PC Gamers: I Got What You Need, Mayn! (And What You Don’t)

Lists! Everyone loves lists. And if you don’t, you should. Lists can be informative, helpful, authoritative, and downright hilarious. Either way, they’re a valuable tool to convey lots of information in a quick, easy-to-read way. With PC gaming all the rage nowadays (defying the “PC Gaming is Dead” headline we always seem to get every couple of years), there are all kinds of lists of what you should be playing, how you should be playing it, and how to get better if you suck at it. Rather than focus on one game specifically, here are a few things all PC gamers should and should not have in their immediate vicinity in order to best enjoy their game of choice.

You crave sustenance. But don’t turn your room into a fallout shelter.

PC gaming demands a lot of time from its fans, especially popular MMORPG games. So, in the long run, it’s probably better to stock up on some snacks and drinks before putting a few solid hours into your game of choice. But do not overdo it. My advice: practice what you preach, but package what you eat.

Unless you’ve got an extended break period (waiting for your friends to hop online, for instance), you shouldn’t have a large meal while eating. Mostly because it’s a distraction, and mostly because it inevitably leads to spilling. Instead of reaching for that can of soup, reach for the bag of chips. That way you can snack a bit, fold the package up, and toss it aside until hunger comes calling again. Instead of fetching yourself a tall glass of water, instead opt for bottled refreshments: bottled waters, bottled sodas, energy/power drinks, etc. That way, they won’t lose their flavor over time, unlike standing water or colas. And again, you won’t run the risk of accidentally tipping over something you forgot was there, spilling liquid and food everywhere, if all your food is sealed and all your drinks are bottled.

But remember: don’t bring such a large supply of food into the room that you could ration it off and survive for months. Eventually you’ll have some downtime, so it’s a smart idea to combine a restroom break with a refrigerator raid. Not only will it reduce clutter, it’ll also give you an opportunity to clear your head, if only to make important decisions like choosing the Pringles or the Doritos (Pringles all the way, by the way).

Another form of entertainment is always good, but multitasking is a “Jack of All Trades, Master of None” kind of thing

So you’ve got some free time. Your desk doesn’t resemble a mountain of torn packages and empty bottles quite yet, your bladder is blissfully empty, and you’ve just partaken in a quick snack and gotten a quick pick-up from your latest energy drink. And now you’ve still got about ten, fifteen, or even twenty minutes until your buddies show up. What to do, what to do?

Supernatural is way too good of a show for only your divided attention.

Perhaps it’s time to venture from one form of entertainment to the next. While ready and waiting to go kill that hellspawn or slay that dragon, it’s best to keep another form of entertainment nearby. TV comes immediately to mind, as do books and magazines. Be wary of “multitasking,” though, because it forces you to split your much-needed attention. You may think it’s no problem to tune in to your favorite TV show while going on a difficult run at the same time, but more often than not you wind up killed by a simple mistake while also realizing that you have no clue what’s going on in your show. Multitasking may seem like the best of both worlds, but in the end it’s too much of a good thing.

There’s a whole lot more that PC gamers “need” to have around them while going on a marathon quest or even a simple run-through, but much of it is user-specific and genre-specific. Treats and eats, however, are universal in their benefits, as are momentary breaks from marathon game-a-thons. While both should be practiced in moderation, both allow gamers to game harder, longer, without becoming pale-faced super-zombies. Even if pale-faced super-zombies are pretty damn cool.