PS3 and PS Vita stores no longer closing

[OTBWY]

haxxiy said:

OTBWY said:

A bit much my dude. CDs and DVDs can go up to about a 100 years. As well as tapes, which are known to have exceptionally long lifespans... but it all depends on use, wear and such. So it is up to an individual to how long something can last. And if you ask me, 100 years is a long time and i'll be dead before any of my games are I reckon.

Also, transistors and such can always be replaced. They can still make the electronic parts you need to fix your cartridges (and put the rom back on the cart pretty much). Cartridges from decades ago still work as well, but again, it depends on use. Lastly, the 15 to 20 year number for Switch cartridges is based on nothing. 

The first generation of CDs is already rotting and dying.

Also, I'm not sure if we are talking about the same thing in your second paragraph? The data is physically encoded into the chip in mask ROM, the layout of the gates themselves is how the data is stored. As soon as the first bits are lost when the transistors fail, the software is corrupted and rendered useless. I'm not addressing an element on the board visible to the naked eye like a replaceable capacitor.

We also know for a fact that the Switch cartridges won't last as long as the ROM type described above because they use a proprietary kind of flash memory developed by Macronix instead of software masks. So, eventually, it will lose its charge, as it happens to flash memory, and all the 1s inside the cartridge will revert to 0s, resulting in complete data loss.

https://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub121/sec4/

"Among the manufacturers that have done testing, there is consensus that, under recommended storage conditions, CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD+R discs should have a life expectancy of 100 to 200 years or more; CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM discs should have a life expectancy of 25 years or more. Little information is available for CD-ROM and DVD-ROM discs (including audio and video), resulting in an increased level of uncertainty for their life expectancy. Expectations vary from 20 to 100 years for these discs."

Like I said, it depends on use. And another important factor is what kinds of formats and usage of that format, adding to that quality and such. That is why there is a wide berth for these things. So what you're doing here is cherrypicking.

Roms: Doesn't matter. We have exactly all roms and they are easy to back up. You're talking about something after the fact. But the fact is, it is very easy to dump a rom on a existing cartridge without much effort. Unless you have a problem with replacing OG game code with ripped game code, this is a non issue. Besides, we have 40 year old cartridges that still work. Let me know if a digital store lasts more than 40 years.

As for the Switch cartridges. Sure champ, so, let's say this is 100% correct and not just forum speculation. What is the argument? That a digital storefront on some console will last longer than that? It applies to all the above, not just Switch. Everything has an end date, it will all become plastic dust. But honestly within all these formats there is a way to increase the longevity, preserve, maintain. Long enough for you to enjoy them without some storefront at least. So what's the issue?