Storing games and media in a limited space

I have been going through my games and DVD's that were in storage to bring to my new place. I don't have room for it all! I don't want to keep a storage unit for this stuff because it would never get used if I did. I'm not sure what is the best use of my limited space. In my old digs, I had an entire room just for this stuff so it was never an issue.

Should I just keep my favorites? If I got rid of some of my systems it would save a lot of space because I'd also be clearing out all the accessories. I've already decided to go down to just three steering wheels (a Saturn/N64/PSX combo, an XBOX/PS2/Gamecube combo, and a Dreamcast one) but these take up plenty of space, too.

Should I get rid of boxes and just keeps the carts and manuals? Maybe the CD games in a wallet? I kind of hate to break up complete stuff but I could keep all of my SegaCD, Saturn, Dreamcast, etc. games in a 500 CD wallet if I ditched the boxes. Same goes for my cartridge games, I could put them all in one box if I got rid of the cartridge cases, though that is mostly SEGA games because a lot of my Nintendo games didn't have boxes when I got them.

If you have limited space, how do you manage it?

I will help you out by buying all of your boxes. ;)

If it were me, I'd probably sell the carts and boxes, keep the manuals, and get a flash cart. That's more or less what I've done on the SNES front (well, I haven't sold the games I have, but I've stopped buying new ones, except games with enhancement chips).

Disc games are tougher, especially Sega CD and Saturn with their oversize manuals, but you could fit all of those manuals in a single box or drawer. Probably worth keeping the discs themselves to avoid wear and tear on the console (especially the Dreamcast), and/or if you don't have a modchip.

BTW I've said this already in private, but great to see you back. :D

Yeah, I'd buy all your boxes too ;)

I wouldn't ditch cases for anything CD based, but for carts I think it would be fine. Personally, I probably couldn't bear to split up a game and case in my own library.

I don't know if I could ditch the cases, but if you must, do so for the cartridges. If selling your steering wheels makes enough room, I would probably go with that and maybe sell the games for non-critical systems if you have to.

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Originally Posted by QuickSciFi

I will help you out by buying all of your boxes. ;)

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Originally Posted by xelement5x

Yeah, I'd buy all your boxes too ;)

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I get that a lot. I actually have an offer for a lot of my stuff already but if I go that route, I'll keep you guys in mind. I guess I do have some rare or valuable games though I've never collected. I just bought them back when they were normally priced instead of the crazy prices today.

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Originally Posted by xelement5x

I wouldn't ditch cases for anything CD based, but for carts I think it would be fine. Personally, I probably couldn't bear to split up a game and case in my own library.

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Originally Posted by Pixelepsy

I don't know if I could ditch the cases, but if you must, do so for the cartridges. If selling your steering wheels makes enough room, I would probably go with that and maybe sell the games for non-critical systems if you have to.

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You guys aren't making this any easier! :p Seriously, though, this has been a lot tougher than I expected. I mean, it's just stuff but I am struggling with the idea of splitting any of it up. It seems a shame to get rid of the case just to save space. Maybe it would be better in the hands of someone with the room for it, I dunno.

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Originally Posted by goldenband

If it were me, I'd probably sell the carts and boxes, keep the manuals, and get a flash cart. That's more or less what I've done on the SNES front (well, I haven't sold the games I have, but I've stopped buying new ones, except games with enhancement chips).

Disc games are tougher, especially Sega CD and Saturn with their oversize manuals, but you could fit all of those manuals in a single box or drawer. Probably worth keeping the discs themselves to avoid wear and tear on the console (especially the Dreamcast), and/or if you don't have a modchip.

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How does the flashcart work? Is it playing the games on a computer (I don't really have one to do that). Is it like a USB flashdrive? Would it be multiple games on one cart? How difficult is it to put them on there? Do they play the same as the real thing? What about games that save your progress? :confused: What about special games like Virtua Racing or Cyberball?

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Originally Posted by goldenband

BTW I've said this already in private, but great to see you back. :D

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oYYAoGUKPI

Thanks, it's great to be back! :mrgreen:

The flashcarts work by loading all the ROM files onto a SD/Micro SD card and then inserting it into the cart. You then put the cart in your Genesis or whatnot and turn it on, and can browse directories to ROMs and such, then select the file and it plays on the Genesis. It's a nice alternative to emulation because you're still using original hardware, just tricking the system into thinking it is an official game with a flash cart.

