Thoughts on resurfacing Turbo CD games

[Bardoly]

I've been into TG-16 games since '91/'92 but only the HuCard games.  I'm planning on getting into the Turbo CD games very soon, and I just had a thought.
I know that these CD games are not getting any younger, and I'm a little concerned about the wear and tear over the years on the read side of the CD's.  A couple of my local retro game stores also sell used movies, and they will allow you to bring CD's and/or DVD's into the store and get the disks 'resurfaced' for a nominal charge.  Does anyone here have any experience with this or opinions about this?  Like, should I just play the games, and then if glitches occur, then look at possibly resurfacing?  Or maybe I should copy the CD and then play the copy?  Any opinions/advice would be very welcome.  I'm just planning on trying to get Rondo X, and I just want to protect my $70-100 investment.

Thanks in advance for any help with this.

[Necromancer]

I only buy games in good shape and treat them properly, and as such have never needed such a service.  Much like any other CD, though, resurfacing works fine if the disc is not too badly damaged and it's done properly.

[vestcoat]

should I just play the games, and then if glitches occur, then look at possibly resurfacing?  

Yep. Scratched CDs aren't much of an issue on the Turbo.
1) TGCD's didn't use stupid proprietary cases that were thrown away like the 3DO and Sega CD.
2) The CD-ROM was expensive enough that little kids didn't got their hands on it.
3) Turbo games were unpopular enough that they were never circulated by the Funcoland shredder and mainstream secondary markets.

I don't worry too much about condition when I buy used games and out of approximately 150 TG/PCE CDs purchased over the last fifteen years, I've only encountered problems with scratches on one (1) game. If you do get a scratched game, get it professionally resurfaced.

I know that these CD games are not getting any younger,

People keep saying this and it's nonsense: adult-owned CD's will last 'till you're dead. Don't fumble them. Keep them in cases and at room temperature. Don't store them in the living room if you live with alcoholics. The only thing that could wrong is if they get covered in dust and then exposed to so much moisture that mold grows on them.

I'm just planning on trying to get Rondo X, and I just want to protect my $70-100 investment.

Video games aren't an investment.

Or maybe I should copy the CD and then play the copy?

There's a lot of controversy on this and we've had countless discussions. I'm in the "CD-R's-will-ruin-your-lens" camp. Do some searches and do what you think is best.

[SignOfZeta]

Resurfacing only helps CDs that have been horrendously abused on the read side but somehow miraculously not on the label side. You only need resurfacing if you are a total slob or you bought your games from one.

The idea of playing CD-Rs instead is ludicrous. CDs don't wear out. Just don't destroy the poor things by leaving them laying around out of their cases, setting it down on the read side, allowing dirtbags to handle your stuff, etc.

[FiftyQuid]

Just buy them in good condition and they'll last forever.  CD-ROMs are not like VHS tape.  They won't wear out as you play them.  Hell, even records (albums, LPs) don't wear out if they are treated with respect.

[SignOfZeta]

LPs definitely wear out. Even with a quality low tracking force cartridge there is still a difference between the first time you played a record and the 100th.

CDs however do not depreciate in quality one iota no matter how many times you play them.

[Colossus1574]

Just buy them in good condition and they'll last forever.  CD-ROMs are not like VHS tape.  They won't wear out as you play them.  Hell, even records (albums, LPs) don't wear out if they are treated with respect.

Well put 50Quid, why do you think people have come into an age where collecting movies is fun and do-able? it's because digital media like LDs, CDs, and DVDs, BluRays....they can be played a gazillion times and still see no wear on it. My movie collection, i'm taking it with me to the grave, and they'll all still be in great working order!     Same can't be said for the StarWars collector's trilogy on VHS....i haven't played it in 10 years and it's wearing down on its own! hahaha

So yes, just be aware of the condition of the 2nd hand stuff u buy, but otherwise...unessecary to burn "to play" copies...

[Black Tiger]

I'm just planning on trying to get Rondo X, and I just want to protect my $70-100 investment.

Current games often sell for as much new and can be found in bargain bins within weeks. If you're placing value on something other than the actual game, to the extent that you're considering such drastic steps, then you're better off just sticking with the PSP collection.

[GohanX]

Only resurface a game if it's unplayable. Disc resurfacers (especially cheaper ones) can just as easily destroy a good disc as repair a bad one.

[kazekirifx]

I've found a lot more damaged discs on the Japanese market than in the U.S. -simply because the system was more mainstream here in Japan. I've purchased some fairly beaten up games at used stores. I've found that PC CD-ROM drives tend to be a lot less fussy than the TGCD drive, so when I bought a scratched-to-hell copy of Legend of Heroes II that basically didn't work at all, I just made a CD-R copy using the scratched-to-hell disc and, voila, perfect working CD-R backup.

Incidentally, that's the only case in which I will ever consider making a CD-R backup though. Normally they're not necessary as long as you buy working discs and just take care of them.

[Bardoly]

I'm just planning on trying to get Rondo X, and I just want to protect my $70-100 investment.

Video games aren't an investment.

You are correct.  I misspoke? miss-typed?  Perhaps I should have used the word property instead.  I stand corrected.


Thanks also for taking the time to address all of the issues that I brought up.  I've always been a cartridge/HuCard kind of guy, so getting into Turbo CD games will be my first foray into CD gaming, and I just want to make sure that I don't make too many mistakes.  I've already acquired several Turbo CD games and am in the process of getting a few more, and I'm getting my region-modded DUO from Keith Courage tomorrow!  I wanted to start off with a few good games first, and I want to make sure that I'm not going to get 3/4 of the way through a game and then start having glitches due to scratched disks and such.  I'm really completely unfamiliar with how much 'damage' - scratches, scuffs, etc... a normal Turbo CD game can take while retaining the ability to play fine with no problems.

[kazekirifx]

Video games aren't an investment.

They're not? Then how can I justify to myself buying $400 games on occasion?

[Hewitson]

An investment is generally something that is going to increase in value. With video games that isn't necessarily the case, it could well be worth less than you paid for it if you decide to sell it in the future.

[xelement5x]

I only buy games in good shape and treat them properly, and as such have never needed such a service.  Much like any other CD, though, resurfacing works fine if the disc is not too badly damaged and it's done properly.

Emphasis mine.

The difference between someone who actually knows how to resurface a disc properly and the person who just slaps it in the machine is light years.  If you've gotten a resurfaced disc that you can tell has been resurfaced, the person isn't doing a good job.  There was a guy near me who was phenomenal at it and you could never even tell something had been resurfaced after you got it back, sadly he closed up shop and I've still got some games that need addressing. 

However, I'll only resurface a game if I actually have issue playing it.  Otherwise I'll just live with tiny scratches because they don't seem to cause any problems.

[FiftyQuid]

An investment is generally something that is going to increase in value. With video games that isn't necessarily the case, it could well be worth less than you paid for it if you decide to sell it in the future.

Video games > Gold

Every good reseller knows this.