Customer Reviews

NEW GAME DR MANUAL XLR8

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

I own a local "buy,sell,trade" shop in my town. We rent games and have to repair them all the time . The game doctor does what it says it will do and does it well 9 times out of 10. However, the truth about this product is that it actually shaves off a layer of the disc thus removing most surface scratches.

After the process is complete there is in intersting spiral patter woven into the actual disc itself as well. It then polishes the disc to make it look like new ,however, the shaved pattern is still visible. The gamedoctor will fix non-operating disc's but I would not recommeded it just to clean the disc. If the disc is damaged and doesnt work at all ,then, the gamedoctor is a reasonable solution.

I would only give it 4 stars as it can shorten disc life and remove protective coatings on some game disc's. I also do not recomend using it on anything other than game discs as the "shaved spiral pattern" that it creates while polishing can interfere with the laser signal, creating problems and disc read errors.

The gamedoctor is and invaluable tool and will fix your disc's, but is best used with discretion.

I'm writing a review only because my girlfriend foolishly purchased one of these devices and rendered two DVD's useless. These devices "work" by shaving a layer off the protective coating on the data side of the disc. Sometimes this will "smoothen out" a disc and make it workable again, however *many* times the disc will be rendered absolutetly useless. They also scar the disc. If you have ever purchased a used CD/DVD/Game and seen centrical circles engraved all around the data side, then one of these devices had been used on it. It is appalling that the manufacturer's description says its safe to use these devices, especially with Dreamcast discs. They WILL destroy Dreamcast discs without question!

I wish she had asked me of ways to repair discs before attempting to use one of these devices. There is a much better alternative for repairing CD/DVD's -- have them professionally resurfaced.

Professionally resurfaced discs are exactly that. The protective coating on the data side is resurfaced, not simply just shaved away. The discs after a resurface not only work again, but even appear to be virtually brand new in appearance on the data side. Note that a disc can ONLY be recovered if the damage doesn't extend past the protective layer. If a scratch, or nick, goes beyond the protective layer and into the foil actually containing data, nothing can be done. In most instances, this type of damage actually extends from the label side of the disc, as under the label the protection is very thin above the foil. To see if a disc is recoverable, hold it up against a light. If any light can make it's way through the disc, then it's a goner. Most of the time, this damage will be very small -- and will appear no larger than a pin hole.

Professional resurfacing is the way to go. The equipment necessary for this type of recovery runs in the tens of thousands of dollars, but they are *slowly* beginning to appear (as a service) in video and game retail stores. I don't expect it to become the rule over exception though, as the retailers want you to buy replacement discs -- not fix old ones.

Look for professional resurfacers online. One service I have no problem plugging is called "Skippydisc". I have sent discs in to them and received them back within ten days. They all worked, and even appeared, like new afterwards. Cost per disc resurfacing was $3.50

Another alternative is to check to see if the CD/DVD/Game publisher offers a replacement disc for low cost. Look in the booklet that came with the disc. Electronic Arts will send game replacement discs for $20. You have to, of course, send them the old disc for a replacement as it is the "proof of purchase". If one of this disc shavers were used on it, however, they will NOT replace it -- even for $20.

If scratching is very light on the disc, making it not work, you may also be able to get it working again by using toothpaste as a mild abrasive. Cover the data side with a thin coating of toothpaste, allow it to dry, and then rub outwards from the center with your thumb -- only going in one direction (outwards). (This is so you push the debris off, not rubbing it back and forth.) Do not rub in circles or in a circular pattern around the disc. Afterwards, wash it completetly with warm water and regular hand soap -- and then rise it with HOT water (to get all remaining soap film off) and dry it by hand waving a lightly dabbing it with a soft cloth. (Don't rub a towel over it, as that will scratch it further.) This will "smooth out" some of the minor scratches and also remove any grime that got into the scratch grooves. Many times, this is all that is needed to get discs working again.

I buy and sell hundreds of used video games over the internet, mostly Playstation games. The drawback to buying used games is that often you get a copy that looks like sand paper as been run over it. Why people treat their games like this, I don't know. So it came to pass that I bought the game doctor in hopes that it would clean my games before I sell them. The Game doctor boasts versatility, and can apparently remove smudges, fingerprints, light to deep scratches and scuffs. In truth, it does very little to improve the problems.

For fingerprints and the like, use a cloth. Only use this product if the game is so badly scratched that it is unplayable. Usually, I won't buy a game in that condition. I used this on a copy of Final Fantasy Anthology that needed some light cleaning, and it nearly ruined it. Not only is the game rare, but the Game Doctor drove down the value of the game by engraving a circular patten on the disc. All this does is sandblast the top layer off the disc. If the scratch is super deep, it will still be there.

