431
Play your 3DS, Vita, Switch games once in a while (thelemmy.club)
submitted 3 weeks ago by to c/retrogaming@lemmy.world
56 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Taken from bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/simplyaj.com/post/3mtq6av6yp226

Plus a sidenote from this person on DS games: https://bsky.app/profile/simplyaj.com/post/3mttai4jaz22j

Not sure on the technical details of exactly how long they last, but I've heard similar things several times before.

Always depressing to be reminded of this. Haven't had many fail, but honestly haven't tried a lot of my 3DS/Vita games in a while, so who knows.

If nothing else tho, it's nice to have an excuse to revisit some things. Once you boot it up, you might find yourself enjoying the reminiscing. :)

Image of a tweet on Bluesky that says "Friendly Reminder: 3DS, Vita and Switch all use a type of flash memory that needs an electrical charge every decade or so to keep the game data from corrupting. TLDR: Boot up all your games and make a save on them to help preserve them into the future!"
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 child)

I don't mean data already stored on them, I mean their ability to still have data written to them in the first place. There's really only two things I use them for: Moving print files to my 3D printer (no networking, and direct USB connection is wonky af), or to reinstall an OS. So they don't get regular use and thus don't see regular electricity running through 'em.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 2 points 3 weeks ago

    thats a big i'unno. depends on the chips, the controllers, the usage of the drive, etc.

    personally, usb sticks are basically a commodity consumable (especially if you get them at the sweetheart size) and i don't consider it wasteful to replace them after 3-5 years if you are doing anything remotely important with them.

    but if you just have them for transfering files from one PC to another in your own house, where a loss won't be catastrophic, just a mild perturberance, then use it till it physically doesnt work anymore

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent