How to get an original nintendo game running again?

[x-guy]

So a good buddy (childhood friend) was over the other day, we were drinking some beers, remembering some good old times, and the conversation somehow turned to nintendo, and how we used to hang out and play the game contra in the evenings after a day of sledding at our cabins, and how heated the competition used to get, to the point it would cause fist fights between little 9 year old kids, ahh fun fun.

Anyways I thought it would be hilarious to break out the old NES again and challenge him to a game of drunken contra tonight, settle it once and for all, but the game dosnt seem to work, all I get is a flashing screen. I remember this as a kid, but forget how to fix it, anyone remember or can offer some tips? I tried cleaning the contacts already, and the NES still plays other nintendo games.

 

[Sturgis Sledder]

Blow into the end of the cartridge.

 

[ruffryder]

Blow into the end of the cartridge.

ahh... the old school days.. Yep, that is correct!

 

[Blu Du]

Blow into the end of the cartridge.

thats what i remember doing too.

 

[Abominable]

 

[H2SNOW]

you guys going in the Gay Pride parade too ?? with all that blowing into the end of the cartridge ????



sorry had to LOL

 

[Summertime Blues]

I had this exact same experience a few months back.

Blowing out the console didn't work. Blowing out the game didn't work. I tried all of the old tricks from years ago and non of them worked. Still just got the blinking screen

 

[xrated]

Blow into the end of the cartridge.

gets another vote.

man i loved contra!!!

 

[2001rmk700]

on some my old games if i pushed it in to hard it wouldn't work had to be just perfect.
but blowing in the end worked to

 

[Sturgis Sledder]

Check this out

AND

Contra

 

[Ex-Member]

Blow into the end of the cartridge.

beat me to it... lol

 

[triple]

I have every Nintendo format still operating today. It's cool to once in a while pull out the old stuff and play again. I don't think that even the Nintendo engineers can explain why blowing into the slot will make a game suddenly work again. THe old games are still fun to play.

 

[x-guy]

I know the trick to blow into the cartridge, but a guy that collects the stuff explained to me one time that by doing that your ruining the cartridge for long term use, basically when you blow into the cart, your spit is what forms a better connection between the copper contacts and the pin connector in the NES itself being as it conducts electricity, which makes the game work for the time being, but over time causes the contacts to corrode which cannot be cleaned off, I don't know if there is truth to it, but it makes sense so I was looking for an alternate route if at all possible.

I seem to remember using a game genie to get games to work, and as well as using a second game to jam the first one in there, but can't remember exactly what I did.

Triple, do you collect the stuff? I see this stuff all the time at garage sales for really cheap, I might have to start buying it so that maybe one day I can pass it down to some kids and torture them with the incredibly difficult games on NES. I had some good times with the NES, thats for sure, but I think Contra had to be the best, constantly fighting over who got the good weapons was classic, its great to re-live those memories once in a while.

 

[x-guy]

Check this out

AND

Contra

thanks for the links, at least if I can't get the original going there is always emulation

 

[H2SNOW]

damn I'd spray in some electrical contact stuff if thats the answer ??

 

[triple]

Triple, do you collect the stuff? I see this stuff all the time at garage sales for really cheap,

I wouldn't say "collect". I used to be a pretty active gamer before the kids came along. Before Nintendo, I used to spend hours every day playing "heaps" (pinball) and the early arcade games. I think I have about 60 different pre-N64 games, 50 N64 games, 60 Gamecube games and about 30 Wii games. I also have a PS2 and PS3. When kids were renting gmae, I was buying them. Still do today. Bought the new Tiger Woods PS3 game last night.

 

[x-guy]

damn I'd spray in some electrical contact stuff if thats the answer ??

Thats what I am thinking, might have to hit up an electronics store on my way home, see if they have anything.

I am sure its just a dirty cartridge from too much blowing and having other cartridges doubled up on it needs a good spray!

 

[x-guy]

I wouldn't say "collect". I used to be a pretty active gamer before the kids came along. Before Nintendo, I used to spend hours every day playing "heaps" (pinball) and the early arcade games. I think I have about 60 different pre-N64 games, 50 N64 games, 60 Gamecube games and about 30 Wii games. I also have a PS2 and PS3. When kids were renting gmae, I was buying them. Still do today. Bought the new Tiger Woods PS3 game last night.

I play them when I get a chance too, not to much anymore but I like to keep up to date myself, I have a ps3, but seem to remember the old games being so much more fun and challenging for some reason, guess I will find out soon enough. I have a SNES, N64 and gamecube buried somewhere in the attic as well, I think I even have my old commadore 64. I still to this day remember my friend chucking a controller at his TV and smashing it over the game ghosts and goblins, which is still today rated as one of the hardest games to beat of all time.

 

[triple]

The best part of playing the old games is:

THey load quick. In 15 seconds, you're playing

They were cheap to buy games. 10 bucks usually got you a pretty good game.

You didn't have an internet in those days to research cheats and maps. When you played..........you played.

It doesn't take an hour to set up your player. Pick a guy and go play.

I watch my kid play (12 years old and a pretty good gamer) and if he's stuck for longer than 5 minutes, he's looking to the internet for a solution. Games used to be about remembering, repetitive motion and simply getting to the end.

I'm just getting back into playing TIger Woods. I used to play all the time on PS2. My player had full attributes, a ton of endorsements and about 100 million in career earnings. Now I have to start all over again with the PS3 game.

 

[egert23]

power of the web

Hey, Last winter I did almost the same thing. BLINKING SCREEN, and after trying everything I knew, I turned to the web. THere are hundreds of videos on youTube of people tearing their NES apart and fixing it. You can buy a kit for a new receiver connector, but the trick I found also works.

Tear apart the machine and use a tiny flat screwdriver from an eyeglass kit. The small metal tabs in the black piece that the game goes into get worn over time and lose their contact. Carefully bend each tab back down to that it protrudes a bit and the contact is restored. Test it before you completely put it back together, but It should work. If not try again. Maybe took 20 minutes to do. Good Luck!!