Advice on Arranging multiple consoles.

[Eduardo]

I got different consoles and some of them redundant. I have them arranged in a bookcase with 8 spaces. The thing is that I can't figure out how to arrange them properly, what I mean is if It would make more sense to put the same generations together or the same companies. This is my current arrangement, there are consoles on top and on the floor.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2822/consolesi.jpg

I don't want to get another bookcase because of space limitations. I also ran out of channels on the selector/splitter. I was thinking about splitting each box with a half shelf, and put in different versions on systems together. the NES with the Top Loader, the SNES with the MINI, the N64 with the Jungle Green one, the white and black DC together. I don't have the NES or the SNES hooked up because they are redundant, also the SNES and Black DC don't work properly. I also want to create a redundant selector so I can play one console on one tv and another one on the other. I'm just looking for advice on how to hook them up, should I get another selector or Y-Split similar consoles and feed them thru the same channel.

[GrandAmChandler]

1. Throw the SMS in the trash, and get a Power Base converter for your Genny.
2. Hook up your 32x to your Genny 1.
3. Throw Genny 2 in the trash.
4. Pick one Dreamcast. (Read: The Black one. Oh yeah get it fixed.)
5. Pick one SNES. (Read, the mini.) Throw the other in the trash.
6. AV/Svideo Mod the Top loader NES.
7. Throw the toaster NES in the trash.
8. Pick one N64 (Read: The one with the expansion pak)
9. Hook up other N64 in your bathroom for Pilotwings on the toilet.

Problem Solved.

-GAC-

EDITED!

[Shadow Kisuragi]

8. Remove consoles from the trash and ship them to me.

What are your shelf dimensions for splitting them in half?
I have an entertainment center with 24 slots and ran out myself, even bunching some of the handhelds and such up. Part of the problem is not having enough width to toss two systems in one shelf.

[crux]

I do agree that having multiple iterations of the same console is going to create problems. I have 25ish consoles and the only repeat is Xbox 360 (thanks to shooters). I can't imagine trying to deal with so many duplicates.

Good luck finding a single splitter to deal with every console. They do exist, but they also cost hundreds. I think I ended up with four splitters total. I've never tried a Y-splitter for audio/video, but I doubt it would be much cheaper than buying a switch box. It's certainly a viable option though, if you just don't have the space, as long as you can keep them clearly organized.

As for order, I personally ordered mine by company. It's best to order them in such a way as they'll actually fit and then figure out whether you want to go by age or company afterwords. My consoles are pretty precariously ordered, simply because I didn't have many options for some consoles (particularly the larger ones, like Genesis/CD/32X).

[Zapf]

1. Throw the SMS in the trash, and get a Power Base converter for your Genny.
2. Hook up your 32x to your Genny 1.
3. Throw Genny 2 in the trash.
4. Pick one Dreamcast. (Read: The Black one. Oh yeah get it fixed.)
5. Pick one SNES. (Read, the mini.) Throw the other in the trash.
6. AV/Svideo Mod the Top loader NES.
7. Throw the toaster NES in the trash.
8. Pick one N64 (Read: The one with the expansion pak)
9. Hook up other N64 in your bathroom for Pilotwings on the toilet.

Problem Solved.

-GAC-

EDITED!

Wouldn't dealing with both a 32x and a power base converter on one genesis be quite a hassle?

[Eduardo]

1. Throw the SMS in the trash, and get a Power Base converter for your Genny.
2. Hook up your 32x to your Genny 1.
3. Throw Genny 2 in the trash.
4. Pick one Dreamcast. (Read: The Black one. Oh yeah get it fixed.)
5. Pick one SNES. (Read, the mini.) Throw the other in the trash.
6. AV/Svideo Mod the Top loader NES.
7. Throw the toaster NES in the trash.
8. Pick one N64 (Read: The one with the expansion pak)
9. Hook up other N64 in your bathroom for Pilotwings on the toilet.

Problem Solved.

-GAC-

EDITED!

LOL I got half of the systems today!!!

I thought Genesis 2 was better perceived than Genesis 1. I planned getting Genesis 3 but it seems no one likes them, I do like the shape thou. I read there are compatibility issues with Power Base. Also there are games that look bad with the expansion pack and its a hastle to be removing and putting back in.

