The importance of keeping track of your gaming collection

[CRTGAMER]

Well, perhaps because when they are plugged in, even when not turned on, they still use some power! Not only that, but it's a pain to find switchboxes for everything. Also, but some of us don't want cords all over the place. Even if they are cleanly tied up, when you move something... it's just a hassle.

It's much easier for many people to just have the system with it's AV/power cables ready to be plugged in, rather than always plugged in. It's not like it takes that much time to move a system a few feet, plug it in and play it.

With all the money invested in your gaming you can't spare that little more monthly electrical rate? If that is in issue then have a power strip with cut switch.

Also be honest how many people are willing to crawl behind their HD to hook up that component cable on which machine do I play today?

Don't get me started on the S-Video Cables.

Unless you like plugging unplugging and risk damaging that rare retro cable. (Can we say Atari 4 5200 Port Switch transformer or Gamecube Digital Cable)

[(-_-)]

A well organized collection helps you from accidentally picking up duplicates. It also makes it easier to be able to play a specific game right now.

You know it's strange, I don't use backloggery, lists or anything and yet I remember every single game in my collection. That's not to say that I can just name every single game I own off the top of my head, but I have never accidentally bought a duplicate before. If I recognize a certain game in a store I immediately remember whether or not I already own it.

I go into places all the time seeing something and going, HOLY SHIT, I LOVE THIS GAME. Then grabbing it off the shelf, walking two feet, and going... DAMN, I already own this. Then I call up friends to see if they want it. My friends never have to look for games because I unintentionally end up doing it.

[Breetai]

With all the money invested in your gaming you can't spare that little more monthly electrical rate? If that is in issue then have a power strip with cut switch.

You'd be surprised how little I've invested. Anyway, a lot of people just plug cords into live outlets. That potentially shortens the live of the power adapters. Even if they have switches, it still means reaching behind the TV area for many. It's really not much more work to just plug a console in each time you use it, aside from leaving your most used ones always plugged in. Plus, have you seen Japanese apartments? More than a couple consoles regularly hooked-up takes way too much room.

Also be honest how many people are willing to crawl behind their HD to hook up that component cable on which machine do I play today?

Who says you need to? Use extenders or a multi port that's easily accessible from the front. (since when were we referring to all TVs at "HD"?)

Don't get me started on the S-Video Cables.

You got yourself started. Anyway, use extension cables or a multi port.

Unless you like plugging unplugging and risk damaging that rare retro cable. (Can we say Atari 4 5200 Port Switch transformer or Gamecube Digital Cable)

Do you often damage cables? Keep them stored neatly and be careful with them, and they should be fine.

[alienjesus]

I see lot of classic game rooms showing beautiful shelves full of consoles but they are not hooked up.

Whats the point in that? Is that a museum with only latest Gen System running?

Not all of us have the space to set up all those consoles. I normally have 3 consoles set up, 2 retro and my Wii, and if i want to play something else, one has to go away to make some space.

[fastbilly1]

I typically only keep one or two hooked up, mostly for the reasons stated. Trickle power is just wasted money (however minute it is) - it is also why the only computer left on in my house all the time is an C7 pc - it pulls 12 watts.

And to be quite honest, I play most of my retro consoles through emulation. Be it on my palm pilot, netbook, or htpc - Ive got controller adapters for the latter two.

[crux]

I find that I don't use systems as often when they aren't permanently hooked up, simply due to the lack of accessibility. However, this may be subsequently caused by the fact that I hook up eight to twelve consoles at a time in the first place, putting a strained emphasis on the rest of my consoles. The accessibility of having consoles hooked up beats the issues of clutter for me, but I also live in a space with the room to do so. I intend to hook up all my consoles eventually, but it would require more shelf space than I currently have.

It's actually possible to daisy-chain power strips, as long as solely consoles are hooked up to them. It would likely void any surge warranty on the product, but otherwise should produce a low enough voltage to be safe, as presumably only one console will be powered up at a time (or even two to three in my case, with two to three televisions side by side). Doing this serves as a way to switch off (or unplug) the primary strip, thus negating any power consumption when the systems are off.

As for the subject at hand, my personality lies square in the middle of the type that would alphabetize a collection and the type that is too lazy to prioritize the time to do so. Again, I lack the shelf space to properly store my games, so for the time being my games only lie organized by system. Properly keeping track of games, both by order and with a note system, can not only help find video games (especially when the quantity of games reaches into the hundreds), but can also help keep perspective on a collection.

[Breetai]

And to be quite honest, I play most of my retro consoles through emulation. Be it on my palm pilot, netbook, or htpc - Ive got controller adapters for the latter two.

Me, too. I've got all of my retro games backed up through Wii homebrew, my modded X-Box and on PC. Most of my retro gaming is done on the Wii. I own every single one of the ROMs/ISOs I have.

[CRTGAMER]

Don't get me started on the S-Video Cables.

You got yourself started. Anyway, use extension cables or a multi port.

Unless you like plugging unplugging and risk damaging that rare retro cable. (Can we say Atari 4 5200 Port Switch transformer or Gamecube Digital Cable)

Do you often damage cables? Keep them stored neatly and be careful with them, and they should be fine.

Try plugging and unplugging this in a few times and see what happens ..............


Have you seen the price of these on E-Bay?


Or one of these:

Rare Atari 5200 Video switch provides power to 4 port console.
Only one single cable for both power and video.

All I'm saying is why risk damaging it. With video switch box and power strips you avoid that.

Don't get me wrong, Game Collections I see from other collectors are impressive from many years of research and I truly respect and admire.

But why not take that extra step and mount them all through Power Strips (which can shut power off) and Video Switching Boxes. Cord covers and Zip Ties can easily manage all those cables.

I an Avid gamer who has seen first hand how the gaming Industry has grown. From the Pong games when they first hit my bowling alley, consoles from Bally Astrocade and Atari 2600 to NES to VECTREX (Remember that cool Vector Monitor?) Dreamcast all the way to PS3. I love Video games best when I'm playing them.

Okay gotta go, REZ is calling me on PS2 ........... Or maybe I'll try the K-Project DC version.

[Hatta]

Do you often damage cables? Keep them stored neatly and be careful with them, and they should be fine.

Every time you coil and uncoil a cable, you contribute to metal fatigue in the wire. Then there's wear and tear on the connectors.

[t0yrobo]

I just use a spreadsheet and memory to keep track of my games, I figure if I can't remember that I even own a game I probably don't like it enough to keep it.
As for having everything plugged in, I say hell no. I've only seen a couple rooms posted here that didn't look like crap with 5+ systems plugged in at once. And there's not much reason for it anyways. I keep three systems at most plugged into my main tv, one of them being a modded xbox which covers everything psx and earlier for emulation. If I want to play another system all I have to do is plug it into the front of my tv.

I've gotta ask, do you guys with every console under the sun plugged in actually play all of them on a regular enough basis to have them out? Even with only three I can go for over a week without using one of them. And I don't know what you guys are doing to damage your cables...