Gamestore owner needs advice on building console museum

[Player-2]

Gamestore needs help designing game console museum.

What do you think should be in a game console museum and how should it be displayed ??!!??

HI. I need the help and insight of the hardcore gaming community in reference to a project I am beginning at one of my gamestores.I have accumulated a collection of every relevant gaming console and handheld(plus variations) from odyssey to X-box;and I am preparing a “museum” display as an attraction to allow customers(mostly casual gamers)to see the evolution of home gaming.It was not my goal to include every single machine out there…only the ones I feel offered significant or relevant changes or additions to the console evolution.That is where y’alls input would be of great value.I have other machines,but I consider the following to encapsulate the evolution of gaming.Do you see any to leave off….and why.To add in and why…..I have other items.I am also including accessories that had a major impact on more than one game(light gun,scope,not piano,mouse).I see the gaming industry from a different view than do most of you.My wife and I constitute the 40 and 50 year old age group and are AVID gamers ( I used to play with a lot of these older items).I have made a living within gaming for a dozen years.I would like opinions from people who know what these are,but also from the younger group(who have never seen these items LOL) and I would appreciate it if you would identify your age group with your opinions.I have already moved all the items to the store,and I will begin setting up a display in a couple weeks.And my last question; what might be the best way to set it up??I have three ideas so far…..by timeline(just display them in the order produced….by manufacturer(all nes together,etc)….and by “power jumps” or generations(the oldest.then the atari-ish stuff…..then the NES era(with master,tgx,etc)…then 16 bit…32 bit…etc) ALL ideas would be greatly appreciated.I have been working on this for many years,and I would like to display it just right. THANKS!!! Doug Player-2 game exchange

Odyssey CIB
Odyssey 2

Pong C-100
Pong C-140 super pong
Pong ultra pong 4-player
Pong Odyssey (pong and odyssey on same machine is just cool)
Pong Nintendo 1976 (japanese)(see above line)

Colecovision

Intellivision
Intellivision II
Intellivision III
Intellivision super pro
Intellivoice module

Vectrex

CDI

Action Max

3D0 FZ-10
3D0 FZ-1
3D0 Goldstar

Atari 2600 6-switch "heavy sixer"
Atari 2600 6-swich
Atari 2600 6-switch telegames
Atari 2600 4-switch wood grain
Atari 2600 4-switch telegames
Atari 2600 4-switch jr
Atari 5200 2-cntrl ports
Atari 5200 4-cntrl ports
Atari 7800
Atari lynx
Atari Jaguar
Atari Jaguar CD

Game.com

Neo geo pocket
Neo geo cartridge console
Neo geo CD console

Turbografx console w/multitap
Turbografx turbobooster AV convertor
Turbografx CD
Turbografx turbo-express
Turbografx turbo-duo

Sega master w/gun
Sega master II
Sega gamegear black
Sega gamegear blue
Sega nomad
Sega genesis I
Sega genesis frontload CD
Sega genesis II
Sega genesis II clamshell CD
Sega genesis CD memory cart
Sega genesis III
Sega 32x
Sega menacer
Sega CDX
Sega genesis/CD clone JVC
Sega saturn
Sega saturn memory cart
Sega dreamcast black
Sega dreamcast white
Sega dreamcast fishing rod
Sega dreamcast keyboard
Sega VMU

Nintendo pong (japanese)???
Nintendo famicom???
Nintendo original core
Nintendo top-loader core
Nintendo power pad
Nintendo alladin convertor???
Nintendo light gun
Nintendo "cowboy 6-shooter" lightgun
Nintendo wireless lightgun
Nintendo Robby w/gmite and stakk'm parts
Nintendo clone gameaxe???
Nintendo gameboy
Nintendo gameboy camera
Nintendo gameboy printer
Nintendo gameboy color
Nintendo gameboy color pikachu
Nintendo gameboy advance
Nintendo gameboy advance pikachu
Nintendo gameboy SP
Nintendo super nintendo original core
Nintendo super nintendo mini
Nintendo super gameboy
Nintendo super scope
Nintendo N-64 core grey
Nintendo N-64 core color
Nintendo N-64 pikachu w/exp pak
Nintendo N-64 gameboy convertor
Nintendo N-64 fishing rod
Nintendo N-64 Z-64 back-up(remove from list?)
Nintendo gamecube w/gb player
Nintendo online adaptor for gamecube
Nintendo M82 ??? (include just cause it’s cool)
Nintendo test service station w/accessories ??? (see above)
Nintendo pong(japanese) before they made famicom ??? (see above)
Nintendo Sachen 72-pin console (see above)(and made own games)
Nintendo Virtual boy w/AC

Playstation original 1000 series console
Playstation console grey
Playstation PS1
Playstation PS1 TV
Playstation gun/guncon
Playstation multi-tap
Playstation 2 console w/online kit
Playstation 2 multi-tap

X box console w/large and S pads
X box DVD remote

NA NES clones
NA powerglove
NA uforce
NA lethal enforcer guns
NA memory cards ???
NA rumbles
NA famiclones 60-pi

[Queen Of The Felines]

Well, dunno if this will help, but at Sean Kelly's store he has a timeline of consoles nailed (glued?) around the top of the walls near the ceiling. He just has the major consoles and not any variants (except for the Adventurevision because somebody would probably steal it and the 3DO because he, uh, forgot :embarrassed: ) but it's still pretty cool.

Maybe some display cases for yours?

Kristine

[rbudrick]

Yes, I would definitely suggest display cases. If you really want to show all those variations, it's going to take a quite a lot of wall/floor space.

-Rob

[Balloon Fight]

If I remember correctly, in Japan they did this last year or so. I remember reading in T&T about it. Definitely have glass cases to display/keep the consoles clean/make sure they don't get stolen. If and when you finish them, PLEASE post pictures so we can see. :-P

[tholly]

I would have to say to go with display cases. It will keep most of the dust and well as unwanted hand prints off the consoles and will prevent any damage from being done to the consoles by trying to mount them to a wall.

Keep us updated and make sure to post pictures when this is all done and set up.

[Ed Oscuro]

If I remember correctly, in Japan they did this last year or so.
I belive you're thinking of the 20th anniversary Famicom deal. Which of course is limited to one system.

I myself have thought a bit about setting up a museum...but I don't think the time is right for that. In any case what's the fun of a museum if you can't play anything? If you let folks play stuff, how will you keep items from being damaged or stolen? So many questions.

[Kamisama]

I once was in a gameshop which had something like a museum too. There was a glass wall and behind it there was a little room with consoles and some games, 2 or 3 consoles were even running (not playable) :) This was only about the 8 Bit Era though, but i think it is cool too see some consoles running, especially when you want to show them to people who have never seen them before.


I would appreciate it if you would identify your age group with your opinions.
I am 18, and I started with the NES and C64

[chadtower]

If you do it be damned sure to put it behind glass so no one could touch the systems. You know better than any of us how many people use gamestores as free babysitting, how many kids go in there every day but never buy anything and yet still seem to acquire the store's goods, how people abuse things in stores. Every piece of hardware you put out will end up stolen or broken or both if you make it accessible to people.

It's a nice idea but only devote floorspace to it if you're already all set as far as displays go for things that can actually bring in revenue.

[dogbowl2]

Theres a games store in London called CEX that has a nice display. In their basement, there is a glass wall behind which there is a jumble of consoles, games and etc. Some systems are up and running, others are just strewn about but it looks really cool.

Of course, their display is also helped by their supply of Neo Geo games, game & watches, and just about anything else you can think of.