How do you guys manage all your consoles?

[mr.soul]

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5641/consolesxu1.jpg

This is getting ridiculous. I know getting an A/V switcher is definitely on my list. Right now I have both video inputs used and all my other systems chained with RF hookups. I'm at a loss as to how to manage all those huge AC adapters and where to put the consoles. Any ideas?

BTW, this is my first post. Hi everyone!

[XxHennersXx]

for the huge ac adaptors, look into power squids.

they're power strips, but each plug is on a cord so a huge AC adaptor doesn't take up more than one plug.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/front/power_squid.jpg

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/77e6/

I suggest you get an entertainment center for your consoles.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/XxhennersXx/P3230301.jpg

[icbrkr]

Here's how I keep mine neat - put all the bricks in the back where you can't see em:

http://www.particles.org/blog/room.jpg

I think I have 1 UPS and 4 power strips back there. Luckily those cubby holes are deep so I have a bunch of consoles behind other ones (SMS, N64, etc).

[Kid Ice]

For years I used an audio rack like the one linked below (but much cheaper). Eventually I realized that I didn't need to have that many consoles connected at once...it was just my own vainglory.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Bell-O-Component-Rack-AT-423T/sem/rpsm/oid/124496/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

[DefaultGen]

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[XYXZYZ]

You definately need some shelvage there. I got a decent 7 foot tall shelf at Walmart for $40.00. Daisy chained switchbox and powertaps are good also.

I must admit the mess of cables behind my switchboxes is a big pain in the ass to deal with, I dread getting back there to hook up a new console.

[Mr.collection]

Pfft.. I laugh at your postings and all to come, try organizing 128 systems. Thats including hand helds and doubles. I really ony have 49 that need to be managed but whos counting. They are spread across my whole house.

[agbulls]

Pfft.. I laugh at your postings and all to come, try organizing 128 systems. Thats including hand helds and doubles. I really ony have 49 that need to be managed but whos counting. They are spread across my whole house.

Uh. I think he was asking about having them all hooked up at once. If you have all 128 hooked up, takes some pictures. I'm sure everyone would like to see. Also...

Why the hell do you have 128 systems?? Why would you clutter your house like that? I sure hope you own a store.

It's always nice when someone says something like "try organizing 128 systems." It makes my 9 systems hooked to my tv seem NORMAL. LOL

[Parpunk]

woah a power squid! nice!! i have to get me one of these for sure!! thanks for the post dude, this will help me out alot as well :-)

[Gentlegamer]

For AV switcher, I heartily recommend the Pelican System Selector Pro (http://www.viewonline.com/pages/articles/pelicanselectpro.htm) (not the 2.0 version, the original). They can be found on ebay for about $40-50.

[icbrkr]

I'm probably sitting at least 100 consoles (including handhelds, computers, and some dupes). Hook them to the same TV? Nope. I've got the consoles hooked to the TV, and the computers set up on a desk on the other side of the room. Of course, I don't have them all hooked up at once - though I have a decent sized game room I gotta live somewhere. Also, how hard is it to store handhelds?

[agbulls]

For AV switcher, I heartily recommend the Pelican System Selector Pro (http://www.viewonline.com/pages/articles/pelicanselectpro.htm) (not the 2.0 version, the original). They can be found on ebay for about $40-50.

very good recommendation...I've got one and use it daily.

[Gentlegamer]

A relevant question is: do you play each console on a regular basis? If not, box up the ones not in use and rotate them as your playing habits dictate.

[studvicious]

I would invest in a fire extinguisher. Now.

[Maxx]

A relevant question is: do you play each console on a regular basis? If not, box up the ones not in use and rotate them as your playing habits dictate.

You are so wrong Sir! As soon as you box them up, you can't get to them when you want to play them. Then you will never get to play them.

He who has the most systems hooked up at once, is King!

[Schenley]

Check out my (previous) setup here:

www.brokenclavicle.com/arcade

Among other things, I 'daisy chained' a bunch of those Pelican 5 port switchers together so that I can have somewhere around 20 systems all going through 1 set of cables.

