Tips on preventing wear and discoloration on your games.

[Thunderblaze16]

This is something that worries me for my SMD collection getting later over the years and was wondering if there's anyway to prevent it. Thanks.

[eddiespruce]

The best way to look after your games would be to keep at normal room temperature with low humidity, and to not smoke, as smoke will damage everything in the long run. Also, don't let the sun shine through your window and on to your game cases, or else they'll get sunfaded. I can't afford those expensive "room darkening" blinds, so after I pull down my regular blinds I hang a quilt/blanket in front of the window, and pin it up with thumb tacks. Also, if you have any animals, make sure that your games are stored where they can't reach them.

[StarMist]

Keep the carts outside their cases. (Something thousands of whiny NES collectors should've learnt twenty years ago). Something like a cassette case, which you could line with felt/baize. These are usually in the form of drawers; anyway most do have lids and those usually darkened. Even shoeboxes, though you'd probably want a partition for each game.

[Iron Lizard]

This

Then this.

[Thunderblaze16]

Keep the carts outside their cases. (Something thousands of whiny NES collectors should've learnt twenty years ago). Something like a cassette case, which you could line with felt/baize. These are usually in the form of drawers; anyway most do have lids and those usually darkened. Even shoeboxes, though you'd probably want a partition for each game.

I never heard of this method, how does it help if I might ask?

[StarMist]

You'll keep the cartridges out of light w/o having to handle the cases whenever you want a game. 'Shelf wear' is the result of overhandling cases; it happens not only to the case being handled but all those that one shifts about when it's removed. On that head also don't store them tightly: if there's any resistance when you pull a game out they're shelved too tightly, thin the shelf by one or two games.
If you're looking for any more tips you might hit up an LP site, LP collectors spend some serious cash on collectibles more fragile than games. (Just don't let them freak you out).
There was a thread about this not too long ago (3 months?).
You might also invest in a cabinet with tinted glass, though that's not terribly fun, you want to at least see your boxes. A cabinet out of sunlight with a fluorescent picture lamp should suffice. For the cabinet you could probably just get a solid bookshelf and have a plexiglass cover with hinges made at your hardware shop; home assembly type media cabinets tend to admit too much dust, and curios are dear.

[xelement5x]

I've also heard mention that throwing in a small packet of silica gel beads into your case or whatever can help discourage some of the natural deterioration that will occur.

StarMist is pretty right about keeping a usable collection, and though Iron Lizard jests I'm positive that's the best way to keep your game in their best shape. Lock and seal them away, then just play the ROMs from an Everdrive. It's pretty practical, but not very romantic