View Full Version : Alphabetizing/Anal-Rententiveness
pacmanhat
09-23-2005, 04:59 AM
I'm a bit embarassed to admit that I spent a good amount of time deciding how I felt about this, but...if you alphabetize/sort your games, where would you put something like We (heart) Katamari?
- Under "W", since that's what it starts with
- Under "K", so it's next to its predecessor
I ended up going with the latter, in the interest of keeping all the games in a given series together...but I could have just as easily justified doing it differently.
So yeah...what do YOU do in these sorts of situations?
yok-dfa
09-23-2005, 05:07 AM
If your sorting criteria is alphabetic, i would sort it under 'W'. If you make exceptions like you do, your sorting criterium is useless.
Since now you not only have to remember which sorting criterium you used (easy), you also have to remember all the exceptions to that rule (not so easy) to find a particular title...
pacmanhat
09-23-2005, 05:13 AM
If your sorting criteria is alphabetic, i would sort it under 'W'. If you make exceptions like you do, your sorting criterium is useless.
Since now you not only have to remember which sorting criterium you used (easy), you also have to remember all the exceptions to that rule (not so easy) to find a particular title...
Generally speaking, titles in a series are similar enough in name that they can be made chronological and not make much (if any) difference in the way they're sorted. The Ratchet & Clank series, for example, can be in correct alphabetical and chronological order at the same time.
Katamari is a noticable exception, hence my starting of the topic...it makes me wonder where to draw the line.
yok-dfa
09-23-2005, 05:33 AM
It seems you have already made up your mind, but just need some justification from others...
So, since it seems to make you feel better: Yes, put the 'we love Katamari' game next to the original Katamari game even if it violates your sorting criterium LOL
hydr0x
09-23-2005, 06:08 AM
no way, it goes under "W", no discussion
anagrama
09-23-2005, 06:21 AM
Meh, real anal-retentives sort their games by part number ;)
hydr0x
09-23-2005, 06:22 AM
Meh, real anal-retentives sort their games by part number ;)
true LOL
TEXASGAMEPLAYER
09-23-2005, 06:30 AM
Had this problem with my dvd collection! it is alphabetical BUT how can you put "mad max" next to "mad max beyond thunderdome" and then put "road warrior" in a whole different shelf? And I've got another one for you does "westworld" to next "future world"? I believe the europeans had it easy, "the road warrior" was released as "madmax 2" in their countries. One more does "super c" go next to "contra" and "contra force". Does "contra force" go next to "contra" and the rest of my konami games even tho it has a back label and all the rest of my konami games have silver? I .. THINK .. I .. WILL .. GO .. CRAZY ... IF I DON'T LEAVE THIS THREAD NOW!!!
Gemini-Phoenix
09-23-2005, 06:43 AM
Difficult question. I have all sorts of methods to storing my stuff.
American PlayStation games ~ Organised so that the double jewel cases are first (Alphabetically A-Z), then the single jewel cases (Alphabetically A-Z). Sealed ones first, then unsealed ones.
PAL PlayStation games ~ Alphabetically A-Z with sealed games first
Dreamcast games ~ My sealed PAL collection is organised to make it easy for storing. I have two crates that will hold just under half of the PAL games each. I have games from between 4 Wheel Thunder to Outtrigger in one, and Pen Pen to Zombie Revenge in the second.
As for my Xbox, PS2, and GameCube games... They are more or less in the order that I bought them, separated bewteen sealed and unsealed crates. Although, I have made exceptions for games of a series, so Final Fantasy X and X2 are next to each other, as are all four .Hack games, and all my Tony Hawk games Etc...
So, I would probably be inclined to put We Love Katamari next to Katamari, but so long as you also apply the same rule elsewhere where required, otherwise your whole organising method will be a bit of a muddle.
CocoVG
09-23-2005, 07:20 AM
Meh, real anal-retentives sort their games by part number ;)
Haha...busted! ;)
If you ever want to needlessly confuse people, it's fun to sort by UPC code too. If you don't tell them how you're sorting, it will drive them up the wall. (Especially if they're anywhere near as retentive as yourself.)
Personally, I keep games in strict alphabetical order. It's just the easiest way for me. I don't need to sort game series together when they're going to go out of alphabetical order - because I already know I have the game and where to find it alphabetically. ;)
Jumpman Jr.
09-23-2005, 07:24 AM
I don't typically alphabetize my gaming collection. Most of it is displayed by color, which makes it look cooler. However, their are some things that can't be organized by color (like NES or SNES carts... well, I guess they COULD, but who would do that). I always use the second word if the first word is "The" something and so on.
Some people take "The Adventures of Lolo" and put it in the "L" section. I don't understand that one.
yok-dfa
09-23-2005, 07:33 AM
Meh, real anal-retentives sort their games by part number ;)
If you really want to make an ass out of yourself, you could try sorting the games by physical size (works even better if you collect for different systems). Or try sorting by label color (just because it looks better)
WanganRunner
09-23-2005, 08:05 AM
I'd definitely sort it under "K".
For instance, I own close to a thousand DVD's, so alphabetization is absolutely critical to my ability to find a movie when I want to watch it.
But all my Jet Li flicks are filed under "J", with their actual titles forming the basis for ordering within that group. That way, if I know I want to watch a jet li movie, but I can'd decide which one, I just meander over to that section and browse.
etc...
My idea of sorting when it comes to my games is to put them in a few shoeboxes I have lying around. I sort them by system, but thats about it.
DocRamon
09-23-2005, 08:46 AM
I don't get it...
You can't put "We Heart Katamari" under the "K" section and then call your organization alphabetical, because at that point it's not. Even if it's the only title that's out of order, it won't be alphabetical unless you follow the rules on alphabetizing (the key rule being to actually follow the alphabet). With a "W" in the "K" section, you're collection is almost alphabetical, and if almost is okay with you, then you're clearly not THAT anal.
Ultimately, it's your collection and you can do whatever the hell you want... but if other people go looking through your collection for "We Heart Katamari" they'll probably go to the "W" section first, ya know, since that's what the title actually starts with.
btw: Good way to test how anal you are about this sorta thing... how do you have the LOTR movies (or games I suppose) placed on the shelf? Technically, "Two Towers" should come after "Return of the King."
Flack
09-23-2005, 09:10 AM
I only have a couple of movie categories: general, collections, horror, kids, and music related. Within each of those categories movies are alphabetized except for collections, which I don't have many of. I originally went to this system because I outgrew my DVD shelves downstairs and had to move some of my movies upstairs, so I decided to move the music section and horror section upstairs.
Collections include box sets and make-believe box sets (like all the Kevin Smith movies). They are not sorted but they only take up one shelf.
Horror I moved upstairs because I don't want to explain to my son about Killer Condom yet. Horror collections and boxsets like Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th are up there too.
Music DVDs are upstairs because that's where the good sound system is so I would watch them up there anyway.
The kids area is completely unorganized because I get tired of doing it every day.
The rest of the movies, whether comedy, drama, or whatever are in general, alphabetized.
Sanriostar
09-23-2005, 10:55 AM
Games are stored Alphabetically, with sequels after thier predecessors. It just makes sense.
goatdan
09-23-2005, 11:45 AM
I would go with alphabetical, because as long as you remember it as We :lovin: Katamari is called We :lovin: Katamari, then you can find it. Otherwise, things can get rather confusing.
With movies, I think it's different. Sequels should go in the order of which movie game out when -- so Lord of the Rings Two Towers goes before Lord of the Rings Return of the King.
Then again, part number also works for some things. I don't do that for most of my games, but a rare few it makes sense with.
fergojisan
09-23-2005, 01:54 PM
I use the same alphabetical order that the DP Guides are in, to make my collection easier to keep track of. Hence, the NES Zeldas and Startropics are split up. And to this day, 2600 Challenge of Nexar is under N, not C. It's always been that way, and I have no idea why. Why no Wor, Wizard Of? Or Cake, Piece O'? The mind boggles. O_O
djbeatmongrel
09-23-2005, 02:29 PM
damnit Katamari has now even defied the way we sort our games, FUCK! *_*
Mr.FoodMonster
09-23-2005, 03:07 PM
Well, I've got my PS2 games in alphabetical, and once I shelf W<3K, I'm going to stick it next to KD, just because I think that sequals need to go together, no matter the name.
Nature Boy
09-23-2005, 03:09 PM
I like the DVD analagy. I sort all my Bond movies under J (for James Bond, naturally) and then sort them like I'd put 'em in my database: James Bond 1: Dr. No, James Bond 2: From Russia With Love...
Katamari wouldn't get that treatment though. I'd put it under W.
American PlayStation games ~ Organised so that the double jewel cases are first (Alphabetically A-Z), then the single jewel cases (Alphabetically A-Z). Sealed ones first, then unsealed ones.
Whoa, what a nightmare. Off the top of my head, I know this would split up Suikoden 1 & 2 and Vandal Hearts 1 & 2. That is pretty confusing, especially since those games are not only sequels, but naturally in alphabetical order. This makes me think that you don't actually play any of these games. :)
btw: Good way to test how anal you are about this sorta thing... how do you have the LOTR movies (or games I suppose) placed on the shelf? Technically, "Two Towers" should come after "Return of the King."
I believe average people think of these movies as "LOTR 2" or "the second movie", etc. Go up to a person and ask them if they have seen "The Return of the King" and there may be a good chance they will ask you "which one was that?".
