If you were born in the 90s, having a console in the car was some next level videogame royalty. But these days, heading out on a road trip and leaving your game console behind is like forgetting to pack underwear; especially with the recent release of Fallout 4.
If you’ve never brought a console along for a road trip, you may be wondering how it’s done. We’re here to pass you the torch, and open up a new world of splendid console nerdery.
Step One: Convincing the Parents
If you’re old enough to eat ice cream for breakfast, you can skip to the next section. If not, you’re probably in a situation where you’ll have to convince your parents to let you take on this kind of project. Here’s what you do: Make a list of all the items you’ll need, clearly explain what it is you want to do, layout how you plan to do it, and tell them you’ll do more chores. They might say no, but you’ve got to ask. There’s only one road to car-gaming-glory.
What You’ll Need
Apart from the console, you’re going to need a TV that will fit somewhere inside your ride. That may mean it sits on the floorboard, beside you in a seat, or in your lap – either way you’ll have to find the right kind of TV for the job. This could mean searching through Goodwill for a small tube-television, or hooking up a computer monitor.
Next, you’ll need a power inverter. A power inverter usually plugs into the cigarette lighter, and converts your car’s DC 12V power, to AC 110V power. We don’t know how that happens, but we know it works. You can find these power inverters just about anywhere, but Amazon has some great options.
We recommend something like the $35 BESTEK 400W Power Inverter (as pictured above) because it has fuses to protect your car and your console, USB Ports to charge your phone, and it can be wired directly to your vehicle’s battery for more stable power. The two AC outlets the BESTEK provides should be enough to hook up what you’ll need to start playing.
Some Helpful Extras
Once you’ve got your console hooked up, you may want to grab a few extra things to keep everyone else in the car happy. A pair of headphones makes it so you can experience your game in its entirety without disturbing the people around you. If you’re traveling with a sibling or friend and you want to be the real MVP, bring along an extra controller so you can play together.
Finally, you’ll probably want some highly caffeinated beverages, and at least two large bags of your favorite chips.
It’s That Easy
Set up, take a swig of Code Red, and pick up right where you left off. No need to cut this gaming session short. But remember, yelling at the screen is never cool; especially when you’re in the car. Good luck convincing your parents (or significant other), and have fun!