How do you protect and preserve your oversized game mags?

[Anthony1]

With all the magazines I collect, I prefer to store them in poly bags, comic book style. You put a little cardboard backing in the poly bag, and put the magazine in there for storage. It keeps them in good condition and preserves them for the future. With most gaming mags, I don't have any problems, but with the oversized gaming mags, I can't find polybags big enough to fit these oversized mags in. It's also a problem with really large issues of regular magazines too. Like EGM. If you have issue 64 or 65 of EGM, then you know just how humongous some mags can get. All my EGM's fit into polybags except for a few issues. Same thing with GameFan. I have a few really thick issues of GameFan that don't fit into polybags. I've tried to get the largest polybags out there, but they still aren't big enough. I'm guessing that some of you guys also collect Play or Game Informer or Playstation magazine, or one of the other mags that are oversized. Maybe you could lead me to a source that has the right sized polybags and backing.


I'm also looking for a checklist for Play magazine. From the very first issue released till the most current issue. The reason why I'm trying to find this is because I have issue No.3, and on issue No.3 it says, April 2002, and on issue No.5 it says May 2002. I don't have issue No.4. Does issue #4 exist? Why does 3 say April and 5 say May? It doesn't make sense.


Anyways, I'm missing some issues, and I'm trying to figure out exactly which issues I'm missing. I've done searches for "lists of Play magazine", but I'm not getting anything.

[Anthony1]

Here is a list of every issue that I have, and the ones that I don't have. I'm just trying to get a comprehensvie list for this mag. I'm assuming that there has been 52 issues so far, with April 2006 being the newest.



