Buying/Building Shelves for NES Collection

[peachstapler]

I've close to completing my North American NES Collection (cartridge only) and I'm having a lot of trouble finding the right shelf to display the cartridges. I'd like to have the cartridge titles displayed vertically, 1-layer deep, so all the top labels are visible. Something like this: http://www.wiinoob.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/nes-collection-nintendo-fan.jpg
(found it on GIS).

In my experience, I found it really hard on the games if I stacked the titles horizontally. Although it was easier to read the game titles, the front labels could accidentally become dented from the weight of neighboring carts and sliding them out/back into place.

Does anyone know of a retailer that has a nice shelf for sale? Maybe something online you picked up? There's probably nothing that is PERFECT for storing 800 Nintendo games, so maybe the solution is to build one? I'm also looking into that. Thanks for your suggestions in advance!

[Battlehork]

An NES game is roughly the same dimensions as a CD jewelcase, though about as thick as one and a half. This would hold the vast majority of them if not all of them http://www.racksandstands.com/Atlantic-38435618-AL0187.html

It also comes in espresso color and they sell it at Best Buy at a slightly higher price if you'd rather pick it up locally: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Atlantic+-+1080-Disc+Customizable+Multimedia+Storage+-+Espresso/7997867.p?id=1155072368556&skuId=7997867&st=Atlantic%201080&cp=1&lp=1

[Gamingking]

The picture you posted is none other then AVGN's NES collection. Which I think it was a custom built shelve. His is also displayed on two sides.

[SEGA]

I've been thinking about starting a custom video game shelving company for collectors. Perhaps I can use this as motivation.

The only real setback I have is lack of knowledge of box dimensions(console, accessories, etc) other than what I have.

[peachstapler]

The picture you posted is none other then AVGN's NES collection. Which I think it was a custom built shelve. His is also displayed on two sides.
Small world. I'm just looking to display on one side, up against the wall.

Thanks for the link to the Best Buy product, Battlehork!

Looks like NES carts are around 5/8-inch thick. If I built a custom shelf I'd like it to be around 4-feet-wide. Just need to figure out how many shelves 800 games would be, no wasted space. That's my big issue with retail shelves, they waste a lot of space.

[blue lander]

I use the bestbuy shelves too, they work great.

[peachstapler]

I use the bestbuy shelves too, they work great.
Do you mind showing a pic of your final setup?

[csgx1]

An NES game is roughly the same dimensions as a CD jewelcase, though about as thick as one and a half. This would hold the vast majority of them if not all of them http://www.racksandstands.com/Atlantic-38435618-AL0187.html

It also comes in espresso color and they sell it at Best Buy at a slightly higher price if you'd rather pick it up locally: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Atlantic+-+1080-Disc+Customizable+Multimedia+Storage+-+Espresso/7997867.p?id=1155072368556&skuId=7997867&st=Atlantic%201080&cp=1&lp=1

I'm in the market for some shelving as well. The best buy shelves looks quite attractive. Thanks posting these links.

So around $150 is what I should expect to pay for one shelf? Anywhere else cheaper?

[chrissylas]

I third the Best Buy shelves. I use them for my collection and they are fantastic.

[Arkhan]

milk crates here.

they get the job done!

assemble the mighty milk crate NES wall of justice.

[peachstapler]

I third the Best Buy shelves. I use them for my collection and they are fantastic.
Can one of you dudes take a minute to cellphone camera your NES games as they sit on these Best Buy shelves? I want to see if the configuration offers an overall pleasing aesthetic.

[peachstapler]

Can one of you dudes take a minute to cellphone camera your NES games as they sit on these Best Buy shelves? I want to see if the configuration offers an overall pleasing aesthetic.
Haven't heard back from anyone here who actually owns and uses these Best Buy shelves yet. So I will say this: the reviews on them are all over the place. People may be putting them together without care, but there's plenty of horror stories about the material breaking during installation. I'm leery about putting up $150 for something that looks shoddy, when I could put that towards wood and screws and make something that'll last more than 3 or 4 years.

[Sabz5150]

I have a pair of shelving units from Sauder. 7 shelves each, jewel case height, holds 46 cartridges per shelf. They display the NES carts nicely and they are loose enough to make getting them in and out easy.

http://i40.tinypic.com/dorn09.jpg

[Trebuken]

I have a pair of shelving units from Sauder. 7 shelves each, jewel case height, holds 46 cartridges per shelf. They display the NES carts nicely and they are loose enough to make getting them in and out easy.

http://i40.tinypic.com/dorn09.jpg

I have six of these. You can stack them on top of each other as well (carefully).

