RetroGaming

19467 readers

538 users here now

Vintage gaming community.

Rules:

Be kind.
No spam or soliciting for money.
No racism or other bigotry allowed.
Obviously nothing illegal.

If you see these please report them.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

This Is Why You Should Never Store Your Retro Game Collection In A Shed | Time Extension (www.timeextension.com)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Why You Shouldn't Keep Your Retro Games in a Shed

3DO heart-break

Exploring the perils of storing your classic game collection outside. Shawn Pidich's heart-wrenching experience with his 3DO disc collection: After storing his game CDs in a shed, Shawn found that all but one has succumbed to disc-rot. The only disc to survive was DOOM, which had been left in the console itself.

The Decay of CDs: Disc Rot Explained

CDs, once thought to be eternal storage media for our favorite game collections, have a finite lifespan. Factors like oxidation, UV exposure, water damage, and adhesive failure can cause disc rot, leading to games becoming unplayable due to the deterioration of the reflective layer on the surface.

The Cost of a Mistake in Storage

Shawn's unfortunate situation serves as a cautionary tale. By storing his precious collection in a damp shed, he inadvertently set his games up for failure. CDs are notorious for being susceptible to environmental factors when exposed to such conditions, making outdoor storage not a viable option.

Have you faced issues with your game collection due to extended storage? How do you ensure the longevity of your retro games?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

CDs are particularly susceptible to this. DVDs far less so, and Blu-ray (modern games) will likely outlive all of us—if not stored in a shed.

Fortunately, ripping the games most at risk is usually quite easy.