[goemon]

I can vouch for the Power Squids: they're very useful -- better than surge strips IMO. They're inaccurate, though. Squids are supposed to have ten tentacles. But that would probably violate fire codes or something.

[RPG_Fanatic]

Check out my (previous) setup here:

www.brokenclavicle.com/arcade

Among other things, I 'daisy chained' a bunch of those Pelican 5 port switchers together so that I can have somewhere around 20 systems all going through 1 set of cables.

I sure hope it never floods in that basement, i would hate to see a grown man cry.

[heybtbm]

I would invest in a fire extinguisher. Now.

I was thinking the same thing.

[XxHennersXx]

A relevant question is: do you play each console on a regular basis? If not, box up the ones not in use and rotate them as your playing habits dictate.

I play mine on a regular basis for the most part. My genesis is the only one with very little love but thats because i have 2 sonic games and 2 street fighters...so not very much variety. :lol:

[takashirose]

I know how it feels. I have 8 systems by my television. All but one is hooked up. All I do when I want to play another system is take the one of the systems' a/vs out and plug the other one. My 20 inch has n a/v port in the front and the back. The front is a lot more convenient for gaming. I only use the rear one when I use my Sega Saturn because the S-Video plug is in the back. I also have a Sony DVD player from 1999 and a VCR hooked up. I want to get a multi a/v connector so that I could free up my s/video connector for my Sega Saturn since my dvd player uses it a lot. I am planning on getting one of those MAD catz stackers so I could put an extra system on top of one.

[DefaultGen]

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[kataboom]

For AV switcher, I heartily recommend the Pelican System Selector Pro (http://www.viewonline.com/pages/articles/pelicanselectpro.htm) (not the 2.0 version, the original). They can be found on ebay for about $40-50.

whats wrong with the 2.0 version may i ask?

[DefaultGen]

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[gepeto]

whats wrong with the 2.0 version may i ask?

I agree the pelican pro pushes the signal through stronger than the cheap ones. I bought one on sale and never looked back.

[ubersaurus]

I have a shelving unit with a bunch of consoles on it that are all plugged in to play, via an s-video equipped switchbox. I need a new one though, as it only has 5 slots, and I have 6 things to put in-saturn and dreamcast get switched when necessary.

Outside of that is a genesis and NES hooked up through the 2nd input slot on the front of the tv, and a homemade RF switcher for playing older consoles. That particular spot is a "rotating" position, and I keep the aforementioned older machines on a shelf for easy access and replacement.

Now as for game storage, that's a fun trip all it's own.

[Steve W]

I have a couple power strips with my consoles plugged in to them, and I usually have one or both strips switched off until I feel like playing one of them. Even when the consoles are off, they're still drawing electricity, so keeping their power supply off until use will save you a little bit on your power bill.

[FABombjoy]

console management haiku:

Large Ikea shelf
7 A/V switchboxes
Six foot power strip

[spunibard]

i really wish there was an ikea near me. it seems no one around here makes those short and long entertainment centers at a decent price.

[PentiumMMX]

I only have the systems I more frequintly play hooked up (Wii & Dreamcast). When I want to play one of the others, I pull it out and hook it up. It's a lot more trouble, but it keeps my game area looking nice & clean.

[heybtbm]

whats wrong with the 2.0 version may i ask?

Absolutely nothing.

It's one of those internet superstitions that seems to still have a life here at DP. One person thinks they see some sort of interference or degraded picture and posts it here. Another person agrees. Before you know it you have a bunch of people (who don't even own a Pelican Pro) saying, "Yeah...the PP 2.0 sucks!!111!". It's hilarious...it really is.

I would say 99.99% of people who claim the 2.0 is inferior have never owned both Pelican Pro's at the same time. Even the few that did never directly compared the picture. Well, I have both and have compared them numerous times. There is no difference. End of story.

