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So How are You Supposed to Store PSP UMD Discs?

Soon I'll post my CES write up post but before that I have something I have to get off my chest about my beloved Playstation Portable, I really love my PSP but I’ve run into a problem with UMD discs.

How the heck are do you go about storing a bunch of PSP games and actually find the game you want without a bunch of searching? They present and interesting logistical problem.

So How are You Supposed to Store PSP UMD Discs?

The PSP UMD is an small optical disk in a protective caddy case so they have the storage advantages of a DVD like disc but have most of the protection and robustness of a solid state cartridge. That is pretty cool but it has some of the unique drawbacks of some cartridge designs specifically they have no edge labeling and it can be a pain to hunt for the actual disk you want. The Atari 5200 and Nintendo 64 had this problem but if it really got to you could put the title the top edge of the cartridge. My friend BBQ did this for all of his Nintendo 64 carts.

The UMD case does not lie flat on end because the edges are curved and they are too thin to realistically write on the edges, The text on the disc can get pretty small and the disc in side can be at any angle so sometimes the text is right side up and sometimes it’s at any angle.

I hate having to deal with a lot of mini plastic jewel cases so I got rid of all of my PSP jewel boxes. It worked out fine back when I had a small handful of games but my library has grown over the years and It’s gotten a bit out of hand. I have 31 PSP game UMDs and two movie UMDs. It’s not that hard to manage a couple discs but it's a bit cumbersome to find the game that I want. Mostly I have to take half the games out of a box, hunt and find the game that I am looking for and then put them back into the box in any old order.

What I would love is some small printable labels that I could stick on the top of my UMD disks or if there were UMD size sleeves that I could put in a CD binder notebook.

Ironically they are almost the same size and their technology predecessor the Sony Minidisc. I have an old plastic Minidisc box case that fits UMDs nicely and it works fine to take about four games and stick in your jacket pocket. Used Altoids tins also work swimmingly for about three UMD discs.

Currently I have them in two plastic storage boxes but I am going to look online more to see if someone sells a UMD notebook or as a better way to store them at home. There are a couple smaller carrying cases but nothing to deal with the number of discs that I am talking about. I know this is a really stupid thing to complain about.

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Icon of JakeJake at January 8, 2008  Rants

Comments

Can't you just put them back in the case, and store the cases in a DVD type book shelf? Like what I thought you did with DS games?

Posted by: Shawn L [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 8, 2008 8:01 AM

I don't have a shelf like that and I threw away the plastic jewel cases, plus some of my games were used with no cases.

Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at January 8, 2008 8:04 AM

Hey Jake -

I'm trying to get in touch with you about a video game blog network I'm starting, but can't find any contact info. Could you shoot me an email to the address I listed in the comment so I can get in touch with you?

Thanks

Posted by: Adrenis at January 8, 2008 8:44 AM

I found some excellent UMD cases when I was in Japan, which you can buy here (white and blue ones in the related items). They're durable and each one holds eight discs, so I just use them to store the discs alphabetically. I don't know if that's exactly what you're looking for but it works for me.

Posted by: Olly at January 13, 2008 6:47 AM

You don't open the shrinkwrap, and after you have the game in your possession you feel no guilt whatsoever obtaining the ISO.

Bonus points: preorder so you can just get it when it leaks, again with no guilt. A PSP with an empty UMD drive and a 4gb memory stick in it is simply a better system.

Posted by: Just sayin' at January 20, 2008 12:12 AM

Hi you can buy many sorts of labeling machine that print in a variety of sizes as in brother make loads Brother PT80 Labelling Machine
Price:
£22.99 (excl. VAT)
around $45 or so

Posted by: cwat8 at February 3, 2008 9:34 PM

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