Disc Rot, are your games still working?

[Michael-5]

Soleron said:

At some point over the summer I'll download ROMs of everything that I own, and trust that enough people care to maintain emulators for them for the rest of time.

I would most miss my Gamecube controllers, if they break. Since they're on duty for every GC, every GBA via GB Player, most Wii, and everything NES->N64 via VC.

http://www.play-asia.com/GC_Controller_Adapter_for_PC_USB/paOS-13-71-g4-49-en-70-4sqd.html

Something cool to look into if you love your Gamecube controller.

I also have ROM backups of all my SNES/N64 games, and it just doesn't feel right unless I play it using a proper controller. However I still play Mario Party 2 and Kart on the 64, I have over 40,000 coins in the bank, and I hope to hit the 99,999 limit one day.

ChadOkada said:

Damagon said:
Surely DVDs and particularly Bluray discs last much longer right? I mean in the grand scheme of things 20 years is nothing. 

The irony of it all is that physical storage is picked over digital/cloud storage precisely to extend the lifetime of the product. I guess there really is no way out, no matter what, our games are doomed.

"Disc rot, as far as my research has shown, is due to bad disc pressing during the manufacturing process.  Apparently microscopic air bubbles or other contaminants may get trapped in with the information layer between the outer polymer layers.  Sometimes the pressing may be slightly uneven.  Or the thin lacquer protective layer is compromised.  In any case, over time the information layer is oxidized in these tiny pockets and 'rust' or 'rot' pieces of the information layer."

That is a quote from the website that the GAF member referenced.  According to the whole article no matter what you do if the company sends out discs with these flaws you are screwed.  I don't know how you could convince any of the companies responsible to replace a disc.

http://www.rfgeneration.com/news/Disc-Rot/An-important-note-to-Video-Game-Sellers-and-Buyers-1337.php

OHHH I was mistaking Disk rot for something else. Yea, unlucky you.

BTW after 30-40 years, the Earths Magnetic Field will clear information on optical disks. old school cartidges are supperior since all they need is a battery replacement now and then. New cartridges (like those on DS/3DS/PSV) are Flash Memory, which will also fade via magnetic field.

Yup, your or games, like it or not, will eventually become expensive peices of usless plastic, but you can always copy ROMs and keep playing your favorites.