[Gabriel]

I have a couple of AV switchers and one of the old swithers that handles coax cables. My arrangement directly previous to my current setup used to be the following:

Hooked up to my 36" RCA tube TV:

Atari 7800
Sega Genesis 1/CD 1/32X combo
Intellivision
Colecovision
PS2 slimline
Odyssey 2

Hooked up to my 36" widescreen LCD TV were:

PS3
XBox 360
GameCube/GameBoy Player
XBox
PS one
PS2 "fattie"
Atari 5200

That setup required an AV switcher for my LCD TV, and the coax switcher for the RCA.

On the LCD, the PS3 went in through HDMI. The 360 went in through the first component set. The GameCube went in through AV jacks on the side. The XBox went in through S-Video. The PSone and two were on the AV switcher on AV jack 1. And the 5200 went direct through coax.

On the RCA, the 7800, Intellivision, Colecovision, and Odyssey 2 were on the switcher to coax. The Sega was in front of the switcher. The PS2 slim was direct to AV. The arrangement took 3 or 4 power strips.

Well, I figured I didn't need all that stuff hooked up. And I had been given a Wii, so I decided to box some stuff up. The end result was the following:

Hooked up to 36" RCA

Atari 7800
Atari 5200
Colecovision
PS2 slimline
Wii

Hooked up to widescreen LCD

Xbox 360
PS3

This greatly simplified things. The RCA now has the 7800, 5200, and Colecovision all on the switcher. The PS2 slim and Wii each have their own AV jacks. I was able to remove at least 2 fire hazard power strips too.

The LCD is even easier. The PS3 still goes in through HDMI and the 360 still goes in through component. I went down to 1 power strip for the whole thing, from two or three previously.

[Gentlegamer]

Absolutely nothing.

It's one of those internet superstitions that seems to still have a life here at DP. One person thinks they see some sort of interference or degraded picture and posts it here. Another person agrees. Before you know it you have a bunch of people (who don't even own a Pelican Pro) saying, "Yeah...the PP 2.0 sucks!!111!". It's hilarious...it really is.

I would say 99.99% of people who claim the 2.0 is inferior have never owned both Pelican Pro's at the same time. Even the few that did never directly compared the picture. Well, I have both and have compared them numerous times. There is no difference. End of story.My advice isn't based on any suposition of inferior signal, etc. Simply, I've never owned a 2.0 so can't recommend it personally. Additionaly, I do know that it has fewer AV slots than the original and that it uses an LCD display for system selection. I perfer the original because I print out color tabs for each system. I just think it looks better.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d173/Gentlegamer/SystemLabels-2.png

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

I would invest in a fire extinguisher. Now.
Just get a power strip that has a switch :D
Is that what those switches on power strips are for? Putting out fires? I've always wondered. Good to know.

I personally agree with those who suggest keeping most of your systems boxed up or at least not connected. I finally figured out that it was way way WAY less work involved in hooking a system up only when I want to play it than there was in trying to figure out how to keep a dozen or more systems hooked up at once. Any more than four systems hooked up simultaneously and you're getting into diminishing returns on your time and sanity.


...word is bondage...

[djsquarewave]

I personally agree with those who suggest keeping most of your systems boxed up or at least not connected. I finally figured out that it was way way WAY less work involved in hooking a system up only when I want to play it than there was in trying to figure out how to keep a dozen or more systems hooked up at once. Any more than four systems hooked up simultaneously and you're getting into diminishing returns on your time and sanity.
Agreed. I've got maybe a dozen systems sitting around, but I never have more than two or three hooked up at any one time. I want to play something else, I'll devote the 30 seconds or so it takes to switch the cables.

Though...my AV selector has one of the ports wearing out from too much in and out action. It was only like ten bucks, though, and it's lasted me a couple years already.

[agbulls]

My advice isn't based on any suposition of inferior signal, etc. Simply, I've never owned a 2.0 so can't recommend it personally. Additionaly, I do know that it has fewer AV slots than the original and that it uses an LCD display for system selection. I perfer the original because I print out color tabs for each system. I just think it looks better.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d173/Gentlegamer/SystemLabels-2.png

I still need to print out color tabs for mine actually. Do you have a template possibly? I would like to use the right logos if possible...I've heard someone has done this.