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Originally Posted by xelement5x

The flashcarts work by loading all the ROM files onto a SD/Micro SD card and then inserting it into the cart. You then put the cart in your Genesis or whatnot and turn it on, and can browse directories to ROMs and such, then select the file and it plays on the Genesis. It's a nice alternative to emulation because you're still using original hardware, just tricking the system into thinking it is an official game with a flash cart.

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Thanks, I'm not great with the search function but I found this:

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...rt-is-the-Best

I was more confused after reading that! :? Your explanation is better. But how many games can you store? Does it come with something to get the games in there?

One more thing...

I was going to get rid of my TV set to save space.
It's a 25 inch from the 90's and is kind worn out.
But my lightguns don't work on the flatscreen in the living room.
Any advice?

(I tried searching with no luck.)

There are some lightguns that will work with pc's and led / lcd monitors, but they're ludicrously expensive. There's no way that the old lightguns will work on flatscreens due to incompatible technologies.

I would just ditch the crt for now, and when you have enough space in the future if you get a bigger place, pick one up again through craigslist or something.

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Originally Posted by Bones Justice

One more thing...

I was going to get rid of my TV set to save space.
It's a 25 inch from the 90's and is kind worn out.
But my lightguns don't work on the flatscreen in the living room.
Any advice?
(I tried searching with no luck.)

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Yeah ditch all the steering wheels and light guns and all that peripheral garbage that is taking room. That's junk to me vs complete 8 and 16 bit games complete in box.

How much stuff do you have and what kind of space are you working with? I have a very small second bedroom which I is essentially a miscellaneous room -- I have my game stuff in there along with some other items. Games are stacked onto shelving. If you can fit all your disc games in a 500-disc wallet, then you should be able to manage with a single tall bookcase. You can double layer the bulkier stuff like those horrid US Saturn and Sega CD cases, too.

I'd keep the games and ditch the DVDs. Who uses DVDs now anyway? You can stream pretty much everything these days.

You could always get shelving units for the walls or in the form of tall bookcases, and put everything two-deep. Put the stuff you play the most on the front row, and the stuff you play the least in the back. That'll save a fair bit of room, and not leave things in a storage unit.

I have a large collection and a very small apartment. I don't have anything put away in storage other than some bits of hardware. How do I manage? Lots and lots of shelving. That's pretty much it.

Keep it all, find a way. I get the impression you'd hate yourself in the future if you did get rid of some of it.

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Originally Posted by Bones Justice

Thanks, I'm not great with the search function but I found this:

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...rt-is-the-Best

I was more confused after reading that! :? Your explanation is better. But how many games can you store? Does it come with something to get the games in there?

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The number of games you can store is limited to the size of the SD/MicroSD card you use. The entire genesis ROM library though is like 2GB (at least my set is), so you should run into no issues. To move them onto the cart you download the roms on your computer, move the roms from the computer to the SD card using something like an SD adapter, then put the SD card in the cart and when you turn it on you are golden. The flash cart does not normally come with an SD card or adapter, but those are pretty easy to use. They act just like flash drives when you plug them in.

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Originally Posted by The Coop

You could always get shelving units for the walls or in the form of tall bookcases, and put everything two-deep. Put the stuff you play the most on the front row, and the stuff you play the least in the back. That'll save a fair bit of room, and not leave things in a storage unit.

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I actually double-stack alot too. I use Billy bookshelves from IKEA and you can double-stack games pretty easily. There are a lot of games I will probably never play, like old Madden games and such, but can't part with.

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Originally Posted by Pixelepsy

There are some lightguns that will work with pc's and led / lcd monitors, but they're ludicrously expensive. There's no way that the old lightguns will work on flatscreens due to incompatible technologies.

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Well, that's disappointing. I was hoping maybe there was one out there that had an "old school" mode or something. :(

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Originally Posted by needler420

Yeah ditch all the steering wheels and light guns and all that peripheral garbage that is taking room. That's junk to me vs complete 8 and 16 bit games complete in box.

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I dunno, I love those kinds of games, though, the stuff like in the arcades. And those are the kind of games that anybody, even non-gamers, always want to join in. I really like playing multiplayer games.

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Originally Posted by Benjamin

How much stuff do you have and what kind of space are you working with?

