Protecting Your Games

[digitalpress]

Part of my May 2004 T&T column will be "Protecting Your Games", and will cover some of the things that as collectors we do to keep our collectibles looking nice and staying protected.

What kinds of things do you do to preserve your goods?

I'll start with one, a favorite of mine.

Associated Bag Company (www.associatedbag.com) makes protective plastic bags in just about every shape and size. I use their flat poly bags to wrap all but the most common Atari 2600 carts, to protect them mainly from fingerprints from incidental handling as well as from my evil cats. In the past I ordered the "View Master Protective Poly Bag" which is a complete square that I fold over and tape. I can't find that item at the moment but I have the part # at home and will get it if anyone wants to give that a shot.

[Johnny]

I would apreciate some advices on how to protect Playstation 1 and 2 games. This means PS1 long boxes, PS1 cd jewel boxes and PS2 "dvd style" boxe.

[Rev. Link]

PS2 "dvd style" boxe.

They're called keepcases. :)

[gamergary]

Controlling how hot or cold they get. Mine usually stay in 60-70 degrees F.

[Speedy]

The only thing i do is that i put my SNES carts in polybags, for the other games i don't do anything special (NES games in dustcovers, Master System, Megadrive and CD games in their original case, thought putting CD games in CD maps, but i don't know if that is gonna work. And i handle all of them with care and love 8-)
I must say i don't have anything of real value yet (most expensive game around 50 dollars) so it has not my priority i must say, but i'm intressted in how you all dealing with this so i can use that in the future.

The most i'm afraid of is the sun, i collect for a year now so the problem has not really shown up here but with some of my PC game boxes it's there ... they lose color by the sunlight. The only thing i can do is to close the curtain, but i like sunlight in my room. How do you people fix this (other than having a nice big basement for your collection, to bad i don't have that).

[sisko]

All disc based games go in a jewel case or dvd case. No plastic/cardboard sleeves or wallets at all since they promote easy scratching....unless that's what they came in (eg Gundam 0079 Premium Disc for DC) Thy're extremely cheap now too.

All other games either stay in their original boxes, and if I don't have it, I use clear plastic clamshells (like ones for the NES games). They hold almost every cart from 2600 to Jaguar to N64.

Also, keeping them out of direct sunlight is helpfull too. New games in cardboard boxes should be kept out of sunlight entirely as the acid in the shrinkwrap will eventually begin to fade or "yellow" the box.

[PapaStu]

Being a mostly modern collector, ive got to constantly worry about the game cases as well as the games. Older games always use to get their boxes thrown out but still hold primary value, where today, the game isnt worth anything, even if its rare without the box (In My Opinion). Since i play the games i keep my disc based games (PSOne,PS2,XB,GCN,DC) in soft books. I personally prefer CaseLogic cases, because they are sturdy and the pages dont scratch the discs when you put them in and out, unlike many other cases. In regards to the jewel cases and the dvd cases, i go and buy storage towers and place them in there. Ive got 40 count Fellows wire racks that hold my Dvd's and i just use cd towers for the jewel cases...

[orrimarrko]

For me, everything goes into a Sterlite plastic storage bin (drawer style).

They're stacked on top of each other, so I can just pull out the drawer and get to whatever I want, without having to pick anything up (like a Rubbermaid bin.)

They are kept at room temperature, and out of the sun.

Since I hand-clean every case and cartridge (because I'm obsessively anal), the clean ones are put away, and I don't worry about them.

Anything that is expensive get special treatment....

[Johnny]

Well, when i meant PS1 long box, Ps1 jewel case, and Ps2 "keepcase (thanks man), i mean how to organize them up.

Side by side? One in top of other? Using DVD / CD case organizers?

[§ Gideon §]

I personally prefer CaseLogic cases, because they are sturdy and the pages dont scratch the discs when you put them in and out...
I second this, although not all Case Logic gear is well-made. For instance, I have a 24-disc wallet with sleeves that are just a hair too small to hold a standard-sized disc--leaving a few millimeters of exposed plastic at the top. Pushing hard on the the discs gets them in just barely, but this is a pain with two discs back-to-back on the same sleeve. However, my first--and, perhaps, best--disc wallet was a Case Logic.

If you like Case Logic, you may want to check out some of CD Projects' newer stuff--with "patented Bubble Sleeves", lol. It sounds like a stupid gimmick, but the cases seem to have all the right features--way better than the stuff they used to make with the upper, plastic lips.

[Goodwill Hunter]

Part of my May 2004 T&T column will be "Protecting Your Games", and will cover some of the things that as collectors we do to keep our collectibles looking nice and staying protected.

What kinds of things do you do to preserve your goods?

