Nintendo DS Game(s) Keeper DIY

Nintendo DS Game Disc Keyring DIY

Drive management for kids in car for extended time continues...

My kids are 7 and 10.  Both have a Nintendo DS and assorted games magical little 1x1 plastic bits that cost a $20-60.  They are constantly being misplaced and dropped in the seats of the truck. Previous road trips have included countless efforts by me to load games back in boxes identify what is missing, tear the truck apart looking for it, repeat! To date no man has been left behind but I just don’t want to go through all that.

So I started trying to solve the problem.  First stop toys-r-us.  Wow! How a tiny box that fits in another box is going to be answer to all game management is beyond me.  They struggle to keep it in the box it came in; creating a new process with a tinier box does not seem the answer.

I want these on a keychain I told the clerk.  Like keys! Nope I have never seen anything like that.

Google searches and Pintrest searches (my always winning idea sources) reveal only more opportunities to arrange a process that the child will place tiny game in a slot or box or bag. 

Off to the office supply store, I remembered from a lonnng time ago binder supplies included little paper strips (sticky back) with metal loops to add pamphlets etc. to a binder. I may be dreaming about those because the looked at me like I was crazy. But after a lot of searching and looking like a nice lady who needs solutions I had 2 different office stores give me some pages of adhesive hang tabs (from their internal supplies and no charge). I had an idea that started brewing.

Walking around the office store I found some cute lightup keychains for $2 each and some keychain rings. 

This is how it came together after much experimentation.

Step 1: I placed a game in the console and examined how it set in place. Using the tab portion (NOT THE STICKY AREA) I discovered I could slide it into the top of the game/disk without the disc being moved or bend in any direction. The game is snug on the bottom nothing can be attached to that side without the game bending in place.

Step 2: Using a least popular game I cut the tab down to fit securely without effecting the game insertion or position. I cut the sticky half (while it was still on the paper protection sheet) to look like a smaller square. I was careful not to jeopardize the security of the tab. A tear or overcut would cause it to fall off the keychain and invalidate the effort.

Notice the plastic is cut smaller to not interfere with the game cartridge dimensions

Step 3: String on a keyring, add the new handy light, a cell phone layard to attach it to game console and SUCCESS.

In the dark they can still read their game titles.  

Project out-takes:  My fails include multiple efforts gluing jewelry findings to the front portion of the game disc. But they pop off. I tried gluing necklace wire as well, pops off. I took apart one game disc and looked inside and ruled out any drilling or inserting findings in the plastic housing.  I was worried that it would affect the electronic pieces.