You took time and money to build your collection. Letting her get damaged would be a waste and a loss of value. Yet, many collectors do their shopping without thinking about their conservation. But a discolored jacket, a yellow case or a corroded cartridge doesn't always catch up.
This guide covers the essentials: to protect, store and preserve your collection so that it keeps its condition in time.
Quick response
- The worst enemies of a collection are light (UV),humidity,dust and heat.
- Put your games standing away from direct sun, in a dry and temperate place.
- Chemically stable protection limits handling and dust, but does not replace a stable environment.
- Class as you actually find your games: platform, franchise, format or alphabetical order.
- Keep an inventory with photos, identifiers and supporting documents; Check separately what your insurance requires.
The 4 enemies of your collection
Light (UV)
The direct sun is the silent killer of the jackets. The **UV discolors the colors (red turns pink, classic on Nintendo boxes) and weakens the plastic. Never put your collection in front of a sunny window.
Moisture
The enemy of physical supports. Humidity causes mould on cardboard and paper (jaquettes, leaflets), corrosion on cartridge contacts, and gondally on boxes. Look at a dry place; avoid wet cellars and uninsulated garages.
Dust and heat
Dust undermines supports and increases cleaning handling. Heat and especially the high temperature and humidity variations accelerate degradation. A stable living room is better than an attic, cellar or uninsulated garage.
Protect according to medium
- Support - Risk principleXQ0QXZ
| --- | --- | --- |
• Cardboard box (NES, SNES, N64)
Plastic enclosure (PS1, PS2, DVD)
- Naked cartridge (loose) - Corrosion of contacts, dust - Individual case, dry place
- Notice / jackets - Foldings, moisture - Chemically stable pouch and support suitable for format
- Yes. Sealed game (sealed)
Quality PET protection can limit friction and light crushing. Check that it does not compress the object, avoid unknown plastics and remember that no transparent box blocks all the light or moisture.
How to store intelligently
Standing or flat depending on the format
Rigid enclosures and optical discs usually stand upright, properly supported. Large, fragile cardboard boxes or deformed documents may require flat storage without heavy piles. The objective is to avoid pressure, tilt and deformation.
By platform, then by franchise
The most useful classification for a collector:
- By platform (PS1, PS2, DS...) for visual consistency;
- By franchise or series inside, to see the holes to fill at a glance.
Alphabetical storage remains very effective to find a title. Choose the logic that matches your usage and keep it the same in the inventory.
Not too tight, not too cowardly
Too tight, you're ruining the jackets when you pull out a game. Too cowardly, the boxes tip and horn. Aim for a firm but unforced hold.
Digital inventory: your backup
A often forgotten aspect of "conservation": Keep a digital trace of your collection. Why?
- Insurance: in the event of a claim, an inventory with photos, invoices and identifiers may document possession; the evidence required depends on the contract.
- Revente: You know exactly what you have and in what condition.
- Following: you avoid duplicates and you know what to complete.
A shelf view is useful, but an inventory structured, game by game, with photos and identifiers brings more context.
Track and inventory his collection with SideQuest
SideQuest is used as a digital inventory for available information: platform, region, state and edition. For a real backup, export the CSV regularly and keep the photos, invoices and numbers that the app does not store elsewhere.
Verified sources
- [Library of Congress — Preservation of Audiovisual Media and Optical Discs] (https://www.loc.gov/preservation/care/record)
- [NEDCC — fresh, dry, stable and light-sensitive environment] (https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preserving-private-and-family-collections/caring-for-private-and-family-collections)
- [Canadian Conservation Institute — Effects of Light and UV on Plastics] (https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/preventive-conservation/guidelines-collections/caring-plastics-rubbers.html)
FAQ
How can I prevent my jackets from yellowing?
Keep them safe from direct sunlight (UV) and heat. Put your games away from sunny windows and use PET protective enclosures for valuable parts.
Should games be stored upright or flat?
Rigid housings and discs usually fit upright and supported. Large, fragile paper or cardboard formats can be stored flat without heavy stacking.
What protection for a retro game in cardboard box?
A protection at the right size, made of stable material, which does not compress the box. It reduces dust and friction but does not make the object waterproof or UV-insensitive.
Why keep a digital inventory of its collection?
To document possession, prepare a resale and reduce duplicates. For insurance, check the proofs required by your contract: an inventory alone does not guarantee compensation.
SideQuest helps you track your physical video game collections, variants and ads in one place. [Discover SideQuest →][/]
