Backup All Your Favorite Games

If you think your games are going to last forever just because you shelled out 70 bucks for them, think again. Game media is more fragile today than ever before. That is why it is a good idea to back them up.

My Story

A while ago one of my favorite games of all time broke. It felt like I got hit in the stomach. And no, I didn't have a backup. Doh! This is actually a video game I had been playing for years, it came with my Super Nintendo, and I am pretty sure you can guess which one it is.

Well this experience really got me thinking, what happens when the games I am shelling money out for now eventually break? And they will! While DVDs have a long shelf life in the laboratory, that is only under optimal storage conditions. What about when you use them on a regular basis? I once heard that the average CD and DVD lasts around 10 years. DVDs are more sensitive to damage, since they scratch easier.

As you can imagine, this got me looking for a way to backup my games. And there are plenty of things out there to choose from. But do they really work? Let me just ask you this, how many DVDs have you burned that just don't work. Probably a couple.

The same goes for games - actually not. They are harder to backup than raw data on your computer. I found this out during my research.

The reason for this is simple though, most of the applications out there for copying games, regardless of the console, are junk. They don't work. And if you go and get every one out there, you'll have a little DVD graveyard to prove it.

Now I'm not saying you need to be a computer expert, you don't. But you need the right tool for the job. At least that is what I was taught. So after the greater part of several days looking around, I came across one that looked promising. And it was one of the few that was able to make 1:1 copies of Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and PC games. It was the ability to copy Wii games that really interested me.

When I looked a little bit closer, I also noticed that it works with older games from PS2, Xbox, Gamecube and even those from Dreamcast and PS One. So a large part of my game collection was covered, sweet!

But did it work? Sure it works, and it is so easy, a trained chimp could do it, seriously it is that simple.

That means no more worrying if the game will break, if it does, it won't be lost. And I won't have to go out looking for a replacement, hoping that I am able to find one.

The application isn't free, but that is probably because it works. The good news is it is less than 30 bucks, so it is less than one replacement copy. I can live with that. Back when I first saw it, they offered additional warranties and upgrades for one and two years. They add something like $10 to the price, which is pretty reasonable.

Here is the link. Once it is installed, you should be turning out copies of all of your favorite games in no time. Just don't make the mistake of assuming the games will work forever, they won't.