Off the Menu: Keep it Tight

Your video game collection, regardless of how vast or small, reveals what type of gamer you are. If you had all the money in the world, would you have every single version on every system and every trinket that is game related, or would you build a refined collection that reflects your tastes and preferences? The bad news is that due to a comparatively short linear existence on this mud ball, one only has so much time to devote to their hobby, so I believe that careful purchases and staying as organized as possible will enrich the experience and display the respect invested. Digital downloads might be the way of the future which makes storage effortless, but managing physical media can be easy with a little elbow grease.For disk based games, I recommend multi-disk cases to create compilations and save much needed shelf space. Site's like this carry up to 10 disk cases that are great for compiling, but keep in mind that the more disks a case holds, the wider the spine. In some instances you will need to make your own custom covers, but that in itself is an enjoyable pass time. Original instruction books can be stored in a labeled plastic tote(when is the last time they mattered to you anyway). You must fight the urge to flaunt the quantity of cases, for a true collector takes pride in quality rather than quantity. Another space saving method is to transfer your games to either a specific system's hard drive (if available) or an external hard drive that the system pulls from. This will allow for the physical media to be stored away (yes, labeled tote) and in most cases, you will experience decreased loading times when playing games from a hard drive. Emulation of retired systems (the only ones I personally approve of) is the ultimate way to keep down clutter, but you will have to research these things yourself and do the footwork. All the information you need is on the interwebs and always look to forums for advise when you hit a snag. Pirating games for current generation hardware diminishes the gaming world and there is absolutely no honor in it.Shelves, cubbys, specialty organizers are required gear for your game cave. Display your consoles with pride and have a tasteful place for your gangly controllers. There is nothing worse than to have to wait for untangling an unsightly mess before hosting a session. Cable management adds a distinguished touch, and a wide variety is available out there to help you project just the right flavor. Also keep a selection of cleaning supplies that are safe for regular care and upkeep, such as microfiber cloths, spray air and plastic safe cleaning solutions. If your monitor/TV screen's appearance is important to you, then there is only ONE (after countless experiments with sprays and gels) that does the job like no other; OptiMist Prime. Thank me later.

Please post any ideas below on how to help keep it tight!