How long do my PS2 games have left to live?

[guitargary75]

Should I just go ahead and trade them in for new stuff? Or, is the whole Bit rot thing overblown spin as usually is the case?

[Kid Ice]

My 16 year old 3DO games still work fine.

Ditto my 20+ year old floppy discs.

[8bitCaged]

my ps1 games from Sega cd games from 91 still work.
BitRot overblown, your ps2 games still have decades.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I've not heard about PS2 games being any more susceptible to bit rot than any other disc based media. Where did you hear this? I own 600+ DVD's and have never experienced it... same goes for all of my old CD's and video games too.

The only media I have ever encountered "bit rot" on were some poorly taken care of laserdisc movies.

[megasdkirby]

Should I just go ahead and trade them in for new stuff? Or, is the whole Bit rot thing overblown spin as usually is the case?

For as long as you love video games and love the console as well.

[guitargary75]

For as long as you love video games and love the console as well.

God, I sure hope so. Because I have alot Ps2 games I love.

[iloveguns]

depends on how you maintain it..
mine is 3 years old now..

[8-bitNesMan]

Are discs even vulnerable to bit rot? I always assumed that was more of a condition that affected cartridges.

*EDIT* From Wikipedia: In optical discs such as CDs and DVDs the breakdown of the material onto which the data is stored may cause bit rot. This can be mitigated by storing disks in a dark, cool location with low humidity.

So from reading this I assume if discs are stored properly they will last quite a while, at least we hope! :)

[danielscheil]

lol, i worry about my x68000 5.25" discs & you... ^_^

[guitargary75]

lol, i worry about my x68000 5.25" discs & you... ^_^

Thanks for thinking about me!

[maxlords]

I've only seen one disc EVER with bit rot, and it was a poorly cared for copy of Elevator Action Returns for the Jp Saturn which also had a water damaged manual. I assume it was due to dampness that it started to rot. I have quite literally multiple thousands of discs...and that's the only time I've ever seen it. That includes CDRs, music CDs, game discs, etc. I don't know where the hell people get the idea that CDs just rot out. We seem to hear this every few years and it's total bunk. Sure..there's metal in em, but that doesn't mean they'll magically oxidize.

Even most of the water damaged games I've seen don't seem to rot. It's BS. Maybe in a hundred years or more....maybe. I suspect if you store your stuff properly that this will NEVER happen.

[Ro-J]

The only bit-rot I've experienced is from the CD's (audio) I burned in the late 90's. I don't know if the quality of CD-R's back then was crap, but every single one of them, and I burned a lot back then, sounds HORRIBLE when I try to play them now. All original CD's (audio or games) from back then sound and play great.

[otoko]

That might be more the crappy burners that where available then.

[Damaramu]

I just follow the golden rule of: "Put it in a cool, dry place."

Store them like you would comics or books:

Out of direct sunlight.
No extreme temperatures.
No moisture or humidity.

[Oobgarm]

I'd say they have days to live. Disc rot, you know.

[Sonicwolf]

The only media I have ever encountered "bit rot" on were some poorly taken care of laserdisc movies.

It doesnt matter how well LaserDisc's are taken care of. A good chunk of them were not manufactured well and were doomed to develope LaserRot at some later date. Out of the 60 or so of mine, I would say 10 have LaserRot, 4 have it severely. 2 of them barely play and one of them has clicking and popping sounds in the audio track.

[Aussie2B]

Geez, now people are already worrying about their PS2 games? For the love of God, people, your PS2 games are not going to get bit rot tomorrow nor will the batteries in your GBA games go dead. There's a reason why you'll see racks and racks of old CDs at thrift stores and why people continue to buy them.

[skaar]

http://boxoffice.com/blogs/steve/keanu_reeves_speed_film_movie_cop.jpg

Just don't let them drop below 50mph and you'll be fine.

Also, keep them away from the heater.

[chicnstu]

Bit Rot can be mitigated by storing disks in a dark, cool location with low humidity.

I guess I'll start storing my games in my freezer then.

[maxlords]

Freezer is humid. Yeesh. Now...if you stored them in a dry underground metal chamber....