How do you organize your 2600 Collection?

[disjaukifa]

Hey Guys,

 

I've finally expanding on my collection of games, and currently I have all my games sorted alphabetically but I not sure I like it, too many different types of carts and games, and since I'm nearing over 100 unique titles, I want a better way to organize my collection.

 

How do you guys organize your cartridges?

 

Thanks

Edited September 14, 2011 by disjaukifa

[VectorGamer]

I used to do alphabetically but now organize alpha by company and then alpha by game. It's easier that way in tracking holes for the collection.

[Necron99]

I used to do alphabetically but now organize alpha by company and then alpha by game. It's easier that way in tracking holes for the collection.

 

same here. I find they also look nicer when ordered by company as the end labels are generally similar style/color/font

[raskar42]

What is this "Ore-Gon-Eyes" you speak of?

[disjaukifa]

What is this "Ore-Gon-Eyes" you speak of?

 

Its a system in which allows you to quickly and efficiently find a single item of some kind in a collection of items.

[raskar42]

What is this "Ore-Gon-Eyes" you speak of?

 

Its a system in which allows you to quickly and efficiently find a single item of some kind in a collection of items.

 

i see, i may have to try that.

 

currently i keep all my atari carts as pile in the middle of my room, surrounded by candles and offerings of neighborhood pets.

[pixelated]

Alphabetically. I apparently have no imagination. I used to organize them by company. But hey, alphabetically makes it a cinch to find. Adventure through Yars' Revenge.

 

I've been thinking about arranging the carts in favorite order, like Yars' Revenge, Missile Command, Keystone Kapers, ESB and others would be at the top and things like Pac-Man and Swordquest Earthworld at the end.

[NE146]

Organize?

[zylon]

I just throw all mine in a box except for about 20 doubles I still play once in a while.

[Chris Leach]

I just aquired anothers atari collection and in merging the two thought to myself it would be a good time to sort some of this stuff...>I started alpha wise, but then realized it doesnt make much since in the shelves Im using cause certain games dont stand up right..i.e. Air Raiders....it doesnt lie flat....?

 

So I would say I have seen most collections sorted by manufacturer and then by label variations....and so mine is now this way as well...>! Looks so pretty when its all done!

[disjaukifa]

I just aquired anothers atari collection and in merging the two thought to myself it would be a good time to sort some of this stuff...>I started alpha wise, but then realized it doesnt make much since in the shelves Im using cause certain games dont stand up right..i.e. Air Raiders....it doesnt lie flat....?

 

So I would say I have seen most collections sorted by manufacturer and then by label variations....and so mine is now this way as well...>! Looks so pretty when its all done!

 

Pictures?

 

The other thing I'm trying to figure out is how exactly I want to store the cartridges . . . do I put them in plastic boxes or do I try to find some kind of hanging mount system for them

[Rex Dart]

How do you organize your 2600 cartridges?

I suppose you'd say I "just throw them all in a box." I have a plastic tub for Activision carts, one for 7800 carts, one for fun games, one for middling games, and finally one for crap games.

[VectorGamer]

 

Pictures?

 

The other thing I'm trying to figure out is how exactly I want to store the cartridges . . . do I put them in plastic boxes or do I try to find some kind of hanging mount system for them

 

Go here.

 

I store all my carts in tubs except for Imagic, M-Network, Xonox and Konami. Those go in Music Mates.

[toiletunes]

Organ eyes:

 

First by company (mostly) then it gets weird.

 

Atari brand (2600) is sorted by label type (pic, text, number, kids, silver, red) then alphabetically, until I get bored and redo everything by approximate release date (determined sort of by CX Number).

 

The shelves can hold about 22 across. more with parker brothers, less with red label Atari. It's like a jogsaw puzzle- Coleco and Apollo fit on one shelf, Imagic and Xonox fit on one shelf, etc.

 

I use some spare ET carts as placeholders for games I would like and can reasonably expect to find at an affordable price someday. I have a space reserved for Polaris, but not Espial, Springer, or River Patrol.

 

I don't like the look of M Network all bunched up together, so there's on on either end, like bookends. Since these are slightly thinner than the average cart, I can get one on the end of the Atari Red Labels.

 

There's a section in the middle of the bookshelves thet's too tall to lay the games on the sides, so I do the stackable games in colums of nine each, five across. Activision fits on one shelf by itself, 20th century, froggo, and everyone else go on the other. There's enough room for something on the sides, so one has Xonox double-ender bookends, the other one has instructions and catalogs.

 

I try to keep cart styles together (mogul maniac with US games, Tax Avoiders with Sega, and Boing with Xonox) when possible.

 

the 7800 games are just straight alpha most times. Homebrews repros hacks and repro protos (homebreprotos) go on one shelf.

 

Honestly, I almost have as much fun reorganizing everything as I do playing them.

[BigErn]

I have a pretty small collection, but so far I have been organizing by company, and then alphabetically. Recently, I have started organizing my paddle games separately. Boxed games go separately too.

[Zwackery]

First, alphabetically by company. Then, within each company, usually by box type, so early releases (such as Atari's first round of gatefolds) are then followed by different groupings of box types (colored boxes, silver boxes (with different spine bands), red boxes, grey boxes), which roughly follow a loose chronology. Within box type, it's strictly alphabetical.

[Yay kittenz]

Haha I recently acquired a massive collection and this was one of the dilemmas I faced. I got two of those sturdy plastic shelving units with sliding drawers. I sorted the carts by rarity. I chose the large drawers for my common (about 100)/duplicate carts(> 150 carts) and also for my controllers/spare consoles (have 3 spares). I chose a smaller drawer for my instructions and rare (15)/scarce(30+) carts:

[disjaukifa]

Thank you guys for the wonderful ideas! First thing I need to do is get a better storage case, and then i think I'm going to do the following:

 

Company

Label Type

Alpha

 

That way everything thats the same type will stay together!

[DemonoidTentacle]

I just throw mine in a box, they are organised in a way that there's only few that i'd ever play, so they're naturally on top.

[disjaukifa]

I just throw mine in a box, they are organised in a way that there's only few that i'd ever play, so they're naturally on top.

 

I hate to admit this but that is how my carts were until 3 days ago and I put them in alphabetical order . . . put I'm not liking that hence I started this thread, wanted to see what others were doing with their cartridges!

[Miss 2600]

Alphabetized by company. I don't like a bunch of different cartridge case types mixed together.

[pis]

Company and labeltype, in no alphabetical order.

[disjaukifa]

Company and labeltype, in no alphabetical order.

 

Interesting, do you do it by favorite to least favorite or is there no order at that point?

[+save2600]

When I was actively collecting, I used to keep them alphabetized by company in Rubbermaid containers. Now, I just plain have them organized by title in a CD shelf-type stand.

[Stan]

By letter. Never understood the 'by company' method. It looks neat, but I like to know where my exact game is that I'm looking for. Commavid currently poses a problem for me in my gaming cabinet, but that's the only issue.