Also, did you just tape them on? I want it to look as natural as possible...because if it doesn't my wife is going to laugh at it. ;)

[RJ]

www.ikea.com, search "Magicker" (TV unit.) Front glass door slides, adjustable shelves, hole(s) in back for cords. IIRC I put mine together alone in half an hr.

I have my 7800, Dreamcast, SNES, NES, Genesis, Atari 800XL system w/ 2 disk drives, Colecovision, & PS2 on/in it. OK, well, the CV is in the old Atari Game Center plastic caddy on the floor.

2 TVs w/ multiple inputs (RCA on front & back) covers it all. :cool:

[Gentlegamer]

I still need to print out color tabs for mine actually. Do you have a template possibly? I would like to use the right logos if possible...I've heard someone has done this.

Also, did you just tape them on? I want it to look as natural as possible...because if it doesn't my wife is going to laugh at it. ;)Those are the labels I made. I print them on sticker paper and cut them out. They are 108 x 30 pixels if you want to make your own.

[Trebuken]

I have been fighting this problem for too long. All these ideas are great, and will work for x number of systems, but at some point, as you add more systems you could lose your mind trying to find solutions.

I'll make suggestions from what I have gathered - use at your own risk.

1. Use the nice system selectors (Pelican Pro) for newish systems only.
2. Get an auto switching switchbox if you use more than 1 switchbox; you could go all autop but the auto switches are not as reliable, IMO.
3. Squids are good, but a large powerstrip (16+ outlets, 4'+ is better). You can also get 18" (I think) extension chords at Walmart for about $3 each.
4. Get zipper strips (Real cheap) to tie up slack in your cables.
5. Label your switches (mentioned already)
6. Pick a switchbox for S-Video, one for component mixing is possible but can be tougher to manage.
7. RF is tougher. Tough to find an RF switch with more than 3 switches (anyone no where to find one?). I use an RF demodulator (converts RF to composite). My primary monitor (RGB) does not have a composite input. You can get your systems modded...good idea, but costs $$$.
8. If you buy an entertainment center you will need to add more shelves; see if they can be ordered from manufacturer (Or call manufacturer and say they weren't in the box, they might send them to you; I do not advocate dishonesty though).
9. Buy wireless controllers for as many systems as possible and extension chords when possible. Wireless systems go up higher in your entertainment center, those with short controller chords go under your TV if possible.
10. Return to this thread for everything I forgot.

My setup uses an outlet that is controlled by a light-switch. This way, when I leave the rrom I shut off the circuit to my systems, allowing them to draw no power, and potentially protecting them from any power surges...

Good Luck.

[ubersaurus]

Absolutely nothing.

It's one of those internet superstitions that seems to still have a life here at DP. One person thinks they see some sort of interference or degraded picture and posts it here. Another person agrees. Before you know it you have a bunch of people (who don't even own a Pelican Pro) saying, "Yeah...the PP 2.0 sucks!!111!". It's hilarious...it really is.

I would say 99.99% of people who claim the 2.0 is inferior have never owned both Pelican Pro's at the same time. Even the few that did never directly compared the picture. Well, I have both and have compared them numerous times. There is no difference. End of story.

Of course, it only has what, 5 A/V slots vs the original's 8? I already have a 5 slotter, so if I were hooking up a larger amount of consoles, I'd just aim for the 8 slotter.

[portnoyd]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/323495870_5590032d9f_o_d.jpg

Not the best picture of the setup, but the only one we took 4 months ago.

The shelving was made from Home Depot. Brackets and shelves. That's it. :)

The setup has the following hooked up. In () is how the system is hooked up. We use 2 power strips and a Pelican System Selector Pro 1.0. Worth every penny.

