Unpopular stance:
Physical media is not premium path for preservation.
If you’re not on PC seeking DRM-free cracked copies, ISOs, and ROMs for emulation that you can back up yourself, you’re going to be left with a shelf full of coasters in 15+ years.
Physical media is not premium path for preservation.
If you’re not on PC seeking DRM-free cracked copies, ISOs, and ROMs for emulation that you can back up yourself, you’re going to be left with a shelf full of coasters in 15+ years.
Comments
i have rotating offline backups of my romsets; this to me is the way to go.
Stats here tell a different story. Many, many games still ship fully playable on disc.
https://www.doesitplay.org/
And even when they don't, I wouldn't call the base game "useless."
But yeah while you do get some games like a later release of spyro trilogy that's all on the disc and i think relatively..
It will become infinitely cheaper to stop putting disc drives and electronics. It's coming, like it or not.
Not to mention, why do we need more plastic? We don't.
You are simply refusing to hear all the people squealing about physical releases being our only true salvation, right now.
They exist, in vast numbers. You just want to assume they don't, because, as ever, it's disturbing to finally realize that most people are fucking stupid.
If "preserve physical media" would solve all the problems, we could consider the problems solved, especially if we can convince companies to keep publishing physically.
Again, much easier to pretend physical media can save us from that endless labor.
Discs do last a long time but it varies from disc to disc. Some discs (due to manufacturing errors) are destined to die earlier than others, it's a fact, disc rot is real
So if you're a hardcore preserver
- make digital copies
We easily forget that it isn't just the software, but the hardware running it that can be the problem too. Backwards comparability is rarely taken into consideration
But Gen 7 and before are all 100% viable for physical preservation
Is having the game 100% on literally *millions* of discs and carts preservation? Absolutely
The older games I’d rather have the physical copy and play on original hardware!
I’m talking about the ability to play said games. Emulation lets you play as if you were on original hardware.
But for me I was just an N64 bangers guy. Ocarina, Goldeneye, Majora's Mask, etc, so my stuff always worked great.
It's one of the GOATS and doesn't work properly still sadly.
I don't get it.
So all the videos of people playing emulated N64 games are...what?
AI deepfakes?
People playing on hidden original hardware?
Is that what you're really saying?
If so, it's just absolutely ADORABLE. <3
You don't know shiiiiit.
(Gog decided to stop selling stuff to where I am from)
Consoles don’t have that option. I personally like having that collection. It’s also a form of art in a way. I can still smell physical media and shove it up my ass anytime I want too.
As for proper preservation by those actively trying to do that, like the Game Preservation Society, digital is the way to go for them.
Physical media degrades. Device compatibility changes. Limited stock jacks up prices
Physical matters. But if digital preservation doesn’t lead the way, preservation will fail. Digital code libraries, digital consumer rights - we NEED it
PCSX2 with Dragon Quest VIII, 4K HD texture pack, English translations, and all that fuckin’ jazz
It’s wild companies can’t do the bare minimum for their games
Like, I have a PS2 and a stack of PS2 games, but if I want to play Time Splitters 2 I'm probably just gonna play the emulated version that's ready to go on my Steam Deck
Wants to play game
- sees game on shelf
-- puts game in player
--- plays game
No digital hoops, no online, no updates, no downloads, no menus to click out of or DRMs..... Just gamer gunna game
> boots up game
> plays game.
No digital hoops, no online, love it!
It’s going away. No stopping it.
"Alternatively, some publishers may release Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games as download codes in physical packaging, with no game card."
https://www.tweaktown.com/news/104556/nintendo-clarifies-how-switch-2-edition-games-will-work-confirms-code-in-box-option/index.html
We can't rely on gaming companies to preserve their own gaming libraries.
If a game doesn't make them money or their lost the license to the ip, it's as good as gone.
Glad we have rom sites and evolving emulation.
Kudos for that post! 🔥💪
I think for some retro stuff, it's not the most daunting task. It does take time and effort.
Personally, I have to rely on rom sites to do it.
But I also don't think anyone who's collecting physical games is doing it for "preservation." People might say they are, but they aren't. What, they're gonna donate it all to a museum eventually? We just like collecting things.
Once when I was a kid we had no internet for days, and I played offline games to get by, that’d be largely unplayable today with no internet.
I don't have trust in any 50 year old hard disk, SSD, or memory card.
all storage media is physical.
Digital will ultimately be better but physical for collecting!
I have the same collector's passion as him, and he keeps warning me about how later it'll be just personal value.
So I am aware that one day it'll be just there for show.
Still, I’ll just buy physical when possible nowadays just because it gives me a (false) sense of ownership. Plus its cute to see.
Also, I confirmed that I never play my old physical games so just doing it cuz 🫠
8th gen and beyond? Eh...
What was the point?
That said, ISO and ROMs are essential I agree.
You will own nothing by 2030 and be happy about it.
I have slowly been migrating to PC since as early as 2021, grasping as much as I can to (not own) but have access to as many games as possible.
If I can download it, I want it.
It’s actually one part of like the 8 or 9 (Power) cards.
It holds so much value because of its effect.
It’s like half a million dollars
We'll also have little mini video game manuals and DVD booklets, thank you very much.
I mostly collect physical because I like it tbh. But i rely on digital backups a lot when things go wrong.
The unfortunate reality is that all physical media will continue to degrade over time.
However, I’m pretty sure discs that were pressed at a factory can last several decades
I have a few audio CDs from the 80s that are good as new