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/2526/0628001340.jpg

Bad cellphone pic of somem of the set up. The divisions are as wide as the SMS, it barely fits and i think they are square so same height. The three system on top are unhooked. For the simultaneous play I think I'll use another splitter selector I have and divide the consoles I need to run on the crt, the ones with light guns. The whole thing will be probably moot, as I'll have two different circuits and I will use two different channels on the CRT but if I want to run the rear projection and the CRT simultaneously with different consoles I need to split the consoles at the selector level.

[crux]

If you want to split the console to two different televisions, a Y-splitter might do the trick. You could even possibly display the game on both televisions at the same time, if the signal is strong enough.

As for space, you have plenty if you add some shelves. There's a ton of vertical room above every console. You've got plenty of options compared to my setup (I actually had to jury rig a way to put my consoles into the drawers of my entertainment console, to fit five extra consoles). If I could have fit them all the right way, I think generation to generation would have been the ideal ordering (considering the retro appeal). You have the space to do it however you like.

And yeah, Power Base Converter only had trouble with one Sega published game (F-16 Fighting Falcon), but stuff from Codemasters and a few other publishers has some problems, I believe.

[lotec25]

9. Hook up other N64 in your bathroom for Pilotwings on the toilet.

Problem Solved.

-GAC-

EDITED!

This one almost made me spit coke out my nose, no idea why. :hail:

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

I don't want to get another bookcase because of space limitations. I also ran out of channels on the selector/splitter. I was thinking about splitting each box with a half shelf, and put in different versions on systems together. the NES with the Top Loader, the SNES with the MINI, the N64 with the Jungle Green one, the white and black DC together. I don't have the NES or the SNES hooked up because they are redundant, also the SNES and Black DC don't work properly. I also want to create a redundant selector so I can play one console on one tv and another one on the other. I'm just looking for advice on how to hook them up, should I get another selector or Y-Split similar consoles and feed them thru the same channel.

By networking several system selecters, I have all of my systems hooked up to one TV. The setup is mostly organized around the the output signal of the systems (S-video, composite, RF). In the past, I used splitters, but that reduced the signals. I have more info if you look me up in the Collection Gallery section on this website.

http://i49.tinypic.com/2yn48k5.jpg

[Oldskool]

Wow, now you are playing with POWER!

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Orion, that's how I plan on setting up my station once I find a decent TV.

Anyone know of any decent-sized CRT TVs without a huge tube in the back that'll work for light gun games? I'm thinking I might need to space the entertainment center away from the wall due to the size of the tube, as my current TV (26") is hanging off the front just waiting for a cat to jump on it.

[jonebone]

Am I the only person who hooks up a retro console when the play it? I don't see the point in having a dozen consoles all hooked up at once unless you really go back and forth between systems on almost a daily basis?

[Shadow Kisuragi]

I leave my consoles hooked up because guests like to jump on them if they're hooked up. If I need to take the time to hook them up and get everything setup, they don't want to make the effort.

[Sonicwolf]

I leave my consoles hooked up because guests like to jump on them if they're hooked up. If I need to take the time to hook them up and get everything setup, they don't want to make the effort.

Same with me. People who visit become bored if I dont have a nice surplus of ready-to-go hooked up consoles.

[Eduardo]

I like having all the consoles Hooked up, at least the non repeated ones and even then I would like to have them all hooked up. That's the reason I want both TVs going on the same time. So i can have some light gun games on the RF and other games on the Rear projection one.

If I get something like this, will it give me S-video towards the TV connected with S-video and composite towards the one connected with composite?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31O7-zZ60IL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[Leo_A]

Am I the only person who hooks up a retro console when the play it? I don't see the point in having a dozen consoles all hooked up at once unless you really go back and forth between systems on almost a daily basis?


Yep

Who likes having to hook things up to play. And these things aren't made for regularly unplugging cables from them. Do that for a while and you'll likely start finding things like video ports start to fail from the stress.

[dreamcaster]

I would keep the model 1 SNES out and buy an S-video cable for it. The Snes mini doesn't support s-video without modding.

I would consider modding the top loader NES though, it's just so much more liveable on a day to day basis than front loader.

Use the normal black N64 rather than the jungle green one. The later N64's had blurrier video output, and in my experience, don't support s-video.

