Computer gaming has long relied on the use of communication among players to function as a more effective unit. This is particularly true among heavily team oriented genres, like massively multiplayer online, real time strategy, and first person shooter gamers, an example of each being World of Warcraft, Company of Heroes, and Counter-Strike. Traditionally, this would have been done simply by typing to the other player, but this was a horrible inconvenience when taking the time to type an entire sentence out could result in a lack of focus on more pressing concerns. Therefore, computer gaming headsets have been becoming more popular every year to give players more freedom to play the game while increasing the speed of communications among players.

Extra Game Processing

Many computer gaming headsets are designed specifically with gaming in mind. That means that many models actually include game processing technology chips inside (at least, if they are USB), so audio quality will be superb, giving players crystal clear stereo or (in the past year or so) surround sound audio with dozens or even a hundred different audio channels at once. However, one of these headsets can also function as a computer phone headset, so you can talk to your buddies on Ventrilo, TeamSpeak or Skype as needed with the same level of audio fidelity.

USB computer gaming headsets, as mentioned previously, often include some type of processor built in because they don't use the processor on sound cards in your computer. Therefore, the only way to get similar levels of audio fidelity is to do the processing right on the headset, so you aren't left with decreased audio quality just because you aren't using your X-Fi sound card from Creative. However, you can still likely get a slightly higher level of audio fidelity from your computer gaming headset if you purchase one that can hook into your sound card, as the sound card likely has a much more powerful audio processor located on it.

Some good computer gaming headsets include Sennheiser, Logitech and Plantronics, although there are many different companies out there that offer great products. To get a better idea about the relative quality of a particular headset, head online and check out sites that offer reviews of the products (doesn't matter between customer and professional reviews of products). Even if you just go out to your local Best Buy or Circuit City and pick up a modestly priced headset, you likely won't be disappointed with its performance. For the quickest and most efficient type of communication in games, you need a computer gaming headset.