Disc Rot, and why Saturn Owners should be worried

[Nameless 24]

http://www.rfgeneration.com/news/Disc-Rot/An-important-note-to-Video-Game-Sellers-and-Buyers-1337.php

I've been researching this since I heard about it, and it seems like the Saturn's Library will face this as an extremely big problem due to a few things:

• Discs that "rub" together are more likely to lose their protective casing. From what I've learned, a few games have more then 1 disc in the cases, including Panzer Dragoon Saga! (read somewhere that someone couldn't play Disc 4 because of this very problem!)
• Stacking discs is a big no no, and given that Saturn cases suck (more to the point, NA/EU cases) gamers are more likely to stack their games over the shitty cases
• CDs are more prone to Disc Rot damage then DVDs....ESPECIALLY when the label is misplaced on the disc, since it's the lesser protected of the two sides.
• Games that are 10 years or older are VERY likely to be suspect-able to rot over newer CD/DVDs, due to the improvements of the newer iterations of CD/DVDs. Given that Saturn games will be older then middle gen Playstation games, this is a big worry

Some of the answers to prevent it are obvious:

• Keep discs in a cool, dry place
• Keep discs in cases when not in use and place vertically (Do not stack)
• Clean discs with a smooth, horizontal wipe rather then a circular motion, that will only scratch the discs
• Avoid games that have replacement labels/added labels on them, as it damages the disc AND could give it disc rot in the future
• Don't hold more then one disc in a case...so with cases like Panzer Dragoon Saga, sadly you will need to separate the discs so you won't fear of disc rot.

I'm going to check these things when I get home. I hope you guys do too!

[max_cady]

Yikes, I think I'll check the 4 remaining SEGA Saturn titles that I got on my shelf.
My Saturn still runs quite smoothly, but truth be told, I haven't touch any of my of those old games since forever!

My copy of SF3 and Burning Rangers have so many light scratches, it pains me to even open those boxes. Dragon Force still lookes quite good.

[Emmett The Crab]

Panzer Dragoon Saga comes with cardboard sleeves for the extra discs. 

[Nameless 24]

Panzer Dragoon Saga comes with cardboard sleeves for the extra discs. 

I must have been conned then in a way, since I don't have any in mine (I have one plastic covering...but it's more a replacement)

After reading it though, I wonder how many SEGA CD/Saturn/PSX games are affected?

Scratches on the underside isn't a big problem, since it has to be a deep scratch for it to have an affect, but a scratch on the label side is a cause for concern....

[max_cady]

Well, I tested my games lat night... All of 'em are in working order.

I am stunned at how my SEGA Saturn still works flawlessly. Clearly a product made to last. I'm on my 2nd Dreamcast and fourth Xbox 360.

[mylifewithsega]

I don't buy it completely, though it reminds me very much of "laser rot" which was an issue with Laser Discs. I play my Saturn, SEGA CD and PlayStation games fairly regularly. I keep them in their original cases or sleeves and I've yet to have an issue. Light scratches can be an issue becuase my Saturn copy of Corpse Killer has countless small scratches and the game just doesn't work after 5-minutes.

The only discs I've had problems with are Dreamcast discs. Crazy Taxi and it's sequel are scratch free. For whatever reason, they don't play beyond the title screen. Yet Code: Veronica and Zombie Revenge work great. I don't get it.

[max_cady]

Yeah, my copy of RE: Code Veronica had both discs riddled with light scratches and the only major major issue I experienced was in Disc 2, when the game glitched out.

All of my 4 discs of Shenmue look like crap, yet all of'em  play like a charm. I spent a couple of bucks buying a few Dreamcast jewel cases. The EU Dreamcast boxes are the worse boxes ever made!

The only game I got on my DC collection that still looks brand new is Skies of Arcadia, lucky.

[Nameless 24]

My Heart of Darkness game is treated like shit (since I don't have the game case for it anymore), and yet it works fine....

It all depends I guess on care, humidity and how long you've had them.