I would keep the model 1 Genesis + power base converter out for Genesis and Master System games. Keep the Model 2 connected to the 32X (I generally have found model 2's work better with the 32X's). That said - how much do you play 32X? It's never been a system I've worried about keeping setup.

[Eduardo]

I would keep the model 1 SNES out and buy an S-video cable for it. The Snes mini doesn't support s-video without modding.

I would consider modding the top loader NES though, it's just so much more liveable on a day to day basis than front loader.

Use the normal black N64 rather than the jungle green one. The later N64's had blurrier video output, and in my experience, don't support s-video.

I would keep the model 1 Genesis + power base converter out for Genesis and Master System games. Keep the Model 2 connected to the 32X (I generally have found model 2's work better with the 32X's). That said - how much do you play 32X? It's never been a system I've worried about keeping setup.

This is exactly the kind of advice I've been looking for. Unfortunately the SNES doesn't work. I might get another one. I played the SNES Mini today all day and it just doesn't feel sturdy. There's obviously a huge difference in weight. If you spend your day shoving and pulling cartridges you damage them. I had Zelda on it and touched the cartridge by accident while it was running and it went bananas. The original model at least had the little lever to pull the cartridges out.

The top loader is really nice but I am hesitant to mod a collectible console such as this. It was very hard for me to get in good condition.

I have both N64s out because I have the expansion pack on the jungle green one.

I still don't own a Power Base converter but Im looking into acquiring one, I got both versions of the SMS controllers and they're both brutal on the fingers.

I'll take all of this into account. I'll keep working on it tomorrow and hopefully have good pictures by then. Thanks for the advice!

[dreamcaster]

Genesis and Master System controllers are interchangeable.

You can use either the three or six button Genesis controllers on your Master System, and you can certainly use them on your Genesis when using a Power Base Converter.

[MASTERWEEDO]

this is and old pic, the wires are cleaned up now.

its and old candy rack or something from a convenience store.


the top is 3do and nes,
then dreamcast and snes
saturn and n64
sms and jaguar
genesis/cd/32x and odyssey2

ps2 and ps3 are located else where,

[Oldskool]

LOL AWESOME, that's organization at it's finest!

[alec006]

Very nice and organized although the farther you daisy chain system selectors together the weaker the signal gets. Maybe thats just on a composite signal but it's better to have powered system selectors for the best possible signal output,least in my experence it does,maybe I just have too much crap hooked up X3

[gdement]

Genesis and Master System controllers are interchangeable.

You can use either the three or six button Genesis controllers on your Master System, and you can certainly use them on your Genesis when using a Power Base Converter.

I don't know the specifics, but I've read there are some master system games which don't work properly with Genesis controllers. So you might need some SMS controllers on hand, but probably won't need to use them very often.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

Am I the only person who hooks up a retro console when the play it? I don't see the point in having a dozen consoles all hooked up at once unless you really go back and forth between systems on almost a daily basis?

No, you aren't the only one. It's all about personality I guess. I actually do go back and forth between systems, and I'd rather not hook and unhook things. It feels like work.

[Arkhan]

1) If there are redundant models, get rid of the redundancy.
2) Who cares what is put where as far as companies.
3) If systems are stackable, stack em.

I got my turbo grafx on top of a big PS2, and a toploading NES ontop of the 360.

Stacking is your friend.

[whoisKeel]

Am I the only person who hooks up a retro console when the play it? I don't see the point in having a dozen consoles all hooked up at once unless you really go back and forth between systems on almost a daily basis?

I kinda do this.

My setup is I have all the wires/switch boxes setup to my TV, with the wires neatly wrapped in a plastic tube organizer. Then I just shove it all in the TV cabinet when not in use (2 switch boxes for 8 consoles I think). It is easy to pull out a system and hook it up, because the wires are already hooked to the TV.

When I actually played all my systems on a more regular basis, I had them all hooked up ready to go...but it was always a pain to maintain this way.

[Emperor Megas]

Am I the only person who hooks up a retro console when the play it? I don't see the point in having a dozen consoles all hooked up at once unless you really go back and forth between systems on almost a daily basis?Of course you see the point. You just don't do it that way, and there's nothing wrong with that, but to say that you don't understand why someone would want to have everything set up and ready to play seems unlikely. Honestly, what's the downside of convenience?