Want to start collecting, worried about decay

[CosmicDwarf]

Good afternoon gentlemen. I'd just like to say that I am completely new to this kind of thing - although I've always been a gamer and I've been gathering up games over the years I've never "collected" properly, but I'm quite interested now in building up a good collection of games and gaming hardware/consoles.

However, I understand that problems exist such as the demagnetization of hard drives and CDs/DVDs and the general decay of hardware across the board (cartridges, casettes for stuff like the sinclair spectrum etc). I really want to just go out and start buying myself an NES, SNES, a Saturn with Quake 1, all sorts - I'm just so worried that in about 20 years time it'll all be scrap.

I know it wouldn't be the same as me spending all that money for nothing, seeing as I'd enjoy the hell out of it (I'm not going to collect with the aim of increasing its value, rather I just want to play the games) but if I start collecting something like that I'd like it to last.

Do you guys have any advice?

Yours sincerely,

CosmicDwarf