How long do CD-based games last?

[James8BitStar]

I have had absolutely no success making working backups of my Sega CD and PC-Engine games, so I at least want to know how long each game will naturally last before it just naturally degrades.

So how long will I have to look forward to?

Thanks in advance.

[boatofcar]

We had a thread on this a while back, but unfortunately since "cd," "bit," and "rot" are all under the mandatory 4 characters for search, I can't find it.

[kedawa]

You shouldn't have too much trouble making working backups since there's no copy protection whatsoever on those systems.
Just burn an exact duplicate on the lowest speed possible.

[James8BitStar]

You shouldn't have too much trouble making working backups since there's no copy protection whatsoever on those systems.
Just burn an exact duplicate on the lowest speed possible.

I tried that.

I also tried using different programs--including some fan-made SPECIFICALLY for backing up SCD and PCE games--and following all the available online guides to the letter.

Every burn I made was imperfect, in the worst cases to the point where the burn was unplayable. The problem seemed to always be that the Sega CD and PCE couldn't find the right track for music or data and would just spend forever loading after a certain point.

Anyway, this post has reassured me that the worst thing I have to look out for is human stupidity. I'm certainly not gonna play frisbee with my disks anytime soon.

[Cryomancer]

Maybe you were ripping/burning wrong. Use the darkwater method ( http://darkwater.free.fr/v2/index.php?page=news but they apparently moved ot a wiki now and some info is sorta not there...) and make sure to stay bin/cue (for sega cd at least) and you should have success.

[James8BitStar]

I did BIN/CUE as per the instructions on a page called... Racketboy? I think that was his name. Something like that. I even used some program called Sega CUE Maker.

Darkwater doesn't seem to have much of their information up.

[G-Boobie]

Assuming you don't scratch them, burn them, break them in half, or coat them in some noxious chemical, they'll last until the disc itself breaks down. So, longer than the consoles that actually play them.

Here's the wiki on Optical Media Preservation. If you take care of your games and store them properly, they'll be around longer than you are.

[108Stars]

AFAIK CDs last for 15 - 25 years, depending on the way they are kept. If you live in a climate like in the Amazonas they will most likely die after 15 years for example.

[Sothy]

15-25 years.... are you high?

[108Stars]

Why? That´s what studies said a while ago.

[Flack]

We had a thread on this a while back, but unfortunately since "cd," "bit," and "rot" are all under the mandatory 4 characters for search, I can't find it.

An easy solution is to use Google. Google for "bit rot" site:digitpress.com

Here's one of several old threads on the subject:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33676

[Ed Oscuro]

An easy solution is to use Google. Google for "bit rot" site:digitpress.com

Here's one of several old threads on the subject:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33676

I recall those threads were unfortunately tainted with drama and not a lot of firsthand knowledge about the subject. I look forward to your article; sorry about the rotted discs, though!

[James8BitStar]

Ugh I've been using Memorex (both as Burner and Media) for years. Maybe that's my problem.

Also I burn with Nero. Is that a problem?

I'm all but set to order one of those Lite-On drives now. Wanting to see if I can find it in a store first.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I use CDrWin and Disk Juggler for DC stuff. For me the CD-R of choice is Maxell CD-R Pro. Before, I used Phillips and TDK (supposedly high grade stuff)... until I got tired of making coasters. I still have an old burned disk that still works (burned 1998) but it's just data backup from an old computer and it reads real slow. Interesting enough the disk was made by Acer. Weird.

[slackur]

*sigh*

I wish I could figure this out.

-Well, B-Boobie, I've never really worked with any serious chemicals, and I don't use much in terms of cleaners in my media room (except occasionally goo-gone and stuff to get stickers off classic plastic, but those are away from the cds)

-InsaneDavid, Poofta, I don't know what I'd have done wrong in terms of storage. My collection gets randomly played every weekend. The majority of the discs are stored vertically. I open every cd/dvd game I own at least once every two or three years, and cases themselves get shuffled every time I re-alpha for new games. The entire collection has gone through about a dozen different shelving systems over the years. So, stuff definitely gets moved, but very carefully. Also, I am very careful to keep this stuff at the correct temperature. Any ideas?

-G-Boobie, I wish that cheap pirated games could account for it, but I generally buy from retail (working in game stores for the discount/freebies) and I've got newly purchased cd/dvd games from several stores (even purchased in different states) over several generations of game machines, and the problem seems to have randomly affected discs across nearly the entire spectrum of my collection. I know this seems to leave storage as the main culprit, but I'm COMPLETELY at a loss as to what would have happened there. And as for factory-pressed discs not able to degrade and "pin-hole" (since the bronzing issue, anyway) I know what I've read and heard about it not able to happen, but I know the current state of my collection. Also, I know at least four other collectors who have experienced similar issues as mine, and two of us lived elsewhere (including other states) so I can't isolate location/humidity as a culprit. We're in Pennsylvania, under proper air conditioning and heat.

Sorry, I'm sure I might come across as frustrating over this, but I just simply wish I could figure it out! I would completely admit fault if I found something I had done wrong, but for the life of me I still don't know what it could be, and until I know, I'm going to be left annoying folks by picking brains over a situation that by all accounts reflects the urban legend/myth of data-rot.

Not to sound pompous or negative, but anyone with a scope of knowledge on the subject living near the Erie, PA area is welcome to stop by and offer their thoughts after reviewing what I'm talking about and viewing it firsthand. I'd even try to get some of my fellow collectors this also affected to bring some of their case examples over. And, dare I say, we could but a few classics in for a spin just for fun

I'd still like everyone to continue asking or prompting ideas on what happened/is happening, Lord knows I want/need to know. I know what people say it CANNOT be, I need to know then what it IS! The only reason I say data-rot is that the story explains it better than anything else I know, not because I have to cling to the idea that it is true. I want to honestly know.

Bleh.

Thanks for the help so far, guys.