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Well, I am buying a boat. I think that says it all. :cool: The person I'm, um, staying with has a small place on the water. Very small so there isn't much space for me to keep much stuff there. Besides that, I've gotta have room for my dog, my guns, etc. :fail:

I appreciate everyone suggesting shelves. It's good advice but there just isn't that much room, unfortunately.

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Originally Posted by Benjamin

I'd keep the games and ditch the DVDs. Who uses DVDs now anyway? You can stream pretty much everything these days.

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Yeah, this is good advice, thanks. I have some DVD's that I really like but I should just break from stuff like that altogether. I already parted ways with my laserdisc stuff. The only thing that is a must keep is my VHS tapes of "Mutant League", which cannot be found anywhere that I know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ-iQfP3mFs

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Originally Posted by cleeg

Keep it all, find a way. I get the impression you'd hate yourself in the future if you did get rid of some of it.

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Again, not making it easy! :p Yes, I probably will have regrets. I have complete set-ups to play Cyberball, Virtual On, Sega Rally, and Daytona head-to-head. It wouldn't be easy to put those together again!

You're making a mistake here.
Keep the stuff, that is the answer.

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Originally Posted by Bones Justice

Well, I am buying a boat. I think that says it all. :cool: The person I'm, um, staying with has a small place on the water. Very small so there isn't much space for me to keep much stuff there. Besides that, I've gotta have room for my dog, my guns, etc. :)

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If that's the case, it sounds like you have two options: You can box your games up, ideally in some kind of plastic container(s), which would allow you to store a lot more at the expense of not being easily accessible or particularly nice looking; or you can decide which games are important to you and sell off as many as possible. Unless there's some special meaning attached to a particular copy of a game (gift from dead relative, etc.), you can always repurchase it at a later date. It may cost a bit more, but the product will always be out there.

I sold off all my DVDs, including my precious Batman: TAS, Simpsons, and Utena stuff. I haven't missed them one bit. Internet streaming is just too damn convenient compared to having to store and fumble through a variety of discs to find a particular episode I want to watch.

As far as your VHS tapes, yeah, keep those as souvenirs, but I'm sure you already find it more accessible to watch the episodes on-line than in a VHS player (and risking the machine damaging the tapes with each viewing, too).

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Originally Posted by Segadream

You're making a mistake here.
Keep the stuff, that is the answer.

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You might be right. But the stuff I like most also takes up a lot of space: the lightguns & TV set, the racing games with steering wheels, the head-to-head games. I probably won't see any of the old gang anymore, though, so I'm not sure I'll really use that stuff much. How many people even want to play split-screen videogames anymore? I might not keep the steering wheels since to really enjoy 'em, I'd need to keep at least two for each system; playing four players with steering wheels is a real kick, BTW, but everybody seems so hung-up on graphics these days that nobody would probably even play stuff like TOCA 2. :(

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Originally Posted by Benjamin

If that's the case, it sounds like you have two options: You can box your games up, ideally in some kind of plastic container(s), which would allow you to store a lot more at the expense of not being easily accessible or particularly nice looking; or you can decide which games are important to you and sell off as many as possible. Unless there's some special meaning attached to a particular copy of a game (gift from dead relative, etc.), you can always repurchase it at a later date. It may cost a bit more, but the product will always be out there.

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Solid advice. I do have fond memories of playing a lot of my stuff with friends but I'll still have those whether I actually keep the stuff or not. I am strongly leaning towards just keeping the stuff that I will play. I've never been one to play a lot of games by myself so that will cut out a lot of stuff!

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Originally Posted by Benjamin

I sold off all my DVDs, including my precious Batman: TAS, Simpsons, and Utena stuff. I haven't missed them one bit. Internet streaming is just too damn convenient compared to having to store and fumble through a variety of discs to find a particular episode I want to watch.

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I haven't really streamed any videos except YouTube yet but I can learn. Thanks again for this advice, real good stuff.

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Originally Posted by Benjamin

As far as your VHS tapes, yeah, keep those as souvenirs, but I'm sure you already find it more accessible to watch the episodes on-line than in a VHS player (and risking the machine damaging the tapes with each viewing, too).

