How Do You Keep Your Gaming Room Organized?

[Drewbacca]

What games?

[kingoffighters]

Space is an issue for me, so I am good with letting things go. Doesn't really bother me as I much prefer to play new stuff than old, and 9 out of 10 times, you can emulate games for those times when I feel nostalgic.

I still keep a fair amount of old stuff, but it is always good to trim the library to those ones you would actually play in the future. Most retrogames I found that I prefer to read about it, than to actually play it. Weird as that may sound...

[Yoshi]

What games?

She can't tell the difference between what she just bought and what she bought ten years ago, because it's all the same shit.

[Josh]

Clean it with fire.

[Schlep]

This is the extent of my movies and games. At one point a few years ago I was a bit over 500 DVDs and I think about 250 games. Almost everything TV related is through Roku/Netflix, and I try to limit game buying to 12 a year. At this rate, my shelf will be full by 2013 (empty bottom shelf not pictured).

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[Brisco Bold]

Keep old stuff in their boxes or one of those Tupperware shelf things. Only keep two systems out at a time. Actually, it was one until I got a PS3.

I've been throwing out a lot of old magazines lately. I used to keep them for nostalgia. Now they're just embarrassing. The remaining magazines are in a tub. Retro Gamer is in my bookshelf.

[NeoZeedeater]

Josh and Diffusion X had it right - if you haven't played it in 2 years throw it away, give it away or sell it.

That wouldn't work for me. I have tons of games I go years without playing but I know I will go back to. They're worth keeping. Two years goes by in an instant. I do get rid of stuff I know I don't want to touch again. I got rid of a shitload of games/systems in 2009.

If I had to net the whole thing out in terms of a strategy someone could follow, it would be the following:
[list][*]Get rid of every cartridge-based system; replace as many of the games as possible with digital versions or collection discs.

This can definitely be a great space saver, especially for systems where you don't really lose the experience by emulating (like Neo Geo, TurboGrafx, or 2600) but there are a good number of games where there's an advantage to having the real thing. I want to keep my Intellivision for Deadly Discs and others (playing with a modern controller just isn't the same), the Master System for the gun games, the Vectrex for the look of the monitor, the Lynx, etc..

So, I'm fine with owning a bunch of stuff. A lot of the games don't have boxes which keeps the space factor down. Right now I just have the PC, PS3, and PS2 hooked up in my game room (which a neighbour dubbed "The Bat Cave") and a Wii over in the living room since there's more room and my wife plays exercise games there. Another room is for storage and I have several systems there. If I want to play one I'll grab it and hook it up to either the game room or living room TV.

[Melf]

Good luck on that. My college had a (relatively) small oak bookshelf they were getting rid of and I offered to take it off their hands, there being nothing wrong with it. Fits a good 500 games so far and still tons of room.

I think I have a shot at getting it. It's in my office, and if none of the other professors nearby want it, they'll trash it. The dean told me to ask around, and so far no one's claimed it. The thing would be so perfect for my room.

And anyone wanting to toss old Sega mags can send 'em my way.

[Compass]

It's not just TNL, but people are super super insecure. I'm always reading about techniques to hide game collections, or sad justifications for paying rip-off DD prices because "now my guests won't have to see my embarrassing shelves of video game boxes." Who are all these people traipsing around your house all the time that you're absolutely terrified of finding out you like video games?

I guess some people play a lifelong identity shell game. Must be taxing.

[Error]

Well me personally I don't give a fuck who knows I'm a gamer, but I do care about people thinking I'm a slob.