Aesthetic Collecting (Or My Newest Insanity)

[MrRoboto19XX]

Over the past 4 or so months, I've really taken to 2600 collecting, it's a fine little system. The games are simple, yet fun to play, the console has a rich history, there is a vast library, and many (excellent) games are dirt cheap.

However, I have been finding more and more, that these are not the reasons I have been buying these VCS games as of late. Oh no, my reason makes far less sense.

I really like the way they look lined up and organized.

I love the way Activision titles all lock in with one another for excellent stacking, I love the way 20th Century Fox titles do the same thing, albeit differently. I love how CBS games are a nice grey color, and for some reason I love the campiness of Apollo game labels.

And then there are the Atari/Sears games.

Oh my, those things are great, if only for the titles. I thoroughly enjoy having a box full of uniform, yet varying end labels with such simple names as "Chase" "Haunted House" and my personal favorite "Cannon Man". There's something about the stark colors, bold lettering, who knows what it is, but I find them excellent. Same goes for the Atari picture labels, I love that old 70's artwork!

Except for M-Network games, M-Network games have the worst carts of all time as far as I'm concerned.

But anyhow, anybody else share my sentiments? Has anyone ever collected for aesthetic reasons for any console?

[Steven]

I think a lot of us do, man. Sure, we like the game to be "complete" but also part of the cool/fun factor is putting the boxes/CD cases on a shelf. Looks like you got a f*ckin' library of video games. What's not appealing about that? :)

[Zebbe]

Putting up my games so it looks nice on the shelf is very important to me. I put my black grid Mega Drive games together and my blue stripe games together, with the red stripe Genesis games coming later. I wouldn't buy games just to make it look better on the shelf though.

[carlcarlson]

Heck yeah man, welcome to the club. I wouldn't own a majority of the games I do if I didn't like how they looked all lined up on the shelf. And I'm with you on Atari games, too, I've got about 80 and haven't even played them. I just love the old carts themselves, nevermind the game contained within them.

[SegaAges]

Looks like you got a f*ckin' library of video games. What's not appealing about that? :)

QFE

Nicely put, and true for me as well.

[Xian042]

Aesthetically,

boxed Odyssey II games are essential to any shelved collection.

[Pantechnicon]

I can't say I collect for any one system with aesthetics as a primary consideration, but yes, if you're going to put things on display I think it's important to make a decent effort at creating something pleasing to the eye, in particular that of the non-gamer/collector.


Except for M-Network games, M-Network games have the worst carts of all time as far as I'm concerned.

A suggestion: Since you're dealing with loose carts, consider stacking M Network and Imagic carts in alternating order. Example (to the left of the 7800 carts) from my own RoD:

http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=33774&g2_serialNumber=2

The Imagics pinch the thin parts of the M carts and the fat ends hang off the back, but the stack is stable because of the aggregate weight. Granted, Imagics look pretty spiffy all by themselves, but this is one way to accommodate your M carts for display should you choose to do so.

[blissfulnoise]

A collection of Sega CD and Sega Saturn titles, aesthetically, put every other system to shame.

They take up a bit of space, but visually, unmatched in the result.

[Steven]

A collection of Sega CD and Sega Saturn titles, aesthetically, put every other system to shame.

They take up a bit of space, but visually, unmatched in the result.


The US Saturn cases (same as Sega CD really) are a bitch to ship and receive unbroken, but you're right, when lined up, these big boys are a true beaut. The trick is getting them to arrive safe and sound =p

[Astrosmash]

A suggestion: Since you're dealing with loose carts, consider stacking M Network and Imagic carts in alternating order.

Nice idea; I'll probably use that when I reorganize my games onto proper shelves. Thanks, those M Network carts are a pain.

The M Network carts are, of course, just Intellivision cartridge shells with an adapter stuck on the end to fit them into the 2600. But the adapter is what makes them so awkward to store/display.

[blissfulnoise]

The US Saturn cases (same as Sega CD really) are a bitch to ship and receive unbroken, but you're right, when lined up, these big boys are a true beaut. The trick is getting them to arrive safe and sound =p

A few years ago I bought 100 copies of Hexen from a guy on these boards that all shipped in factory sealed cases. As a result, I have a complete US collection with nerry a broken hinge or cracked case. Though I do have about 50 loose copies of Hexen still floating around somewhere.

