BleepingComputer.com: Are gaming headsets essential for gaming?

Saw this pair of cool Fatal1ty headset at E3 and was thinking: "$99 for a gaming headset??" Apparently, that's already a pretty low price to pay as I think there are more expensive ones from ATH or Steelsound. What I want to know is, how essential are gaming headset to gaming? I have been using my Gigaworks speaker all my gaming life and found it to be okay. Am I missing out on something?

i dont think so lol
i'd rather have the speakers
but you may have does games when you can talk online to the people while playing then they would be petty good
but you got to have good internet

A normal pair of earbuds work fine for me (I play fps's so you have to hear the small stuff, speakers just don't work). Footsteps and gunfire are so important, I recommend moving background music (and not game music) out of the game folder (but only if you are a serious gamer). Otherwise, a headset isn't that necessary, just cool.

As far as i know they are not essential for gaming but ya if you have a gaming headsets then you will be able to enjoy your game even more..

I have a 40$ pair, and they work fine. The sound is good, and the mic works well. 99$ is too much. You're paying for the name with that one. Just go to your local best buy and buy a good pair. Mine were 40$, and I use them for all my head phone sound needs, for my computer. I think the attached mic works better than a stand alone one, for an attached one is closer to your head.

I don't think there essential or anything like that. I have a £20 ($30) pair, I only use them if I'm scrimming, or if I'm talking to friends whilst playing. It depends on how much you play, what you play, and who you play with.

For example, I play CS and I tend to not use it unless im scrimming with my clan, apart from that I won't use them as they're not needed...

It just basically comes down to whether you prefer to talk whilst playing, or not. Nothing special.

As Marvin the Martian would say, "Where's the kaboom? There's supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!" Nothing brings a good gaming experience than surround speakers, lol

I don't think the OP does not care for this post no more.
Because it is a few months old

Like most have said surround sound (set up correctly) would work fine and provding you don't have neighbours/parents/partner complaining too much i would have them myself.

However as i have 2 of the above and tend to play alot of clan games with the need to speak i use this gaming headset : Sennheiser PC 350 PRO-Gaming Headset - got it a couple of months back and it is amazing, the sounds and the bass are brilliant, the mic is fantastic and doesn't pick up sounds from my earphones when i speak like my friend's does...big thumbs up for this headset. One downfall is that is cost £115, which as most people have posted on here ridiculous.

I thought i would put in my two penneth anyway

Cheers