Multiple Consoles Hooked Up

[Flack]

I'm more of a gamer than a collector. What I mean by that is, I don't have any games "unopened". Pretty much everything I have is for playing.

That being said, I'm having a hard time having EVERYTHING hooked up at once.

Do any of you have ALL (or at least a lot) of your game systems hooked up? I just recently moved four of my systems (SNES, Genesis, N64, Atari 2600) out to our gameroom. Problem is, it's taking up an entire 8 foot tabel with a monitor in the middle. Plus, asthetically, it sucks. What I had envisioned was an area where people could chill out on a couch, pick up a controller of their choice, and play a game on one of several systems. Instead, I now essentially have a "desk" where you have to sit in a chair and play games while staring at a monitor in front of a white wall.

The wiring to the monitor isn't a problem, but all the wires for joysticks certainly are. On top of that, it seems like no matter which way I put it down on paper, there's no good way to hook multiple systems up without having wires from the controllers draped in front of the screen at some point in time.

I'm sure someone's already solved this problem somewhere down the line. Help!

[Sotenga]

All of my game systems (nine at the moment) are all hooked up. Not to the same place. I have two different TV sets. One is for my old-school consoles, while the other is for current game systems. Flack, you're just like me. I game more than I collect. And it is a pain to deal with all the wires and cords that make a mess in my den. I haven't really solved this problem of "cord spaghetti" myself. I just take it for granted, and if the wires get too bad, I just unplug all controllers and weave around them. Yes, it's tedious, but I don't know what else to do.

[GaijinPunch]

My problem is the space the system takes up... not the wires.
Right now, I've got a DC (well-hidden, as it's small), GC, Xbox, and PS2 hooked up, on the rack. If I want to play anything on the Saturn, I have to whip it out. Same w/ the FM-Towns Marty. The controllers I wrap up and stick behidn the unit, or in a box near the TV. It's "relatively" clean.

Something that saves a lot of space - Mega Drive/MegaCD emulation on the Xbox is fantastic, and TurboDuo isn't half bad. So, I just play those systems on the Xbox.

[john_soper]

http://www94.pair.com/jsoper/uber_main.html
I only got 20 hooked up right now, someday I hope to have a large console collection :)

[nesuser2]

get an xbox, then you can store all your old game consoles so they are preserved for years to come ;) .........but that's just my idea. some people like the idea of having everything within site.....i hate clutter :o

[ApolloBoy]

Almost all of my systems are hooked up except for my...

Genesis
SNES
C64
VIC-20

[Videogamerdaryll]

I used to have a ton of systems all hooked up in a wiring nightmare..
It took me like two days to finish..

As I added new systems to the shelf..I got to be a pain to keep it all hooked up..
So I took it all apart..I only have around 10 systems hooked up at this time in the living room now..3 in the Kitchen and 4 in the bedroom..

When I want to play a certain system I just hook it up..I have to many too keep all hooked up at once..

[maxlords]

I have the following systems hooked up to my TV (all at once):

NES (top loader), SNES, N64, GC, SMS, CDX, Saturn, DC, PS2, 3D0, Turbo Duo, XBox

I use switch boxes for the AV cables and daisy chained RFs. It's a nasty mess behind my TV, but it works! I actually ran out of shelf space and my Jaguar and my Neo Geo CD are the only systems currently not hooked up.

[punkoffgirl]

To those w/multiple systems hooked up: Do you always leave all of your controllers plugged in, or do you store them when you're not using them?

[Sotenga]

I usually leave at least one controller in my consoles at all times. Maybe I should start putting them away...

[sisko]

I've got 12 hooked up right now, I daisy chain my AV switch boxes.

It takes up a lot of space, especially since a lot of the systems are top loaders, and thus are unstackable. Fortunately, everything fits nicely in my entertainment center and audio cabinet.....as long as I don't get anything else :)

@POG: I usually put them away, but as time goes by and I get lazier, they just sit tucked behind the machine, until I get lazier and leave them on the carpet in front of the cabinet.

[punkoffgirl]

See, I wish I could come up with a neater way to leave them all sitting out. Right now, my shelves are looking pretty sloppy, with my N64, SNES, Dreamcast, PS1 and Colecovision all mismashed in with cables, controllers, and accessories. I guess there really is no "tidy" way to store them out of their boxes, and still be able to use them easily.

[Zach]

I built a custom shelf and I have a network of 5 Pelican A/V/S-video switch boxes connecting everything to my home theater setup. It works really well, and I don't notice any signal degradation.

The shelf was designed and built with the specific number of systems in mind (16) and I have all of the wires carefully concealed behind small trim pieces. There are wire tie anchors mounted down the back of the sides of the shelf and under the back edge of each individual shelf platform.

Also, to make things work effeciently, I've converted all of my classic systems to output composite video and audio via RCA jacks. And I'm using S-video for any console that supports it (you really need to make the switch ti S-video if you haven't already.)

I keep all of the controllers in a nearby 1980's Nintendo Mario/Zelda storage chest. For a while I had one controller for each system hooked up, which looked cool, but it was a pain most of the time.