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I wish that was an option but "Mutant League" is not available online. It's not available on any format, just the VHS tapes that I recorded off TV and one out-of-print VHS clip-show. If I'm wrong about this, please let me know as it's one of my all-time favorites. :help:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSaH397_c4I

Planned but never released: Mutant League Basketball for Sega Genesis!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VazgPk8VYo4

BTW, the episode "Collision Course" was based upon the unreleased Sega Genesis game, "Mutant League Speed Demons". Probably a Mutant League version of "Road Rash", which, of course, would have been awesome! :rock:

All I'm finding available on-line is this "Mutant League Movie:"

http://kisscartoon.me/Cartoon/Mutant...Movie?id=56465

My suggestion would be to convert your VHS tapes to digital so you can store them on your laptop and/or on-line host and watch them anywhere. If you lack the equipment to do this, there are services which will convert it for you. Even Walmart will take your VHS and encode it to a DVD.

http://www.dvdwalmart.com/Videotape_to_DVD.aspx

Yeah, the movie is the VHS clip-show that I was talking about. I have it but it's not as good as the real show. I bought it back-in-the-day thinking it would be something else. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz9KIlWbp54 :fail:

The clips I posted, I just recorded the screen with my mobile then uploaded to YouTube. I don't think YouTube would allow me to post the whole episode though.

So if I had them encoded to DVD, how would I store those online then? :confused:

You could upload them to YouTube and make it a private channel for yourself. Putting it out in public would just risk having the episodes taken down. This still is an EA property, so that may not be as unlikely as it would appear.

In addition to that, you should be able to store the episodes on any number of free hosting options, too: Google Drive, OneDrive, Mega, etc. You'd just upload the converted files from your DVD to it. This would just be for backup, really, because the DVD files should be small enough for you to leave on your computer as well. Remember they're going to be 8 GB at most, which is nothing for most hard drives.

Still considering what to do. You know all those posts like, "If you were stranded on a desert island, what ten games would you take?" Replying to that is hard enough, try doing it for real. :p I bought some more time on storage because I haven't been able to bring myself to getting rid of stuff. I have cut out most of my DVD's, at least it's a start but I literally have nowhere for all of this stuff to go. The girl I'm living with is a D.A. so as you could expect, she likes things neat & tidy.

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Originally Posted by goldenband

If it were me, I'd probably sell the carts and boxes, keep the manuals, and get a flash cart. That's more or less what I've done on the SNES front (well, I haven't sold the games I have, but I've stopped buying new ones, except games with enhancement chips).

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I've done a lot of reading on this subject. These things would save me a huge amount of space because I have a lot of carts. I'm struggling with the legal aspect of this one, though. If I get the cart, is it legal for me to get rid of the actual games? I'm not looking to judge anyone else, I just don't know for myself. I asked her what she thought and to my surprise, she said nobody cares about old games (though she may be biased -- she loves the idea of exchanging multiple storage bins for one little cartridge). I have hundreds of Sega, Nintendo, and Atari carts so this would be a huge win in space-saving but can I justify it? I dunno.

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Originally Posted by Bones Justice

I've done a lot of reading on this subject. These things would save me a huge amount of space because I have a lot of carts. I'm struggling with the legal aspect of this one, though. If I get the cart, is it legal for me to get rid of the actual games?

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Technically, it's not legal, no. Practically, it's unenforceable, and in general the powers that be only care about distributors (especially for-profit), not downloaders.

Ethically, the used game market offers zero benefit to the original content creators, and to my mind they're the only ones with a moral stake in it -- whether you buy the cart or download the ROM, it's almost impossible for the creator to see financial benefit from you playing on real hardware.

BTW the original Vectrex library was released to the public domain, so there's a console where none of these issues apply. :) You can also buy an official Intellivision ROM collection from the INTV people, though it's not complete. So there are some consoles where a flash cart solution is embraceable without hesitation.

I'm in the same boat. I recently lost my gaming room so now my soda e is extremely limited and I'm in a position where I am looking to sell most of my collection. On top of not having room for it, I know I will never play 95% of what I own. Still, it's so damn hard to part with any of it. I haven't been able to do it yet

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Originally Posted by runback22

Still, it's so damn hard to part with any of it. I haven't been able to do it yet

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Yep. It's actually kinda liberating parting with it. The flip side to that is down the line "regret" enters the equation. She's one helluva bitch.

