Hours? Damn, I use imgburn on windows and it only takes a few minutes.

Edit: (sorry, that's not bdxl)

Nah, max capacity for the Blu-Ray format was always around 100GB, but some go higher. The limiting factor is actually the data transfer speed - it's worse than fucking USB2.

SD cards are one of the most volatile mediums for data storage. Flash memory in general runs the risk of discharge over time. Being powered every now and then can help IIRC.

I've looked into long-term data hoarding and found that there's not too much consensus on the best mediums. They all have their problems. Most turn their noses up at the idea of a set-it-and-forget-it system, preferring laboriously maintained arrays of HDDs. These fail somewhat regularly so they maintain multiple backups and plan/build around that.

I like optical media, but its problems include high cost per GB, taking up significant physical space, the inability to rewrite data, slow speed, and the waning availability of disk drives. Its longevity also depends on the specific technology the disk uses. Some disks are chemically active and the chemicals can break down over time. These can have comparable life to just storing it on a USB drive or something, so I wouldn't bother with those.

I've been using discs specifically made for longevity called M-DISCs. They are supposedly chemically inert and can last for hundreds of years. They're expensive compared to normal BDXLs, you need a bluray drive rated for burning them, and some people say they're hokey...their lifetime claim is pretty lofty, to be fair. I also use archival gold DVDs (4.7GB) for smaller files.

1. that’s a very good point! personally I always buy on GOG first but there are still some DRM-free games on steam (or itch.io) that aren’t on GOG
2. SD cards are typically rated to retain data for 10 years, which for preservation is pretty bad, tho some high quality cards could last longer. archival-grade optical media is way more durable if kept in good storage conditions; in the video he uses M-discs, which are rated for 1000 years (even tho let’s be honest that’s more marketing than anything)

1. not unless you sell them
2. because lets face it, a project like this is more to be cool than to be useful, so why not use discs? of course flash storage is more practical, but it’s way less durable and it doesn’t have the same vibe as a disc (so to say). like if you wanted the optimal practical strategy, you’d just get an external drive and put all the installers on there. there’s a reason most people who make "physical collections for their PC libraries" don’t even bother with discs, they just make the cases