1. Volume 1, Issue 1 - Premiere Issue - don't know which month - says display till Jan 15th. I'm guessing this is a December 2001 issue - Jak & Daxter (PS2) on cover
2. Volume 1, Issue 2 - don't know cover - I don't have this issue
3. Volume 1, Issue 3 - April 2002 - Superman (PS2) on cover
4. Volume 1, Issue 4 - don't know cover - I don't have this issue
5. Volume 1, Issue 5 - May 2002 - Malice (Xbox) on cover
6. Volume 1, Issue 6 - June 2002 - don't know cover - I don't have this issue
7. Volume 1, Issue 7 - July 2002 - Vexx (PS2/Xbox) on cover
8. Volume 1, Issue 8 - August 2002 - Toejam & Earl III: Mission to Earth (Xbox)
9. Volume 1, Issue 9 - September 2002 - don't know cover - I don't have this issue
10. Volume 1, Issue 10 - October 2002 - don't know cover - I don't have this issue
11. Volume 1, Issue 11 - November 2002 - don't know cover - I don't have this issue
12. Volume 1, Issue 12 - December 2002 - Metroid Prime (Gamecube) on cover
13. Volume 2, Issue 1 - January 2003 - Panzer Dragoon Orta - (Xbox)
14. Volume 2, Issue 2 - February 2003 - don't know cover - I don't have this issue
15. Volume 2, Issue 3 - March 2003 -don't know cover - I don't have this issue
16. Volume 2, Issue 4 - April 2003 - don't know cover - I don't have this issue
17. Volume 2, Issue 5 - May 2003 - don't know cover - I don't have this issue
18. Volume 2, Issue 6 - June 2003 - don't know cover - I don't have this issue
19. Volume 2, Issue 7 - July 2003 - P.N. 03 (Gamecube)
20. Volume 2, Issue 8 - August 2003 - Castlevania - Lament of Innocence (PS2)
21. Volume 2, Issue 9 - September 2003 - Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II (PS2/Xbox)
22. Volume 2, Issue 10 - October 2003 - Viewtiful Joe - (Gamecube)
23. Volume 2, Issue 11 - November 2003 - Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)
24. Volume 2, Issue 12 - December 2003 - Advent Rising (Xbox)
25. Volume 3, Issue 1 - January 2003 - Maximo vs. Army of Zin (PS2)
26. Volume 3, Issue 2 - February 2003 - Starcraft: Ghost (PS2/Xbox)
27. Volume 3, Issue 3 - March 2003 - Gran Turismo 4 (PS2)
28. Volume 3, Issue 4 - April 2004 - Sudeki (Xbox)
29. Volume 3, Issue 5 - May 2004 - Neo Contra (PS2)
30. Volume 3, Issue 6 - June 2004 - Conker: Live and Reloaded (Xbox)
31. Volume 3, Issue 7 - July 2004 - Ghosthunter (PS2)
32. Volume 3, Issue 8 - August 2004 - Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone (PS2, Xbox)
33. Volume 3, Issue 9 - September 2004 - BloodRayne 2 (Xbox, PS2)
34. Volume 3, Issue 10 - October 2004 - Ghost in the Shell :Stand Alone Complex (PS2)
35. Volume 3, Issue 11 - November 2004 - Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (Xbox, PS2) - I don't have this issue
36. Volume 3, Issue 12 - December 2004 - Jade Empire (Xbox)
37. Volume 4, Issue 1 - January 2005 - Resident Evil 4 (Gamecube) - I don't have this issue
38. Volume 4, Issue 2 - February 2005 - Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (PS2 - I don't have this issue
39. Volume 4, Issue 3 - March 2005 - Tenchu: Fatal Shadows (PS2) - I don't have this issue
40. Volume 4, Issue 4 - April 2005 - Psychonauts (Xbox, PS2) - I don't have this issue
41. Volume 4, Issue 5 - May 2005 - Death Jr. (PSP) - I don't have this issue
42. Volume 4, Issue 6 - June 2005 - Tomb Raider: Legend (Xbox 360, PS2, Xbox)
43. Volume 4, Issue 7 - July 2005 - Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
44. Volume 4, Issue 8 - August 2005 - Darkwatch (Xbox) - I don't have this issue
45. Volume 4, Issue 9 - September 2005 - Magna Carta: Tears of Blood (PS2)
46. Volume 4, Issue 10 - October 2005 - Condemned: Criminal Orgins (Xbox 360)
47. Volume 4, Issue 11 - November 2005 - Dragon Quest VIII (PS2)
48. Volume 4, Issue 12 - December 2005 - Prey (Xbox 360)
49. Volume 5, Issue 1 - January 2006 - Tales of Legendia (PS2)
50. Volume 5, Issue 2 - February 2006 - Timeshift (Xbox 360)
51. Volume 5, Issue 3 - March 2006 - Okami (PS2)
52. Volume 5, Issue 4 - April 2006 - Moto GP 2006 (Xbox 360) (2 other cover variations, likely Saints Row and The Outfit)
53. Volume 5, Issue 5 - May 2006 -

[Anthony1]

I changed the focus of this topic to "how do you guys protect and preserve your oversized game mags". Nobody responded to the "do you collect Play magazine " question, so maybe I could get a few responses to this. The only suggestion that I've ever heard about this is to use these really oversized bags that are normally used to protect old music albums. But those things are way, way too big. I'm hoping there are some oversized poly bags out there somewhere that I just haven't been able to find.

[THATinkjar]

It seems like this is a one man thread... I'll be on my way.

[Griking]

There are bags out there for all sizes of magazines. You can usually find then in comic book stores. Most of my old back issues are bagged up.

[Wavelflack]

Why not crop them to fit the bags?

[Damaramu]

If they're standard magazine size, a regular polypropylene magazine bag just like my comic books. For oversized magazines I'd use Treasury sized bags and just tape it down to size to fit the mag.

This reminds me that I need to bag up my Gamefan issues. :eek 2:

[Anthony1]

I've been using Fun Yet poly bags for some time now. You can find them at various Comic book places or even ebay. I've been using the cardboard backing as well. My entire collection of GameFan, my first 100 EGM's, my first 100 GamePro's, my entire collection of Next-Generation, and my first 60 or so Video Game & Computer Entertainment's are all bagged and backed.


