In theory, the battaries of video games should only last 5 years. Yet I have a few edging on 12 from their release date. Anyone else have long life?

Well, I stil play my Nintendo which I got in 1988, I think. Super Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt/Track and Field still works

Not entirely what I was refering to. Basically any game with a save function in those days had to have a 5 year lithium battery. It was due to the RAM needing a constant supply of power. Sorry.

Oh, I understand. My Final Fantasy game is nearly as old as my Nintendo, yet me saved game is still on there.

By Merat on Friday, June 14, 2002 - 06:35 am:
Well, I stil play my Nintendo which I got in 1988, I think. Super Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt/Track and Field still works

By Matt Pesti on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 - 10:40 am:
Not entirely what I was refering to. Basically any game with a save function in those days had to have a 5 year lithium battery. It was due to the RAM needing a constant supply of power. Sorry.



The games will still work even after the
batteries die, but you won't be able to save anything. I've opened a Game Pak, and it appears
that they use a calculator-style lithium battery,
and CMOS ram (which requires verly little power)
to store the info. My sister had games that were
bought in the late 80's that still kept it's memory well into 2002! :-0

I thought the battery was rechargable since I went a year without playing and when I came back my game was gone, but than when I started a new game I could save it. I figured it needed to be played every now and than so it could draw more power from the nintendo.

Around 2000 or so, the battery in my Legend of Zelda cart (circa 1987) was still going strong. I guess I should check it again.

My sister has a zelda cart (bought 1988 ) that still held its saves as of 2003!