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Originally Posted by goldenband

Ethically, the used game market offers zero benefit to the original content creators, and to my mind they're the only ones with a moral stake in it -- whether you buy the cart or download the ROM, it's almost impossible for the creator to see financial benefit from you playing on real hardware.

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Thanks for the advice. I am thinking about doing this then just donating my collection to charity. Fast, easy, good for the soul (I hope).

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Originally Posted by goldenband

BTW the original Vectrex library was released to the public domain, so there's a console where none of these issues apply. :) You can also buy an official Intellivision ROM collection from the INTV people, though it's not complete. So there are some consoles where a flash cart solution is embraceable without hesitation.

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I've only ever seen a Vectrex once but I really wanted one. I used to go to a retro-arcade that mostly had vector games (sadly, long since closed). My favorites were Rip Off, Tac Scan, Star Trek, and Major Havok. Major Havok remains one of my favorite games ever!

I also really like Tron Deadly Discs for Intellivision. Hated the controllers but this game was really great.

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Originally Posted by Thierry Henry

Yep. It's actually kinda liberating parting with it. The flip side to that is down the line "regret" enters the equation. She's one helluva bitch.

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You know, there is far too much cursing on the internet. But in this case, it seems appropriate. :ok:

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Originally Posted by Bones Justice

Thanks for the advice. I am thinking about doing this then just donating my collection to charity. Fast, easy, good for the soul (I hope).

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:) Just be sure to give it to a deserving charity that will handle it thoughtfully (i.e. not Goodwill).

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Originally Posted by Bones Justice

I've only ever seen a Vectrex once but I really wanted one. I used to go to a retro-arcade that mostly had vector games (sadly, long since closed). My favorites were Rip Off, Tac Scan, Star Trek, and Major Havok. Major Havok remains one of my favorite games ever!

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I really like that game too! I played MH a fair bit when I was a kid, and then decades later it was one of my frequent picks in MAME. I wish there were a Vectrex port of it. I don't play my Vectrex much but I'm very glad I have it.

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Originally Posted by goldenband

:) Just be sure to give it to a deserving charity that will handle it thoughtfully (i.e. not Goodwill).

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Job done. I didn't donate to Goodwill, by the way, though I didn't know there was anything wrong with them. I actually feel real good about it. I only kept a handful of games, stuff that I play every time I switch on. I haven't got a flashcart yet, still thinking that part over but I don't have an immediate need. Thanks again for the good advice. Thanks everyone for their advice! :D

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Originally Posted by goldenband

I really like that game too! I played MH a fair bit when I was a kid, and then decades later it was one of my frequent picks in MAME. I wish there were a Vectrex port of it. I don't play my Vectrex much but I'm very glad I have it.

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How come there was never a home version of Major Havok? Or did I just miss that one? :confused:

I have my laserdiscs (and player) back. Unlike my other charity, I had given my laserdisc collection to a friend because she thought they were cool (plus I could always watch them whenever I went over there :mrgreen:). Now that she is moving, she has decided to down-size as well and wanted to give them back to me. :?

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Originally Posted by Bones Justice

I have my laserdiscs (and player) back. Unlike my other charity, I had given my laserdisc collection to a friend because she thought they were cool (plus I could always watch them whenever I went over there :mrgreen:). Now that she is moving, she has decided to down-size as well and wanted to give them back to me. :?

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I'm always happy to help relieve people of LDs if they're stuff I'll watch ;)

Just got some new stuff myself, it's interesting to read some comments on here from the past. I've still got more stuff than I probably need :O

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Originally Posted by Bones Justice

I have been going through my games and DVD's that were in storage to bring to my new place. I don't have room for it all!

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This is one of the reasons why I use flash carts instead.

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Originally Posted by xelement5x

I'm always happy to help relieve people of LDs if they're stuff I'll watch ;)

Just got some new stuff myself, it's interesting to read some comments on here from the past. I've still got more stuff than I probably need :O

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Thanks, I am mulling it over. I got rid of so much stuff that I actually have room for this now. Of course, it uses so much electricity that I would only use it when docked with shore power. I'm more concerned with what keeping it on my boat would do to the discs. My boat is dry but any time you are on the water there is bound to be humidity.

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Originally Posted by roadkill

This is one of the reasons why I use flash carts instead.

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I'm still mulling that one over, too. I kept that I regularly play so I haven't missed anything.