Check out the picture of my setup in my signature!

[Flack]

Maxlords, I'd like to see a picture of your setup. Thanks to Soper for posting that picture as well. So far, it's starting to confirm what I was figuring, that even though lots of people here have as many (or probably more) console systems than I do, not very many have all of them hooked up (with controllers) ready to go at any given moment.

I'm going to fiddle around with some more ... shelving ideas. If I can't come up with anything there, maybe some sort of system with some rolling carts and quick connects on the back is in order.

[sisko]

See, I wish I could come up with a neater way to leave them all sitting out. Right now, my shelves are looking pretty sloppy, with my N64, SNES, Dreamcast, PS1 and Colecovision all mismashed in with cables, controllers, and accessories. I guess there really is no "tidy" way to store them out of their boxes, and still be able to use them easily.

You could wrap the cords and hang them on peg hooks underneath the console.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

At least until I started packing stuff away for moving, I had over a dozen consoles, vintage computers, etc. hooked up simultaneously, with at least one controller plugged into each and at the ready. That setup was a couple of button-presses, a couple of dial-twists, and an AC adapter plugging-in away from any given console or system being "live."

Well, okay, more than a couple of button-presses, as icbrkr can attest. LOL

[dan2357]

I have 5 of mine hooked up at the moment.
http://www.brightfun.com/games.html
you normaly don't see the hook up wires cause its dark in the shelves, and sitting the controllers onto of or behind the units keesp it neet. a cheap deep entertainment center unit thingy you have plenty of room behind the consoles to store controllers and such.

[Flack]

Zach: Those shelves look very nice, but [a] where is the television? and [b] how would you play, for example, Atari 2600? I can't imagine sitting somewhere with a joystick that would reach that Atari 2600 there.

[punkoffgirl]

You could wrap the cords and hang them on peg hooks underneath the console.

Right, but they're not "ready to play at the drop of the hat" when they're wrapped up :)

I wish there was one universal controller you could hook up to all of them at once *lol*

[Flack]

I can at least say Dan's setup looks the closest to mine so far, lol.

[lendelin]

A good idea is to look at the "gameroom" pics on this site. There you get a lot of ideas about aesthetic arrangement of the systems, hiding cables, and connecting them to one or more monitors.

I have 9 systems hooked up (among them two PS2s), PS1 is stored for space reasons; I use two TVs, side by side, both on regular TV furniture, additionally a receiver, and four stereo speakers. A lots of cables for sure, but they are all hidden behind the furniture; and two comfortable chairs in front of the TVs.

If you use one or more system selectors there isn't a problem to hook up 10 - 15 systems simultaneously to one monitor. Just figure out a way to hide cables.

Also, store the controllers separately, there is no need to have them in consoles all the time, otherwise you end up with a lot of unsightly cables. I have two controllers for each system stored in a separate piece of furniture, plus the unopened controllers for the systems, memory cards, etc.

It all depends how much space you have in a room. I made a gameroom over a year ago, so I have all videogame related stuff from old magazines to games and systems together, neatly organized with posters on the wall from NP posters from 89 to recent posters I got from a gamestore. (and I mean well organized, I'm anal-retentive, I even dust once a week thouroughly. :)

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I've been putting a LOT of thought into the revised game room for the new house. It may not be a huge cosmetic improvement, but then the last one wasn't that hot either - as with before, it will be all about atmosphere and ease of use. And if there happen to be a few wires dangling around here and there, so be it. I try to keep that sort of "loose wiring" invisible until you're up close.

That said, the big honkin' coin-op in the corner will help the atmosphere of the room immeasurably. I can't wait! :D I'm also planning some other goodies for the room which I'll reveal here in due course. Everything in the room is going to scream "classic gaming" at anyone who enters. Let there be no mistake.

[ubersaurus]

I usually leave a controller plugged in if there's room, or if I play it alot.

[Flack]

Earl, you're not passing through Oklahoma City on your cabinet trip, are ya? If so you could always stop by, give me some arcade decorating pointers, play a couple of games and grab a pizza or something.

I was kind of imagining a shelving system with slots in the back for all cables to slide back through, so you could leave joysticks hooked up but not have to constantly wrap/unwrap them.

[maxlords]

To those w/multiple systems hooked up: Do you always leave all of your controllers plugged in, or do you store them when you're not using them?

I used to leave them all plugged in. Then I got a rabbit. Then the rabbit ate them. Now I leave them in a plastic box on the floor and get one out when needed. I don't like to do it, but oh well.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Rob - one thing I really, really heartily recommend is checking these (http://www.whatisblik.com/invader.html) out. Someone else posted that link in this forum a while back and now I'm obsessed - I must have some! :D

I've also been acquiring, though various sources, video game-branded flat sheets and pillowcases, with the aim of "repurposing" all of these into cases for little throw pillows that will be on the sofa. I've wound up with a few fitted sheets in the process too, and if there's a graceful way to do it, they may occasionally grace the sofa in the game room. Blammo - instant theme!