I'll start with one, a favorite of mine.

Associated Bag Company (www.associatedbag.com) makes protective plastic bags in just about every shape and size. I use their flat poly bags to wrap all but the most common Atari 2600 carts, to protect them mainly from fingerprints from incidental handling as well as from my evil cats. In the past I ordered the "View Master Protective Poly Bag" which is a complete square that I fold over and tape. I can't find that item at the moment but I have the part # at home and will get it if anyone wants to give that a shot.

Damn Joe...what a small world. I work for Associated Bag Company! I do the photography, catalog design, and any other graphics/marketing type stuff that needs to be done. A great company (if I do say so myself) and a great place to work. One really nice thing about The Bag (as we call it) is that if you are not sure what size bag or sleeve you need for a particular item, we'll send you free test samples and not even charge you shipping!

So is your account under Digital Press? I'll have to look you up in the customer lists tomorrow. Thanks for the plug...my boss will be thrilled!

Rich

[PapaStu]

I personally prefer CaseLogic cases, because they are sturdy and the pages dont scratch the discs when you put them in and out...
I second this, although not all Case Logic gear is well-made. For instance, I have a 24-disc wallet with sleeves that are just a hair too small to hold a standard-sized disc--leaving a few millimeters of exposed plastic at the top. Pushing hard on the the discs gets them in just barely, but this is a pain with two discs back-to-back on the same sleeve. However, my first--and, perhaps, best--disc wallet was a Case Logic.

I Totally agree with this, but the books that i keep these games in are the 200 and 264 books, because when you start to get a lot of games its too expensive and pointless to have 15 24 count cases. When your getting into cases this size at the 40-50 bucks a case they run, they are pretty right on the money, and they also have a lifetime warranty thing with them too which is allways nice


If you like Case Logic, you may want to check out some of CD Projects' newer stuff--with "patented Bubble Sleeves", lol. It sounds like a stupid gimmick, but the cases seem to have all the right features--way better than the stuff they used to make with the upper, plastic lips.

Ive gone the route of CD Projects before, the problem with their sleeves generally have is the fact that they have some sort of top to the individual sleeve that holds each disc, and well as you pull in and out all of these games it scratches them all up leaving these vertical lines on them running the course of the disc (I learned this the hard way) all be it small scratches they are annoying...


Well, when i meant PS1 long box, Ps1 jewel case, and Ps2 "keepcase (thanks man), i mean how to organize them up.

Side by side? One in top of other? Using DVD / CD case organizers?

The Keep cases (PS2,GC,XB) cases are pretty much all in dvd towers(well only my PS2 currently cause im beyond out of space for those games right now, and im waiting for my house to get redone this spring to fix this issue) cause its the easiest way to store them, I personally have the kind that are "Stacked" but if youve got some sort of shelf where they can be side by side theyre all good too... My long boxes are all currently stacked up cause theyve got no where else to be, and the double jewel cases, some are in the cd holders (cause they hold some) but yet again ive got so many game cases that are "loose" they are sitting in a few stacks with the rest of my PSOne games...

[LazingBlazers]

These may be kind of dumb (probably not exactly what you're looking for), but the two greatest aspects in protecting my games are:

1) I do not smoke, nor do I let people smoke anywhere near my games.

2) I make sure my games are handled with respect.

I also keep sunlight off of my games, and I wash my hands before I use them.

I clean used stuff once, and I never have do it again. New stuff I never have to clean.

[Gamereviewgod]

For my rare stuff that's boxed, I use Star Wars action figure protectors. I picked up a stack at a sports card show (they fit assorted sports figures as well) and have used them ever since. They move around alot in there, but this type of stuff is hanging on the wall anyway so it's not handled that often.

[Ed Oscuro]

Damn Joe...what a small world. I work for Associated Bag Company! I do the photography, catalog design, and any other graphics/marketing type stuff that needs to be done. A great company (if I do say so myself) and a great place to work. One really nice thing about The Bag (as we call it) is that if you are not sure what size bag or sleeve you need for a particular item, we'll send you free test samples and not even charge you shipping!

Whoa! That's cool.

I say we should get standard sizes for various game boxes (Genesis, PSX, Saturn long box, NES, etc...) worked out, and put up an order form somewhere on Digital Press. That would RULE.

[§ Gideon §]

[quote=§ Gideon §]If you like Case Logic, you may want to check out some of CD Projects' newer stuff--with "patented Bubble Sleeves", lol. It sounds like a stupid gimmick, but the cases seem to have all the right features--way better than the stuff they used to make with the upper, plastic lips.

