Is Laser Death an Inevitability?!

[sonicjammer]

I am no way proficient in disassembly of almost anything. I get very worried thinking about my Saturn's laser death. It's stopped reading homebrew games and I've yet to test if it would read other region games. It runs official US copies fine but I was in the middle of a PDS playthrough and I don't wanna lose it.

Do places like old game stores provide repair services for stuff such as the Saturn? Is there a way to prevent laser death, and is my Saturn not reading burnt discs cause of a laser issue or something else? (I use a Kai, not a modded console.)

[buckoa51]

I think so yes, especially if you use cdr. If original media is important to you, maybe consider something like a Satiator that lets you keep the optical drive but also run homebrew etc.

Repairs are tricky, we've found that many of the replacement lasers you can get are junk anyway, possibly second hand passed off as new, or just poorly manufactured.

[sonicjammer]

The Satiator seems very interesting but I much prefer the idea of discs and stuff. Plus, its like, $260. That's practically a copy of Sonic Jam. I prefer having physical discs, even if they might be repos.

I just hope that this issue is just a weird anomaly and my laser isn't going the way of the dodo. Perhaps my Saturn is possessed by Segata Sanshiro and can tell when I play false Saturn games.

[captainkael]

I have been having laser issues with my gamecube, OG xbox and ps2. All will probably need some maintenance at some point.

You can't expect old tech to last indefinitely. Things do require repair (I am also not skilled enough to fix most things myself), so that means you will have to pay someone, or find other solutions.

[buckoa51]

I don't think you can have it both ways. Collect the games but use your ODE to play them, you can still enjoy the manuals and artwork etc that way, even after disc rot has set in which is probably another inevitability

[sonicjammer]

I suppose your right. If I can get someone to repair it though I'd totally be fine to pay up for that. It seems hard as shit and if I had to do it I'd want some good money. Where are some common places to get old consoles such as the Saturn repaired? I have a feeling no normal repair shop would take a 30 year old console.

[sonicjammer]

I might just keep collecting physical copies. I'm saving up cash to move and once I'm settled in with a proper job I might begin saving up for repairs.

[buckoa51]

We repair Saturn's (well, our service partners BetaGamma do) but as I say it's very difficult to get good quality new lasers.