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Games Entertainment

Game Console Organization? 29

Posted by Cliff from the organizing-the-unorganizable dept.
chipster asks: "Between my kids' and my own game console setups, I have a hell of a time keeping things organized. Especially when three to four consoles are hooked up to a single TV. I am looking for some feedback on either your game console organization solutions, or ones that you have come across. Creative/homebrew console "rigs" are more than welcome. I am specifically trying to avoid the "toyish" look (see this product for an example). I am looking for more of a durable, and decent-looking organization solution. Any ideas?"
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Game Console Organization? More

Game Console Organization?

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  • I wonder if there is anything to go wireless to connect these devices to the TV.
  • Go outside more often.

    Jeez.

    • Dear, "Jeez" Bad advice, because: 1. I asked a specific question, and you beat around the bush. If you can't answer a direct question, ITFQ. 2. I am outside a lot, so your advice is invalid - and you don't know me. 3. If you were trying to be funny, well...I'll leave it up to the rest of the readers to judge your humor.
      • well, why the f have you got 3/4 consoles then?
        Do you test them or something?

        sounds sad to me.
      • 1. I answered your question. If you just go outside then your problems are all gone. There's plenty of room there for all your consoles. (And I agree with you, beating around bushes is an excellent outdoor activity)

        2. I admit, I do not know you. However, everything that i do know about you points towards you being the type of person that does not go outside of his house very often. Therefore I feel it appropriate to take our relationship to the next level and call you a liar. (Note that the trip to and fr

  • two general categories of thought come to my mind:

    regarding physical storage, it really shouldn't be hard to sort most of it out. use furniture that matches what's around -- beyond that, think drawers. games and accessories go well in drawers, and they're easily hidden from view. options here vary anywhere from a coffee table with builtin drawers, to filing cabinets, to plastic storage containers, to assorted other furniture. you might even find something with doors on the front and drawers inside, thu
  • It would be nice to go fully wireless for the next game consoles. I'd pay extra for that technology.
  • If you're willing to mutilate your systems and a spare pc tower, you can always build [techtv.com] this [techtv.com] to save a lot more space than a game station will. I saw it on TechTV one day, and iirc, the guy stuffed a few consoles, including all of the current ones.

    Granted, I'd never do this because I love my gamecube too much and dont feel like toasting another motherboard... :|

  • best system (Score:3, Informative)

    by iocat ( 572367 ) on Thursday March 27, 2003 @12:12AM (#5603447) Homepage Journal
    Short answer: stereo shelving.

    Long answer: The best systems I've seen organize things like this:

    "RF" systems (such as the 2600, Intellivision, etc) go in line, with the most frequently used closest to the TV (to avoid the inevitable signal degredation). (And yes, this can mess up cable reception.)

    Systems which can use S-Video or standard composite cables go into a switchbox, such as this one [slashdot.org]. It's powered, but I've used it unpowered with good results. Depending on the number of systems you have, you may need to daisy chain a couple of these together.

    Finally, I just plug one system in via component, because component switch boxes can be pricey. For me, it's the Xbox, because it's DVD capabilities are way better than the PS2's.

    Storage-wise, most game systems aren't that deep, so I've found cheap shelves from anyway cna hold most of the systems. The real hassle is controllers, which get in the way, always look messy, and are tough to keep attached. A friend has all his hanging from hooks in his game room, I prefer to keep them all in a drawer (well, actually it's a little cabinet with a door, but the end result is the same -- it's pretty neat on the outside, no one sees how messy it is on the inside).

    I keep the games in CD-holder type shelves, well away from the TV. There are ususally one or two games on the TV, but the TV space doesn't look cluttered.

    I daisy chain three power strips for my consoles. The first has only the TV, VCR and Xbox on it, and I usually leave it on. The other two are for the other consoles.

    Bottom line: shelves you like, a place to hide the controllers, and a way to keep the games from stacking up will usually result in a pretty nice set-up, even with six or seven consoles hooked up to your TV.

    • "RF" systems (such as the 2600, Intellivision, etc) go in line, with the most frequently used closest to the TV (to avoid the inevitable signal degredation). (And yes, this can mess up cable reception.)

      Speaking from experience attaching an assload of RF systems to a TV, I can say that your best bet is to get a 3-way or so RF switcher.

