Game disc storage-what orientation?

Wolfpup

Wolfpup

CAGiversary!
Hey guys, I've heard you're not supposed to store CD cases flat, like so the disc is horizontal-it's supposed to be vertical. I was never sure why, and kind of ignored that.

Well, thinking back on my library of PS1 games, I've wondered-should they be vertical? I assume it doesn't matter what orientation the case is so long as the disc is vertical.

And does this matter for DVD and Blu Ray cases too?

I SERIOUSLY don't have the room for this stuff...
 
Mine are all verticle. DVDs, games and CDs.

Have 2 five shelf racks to the left and right of the TV that have all the DVDs and Blu Rays and a few games (only have 10 or so as I don't keep many games after beating them). Another rack full of CDs is in another room.

The cases are made to be stored vertical, so I'd stick buy it if you can. But I doubt it would cause any problems to store them flat.
 
It's probably because they can warp if they're flat. (Theoretically.) Also, with the new 'green' 360 cases that use less plastic, storing them horizontal is almost surely going to wrinkle the cover art.

EDIT: Also, with PS1 cases, storing them flat WILL warp the cover art. They did a story about it in Tips & Tricks about 7 or 8 years back.
 
Apparently discs can warp when stored flat (depending on the case, some cases support the edge of the disc). I wouldn't worry much about it though. I suspect that warping would only be a problem after many years of storage.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']It's probably because they can warp if they're flat. (Theoretically.)[/QUOTE]
Yup. I don't worry about it though (all my CDs are stored flat). I suspect it's only a problem after many years of storage.
 
Wow, thanks for all the great info everyone! And I'd have never guessed the government had such a great guide to exactly all this!

I'm definitely going to put my Playstation CDs vertically (I'll just have to find the room...)

Does that count for DVDs and Blu Rays too, given their packages are different? I guess it would, since I wouldn't think jewel cases would allow warping, yet apparently do, so I suppose the same would be true for DVD cases.

I've had my PS1 games stack horizontally for years :hot:
 
I forgot...that PDF has me thinking again about whether DVD+/-R is a real storage method or not. Wish there was something way more permanent.
 
[quote name='Wolfpup']Does that count for DVDs and Blu Rays too, given their packages are different? I guess it would, since I wouldn't think jewel cases would allow warping, yet apparently do, so I suppose the same would be true for DVD cases.[/QUOTE]
Depends on the case. Some support the disc around the edge as well as in the middle. Those would prevent warping, assuming it's a real threat. As I said above, I don't worry about it. Optical media is small and lightweight. I imagine it would take decades of flat storage to cause problems
 
Yeah, you and me both :lol:

My storage area it's much easier to stack them than have them stood up. I've got all my played PS1, PS2, PSP, PS3, DS and Wii games "correct" now at least (except I made a double row of PS1 games-like the discs are vertical, but one row is still stacked on another row, since my shelf has room for that.

But...I haven't really kept that many games, and I've got at least as many upplayed, and don't have my Xbox games up there either. (Let alone PC...)
 
[quote name='Wolfpup']I forgot...that PDF has me thinking again about whether DVD+/-R is a real storage method or not. Wish there was something way more permanent.[/QUOTE]

Get verbatim, they are tested to last 100 years
 
As long as everything is in the case I don't think it matters. How far could the art warp anyway?

My earlier games are stored in plastic boxes in whatever direction I could fit them. My PS2 games are vertical in a DVD rack along with some DS games. Wii on a tall rack holding them horizontally in pairs (no weight on the bottom cases). PS3 are all lying flat until I complete them and place them on the shelf.
 
See...that's what I don't really understand. Yeah, it seems like the case is solid, whether it's a CD or DVD case, so intuitively it seems like the disc itself isn't getting any kind of pressure regardless of how you have it...yet everything says to store vertically.

I did notice that at least one of my multidisc Playstation 1 games one or more of the discs had fallen out.

In fact, one of the Lunar games that shipped with 4 CDs, two of them were basically both together in the same 'slot' thing, and could have been that way for years for all I know.
 
[quote name='Wolfpup']See...that's what I don't really understand. Yeah, it seems like the case is solid, whether it's a CD or DVD case, so intuitively it seems like the disc itself isn't getting any kind of pressure regardless of how you have it...yet everything says to store vertically.
[/QUOTE]

Well, everything on the planet has the pressure of gravity on it.

If you have a disc in case that's on a hub in the center (and thus the surface of the disc isn't touching the surface of the case), over time gravity could cause the disc to warp.

I doubt it's all that likely or widespread (i.e. can't see many if any discs warping to be unplayable during one's lifetime--much less the time period they're actually using such discs before upgrading to newer tech).

I keep my CDs and DVDs vertical as I like them displayed that way and its easy to find what I want. Games are moot as I don't keep games after beating them very often, and thus don't have space or storage issues with them.
 
Oh, so like the CD itself could slowly bend down from the mm gap between it's surface and the case itself? That sort of thing? I guess that makes sense.
 
[quote name='Wolfpup']Oh, so like the CD itself could slowly bend down from the mm gap between it's surface and the case itself? That sort of thing? I guess that makes sense.[/QUOTE]

Yep, that's the risk. And probably a very small one, really only of concern for say librarians who need to maintain archival copies of discs to last for posterity.

I can't imagine a person finding many (if any) discs unusable because of that during their lifetime. Be more worried about storing them in a climate controlled place, and not a cold/hot garage, basement, storage unit etc. where the cooling and heating can cause warping, separation of the layers etc.

But if it's flat in a box in your closet, and you keep your home in normal temperature ranges, you should be fine.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I have an old Pioneer Laserdisc player and bunch of Laserdisc films if you remember those (think DVD's the size of vinyl records), and they are really starting to go.

I store them vertically, but the double sided discs I think were made by essentially gluing two single side platters together, and some of my discs are actually starting to split apart at the seams.

Also they are affected by something called 'Laser Rot' which leads to picture artifacts and other problems with playback.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top