Welcome to the sixth edition of our game room series where we take a look at some of our site members gaming spaces!  This month we are featuring longtime site participant, Wempster.  Join us as we explore this member's gaming space and learn more about how and what he collects, and how he makes his space work for his gaming needs.

**If you are a member and have a game room or gaming area that you would like to share, please send a PM to singlebanana and I will add you to our list.**




RF Generation handle:

Wempster


Approximate dimensions of your game room (in feet, or meters if you prefer): 

29’ x 19’.  It is a 550 sq ft two bedroom “in-laws” house right next to our house.


Describe your game room in a Tweet (140 characters, include spaces).

A separate small two bedroom house that is my animation studio/ game house.  We can game all night and not wake my wife!


How many distinct systems do you own (including handheld)?  What are your favorites?

31, or 32 if the “New” 3DS is a different system.  My favorites are my Switch, N64, SNES, and Sega Master System.



How many systems do you have hooked up right now?  What are they?

NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Wii, Wii U, Switch, Master System, Sega Genesis, Dreamcast, Playstation, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Atari 2600 and Magnavox Odyssey 3000.  Most are in my game house, but some are in the main house. 


What are the top 5 biggest collections in your game room? Are any complete?

N64 (220), NES (146), Atari 2600 (112), PS2 (105), Genesis (100).  None are complete yet but I am working toward a complete N64 set. 


What is your favorite piece in your game room (game and/or non-game)?

Either my SNES, because it is my original one and has only recently starting to yellow at the controller port, or my CIB Ocarina of Time.  The cart is my original but the box and manual were acquired more recently.



What is the rarest piece in your game room?

I don’t know how particularly rare it would actually be, but I have an F-Zero License Card from the arcade game.  It keeps track of courses you beat and vehicles unlocked in the game and you could only get it from those arcade games. I have only seen one machine down in Orlando. 


Do you own any game cabinets/pinball machines?  If so, which one would you like to add next?  If not, which one would you like to be your first?

I own a Donkey Kong Jr. arcade cabinet.  It needs to be worked on, but it functions just fine.  My dream arcade cab would be an F-Zero AX, but a more likely one to find would be a Mortal Kombat II. 



What, if anything, makes your game room or setup distinguishable?

I think that I have an entire house for gaming makes it pretty distinguishable.  I am always looking for different ways to make it more gaming themed.  My wife just suggested that I paint the bathroom to look like an underwater level from Mario.


Who or what was the inspiration for your game room?

It’s really just Nintendo.  I like having little things tucked away in nooks and crannies that give it a gaming theme.  A figure here, a poster there.  Nintendo has such a vast library of iconic characters that I can put so many different ones in and they still go together. 



If your game room were an animal, which one would it be and why?

Maybe a turtle because my collection has grown slowly.


Did you have any plans for your game room that became too ambitious or expensive to implement?

The second bedroom as an arcade got a bit too ambitious. There would need to be some serious re-wiring going on first.  It could still be done, but it would take much longer than I anticipated. 


What new section or set would you like to eventually add to your game room?

I would like to get some of the older systems from before the crash.  I have an Odyssey 3000, but things like a Vectrex, Odyssey 2, or Intellivision would be neat to own because none of my friends had those.



If someone handed you $100 and you HAD to spend it on your game room (not on games or systems), what would you buy?

Probably poster frames to hang things up, some paint for a Zelda mural I want to do, and box and manual protectors.


For may collectors, storing controllers is always an issue due to their cords and sometimes awkward shapes. How do you manage these?

I put them all on a pegboard wall.  They can all be displayed and easily reached.  If I have the space to do these things so I might as well use it. 



What does your significant other or other housemate(s) think about your game room?

She loves that I have an entirely separate house to go to if friends and I want to be up late gaming.  She doesn’t play much herself, but loves to watch me play and loves to buy me games at the flea market. 


What was the funniest/coolest thing someone has ever said when they saw your game room for the first time?

“So when your wife is mad you retreat over to here right?”



Tell us about your game room seating.  Do you have a preferred spot?

There is a couch along one wall and a wicker papasan style chair that I like to sit in sometimes.   


Do you allow drinks and/or snacks in your game room?  Explain.

Drinks and food are allowed because the kitchen is right behind the gaming couch.  At this point it would be hard to keep food and drinks out.  The kitchen is not full furnished because there is no stove (the arcade cabinet is in that space) but there is a refrigerator and a microwave and that’s all I really need.   


What advice would you give to someone getting ready to set up their own game room?

Layout which consoles you want hooked up to different TV’s if you plan on having light gun games played next to your modern stuff.  Cable management is very important if you plan on hooking up several systems. 



Question from previous participant  Fokakis79:

What is a tip you may have for someone moving their collection?

Label EVERYTHING!!  Masking tape and sharpies are your friends.  If you have a large collection don't be afraid to hire movers. 


What question would you like to ask the next participant?

How do you store your gaming manuals for cart based games?

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