[Greg2600]

MrRoboto19XX, you speak for my sentiments almost exactly. There are several Atari 2600 games I have that honestly stink, but the artwork looks great.

[jdc]

I love the "dated" artwork styles on the vintage system boxes/cart labels. One of the main reasons that I used to collect the N64 is because I loved the way a shelf of cardboard-crisp completes looked lined up in a row. I also REALLY love the look of the smaller Bluray cases of my PS3 library. I was attracted to the green cases of the Xbox and 360 games as well, simply because they weren't boring black. I love a neat stack of Prima guides too. There's also something very attractive about loose NES carts all stacked up. LOL....I think I'm gonna have to do some NESing with my 7yr old this weekend.

[HYB]

Aesthetic reasons why I collect my games cib. I hate the way loose carts look on my shelf, makes me feel dirty. Kudos to all those who can stand it though.

I can't wait to get to Ikea next week to get me some billy shelfs. Finally some storage space!

[AB Positive]

The best aesthetic style collecting belongs to the Neo Geo family. Best cases/manuals/setup for shelf displaying ever. Even MVS with shockboxes and the people that make series-dependant inserts... the KoF series looks great with some of those. :)

[boatofcar]

I love the way 2600 Activision boxes look together. From my collection:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/99/304355802_fb7e02188d.jpg

[Jumpman Jr.]

Hell yeah, its all about the looks. Whats the point of having a nice collection if its just in piles on the floor?
I can't tell you how much I love the way my CIB Black Box NES collection looks:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/JumpmanPOE/3-3.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/JumpmanPOE/4-3.jpg

Or hell, even the rest of those shelves:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/JumpmanPOE/7-2.jpg

[HYB]

Hell yeah, its all about the looks. Whats the point of having a nice collection if its just in piles on the floor?
I can't tell you how much I love the way my CIB Black Box NES collection looks:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/JumpmanPOE/3-3.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/JumpmanPOE/4-3.jpg

Or hell, even the rest of those shelves:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/JumpmanPOE/7-2.jpg

I came.

[GrandAmChandler]

http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=33774&g2_serialNumber=2



Galactus is the ruler of the Master System and Protects it! HO! HO! HA!

[GreatBazunka]

Its is for aesthetics. I totally aggree. In my case i love the way nes carts look lined up end label out. And when there is alot of them it is like a huge archive and people respect that. Collecting CIB games it not for me. I feel that the carts are all i want (in good condition mind you) and if i had the boxes, i would be the only one to appriciate them. For the average person, they think it cool just seeing all those games and the boxes dont matter. Plus it is easier to organize and sort the bare carts. Well enough of my talking Here is a pic of the NES part of my collection to back me up. This is only half of my NES collection but you get it.
http://www.theranthive.com/images/roomofdoompics/2008_06270006.jpg

[The Manimal]

Its is for aesthetics. I totally aggree. In my case i love the way nes carts look lined up end label out. And when there is alot of them it is like a huge archive and people respect that. Collecting CIB games it not for me. I feel that the carts are all i want (in good condition mind you) and if i had the boxes, i would be the only one to appriciate them. For the average person, they think it cool just seeing all those games and the boxes dont matter. Plus it is easier to organize and sort the bare carts. Well enough of my talking Here is a pic of the NES part of my collection to back me up. This is only half of my NES collection but you get it.
http://www.theranthive.com/images/roomofdoompics/2008_06270006.jpg

NES carts look great "loose" IMO. I like the look of these carts lined up better than the boxes themself. Only situation off the top of my head that I feel this way about.

I could almost say the same for SNES if there were better sleeves available. And perhaps VCS simply because I remember using some thing that looked like an old computer cabinet with a closing garage door like thing that houses all the games and the system. Was huge, woodgrain and all. Does anyone know where I could find one of these?

GENESIS spine labels are usually in bad shape, but they come in cases with covers so those are better that way. Same wih SMS, though the title is not on the top so case is the only way. So all Sega is better in the original boxes. N64 are screwed as well. Can't line them at all. In original box or those plastic cases but having to add a label on the spine.

[Overbite]

I like how my Genesis games look all lined up in the boxes.

Same with PS1/DC cases.