Cheap method for organizing/displaying NES/SNES/N64 cartridges

Slim Gatsby

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In the time I've been on CAG, my old-school collection has increased dramatically, leaping up from a handful of PSX and N64 games to 300+ and 160+, respectively, along with a Super Nintendo and Nintendo cartridge collection bouncing up from a starting point in high double digits to roughly 150 apiece.

I try to keep things organized, so I can find games when I want to play them, so they can be displayed nicely with minimal clutter, and so that, when large lots of games pass through my hands, I can quickly extract the games I don't have (or are in better condition than my copy) and put the rest up online for trading and selling.

Right now, though, my collection is disgraceful -- sure, the disc-only PSX stuff can go into a massive CD binder, and the complete ones fit neatly into any CD rack, while boxed Genesis, SegaCD, and Saturn games all fit into DVD-storage shelves, but I am at a loss as to how to display -- or at least store in a relatively organized fashion -- my Nintendo cartridges. My iKea desk has a sort of recessed shelf that holds three rows of NES cartridges 37 units high; the rest are in about five of those old carrying cases, but any new ones purchased are stacked halphazardly on another shelf. They are mostly alphabetized, aside from the new ones, because having games simply stacked means that EVERYTHING needs to come out to add new games and keep things in order...which also generally makes most of the games unaccessable.

My Nintendo 64 and SNES games are all in halved Priority Mail boxes; they seem to fit them width-wise perfectly when going two-by-two or three-by-three. However, this is neither neat nor displayable, nor do they store well.

I don't want to spend a fortune on (and bulk everything up with) Universal Media Cases a la The Cover Project, but I want to find a way to get everything neat and organized and at the same time accessable.

Can anyone point me to some shelves or other storage units designed with these cartridges in mind, or something similar that fits? I'd love to find stackable tupperware drawers that are just the right height and width for some of these games -- most are too narrow and/or too deep. And, in true CAG fashion, the less expensive, the better!

I had a similar problem with controllers, but then, with one of my more ingenious ideas, I screwed hooks into the wall and suspended a wireframe shoe rack, reinforced with wireties, from Bed Bath and Beyond ($10); this gave me three shelves on an incline with a lip. The top has 3x3 Nintendo 64 controllers with Wii Peripherals next to it, the middle has more N64 controllers (with not a single color duplicated!) along with Dreamcast, Saturn, and PS2 ones next to it, and the bottom one has my Nomad, four WaveBirds, Xbox 360 controllers, and TV remotes in easy reach. Again with the shoes, extra controllers, peripherals, and wires are in a shoe net over the back of my door (another $10 or so).

But, for anything other than cartridges, wireties solve everything. You know those wireframe cube shelve things that are so easy to assemble and a dorm-room staple? Take a spare piece and use wireties to cut a cube in half! Half-shelves like this are great for consoles that front-load or have a generally low profile.
 
I've always wondered about my 64 games as well. I haven't come up with a solution yet.
I am interested in your controller rack.
Could you post a pic or two?
Mine are all cluttered in a draw...
 
I have this drawer for my N64 games that has slots which you put the games into vertically. There are two rows, with ten games fitting in each row I believe. The games fit nicely in and are thus protected in that drawer pretty much.

I received it as a gift way back when the N64 was still popular, so I have no idea if it is still around of if something similar to it is out.

I will try to put a picture up later if I remember and have some time.
 
[quote name='Quintessence']I have this drawer for my N64 games that has slots which you put the games into vertically. There are two rows, with ten games fitting in each row I believe. The games fit nicely in and are thus protected in that drawer pretty much.

I received it as a gift way back when the N64 was still popular, so I have no idea if it is still around of if something similar to it is out.

I will try to put a picture up later if I remember and have some time.[/quote]

That's pretty cool...I'll try looking for something like that, but I'd be surprised if I found anything. Plus, I'd need about six. =)

I'll post a picture of the controller rack once I get a chance to clean up and straighten it out, I've been rather ill the last few days and everything has gone straight to hell.
 
Get those plastic storage/organization drawers. I don't know what they're called but you can find them at any Wal-Mart, Target, etc.
 
[quote name='Vinny']Get those plastic storage/organization drawers. I don't know what they're called but you can find them at any Wal-Mart, Target, etc.[/quote]

Unless you can provide either pics or a specific measurement, I'm going to assume that you just ignored the original post. :roll:

I'd love to find stackable tupperware drawers that are just the right height and width for some of these games -- most are too narrow and/or too deep.
 
For my N64 games I just have a rubbermade tub. Its as tall as the games with roughly 1/2 inch to spare and holds 2 rows of 16 quite well. It wiggles enough that you can flip through and see the front stickers, but not enough where it would damage them if you tossed it around a bunch. It's probably not the best system, but works great for my small collection and keeps it portable to store wherever in my room.

EDIT: Ok got my lazy arse up and went to check the dimmensions. First off its RubberMAID not MADE ( I see what you did there). The height is 3.5 inches (probably the best fit you will get for height with a sealable top) 13.5 Inches long and 11 inches wide. Its kind of an odd shape that I got about 5 or so years ago. Haven't seen one like this but they should still make something close.
 
[quote name='underliness']For my N64 games I just have a rubbermade tub. Its as tall as the games with roughly 1/2 inch to spare and holds 2 rows of 16 quite well. It wiggles enough that you can flip through and see the front stickers, but not enough where it would damage them if you tossed it around a bunch. It's probably not the best system, but works great for my small collection and keeps it portable to store wherever in my room.[/quote]

Cool...do you know the dimensions? Where did you get it and for how much?
 
i like things like this

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...&lp=11&type=product&cp=1&id=pcmprd28600050013

ignore the price on the web site they have one in store that holds 840 CD's (it also holds cartridges because ALL of the shelves are adjustable) The one in store sells for 84$ and is back buy the TV stands and bigger storage media... i really like mine i know 80 bucks is a little steep but i get all my games (over 350) in a a 36 inch square space and it actually looks decent...
 
[quote name='Slim Gatsby']Cool...do you know the dimensions? Where did you get it and for how much?[/quote]

Just edited my first post, but its 3.5H x1 13.5L X 11W ,all in inches. Holds 2 rows of 15 games with just the right tightness for flipping through. It's about 5 years old so they might not still make the size. Was originaly from Target in IL when I lived their. The other one I use is the same but only 8.5W so only holds one row and some accessories. Both were bought in store at Targets, but they may have something online, I will have to take a look later.
 
I have my small n 64 collection in the plastic cases they made for them (they are about the size of a dvd case, but close to twice as thick) but still hard to display w/o printing a label or somthing b/c n64 games have no end labels cause nintendo went retarted. I never liked the drawer i used to have b/c u had to pull each game out 1 at a time to see what it was but w/ the cases i can at least just flip though them. I keep my snes games in the plastic cases that were made for the original nintendo games

be easy
 
bread's done
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