Gaming chairs hot pick at CES

I have never subscribed to the theory that certain products or businesses are recession-proof, but I will admit the video game industry comes awfully close.

After racking up a record-setting $12.5 billion in hardware and software sales in 2006, the industry probably topped the $15 billion mark in 2007, according to Consumer Electronics Association estimates.

And for 2008 — a year in which the government may finally admit the U.S. economy is in a recession — the CEA is projecting yet another record-setting year with $18.4 billion in hardware and software sales.

“The pump is primed for another year of strong growth in 2008,” said Steve Koenig, the CEA's senior manager for industry analysis.

In the January/February issue of Vision, the CEA's industry magazine, Koenig attributed much of the recent growth to the market-share battle among makers of the Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 3. Since 2007 was the first full year all three consoles were on the market simultaneously, he said 2008 “is probably a peak year” for console sales.

Those numbers should grab the attention of furniture retailers, since it presents an excellent opportunity to sell some of the many gaming chairs that have hit the market.

Nearly a dozen exhibitors showed such products at last month's Consumer Electronics Show, and the good news for juvenile retailers is that most are suitable for youth and adults.

One of the most popular furniture booths was Repose, a resource for both gaming and massage chairs.

The company's newest gaming chair, $699, won a CES “Innovations Award” for its design and engineering.

Features include a reclining back, a wireless built-in speaker system, an iPod charger and a motion simulator called the Bonerattler.

Ace Bayou showed off its new X Rocker 4.1. The chair has a fiber-optic surround-sound system that the company says allows gamers to play more effectively.

Other key debuts were from Pyramat, which unveiled several models retailing for $169 to $249, and LumiSource, which highlighted additions to its popular BoomChair line.

One of the new BoomChairs, Wi-Fx, can operate on batteries and it can be connected to virtually any gaming console or iPod.

Those new models just might grab a young gamer's attention. And since many serious gamers are in their 20s, 30s and 40s, the adult who pays for the chair might want to use it, too.

The S5000 Sound Rocker from Pyramat, $169, has lumbar support and an adjustable backrest to compliment its built-in speakers and sub-woofer.