To Backup or not to backup, that is the real question ?

[reddragon105]

hi pop,
yeh its annoying isn't it? these days when you buy games, you're effectively buying a license to use the software on the disk, not just buying the disks themselves. that license lasts for life, and so, as the disks themselves may not last that long, you're entitled to endless replacements should something go wrong.
unfortunately anything could happen - games companies go bankrupt, disappear, and simply just forget about their older games and no longer support or produce them, making it hard to get a replacement from them, which is where backups come in.
but of course, making a backup isn't all that easy, due to copy protection. which means the games companies should provide replacements easier. and it all goes round in a circle.

my advice is, if you have a DVD writer, make a backup of the DVD and live with the no cd cracks. or, make a disk image of the DVD and run from a virtual drive. or, just take your chances and use the original, hoping it will last until you sell the game on, or just get sick of it and stop playing. whatever you do, take care of your original!
i believe that EA replace disks for free only if you have proof of purchase showing that you bought it less than 90 days ago. if you don't have proof of purchase, or more than 90 days has passed, its ?10 (i believe i read it in the Final Fantasy X-2 manual). seems extortionate, but at least its better quality than a backup
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