TEXASGAMEPLAYER
09-23-2005, 04:08 PM
Katamari wouldn't get that treatment though. I'd put it under W.
I find this sick! It definitly goes under "K". ( I HAVE to stay out of this thread! )
TEXASGAMEPLAYER
09-23-2005, 04:11 PM
On another note, is there any way for me reorganize the items in my inventory. It has bothered me that they were purchased in an out of order fashion. Will I have to give them all away and then have them given backin the order I wnat them listed?
Avenger
09-23-2005, 04:22 PM
this is funny because i am VERY strict with where i have my games...always in alphabetical order...but a couple days ago i looked over at my xbox games and i had Dead or Alive Ultimate before Counter Strike....I went on to find many out of order games...I assume one of my friends did this while looking through my games, I hardly check though because i keep all the games i havent beaten/finished with, on my table and then it goes on the shelf afterwards...so not much ever comes back OFF the shelf :)
anyway yeah i would have to put Katamari 2 under W...
Aussie2B
09-24-2005, 01:19 AM
With the games I actually have stored on shelves, I place them in strict alphabetical order. I don't care if it separates sequel, and everything goes under the first letter, regardless of if it starts with something like "The".
The really tricky thing is figuring out what to do with games like Dr. Mario. Does it get alphabetized purely by the letters of its title, or should it be alphabetized as if it was "Doctor Mario"? o_O
zerohero
09-24-2005, 01:47 AM
I'm a bit embarassed to admit that I spent a good amount of time deciding how I felt about this, but...if you alphabetize/sort your games, where would you put something like We (heart) Katamari?
- Under "W", since that's what it starts with
- Under "K", so it's next to its predecessor
I ended up going with the latter, in the interest of keeping all the games in a given series together...but I could have just as easily justified doing it differently.
So yeah...what do YOU do in these sorts of situations?
Just sort alphabetically. For a game like that, I'd just use the first letter in the title of the game "w".
hydr0x
09-24-2005, 04:42 AM
With the games I actually have stored on shelves, I place them in strict alphabetical order. I don't care if it separates sequel, and everything goes under the first letter, regardless of if it starts with something like "The".
mhhh i don't get that, the english language even "supposes" you move the The's and A's to the end
The really tricky thing is figuring out what to do with games like Dr. Mario. Does it get alphabetized purely by the letters of its title, or should it be alphabetized as if it was "Doctor Mario"? o_O
under D, then R, then .
Aussie2B
09-24-2005, 12:49 PM
How am I supposed to alphabetize a period? :P
Nesmaster
09-24-2005, 01:20 PM
Some people take "The Adventures of Lolo" and put it in the "L" section. I don't understand that one.
Probably because the end labels for all 3 games read Lolo, Lolo 2, and Lolo 3 :)
But if they're boxed? Then that makes no sense :/
pacmanhat
09-24-2005, 01:52 PM
Some people take "The Adventures of Lolo" and put it in the "L" section. I don't understand that one.
Probably because the end labels for all 3 games read Lolo, Lolo 2, and Lolo 3 :)
But if they're boxed? Then that makes no sense :/
Weird...I was just gonna mention that. I only have the carts, and therefore I put them under 'L', as it appears to be mandated by the end labels. :P
l_lamb
09-24-2005, 02:11 PM
I'd put We ♥ Katamari under "W", the way it would sort in a spreadsheet. Here are my arcane sorting methods:
Atari 2600 games I have sorted by manufacturer, then Atari brand by part number, the others alphabetically.
Genesis cartridges are sorted by cartridge shape, then alphabetically.
Game Boy/Color are sorted by type (B&W, color, both) then alphabetically, except the vibration cartridges are stored separately.
Everything else is sorted alphabetically by title, moving A, An, and The to the end: ie...Simpson, The: Road Rage. I key them into Excel this way and expect them to be in the same order that Excel sorts them. Multiple versions of the same title (01 Combat, text label, picture label, or Greatest Hits/All-Star/Platinum) are sorted chronologically, oldest to newest.
pacmanhat
09-24-2005, 02:17 PM
How many shapes do Genesis carts have? I can only think of 3 or 4...
Bluteg
09-24-2005, 04:54 PM
I only know of 4 pacmanhat.
Sega
Accolade
EA
Wisdom Tree
Oh yeah and Sonic & Knuckles.
Funk Buddy
09-24-2005, 07:06 PM
With the games I actually have stored on shelves, I place them in strict alphabetical order. I don't care if it separates sequel, and everything goes under the first letter, regardless of if it starts with something like "The".
mhhh i don't get that, the english language even "supposes" you move the The's and A's to the end
I do the same thing with the "the" titles be it on my shelves or in cart comander.