[8bitgamer]

That looks like shelving I bought at Big Lots.

[Sabz5150]

I have six of these. You can stack them on top of each other as well (carefully).

My wife would kill me *_*

[chrissylas]

Haven't heard back from anyone here who actually owns and uses these Best Buy shelves yet. So I will say this: the reviews on them are all over the place. People may be putting them together without care, but there's plenty of horror stories about the material breaking during installation. I'm leery about putting up $150 for something that looks shoddy, when I could put that towards wood and screws and make something that'll last more than 3 or 4 years.

So sorry, I've been trying to remind myself to take pictures but I keep forgetting. I'll take one tonight.

[Urzu402]

I also need Shelving, but for Genesis, SNES and NES now I have like 71 SNES games, 75 Genesis games and like close to 80 NES games I need Shelving to fit all of them plus more for in the future, my games are cart only so can anyone help me too?

[Emperor Megas]

I also need Shelving, but for Genesis, SNES and NES now I have like 71 SNES games, 75 Genesis games and like close to 80 NES games I need Shelving to fit all of them plus more for in the future, my games are cart only so can anyone help me too?The best solution for me was to built my own.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144325

They're standard all around the room, with adjustable shelves, so I can just arrange them however I need to, for whatever size media I want. I made peg holes about every 1¼" starting 5" from the bottom, and stopping about 5" from the top, and used plywood for the game shelves and MDF for the ones in my console cabinet (which I would have probably used for all of them if I had thought about it before).

It's a really easy project too, assuming you have some tools and you keep the design simple, and you have the added bonus of painting or staining it any colour(s) you want, and making them any size you need. Surprisingly, it was also cheaper than buying shelving, but YMMV depending on what wood goes for where you live, and if you need to purchase and tools to do it.

[Urzu402]

Custom shelving is out of the picture for me, because I don't have tools or know how. I only have like 110 USD to work with here so is this even feasible? Also i need it to store DS, Gamecube, N64, PS2, and Saturn. and all my portable games.

[ihavethatpma]

I believe that the shelves in that AVGN picture are just crappy little shelves you can find at Walmart or Target, you know the ones made of particle board that are two sections high? He just has several stacked on top of each other. They're the perfect size for storing NES games on the front and back, but they're extremely poor quality and they break fairly easily.

A lot of people use the "Billy" bookcase from IKEA, and those are nice because the shelving is adjustable:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/13690607

I just built a couple of shelves myself with some pre-cut boards from Lowe's, they each hold ~450 games and cost about $35 in materials for each. I only have a very basic knowledge of carpentry and it was very easy. Here is a picture of the two that I built:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b234/dominussatanas/IMG_4881.jpg

I just took three boards and screwed them together like a big U, and do you see where I have that one plastic game case up top in the picture? I used that as a spacer for each new shelf that I put in, and after I got one screwed in place, I would move the case up and do it again. I think I got the idea from Braveheart or NGD on NA, I'm not sure who it was exactly.

[Urzu402]

Would one of those Billy Bookcases be useful for what I need?

[Emperor Megas]

Custom shelving is out of the picture for me, because I don't have tools or know how. I only have like 110 USD to work with here so is this even feasible? Also i need it to store DS, Gamecube, N64, PS2, and Saturn. and all my portable games.I can almost guarantee you know more than I did when I made mine. I totally just winged it. And I did the entire side of my room for about 100 bucks, too. All you really need is a drill and some screws. You can usually get pre-cut wood pieces, or have the lumber yard or hardware store you buy it from cut pieces to your specifications.

Still, I totally understand if you don't want to be bothered with all of that. I'd definitely rather pay for the convenience of something prefabricated if it served my needs.


I believe that the shelves in that AVGN picture are just crappy little shelves you can find at Walmart or Target, you know the ones made of particle board that are two sections high? He just has several stacked on top of each other. They're the perfect size for storing NES games on the front and back, but they're extremely poor quality and they break fairly easily.Yeah, that's the thing about particle board shelves. They have a tendency to get saggy in the middle and warp permanently. They also get weak if they're in a semi humid place, and you really don't want to move them much. I think that they're fine for a temporary fix, but I wouldn't want to have them for years or anything.


I just built a couple of shelves myself with some pre-cut boards from Lowe's, they each hold ~450 games and cost about $35 in materials for each. I only have a very basic knowledge of carpentry and it was very easy.

I just took three boards and screwed them together like a big U, and do you see where I have that one plastic game case up top in the picture? I used that as a spacer for each new shelf that I put in, and after I got one screwed in place, I would move the case up and do it again.That's pretty neat! Excellent results and a small budget. That's what I'm all about.