Overall, this is a waste of money. It doesn't even do a fraction of what it says it does, and does a very mediocre job at what it can do. To avoid needing one, either take better care of your games or be more careful with checking the quality of the games you buy.

this little number has saved me many times. say you just buy a really good game/cd/dvd and are looking at the disk, drop it and accidently step on it(it could happen). run it throuhg this baby and its as good as new. scratches melt away and it plays like new. i could have sworn i had to buy a new grand theft auto 3 game, but then got this as a last resort, and i havent stopped playing this game. if theres a scratch on any thing stored on a disk, it takes it off in less than five minutes. i cant say enough good stuff about the disk docter

The game doctor isn't exactly meant for what most people think it is. The Gmae Doctor is not intended to be used to remove normal ware on a game, sich as fingerprints, and grease marks. What it is meant for is to remove scratches from a disc, not fingerprints, grease marks, etc.
If you try and use this machine to remove normal fingerprints, you run the risk of destroying your game. What the game doctor does is remove a very small layer of the disc coating, as to level out the surface of the disc, thereby removing any grooves in the surface, and returning the game to an esentially new state. This process does come with some risk though. On occasion it will ruin a disk because of either over polishing, or lack of lubrication. I my self have bought this product, used it on a couple of my games, and ruined a few. Therefore, I recommend that you only use this game if you intended to remove scrathes from a disc, and for nothing else. It is somewhat expensive, considereing it'll only work on scratches, and may ruin games, but if your game is ruined, what have you got to lose.

.....games, cds, and dvds. I own the manual unit (which I bought several years ago) and the MD (electric unit). It has saved many cds that were otherwise unplayable. On occasion there have been cds that did not play and could not be fixed. I found that they were indeed label side damaged or deep scratches. Obviously the fellow that used it once did not give it a chance and in many cases I am sure that the directions were not followed. They are simple 1. spray cd at least 2 times 2. turn handle so cd rotates in first direction 3. open and spray again 4. flip switch and turn handle so cd rotates other direction 5. thoroughly dry the cd 6. thoroughly buff cd. Why people cannot follow these directions I'll never understand.

I had about 4 scratched up disks from the past. I thought that they were to scratched up to be ever ready to play again. Then I got the game doctor. It repaired all four of my broken disks and made them faster too! I almost bought a new copy, but I just got the game doctor to clean off the cd. I had no idea they would all be repaired in less then five minutes! This is a great buy!

This is a great product. I ruined one game ,but It was my own fault and was easily replaced for like 4 dollars on ebay so no harm done. All the people who are complaining usually don't follow the directions in the book that warn not to use the doctor on label side scratches because they will destroy the game because the doctor can't fix them. I repaired one of my games that was hopelessly scratched beyond repair untill i ran it through the doctor and few times and viola! One bit of advice that I'll add is to tell you to be careful when you first use it so you can figure out how to use it properly and effectively. It will repair most games but sometimes can't so don't invest too much faith because it's an on/off miracle worker, depending on the type of scratch on the cd- label or cd. It's worked wonders on the games that I've baught off ebay that have scratches on them. It repaired them all to almost perfect condition except one because I used the doctor wrong, I did a really stupid mistake like leave out the bottom wheel so I caused It to ruin specific parts of the cd because it engraved to low, but mind you this isn't typical if YOU USE IT RIGHT. But is still great,wonderfull, spectacular product.

My game doctor works alright. However, the switch to change directions on the handle never worked from day one. So, my discs come back with a slight wavey look to them. Still, 99% of the time they work when they didn't before.
Yes, the disc looks like it was lightly sandpapered. That is until I use the buffing rag. That's the key step!!
I do think some people may have gotten some bad ones though. If mine came with a broken switch, I think some may have gotten ones with bad wheels. Perhaps the only problem is mass production and not enough inspectors.
My advice, buy with caution. Use it on a disc that you don't really need first. If it ... up your disc, try and return it for another one before you discard it as horrible. And remember, this device is for repairing. Not cleaning. Use common sense and I'm sure this will work for you.

For those of you that have CD's that cannot be replaced, this device is for you. I have a CD that was given to to me by my dear mother, over time it developed a lot of scrathes and a deep gouge, I ran the CD through the Game Doctor about 5 or 6 times to get the CD back to sounding like new. It took about a half hour to get the CD working correctly, ALWAYS follow the instructions and KEEP THE DISC (no matter what type of disc it is) MOIST. Be careful, If used properly, you will be rewarded with a disc that works. Thats why I give it 5 Stars.