A gaming chair is a type of chair designed for the comfort of

gamer A gamer is a proactive hobbyist who plays interactive games, especially video games, tabletop role-playing games, and skill-based card games, and who plays for usually long periods of time. Some gamers are competitive, meaning they routinely ...

s. They differ from most office chairs in having high backrest designed to support the upper back and shoulders. They are also more customizable: the armrests, back, lumbar support and headrest can all be adjusted for comfort and efficiency. The gaming chair gained popularity with the rising influence of

Twitch Twitch may refer to: Biology * Muscle contraction ** Convulsion, rapid and repeated muscle contraction and relaxation ** Fasciculation, a small, local, involuntary muscle contraction ** Myoclonic twitch, a jerk usually caused by sudden muscle co ...

and other online game streaming websites. Sitting at a computer, playing games for hours on end attracted streamers to purchase gaming chairs.

History

The first ergonomic gaming chairs were produced by DXRacer around 2006, a company that originally produced seats for sport cars. Before 2006, the company was known for producing high-end seats for luxury cars. However, the company began to experience difficulties with Chrysler discontinuing multiple lines of cars. In 2008, more companies began to produce gaming chairs. The gaming chair market grew rapidly in 2011 with the advent of the live-streaming platform

and the popularization of

eSports Esports, short for electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams. Although orga ...

. Within the Twitch community, it became common knowledge that having a gaming chair labeled streamers to be a legitimate and respectable gamer.

Types

There are three main types of gaming chairs. These include PC, platform, and hybrid gaming chairs. ;PC gaming chairs: PC gaming chairs are the most popular and well-known. They resemble

office chair An office chair, or desk chair, is a type of chair that is designed for use at a desk in an office. It is usually a swivel chair, with a set of wheels for mobility and adjustable height. Modern office chairs typically use a single, distinctive l ...

s, but include a

headrest Head restraints (also called headrests) are an automotive safety feature, attached or integrated into the top of each seat to limit the rearward movement of the adult occupant's head, relative to the torso, in a collision — to prevent or ...

lumbar In tetrapod anatomy, lumbar is an adjective that means ''of or pertaining to the abdominal segment of the torso, between the diaphragm and the sacrum.'' The lumbar region is sometimes referred to as the lower spine, or as an area of the back i ...

support, as well as adjustable

armrest An armrest is a part of a chair, where a person can rest their arms on. Armrests are built into a large variety of chairs such as automotive chairs, armchairs, sofas, and more. Adjustable armrests are commonly found in ergonomic office chairs. ...

s. ;Platform gaming: Platform gaming chairs are popular among console gamers. This is because they are meant to rest on the floor and are efficient for television gaming. These chairs normally resemble recliner chairs. ;Hybrid gaming chairs: Lastly, hybrid gaming chairs share characteristics of both PC and platform gaming chairs. They are often mounted on a swivel base, but still include the shape and style of a platform chair.

References

{{commons category, Gaming chairs Chairs Video game hardware Video game culture

History

Types

See also

References