Comments on: Nintendo Entertainment System

Question: Nintendo Entertainment System

drezdn — Fri, 28 May 2004 16:33:59 -0800

What's the best way to get Nintendo Entertainment System games to play?

By: yerfatma

yerfatma — Fri, 28 May 2004 16:57:17 -0800

Err, the best way to get games to play in the console or the best way to find games to play? Or do you just want to play ROMs? I heard one of the cheat-device makers displayed a device at E3 that has a built in USB keychain plugin that will let you play emulated games on a PS2.

Otherwise, buy 'em used in the mall, blow in the cartridge and then push down hard when you put it in (the circuit board tends to get warped with age and use and the games don't boot anymore. There are instructions online to clean and rebend).

By: Jairus

Jairus — Fri, 28 May 2004 17:08:04 -0800

I've got my XBox setup with all the old NES (and SNES, and TG-16, and Genesis, and...) ROMS on it, so that I can play them on a TV with controllers. The actual cartridges are just getting too old to use reliably, I think.

By: danwalker

danwalker — Fri, 28 May 2004 17:13:39 -0800

A new circuit board did the trick for me - went from having about half of my games load to nearly all of them. Ebay has some.

By: trondant

trondant — Fri, 28 May 2004 17:24:20 -0800

Ask this guy.

By: drezdn

drezdn — Fri, 28 May 2004 17:38:27 -0800

To use with the system... I've got a few to work so far.

By: j.edwards

j.edwards — Fri, 28 May 2004 18:22:57 -0800

Some games are just toast. If you want to, find a new internal connector (on ebay for ~$10) for the NES or open that one and bend the pins back out (they get kinda pushed in after a lot of use). I put a game genie in my system and almost every one of my games plays fine (I'm guessing the game genie connects to the NES well and it has a good connection for games). It even plays my Mario 2 cart that won't play any other way.

By: Monster_Zero

Monster_Zero — Fri, 28 May 2004 19:59:32 -0800

A method that seems to work for me is to get some windex (or similar window cleaning product), get it on the end of a q-tip, and rub vigorously on the contacts in the end of the cart. You will be amazed at how black some q-tips will get after doing this. Works very often for me!

By: mcsweetie

mcsweetie — Sat, 29 May 2004 04:45:14 -0800

I collect some of the classics on cart (I got the goonies 2 at a used book store the other day for $2...still in the god damn box) but typically when I wanna play I prefer an emulator. I've got every nintendo ROM if you think of one you'd like me to send to you.

however, for kicking it old school, and if cleaning the individual carts with windex or hydrogen peroxide fails, you can try replacing the actual cartridge connector in the control deck. you can get them on ebay for pretty decent prices.

By: ferociouskitty

ferociouskitty — Sat, 29 May 2004 07:07:02 -0800

If you have a ton of old games you really want to play and your player is acting up, the solution may be a top-loading Nintendo. Somewhat hard to find to find, and expect to spend about $100. Or, check on ebay for a new 72-pin connector to replace the one in your current system for about $10-15. Try searching "NES 72." (Or, um, what mcsweetie said.)

By: Servo5678

Servo5678 — Sat, 29 May 2004 11:56:25 -0800

Whatever you do, do not blow on the cartridge. Blowing on the connectors can lead to corrosion. This page has information on performing open-NES surgery to install a new 72-pin connector if corrosion has already occurred.

Also take a look at this piece that I wrote last month for tips on buying and maintaining used video games.

By: chunking express

chunking express — Sat, 29 May 2004 12:04:07 -0800

I was *just* going to post "Blow on the cartridge." It 'worked' when I was 12, though I guess when you are ten years old there isn't much else you can do when your nintendo game won't play.

By: kaibutsu

kaibutsu — Sat, 29 May 2004 14:04:53 -0800

My favorite technique is to put the cartridge in the freezer for half an hour. I don't know why it works, but it gets me my otherwise unattainable Ghosts 'n Goblins fix.

As for finding good games, I'd suggest trying a bunch of stuff on the emulator and then tracking down the ones you really like. For my money, you can't go wrong with any of the Megaman games, and any Mario is great at a party.

By: ejoey

ejoey — Sat, 29 May 2004 22:46:23 -0800

If you wanna go the emulation route, I strongly recommend getting two of these. They work great for me, and on a Mac no less (iBook 700, s-video out to TV).

By: fillsthepews

fillsthepews — Sun, 30 May 2004 10:13:58 -0800

We got a new slot, and it's still acting up. I think a top loader is your best bet, but good luck on that. Wish I could afford one! Even though I think it actually says not to on the cartridge, we have been using the ol q-tip and rubbing alcohol method. It does get off a lot of grime. Totally gonna try that freezer method, if for no other reason then because its funny. I love watching different people try and get nintendo games to work. Everyone has their own zen-like method.