Would one of those Billy Bookcases be useful for what I need?Yeah, that one looks fine, IMO. I'm pretty sure that any unit with adjustable shelves would do just fine for what you need. You might also want to get an idea of how to construct your own from the pieces that you'll have to assemble if you get an prefabricated one (you will have to assemble it), in the event you want to expand one day.

[carlcarlson]

Alright, here are my Best Buy shelves. Most of my NES games are still stored at my parent's house, but you get the idea. I personally I love these shelves. They're very versatile, you can switch the configurations of the shelves around to either do cd or dvd sizes (or bigger of course).

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54/mikey_see/100_1287.jpg

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54/mikey_see/100_1289.jpg

[Emperor Megas]

Alright, here are my Best Buy shelves. Most of my NES games are still stored at my parent's house, but you get the idea. I personally I love these shelves. They're very versatile, you can switch the configurations of the shelves around to either do cd or dvd sizes (or bigger of course).Those seem to work great; they look nice too.

Brass knuckles...niiice.

[peachstapler]

Alright, here are my Best Buy shelves. Most of my NES games are still stored at my parent's house, but you get the idea. I personally I love these shelves. They're very versatile, you can switch the configurations of the shelves around to either do cd or dvd sizes (or bigger of course).

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54/mikey_see/100_1287.jpg

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54/mikey_see/100_1289.jpg
Thank you for posting these Carl.

[PC-ENGINE HELL]

As of late for my games, systems, dvds, some of the other electronics, ect I have been using utility shelves. The nice large sturdy ones. The one I keep my electronics and games systems on is ventilated which in itself is handy for preventing heat build up. My Nes games I keep in a mini utility shelf with drawers. I only have about 60 carts, so that works out perfectly, about 20 per drawer. Helps prevent dust buildup on the carts too.

[peachstapler]

I just wanted to say that I bought the expresso Best Buy 1080 shelf for local pickup and it's down to $91 plus tax. Awesome? Yes.

[Gamingking]

I believe that the shelves in that AVGN picture are just crappy little shelves you can find at Walmart or Target, you know the ones made of particle board that are two sections high? He just has several stacked on top of each other. They're the perfect size for storing NES games on the front and back, but they're extremely poor quality and they break fairly easily.

A lot of people use the "Billy" bookcase from IKEA, and those are nice because the shelving is adjustable:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/13690607

I just built a couple of shelves myself with some pre-cut boards from Lowe's, they each hold ~450 games and cost about $35 in materials for each. I only have a very basic knowledge of carpentry and it was very easy. Here is a picture of the two that I built:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b234/dominussatanas/IMG_4881.jpg

I just took three boards and screwed them together like a big U, and do you see where I have that one plastic game case up top in the picture? I used that as a spacer for each new shelf that I put in, and after I got one screwed in place, I would move the case up and do it again. I think I got the idea from Braveheart or NGD on NA, I'm not sure who it was exactly.

Why do you have so many copys of the same titles?

[Emperor Megas]

Why do you have so many copys of the same titles?An excellent question.

[peachstapler]

Why do you have so many copys of the same titles?
Because he sells them to me and other people. (http://stores.ebay.com/PMA-GAMES__W0QQ_sidZ932311883?_nkw=cib&submit=Search)

edit: the shelf is together, seems stable enough. the materials are cheap, but as long as you don't screw the fucking thing together and move it all over the place and strip the low-grade aluminum screws, you'll be fine.

[chrissylas]

I just wanted to say that I bought the expresso Best Buy 1080 shelf for local pickup and it's down to $91 plus tax. Awesome? Yes.

That's awesome. Glad someone was able to get that photo for you (turns out that my husband is currently reorganizing my game room and my shelves were buried behind a few other shelves. Sorry.

For $91 I'd have jumped on it too. I'm tempted to buy another one for myself now...

[Gavica]

carlcarlson could you post a link to where buy those shelves?

[carlcarlson]

carlcarlson could you post a link to where buy those shelves?

here (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olstemplatemapper.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_dynSessConf=-8752803155392803480&id=pcat17071&type=page&ks=960&st=shelf&sc=Global&cp=1&sp=&qp=crootcategoryid%23%23-1%23%23-1~~q7368656c66~~ncabcat0100000%23%231%23%23g&list=y&usc=All+Categories&nrp=15&iht=n/)

I think the ones I have are the second in that list.

[tentencanidae]

milk crates here.

they get the job done!

assemble the mighty milk crate NES wall of justice.

I second the milk crates. I painted my room grey, and bought $6 red crates from The Container Store. It looks very "Nintendo".