I also can't stress enough my liking for muted but colorful lighting, preferably indirect. Does anyone else miss the old old school arcade look, before parents got panicked and demanded that the arcades be brightened up? I'm talking black walls and ceilings, mirrored accents, and colored lights. I can't do the black walls and ceilings or the mirrors, but colored lights I can do.

EDIT: If anyone wants to split this topic off into game room decorating tips, that might keep things on track and create its own very interesting thread.

[Wavelflack]

I have most everything hooked up and ready to go, with the exception of the Channel F (why bother?) and a few other no-fun consoles.

Currently hooked up to a single TV:

DC
Saturn
Sega CD1/Genesis1/32X monstrosity
Sega CD2/Genesis 2 (why? So I can play Virtua Racing and a few other carts that don't like Gen1 & 32X)
SMS
NES 1 (for Game Genie use)
NES toploader (for everything else)
SNES
N64
3DO
XEGS
7800
5200
2600 jr.
2600 "Darth Vader" (for "frying" carts...jr's power switch is no good for this)
Odyssey^2
Intellivision
Colecovision
TG-16

I think that's it. The Vectrexes (Vectrex'?) are also plugged in and ready to go, but they aren't sharing the TV, of course.
I ended up using two multiselector A/V switchboxes, plus the front and rear a/v inputs to the VCR, to handle the a/v outs from the consoles with that capability. That gives me a total of 10 a/v inputs, and everything else runs to an RF switchbox. The RF switchbox handles 5 inputs, and I have several of those inputs attached to daisychained RF autoswitches (such as the one that came with your NES). There is more to this, but enough with those details.

For power (!!), I built a nice aluminum box that has twelve standard duplex outlets side by side. In other words, it's a dozen wall sockets in a row, in a nice tidy metal casing. This finally solved the problem of oversized (or just large) AC adaptors. I've seen standard power strips that have the sockets oriented perpendicular to the strip, but they're still too fucking close together! Now each adaptor has plenty of room to fit, "wall warts" on the bottom row, standard plugs and "thoughtful adaptors" (like the TG-16 and 5200) on the top row. This giant box itself is plugged into a surge protector/ circuit breaker equipped power strip. I don't run everything at once, of course, so it's not a problem...even if it looks like the world's most egregious UL violation. It would probably pull 20-30 amps if everything was switched on...

As for mess, I have most of the stuff on shelving, with various console boxes placed behind the systems (to cover the wires hanging down from the consoles above it). If you pull the boxes away, it looks like a nightmare, but it looks okay as it is.

Have fun!

[SpasticFuctard]

I actually custom built a 10 port AV switch box, just a project box, some high impedence wire and some hot solder; only minor flesh wounds. :angry:

SF - Youch! Godaamn Mother F...

[bensenvill]

wow, I was considering posting this thread the past few days. I miss my last roommate. He's the guy that really got the vintage gaming kick in me. I had a bunch of old systems, he had a bunch of old systems and we both had multiple different systems that we played every day. It just wasnt an option not to wire them all up. So on the lower shelf of our long coffee table we had 13 systems permanently wired up.
It was truely a miricle that all this wiring worked and its hard to explain how it all was connected but apart from the 13 systems, there was also 2 tv's, 2 surround systems, a rack preamp and eq, 2 vcrs, 2 dvd players, and 2 PC Tivo setups. The craziest thing about it was that any system could be selected to play on either of the TVs or both. I'll try to dig up some photos of the wiring mess.

~tj

[Zubiac666]

i only have 4 systems (NES,Snes,Gamecube,N64) hooked up at once.
I "tuned" some sort of TV-rack with doors to anticipate that my dog eats consoles and stuff.I also added "garages" for the joypads of the main-sytems(Gamecube and N64).When I want to play I just open the console and joypads "garages" . My NES and Snes are also behind doors.

closed (when sleeping,watching TV/DVD/VRC):
http://members.e-media.at/zubiec2/closed.JPG

opened (when playing with GC/N64):
http://members.e-media.at/zubiec2/open.JPG

Nes and Snes's home(NES home looks kinda weird :D ):
http://members.e-media.at/zubiec2/snes+nes.JPG

Open(all) and ready to party (I only store games here which I play often ;the others are stored in bedroom):
http://members.e-media.at/zubiec2/system%20racks.JPG

:embarrassed:

[Darth Sensei]

You could wrap the cords and hang them on peg hooks underneath the console.

Right, but they're not "ready to play at the drop of the hat" when they're wrapped up :)

I wish there was one universal controller you could hook up to all of them at once *lol*

Well, I have 20 odd systems and I've tried keeping them all out and ready to be played. I'm going to buy an XBOX with a hard drive so I can play these all on emulators. So, there really will be "one universal controller" to play most of them.

D

[Darth Sensei]

I actually custom built a 10 port AV switch box, just a project box, some high impedence wire and some hot solder; only minor flesh wounds. :angry:

SF - Youch! Godaamn Mother F...

Spastic, can you post a pic of this?

D