Playstation 3 (HDMI directly to TV)
Xbox 360 (VGA directly to TV)
Wii (Component through Selector)
Playstation 2 (Component through Selector)
Xbox (Component through Selector)
Dreamcast (SVideo through Selector)
Nintendo 64 (SVideo through Selector)
SNES (SVideo through Selector)
NES (Video through Selector)
Genesis (Video through Selector, shared with TG16)
Turbografx 16 (Video through Selector, shared with Genesis)

Also there are a CDi, 3DO, Colecovision, 2600, SMS and Intellivision. All of which are hooked up as needed.

Net connections handled by a wireless access point directly connected to the 360. The PS2 and original XBox are offline.

Controllers are kept behind the door on 2 shoe racks...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/323495790_26dee3bd0f_o.jpg

[Cinder6]

That is mighty impressive, portnoyd.

Anyways, I have two questions about the Pelican switch. Does it do input conversions? That is, if I have something plugged in via RCA, would it upconvert it to component? I know full well there is no quality gain by this, but it would be nice to be able to mix and match console output types.

Question #2: Does it require power to run?

With my setup right now, I have a small cabinet the TV sits on. Inside this is a PS2, a Gamecube, an SNES, an NES, and an N64. The PS2 is connected directly to the TV via component, and the other four use RCA cables to connect to a 4-port switch I got at Gamestop for $20 or so. Outside the cabinet, to the left, is a Genesis that's hooked up via RF. To the right of the cabinet, and lying on top of a blanket chest, are a Dreamcast and Saturn. The Dreamcast doesn't have a dedicated jack, and has to be swapped with the input switch (which plugs in to the front of the TV) in order to play.

Finally, in front of the TV (because I have no idea where to keep it) is a Sega Master System I just got on Saturday. It, along with the Saturn, is daisy-chained with the Genesis and a VCR + satellite, which makes for great picture quality </sarcasm>.

Here's what I hope to do with everything:

1. Get new surge protector(s). Currently, the SMS and the Genesis have to go through unprotected wall AC, which I don't like for obvious reasons.

2. Somehow get rid of that blanket chest. By all rights, I've already hijacked it. There are two consoles on top, and the SMS will likely go there as well. You can't really open it without work, and when you do, I have a box of NES games inside. If we can't get rid of it, I would like to simply move it somewhere else, so I can put in shelving for both my games and my consoles.

My collection is pretty modest compared to most here (only around 200 games or so, spread across 11 systems, not including portables). For the time being, it should be pretty easy to consolidate everything.

[portnoyd]

The selector does require power to run, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't upconvert. I have AV, SVid, and Component all running into the back of the TV, so whatever it needs to feed is connected.

[Gentlegamer]

The Pelican System Selector Pro requires power to run and does not upconvert or pass through signals that are "mixed." You'll need a seperate input for each type going from the selector to the TV (one each for composite, s-video, or component).

[agbulls]

Those are the labels I made. I print them on sticker paper and cut them out. They are 108 x 30 pixels if you want to make your own.

What do you mean by "Those"? Those what?

[Nemo]

i am jealous of your massive collection port. great idea using the shoeracks for controllers....also: good to see the NES front and center, i will note your alliegance to the cause.

[Gentlegamer]

What do you mean by "Those"? Those what?Can you not see the pic in that post?

[agbulls]

Can you not see the pic in that post?

Ah. I will turn that feature back on now. :drinking:

[portnoyd]

i am jealous of your massive collection port. great idea using the shoeracks for controllers....also: good to see the NES front and center, i will note your alliegance to the cause.

Is this THE nemo? If so, :D

If not, it's still ok. Thanks for the compliment. :)

[DefaultGen]

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[Insaneclown]

Well lets see...my...hooked up systems include. They are on two different entertainment centers so you know.

Playstation 2
Genesis/CD
Master System
Xbox
3DO
Wii


The rest is boxed up...for now

Dreamcast
CDX
Playstation 1
NES
SNES

[AMG]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/323495870_5590032d9f_o_d.jpg



Awesome set up.