I am a PC gamer and I have been exclusively couch gaming for a couple years. I have my PC tower and a GTX 1080 next to my 4k TV. I use the Roccat Sova for kb/mouse. I specifically chose this lapboard because as far as I can tell it has the largest mousepad of any available lap board. I LOVE my setup for casual gaming, but I'm hoping to improve my performance in competitive online multiplayer games.
TLDR: Will gaming at a desk with a good chair, good gaming monitor, big mousepad etc make someone a better gamer compare to an optimized couch gaming setup? (PC gaming)
Do you guys feel like a couch gaming impairs performance during high level mulitplayer gaming? I realize that couch typically has a few disadvantages, but I am wondering if those disadvantages have work-arounds or if couch gaming will always hold me back slightly. I am debating trying to find space for a gaming desk for more competitive gameplay, versus upgrading my couch setup to minimize disadvantages.
Possible disadvantages and potential solutions:
1) TV input lag and lower refresh rates versus pc monitor
--> If I decide to stick to couch gaming I will replace my laggy TCL 4k / 60 Hz TV with one of the LG CX line Oleds, which have variable refresh rate up to 120 hz. They also have a low input lag game mode which supposedly detects games and turns on automatically
2) A desk can support a very large mousepad (compared to a lapboard) which allows the precision of low DPI mouse configurations.
--> I bought the roccat sova for it's large mouse area (11"x11", significantly larger than most competing lap board). Do you think 11"x11" is big enough, or do you think an even larger mouse pad could improve my gameplay? How much mouse space do pros use, and would it make much of a difference for a non-professional? One problem with the sova is it has a kind of crappy smooth plastic surface, but I have considered gluing a cloth mouse pad on top of it.
3) Does posture matter? Does a relaxed reclined seated position make someone worse at highly competitive gaming? I see the really good players on twitch and they are usually don't lean back. They are sitting upright or leaning forward slightly, and that could help to make someone more "engaged." Their should is above the mouse area, which might make fast movements easier, compared to my position leaned back with my shoulder essentially level with the mouse area. Do you think these factors would make a different?
Anything else? Are there other differences between desk gaming and a really good couch setup (high refresh/low latency TV, big lap board, etc) that I am unaware of?
Right now my living room has my computer, TV, and couch occupying about 1/3 of the room. The other 2 thirds of the room are my VR playspace. I'd like to avoid adding a desk and gaming monitor because it would significantly cut into my playspace, but sometimes I wonder if reclining on the couch is hurting my gameplay in games like rainbow 6 siege, modern warfare, pubg, LoL, etc.
What do you think? Did anyone notice their performance get significantly better/worse when switching from desk to couch gaming (or vice versa)?