      Right now, I have the following devices attached by RF to my TV (yeah, it's too old to have RCA connectors, but dammit, it works just fine and it was free):

      • NES
      • Genesis
      • SN
      • Is it that big a deal to let the NES/SNES/N64 share a modulator? They all put out the same signal. Just switch the damn thing...Some of the others would probably work together too.
  • I don't really have an answer to stuff going into the TV, but we have our stuff organized (or at least we try to) into tubs that we have in a closet near our TV.

    Our TV has 3 RCA style inputs so we use two of those for the GameCube and PS2. The GameCube port thingy is comparable with the N64 and SNES if we ever feel the need to play it. Our TV is on a rach/shelf that has our VCR and LaserDisc player (yeah!) Underneath we have a shelf where we can stuff stuff like controllers and games.

    Our TV has an Svideo
  • Connected to my TV is the NES, SNES, TG16, SMS, Xbox, PS2, Dreamcast, GameCube, N64, and computer.

    I have the Xbox and GC connected via component video to my Sony DE-585. I have the PS2, N64, computer, Dreamcast connected via Svideo to my switcher, which connects to my DE-585 consoles channel. The SMS/TG16 use RF to channel 3 on the TV. The NES and SNES use composite (one to the switcher, one to the TV front panel as I used up the switcher's 5 ports).

    Everything is single push button, except that I have
  • I don't own that many consoles, but I have used this device [radioshack.com] both at home and at work. I have hooked up a DVD, VCR, Cable box and NES to the same TV. No problem. To make it really easy (for the ones who can't remember numbers) you can even label what each number is connected to. Simple.

    The only problem I can see is when the kids want to disconnect the console to take to a friend's house.
  • A pop-up gaming coffee table.
    You've probably seen the pop-up coffee tables [yahoo.com] in furniture stores and what not, that's where I got my idea.

    Plan is to build a 3 x 6 foot coffee table, with another box inside of it. Inside there will fit all my gaming consoles as well as a video and sound switcher - leaving only 3-4 cables to be seen. 1 for the sound, 1 for video, 1 for ethernet and 1 for power.

    I examined the way the pop-up tables work in stores, and it seems reasonably easy to build. I may even go for an elec
  • I've also had troubles with this as my secondhand console collection has grown. What I've done with the systems is to put each in one drawer of a plastic set of drawers [cox.net] with cables coming out the back (a tight fit, but possible if things don't close all the way). All the controllers for that system go in the drawer when not in use to keep things from tangling like crazy. I have a little plastic thing that holds all the carts. For cabling, I got one of these [pelicanacc.com] switches (except 5-in-1, I can't find it on their

  • DIY (Score:2)

    by jpsst34 ( 582349 )
    Take up woodworking and build your own. All you need is a tablesaw, surface planer, jointer, several routers, drill press, drill bits, router bits, dado blades, a workbench, a shop in which to keep all your stuff, some drills (both the corded and cordless varieties), maybe a scroll saw, a belt sander, some random orbital sanders, wood glue, and a nail gun. With all that, you'll be amazed that you can build your own Console Organizer for the miniscule price of the raw materials!
    • You just need THREE power tools to build something nice (in case all of the above would not fit in the garage / costs too much):
      Jigsaw, Power Drill, Power Sander.
      Having a router or radial arm saw would be nice, but not necessary. The above would allow you to build just about any piece of furniture (Home Depot and other DIY stores will cut wood for you in case you don't have a table saw).
      • You're right! I forgot to mention that you would need a radial arm saw and a laser guided miter saw! Oh, a good dust collection system is a must, too. And an HVLP gun for your lacquer and poly. Without all these tools you can't get anything useful done. And lots of clamps. Gotta have lots of clamps. And a biscuit jointer.

    • Routers (Score:3, Funny)

      by Quill_28 ( 553921 )
      Someone talking about routers, but not the type that moves packets!
      What is Slashdot coming too!
  • In order to reduce clutter (and have a nifty conversation piece) my friend and I have embarked on a journey to control his entire media center from his PC. Here's what we have done so far: -In his P4, we installed a Soundblaster Audigy 2 for 5.1 sound and an ATI 128 Video Card -We ran his digital cable box thru the video in and the video out and 5.1 sound out through a breakout box into the TV and receiver respectivly -Now comes the fun part... instead of the actual consoles (NES-SNES-N64-PS1-GameCube-XB
  • Here's how to easily keep 'em organized:
    Step 1. Sell game systems.
    Step 2. Buy PC games.
    Step 3. Buy PC game peripherals.
    Step 4. ???
    Step 5. Profit.

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