Back around 2017 my gaming setup grew so complicated that I created a diagram to track how it was all connected. This was my peak setup, it was scaled back considerably over the next decade. I'll explain why in a moment. First, the 2017 setup:
This setup didn't last. There were many reasons:
The Super Nintendo Classic is neat and all, but I have a perfectly functional Super Nintendo and my favorite games in physical form. Also the Switch online service has much of the same game selection.
I used the Ouya as an emulation box and it worked great for that. After a while I wasn't playing it much.
My NES, or all my NESs, is/are slowly dying. The Switch online service has some of my favorite games but not all of them. At this point I need to buy a good FPGA clone.
The laser in my GameCube died very close to the 25 year mark. It had a good run.
The Nintendo 64 looks quite bad on a modern TV.
I only own one CD-i game, why did I bother leaving it connected?
There's no reason to have a PlayStation and PlayStation 2 connected at the same time.
Retron.
Eventually that RGB monitor starting emitting a horrible sound and I grew concerned it was a fire hazard.
The real problem though was 2020. That's the source of so many problems. I occasionally worked from home before then, only on the laptop. With the office closed I needed a real setup with a permanent docking station and separate monitor. The power strip servicing the RGB monitor and 7 systems was repurposed for this.
My office attempted to re-open. By then there were enough re-orgs and moves that I barely worked with anyone in my state anymore. Going into the building was pointless.
With a permanent workstation crammed into my game room, which also hosts the computer I'm writing this on, I just plain ran out of outlets.
More than anything else this forced a simplification. It also means I rotate systems every year or so, usually over the first weekend in January.
2026
After my annual shuffling, here's the 2026 setup:
Some explanations are in order:
I ditched the Atari Flashback in favor of something that looks better and can play 7800 games. I built a decent collection of 7800 games when they were sold at the dollar store.
I decided to splurge on the Analogue 3D because there are many N64 games I want to play again (and some for the first time). I dunno, I'm just kinda feeling like the late '90s is the place to be right now.
I always think I'm going to play the 3DO and I never do. There's a good chance I'll swap that out. I no longer need that 5 way switch for reasons mentioned above. If I ever get a second CD-i game, or stumble into a collection, then that will be the winner. Otherwise the Saturn is something I'm likely to play more often.
I could connect something to that coaxial port but, again, holes. Every system I'm thinking of has a giant power brick. I should at least connect an antenna for emergency purposes. A paper clip picks up at least 30 stations where I live, some of them are even in English. OK, let's do that right now... so a cheap antenna, not mounted properly picks up 45 stations. Not bad.
One of those two Switch docks will possibly be upgraded to a Switch 2 this year.
The Wii is still a very popular system in my house. I only have 1 kid living at home now, and she is younger than the Wii, as are all her friends. However, they play Wii/Mario Party all the time anyway. This is my 2nd Wii, the drive on the first died. If this one lasts until she goes to college I'll be happy.
So far I'm enjoying the relative simplicity of this setup. I have been playing quite a bit of the Analogue 3D and would recommend it. I tried an HDMI upscaler for the Nintendo 64 and it's not nearly as good. Maybe I'll even play a 3DO game once in 2026.