The thing is, even if you go with the largest size of Fun Yet, there are certain magazines that don't fit. The real oversized ones. Like Game Informer, Play and Playstation magazine. Also, some of the thickest old school mags, like issues 64 and 65 for EGM, and a issue or two of GameFan, don't fit into the largest size of Fun Yet polybags.


I've talked to some sellers on Ebay and such, and tried to find out if there are any bags out there that one could get that would work for the oversized magazines, and this dude suggested getting the bags that people use for vinyl and then just folding the excess over and taping it. That doesn't appeal to me very much, I'm thinking that there must be some bags out there that would fit more snugger. I just need a bag, a half inch bigger than the largest Fun Yet.



So nobody amonst us has their Play collection bagged and backed? Nobody has their Informers bagged and backed?

[Ed Oscuro]

Why not crop them to fit the bags?
Exactly.

Also, I am fortunate to have oversized shelves and boxes. The only things I'm really frightened about are flyers, which are flimsy single sheets of paper.

[fishsandwich]

All my magazines are piled in two huge plastic storage bins. No rhyme or reason. Game mags, car mags, soft porn, whatever.

I suck.

:monkey:

[Ed Oscuro]

All my magazines are piled in two huge plastic storage bins. No rhyme or reason. Game mags, car mags, soft porn, whatever.
Hard pron? or does that go into the HARD drive (zomg quote stolen)

[Jibbajaba]

People collect "Life" magazines, and they are fucking huge. There must be bags for them. Look into it.

Chris

[Anthony1]

People collect "Life" magazines, and they are fucking huge. There must be bags for them. Look into it.

Chris


Actually, the guy that said to get the bags that they used for albums said that people used those for Life Magazines too. Aparently magazine and comic book bags go up to a certain size and then you have to jump into a whole new category with the super giant bags that are actually too big.


I was just thinking that maybe somebody here collects play, and they have a complete collection bagged and backed, and they somehow found a supply that has bags that fit the play size magazine perfect.

[SuperNES]

i dont put my magazines in those nerdy bags, i only do that with my rare comics, my mags go on the shelf.

[Sothy]

FROZEN IN CARBONITE!

[Jibbajaba]

People collect "Life" magazines, and they are fucking huge. There must be bags for them. Look into it.

Chris


Actually, the guy that said to get the bags that they used for albums said that people used those for Life Magazines too. Aparently magazine and comic book bags go up to a certain size and then you have to jump into a whole new category with the super giant bags that are actually too big.


I was just thinking that maybe somebody here collects play, and they have a complete collection bagged and backed, and they somehow found a supply that has bags that fit the play size magazine perfect.

Riiiiiiiight!! I forgot about LP bags. Just use those! you can fold the excess plastic around to the back and tape it. And I guess you would have to make your own backing boards.

Chris

[Anthony1]

Riiiiiiiight!! I forgot about LP bags. Just use those! you can fold the excess plastic around to the back and tape it. And I guess you would have to make your own backing boards.

Chris


I'm thinking there has to be a better way than that. I mean, I guess if I can't find any other options, but you'd think with all the various sizes of comic books, that somebody would have a comic book bag that is extra large that would fit the larger magazines perfect. Then again, maybe not. For some reason, the idea of folding it around back and taping it, just doesn't appeal to me that much. Especially, cause I like to pull out my issues every once in awhile and actually read them :D

[slapdash]

I've never found oversize bags anywhere, but Ultra Pro (http://www.ultrapro.com) seems to make some.

Now if only there boxes to match... :-(

[hydr0x]

my question is:

how do you store the bags with mags inside?? do you just stack them? or are there special containers to hang them up? i have no clue what's best for the mags :/

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh, it's even better for those game magazines that come with a thin DVD case on the front. I just up and threw mine in a shopping bag :D

[Push Upstairs]

I have all my EGM magazines in acid free multi-page capacity sheet protectors and then stacked inside archive-safe plastic storage containers. Yes, even the biggest of the old EGM issues manages to fit in one of those sheet protectors.

Some (well, one) of these magazines are closing in on 20 years old...i gotta keep them good for future reading.