Reject volatile tradition, embrace modernity: ~/Games/ROMs/Nintendo 64/

Also use a shitty CRT shader that mimics a broken black-and-white TV from the 50s for more tradition.

Actually, in the case of discs, it can.

Say it with me everyone, "Optical media bad!"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_degradation

Unfortunately, playing a burned copy requires modifying your hardware.

Most of you are probably too young to remember, but back then, the fact that Sony chose optical media and implemented DRM on the PlayStation was very controversial to people who knew the implications of those decisions. Unfortunately, that number of people was, and remains, very small.

Every disc copy of every game is a ticking time bomb, and the only way to defuse it is to make an unauthorized backup copy, then hack your PS1 to play the copy. There is no way to slow, prevent, or reverse the eventual decay of the data on the original disc.

Lug around an ancient, bulky, heavy, obsolete, actual progressive scan CRT for maximum tradition. Bonus points if it has a built-in VCR.

built-in VCR

You managed to make it worse with one simple feature!

Physical games can unfortunately degrade. To be clear, I'm a huge proponent of physical games. I say this only to highlight the important of emulating your games, as well.

Discs and cartridges are just more eventual plastic trash for a planet that is drowning in it. They also do nothing to address the real problem because the terms were always the same, even with these. The real change needs to happen at the consumer rights level and require DRM free digital downloads. Hard drives aren't eternal either, but they can be backed up and replaced as needed to preserve a collection. Without illegal intervention, discs/cartridges keep the media stuck where it is until it breaks.

This ignores the underlying issue this post was about. Games being sold on physical media will likely last longer than games sold as digital downloads.

If you store a professionally pressed optical disc in an environment with good temperature control and low humidity, it may last 50 - 100 years. Only about 10% of pressed optical discs fail in under 25 years. Meanwhile, companies like Sony will take down their storefronts with little to no thought.

Yes, for backups, you're better off storing bin/cue files than trusting a cheap burned disc that will only last 1-5 years. But games getting sold with physical disc gives people the ability to rip them.

Meanwhile, companies like Sony will take down their storefronts with little to no thought.

Goodbye Vita store, hello Henkaku and PKGJ.

Reject rentals, embrace ownership

Apparently this is an issue with modern flash carts too. If you don’t boot your 3DS games once in a while they will corrupt.

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