Ive gone the route of CD Projects before, the problem with their sleeves generally have is the fact that they have some sort of top to the individual sleeve that holds each disc, and well as you pull in and out all of these games it scratches them all up leaving these vertical lines on them running the course of the disc (I learned this the hard way) all be it small scratches they are annoying...
Yes, I totally agree. That's what I was describing by saying "upper, plastic lip"--the top sleeve. The newer stuff (http://www.targus.com/us/cases_media_bubblesleeves.asp), however, doesn't have that bothersome feature.

[kainemaxwell]

I'm ordering these:
http://www.atariage.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=33&products_id=49

Soon as i got the time myself.

[Goodwill Hunter]

I'm ordering these:
http://www.atariage.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=33&products_id=49

Soon as i got the time myself.

To be a total shill for my employer; you're paying $7.00 for 100 2.5 mil 5-1/4" x 8" bags above. Check out associatedbag.com and you'll get 1000 2 mil (not much difference between 2 & 2.5 mil bags...a mil is 1/1000th of an inch) 6" x 8" bags for $15.75. 10 times the bags for just over twice the price. Search on item number 28-4-437. If you really want the thickness, 1000 3 mil 6" x 8" bags will run you $23.40...item number 28-5-516. You can also get a free catalog by calling 800-926-6100. (End shameless plugging.)

Rich

[digitalpress]

To be a total shill for my employer; you're paying $7.00 for 100 2.5 mil 5-1/4" x 8" bags above. Check out associatedbag.com and you'll get 1000 2 mil (not much difference between 2 & 2.5 mil bags...a mil is 1/1000th of an inch) 6" x 8" bags for $15.75. 10 times the bags for just over twice the price. Search on item number 28-4-437. If you really want the thickness, 1000 3 mil 6" x 8" bags will run you $23.40...item number 28-5-516. You can also get a free catalog by calling 800-926-6100. (End shameless plugging.)

Small world indeed.

Well surely you've dabbled with the company products, do you have any suggestions for protecting game carts, boxes, etc using Associated Bag stuffs?

[hu6800]

My games have thier own bedroom that nobody can go in,
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hu6800/detail?.dir=/games&.dnm=OMG.jpg
so id say they are pretty safe :)

[Goodwill Hunter]

To be a total shill for my employer; you're paying $7.00 for 100 2.5 mil 5-1/4" x 8" bags above. Check out associatedbag.com and you'll get 1000 2 mil (not much difference between 2 & 2.5 mil bags...a mil is 1/1000th of an inch) 6" x 8" bags for $15.75. 10 times the bags for just over twice the price. Search on item number 28-4-437. If you really want the thickness, 1000 3 mil 6" x 8" bags will run you $23.40...item number 28-5-516. You can also get a free catalog by calling 800-926-6100. (End shameless plugging.)

Small world indeed.

Well surely you've dabbled with the company products, do you have any suggestions for protecting game carts, boxes, etc using Associated Bag stuffs?

I mostly use ABC stuff to package/send trade items or to hold my trade bait (my collection protection primarily consists of custom shelving kept out of the sunlight in a room that is dedicated to gaming). But I can make some packaging-based recommendations:

Don't store bare CDs or even CD cases in regular plastic bags. There are additives that keep the bags from being too slippery that will cause fine scratches as items are inserted and removed. We have a line of paper and tyvek CD sleeves (some with windows) that better protect bare discs. (search CD SLEEVE on the website). We also carry replacement CD and DVD cases.

If you put carts or manuals in bags, don't seal them air-tight...moisture sealed inside can condense under the right conditions and cause water damage. Putting a small vent hole in the bags is a good idea. They're a little pricey, but we recently added some velcro-closure poly bags that keep items secure, but still let air and moisture pass through...search item umber 245-4-10.

If you really want your items to items to look slick, use polypropylene bags instead of the standard polyethylene. Polypro is a high-clarity plastic that really shows off its contents, again, a bit more expensive though. Search 69-2- for flat bags or 269-3- for resealable flat bags.

Joe, thanks for the opportunity for me to mix business with pleasure! If anyone has any packaging based questions, I'll be happy to try to come up with an answer.

Rich

[PapaStu]

§ Gideon §: Ya know i realied that i kinda went off topic after i wrote that one, Ive seen the "patent bubble sleeves" but i do think that its more of a gimic than anything else. I remember a batch of them comming into work (I use to work at a Music store) and i checked them out, the sleeves still felt really thin, and i didnt get the whole point for them, unless it was to have the insert touching as little surface area as possible or something.

I Forgot to add for my GCN games, i found that Case Logic again (plug plug plug) has a pretty decent holder made for the Mini Cd that holds the smaller format discs almost perfectly, the cases max out at 24, and when one is full its FULL, but they work quite well...