d bought the highly overpriced cables in stores. HDMI cables from Amazon generally will cost you anywhere from $3 to $15.
The Essentials (most of these can be found at Best Buy):
Astro A40 Audio System, MLG Edition: If you take your gaming seriously, these are a must. They are the same ones that our pros use and they’ll give you a top-of-the-line audio experience when gaming.
Acer H233H 23”TV: A solid choice for a gaming TV.
Big Screen TV: You gotta have something to watch movies on! Here’s a solid big screen TV to hook up to your surround sound system.
Surround Sound System” and Soundbar System : Once you get a surround sound system for your room you’ll never have it any other way. A nice sound system makes all the difference and greatly enhances all your entertainment—it’s definitely one of the best purchases I’ve made in my life. The key to selecting a SSS is making sure that the receiver has multiple HDMI or audio/video inputs, and the more the merrier.
And of course, you can’t forget … a fully stocked fridge of Dr Pepper. (woo!)
So now you know how I do it! I hope this helps you get started on making the most out of your gaming environment. The custom style and vibe you add to a room is up to you, of course! Follow me on twitter @MLGshibby and stay tuned for more information about the 2011 Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House!! I love you and have an awesome day!
