Console longevity (functioning not market)

So, honestly how long do we have before our Sega genesi (plural of Genesis), Sega CDs, Saturns, Dreamcasts all start to wear out (Dreamcast I guess has already been answered, they are starting to go now...)

I mean, I'm serious, how long before finding a working one becomes as hard as say finding a working Colecovision? Can I honestly hope, with TLC my Saturn and Sega CD and Genesis (and Neo Geo stuff) will last my lifetime? Or 10 more years down the road I'm screwed?

I have two Atari 2600's, one from 1979 and the other from 1987 and both work perfectly. Can the same be said for the above? Especially when considering we're dealing with laser motors and far more moving parts? Or should I just start buying multiple backup consoles in anticipation of a "brick wall" when everything just starts going out? I don't want to lose out on playing this stuff ever, and I'm just worried that soon all the Genesi/Sega CDs etc. will just stop functioning en masse one day and they'll be impossible to replace.

So what say you?

The only Sega consoles I'm really worried about are:

NTSC Master Systems - since the SMS didn't fare well in the US, so there's only a small number about

Sega CD 1 - Gee, I wonder...

Sega CD 2 - Well, it's reliable, but lasers fuck up.

Sega Dreamcast - I am lucky, but I can understand. Plus a lot of people modded consoles, that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. so finding a stock looking DC might be a pisser.

I'm not worried about Saturn, since I bet most people who had them where stuck playing shit, and only touched the consoles for a small period of time.

So what about my Neo Geo/neo CD/3DO (this was absolutely brand new when I got it, in the box and everything...so it has a while to go I'm sure) and turboduo? I don't worry about the playstation because it's going to be available for another 15 years.

I think its more a matter of how they are cared for than age. Sure, save batteries in games will eventually die no matter what you do, but the systems themselves should last for quite some time. The reason so many people seem to have dying systems is:

A) no one ever joins a forum to tell everyone how reliable their system has been

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B) most people DONT take care of their systems for shit. They store them in open boxes in a garage that's open most of the time, letting in moisture and bugs nests among other things. They keep them on the floor where they get kicked around or bring them to friends houses and just throw them in the trunk where they get knocked around to all hell. I still have my original NES and all of my original NES games and all of them will boot up first try and they have never been cleaned or altered in any way. On the other hand, even cleaned used NES games will sometimes take a couple tries in my brand new clone systems with normal tight fitting cartridge slots. Another thing to consider is that many problems are easy fixes like a quick laser clean or a pin clean for cartridge games. Anyone that claims that their system just "died" one day is neglecting to mention how many years of spilled drinks, physical assault, and constantly being left on all day has brought it to that point. The way most systems are built, a properly maintained system should be able to work for a very long time, until the laser gears are stripped from moving back and forth and the diode is shot (which is similar to an LED, and if you know anything about LEDs, thats a LONG time).

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Originally Posted by David J.

The only Sega consoles I'm really worried about are:

NTSC Master Systems - since the SMS didn't fare well in the US, so there's only a small number about

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The SMS sold pretty well in Brazil. There's a good chance that those are still around.

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I'm not worried about Saturn, since I bet most people who had them where stuck playing shit, and only touched the consoles for a small period of time.

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I've played my Saturn far more than my Playstation. The Saturn is best known for its imports, but North America received plenty of good games along the way.

Brazil doesn't use NTSC, and it's a pisser to find Tectoy stuff out of Brazil, espically stuff that is in good shape.

I think the US Saturn had a lot of good games, but really, I've run into a lot of used Saturns, and I've yet to see one that isn't on it's last legs like a PS1.

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Originally Posted by David J.

Brazil doesn't use NTSC, and it's a pisser to find Tectoy stuff out of Brazil, espically stuff that is in good shape.

I think the US Saturn had a lot of good games, but really, I've run into a lot of used Saturns, and I've yet to see one that isn't on it's last legs like a PS1.

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I thought all the master systems were the same? Worldwide. Just use an NTSC cord, same specs...

The problem with Dc's is repairing them thanks to the GDROM setup. My genesis was refurbed at some point in its life so thats not to good. I had a brand new DC that hadn't been used until this year (used for a few months then sold)

Whats disgusting is the 360 will be the shortest in longevity imo. Mine has RROD once about a year ago and now the disc drive needs replacing (M$ wants 100 bucks to fix it!) argh!

There's no region protection, but plug a PAL SMS in a US TV... it'll be black and white and in 50hz.

I'm sure you can do some soldering or something to make it a "US" one.

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Originally Posted by David J.

I think the US Saturn had a lot of good games, but really, I've run into a lot of used Saturns, and I've yet to see one that isn't on it's last legs like a PS1.

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Are you saying you've found a lot of Saturns in good shape, or a lot that are in bad shape?

I've found a LOT of Saturns in good shape. Only problem usually is the battery, but it can usually get fixed with a new one.

I don't think most of the people who bought them really played them.

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Originally Posted by David J.

There's no region protection, but plug a PAL SMS in a US TV... it'll be black and white and in 50hz.

I'm sure you can do some soldering or something to make it a "US" one.

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I actually have one that I found at a thrift store. I didnt think to look at the sticker on the bottom. It did not work at all. It was black and white and the screen was rolling.

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Originally Posted by David J.

I've found a LOT of Saturns in good shape. Only problem usually is the battery, but it can usually get fixed with a new one.

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Yeah, the battery only lasts about a year.

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I don't think most of the people who bought them really played them.

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I'd say you are probably right about the Saturns with the round console buttons, but the consoles with the oval buttons probably had plenty of playtime.

I have one of the early lauch Saturns (May 1995) and it still plays like the day I'd bought it. It's a pretty well built machine.

I have various game systems cryogenically frozen. When a system goes bad, another one is thawed and played.

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Originally Posted by David J.

There's no region protection, but plug a PAL SMS in a US TV... it'll be black and white and in 50hz.

I'm sure you can do some soldering or something to make it a "US" one.

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A PAL SMS will output in PAL 60HZ when modified (unlike megadrives which you can switch between PAL50 and NTSC) so will still have problems on US NTSC TVs.

Brazil uses a diferent subset of PAL, PAL-M if I remember rightly, which can be incompatible with a lot of TVs in other PAL territories.

Theres always loads of US SMS consoles on ebay, I wouldn't worry about not being able to find them, unless a million Americans all suddenly decide they were wrong to play Mario and should be playing Alex Kidd. And they are reliable consoles anyway.