Bent nes pins [Archive] - 3D Realms Forums

Llama Gibbz

01-30-2008, 05:01 AM

I still have a slew of nes cartridges and 3 front loading consoles with bent pins.
I could replace the pins for about $5 but they always bend again eventually.

Anyone have any of these and what was your experience with them?
FC Twin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Twin_Video_Game_System) = plays nes and snes.

yobo 8 bit (http://www.amazon.com/Yobo-Loader-Console-Indigo-White/dp/B0009AHCQ6/ref=pd_sbs_misc_title_3) = cheap

Generation NEX (http://www.amazon.com/Messiah-Entertainment-M083-Generation-Videogame/dp/B000QT6I42/ref=pd_sbs_misc_title_5) = cool looking but the reviews arent very good.

Superczar

01-30-2008, 08:48 AM

Looks like all 3 have issues, FC Twin sounds like a better deal (NES + SNES play FTW) but no Castlevania III?! I'd jump on one of those if there was any real certainty that they would play good and not be a pain in the ass with cart insertion/removal/compatability like it sounds... I had always wanted to get another NES system and I remember that Nintendo had released a new style console, but I never jumped on one... :(

Llama Gibbz

01-30-2008, 09:52 AM

Theres some other knock offs on ebay
But as long as these things "emulate" they are bound to be glitchy.

I found a site selling the original nintendo front loader and they claim to be new for $500.
Guess ill keep a eye out on ebay for a nintendo top loader,which i wouldnt mind giving a $100 used as long as it works.

I have about 40 nes carts and nothing to play them on.

avatar_58

01-30-2008, 09:56 AM

I wouldn't touch those knockoffs. In fact I'd rather find a cart backup utility and just use an emulator, since thats all these appear to be anyway. Why do these pins keep beinding? I owned 2 NES consoles that started to die, but it wasn't due to pins I can tell you that.

Phait

01-30-2008, 09:59 AM

Wow I can't believe they make non-official retro consoles...

Llama Gibbz

01-30-2008, 10:04 AM

My theory is the spring mechanism wears over time and the cart doesnt seat properly.
Which then a lot of people shim stuff into he mechanism to get the cart to seat properly.

If you shim it too much or use too much force you get bent pins.
If the console is used the chances of bent pins is more likely.

Replacing the pins seems too fix it,but over time the power blinks on and off again.

Llama Gibbz

01-30-2008, 10:10 AM

Wow I can't believe they make non-official retro consoles...

Theres still a lot of carts floating out there,that sell dirt cheap at flea markets.

Superczar

01-30-2008, 11:49 AM

I used to have to stack several "dictionary" sized books on top of my NES to push the cover down onto the cart to get it to work. I also had another NES that the power supply in the unit blew, I wish i would have known then what I know now - or at least I should have kept it, I could probably easily fix it... :(

Ras

01-30-2008, 12:21 PM

Bent nes pins. Heh. I thought this thread title was in French at a quick glance.

Llama Gibbz

02-23-2008, 09:02 AM

Superczar

02-23-2008, 12:02 PM

Yeah let us know, if you have Castlevania III try it too...

Dr. Kill

02-23-2008, 09:45 PM

FC Twin looks cool (might still get one), but no TMNT3 support. :( My classic, front loader still works. If I do anything, it will be to replace the connector, and that's it. I say retro rules.

That GenX looks cool. I was thinking of getting a Gen model 1 cause the image output is better than my model 2 (less fuzzy, less washed out), but I may give that a look. I love collecting classic consoles. Classic games > new stuff. Flat out.

Llama Gibbz

02-24-2008, 10:22 AM

Yeah let us know, if you have Castlevania III try it too...
Dont have it. :(

=Dr. Kill;663524]FC Twin looks cool (might still get one), but no TMNT3 support. :( My classic, front loader still works. If I do anything, it will be to replace the connector, and that's it. I say retro rules.

That GenX looks cool. I was thinking of getting a Gen model 1 cause the image output is better than my model 2 (less fuzzy, less washed out), but I may give that a look. I love collecting classic consoles. Classic games > new stuff. Flat out.
I was going to to get a CDX,but they run 2-$300.
Plus the only worthwhile games on CD can run upwards to $100.

I would of liked to get heart of alien and snatcher again,but thier too expensive.

SonnyBonds

02-24-2008, 10:32 AM

Is Heart of the Alien that expensive? I got it on eBay a few years ago and I seem to recall it wasn't that bad.

Llama Gibbz

02-24-2008, 11:28 AM

Is Heart of the Alien that expensive? I got it on eBay a few years ago and I seem to recall it wasn't that bad.

$45 used
$100+ new

Same with..
snatcher
shining force
lunar
popful mail
Earthworm Jim Special Edition

Ive seen time gal for 150 and imo wasnt no better then sewer shark.:mryuck:

Wish i kept all of that stuff,id be sitting on a gold mine.:D:

I wouldnt mind buying used if reasonable.
But they usually end being rentals and their usually in bad shape.

Superczar

02-24-2008, 11:31 AM

Crap I was hoping you would have Castlevania III, I know it was one of the games that took the longest to emulate right, well let us know how well it runs what you got, and what game those are... :)

Kev_Hectic

02-24-2008, 11:40 AM

That GenX looks cool. I was thinking of getting a Gen model 1 cause the image output is better than my model 2 (less fuzzy, less washed out), but I may give that a look. I love collecting classic consoles. Classic games > new stuff. Flat out.

I currently have a Genesis 1 model attached to a Sega CD model 2 unit, and I did own a few different Genesis 2 systems in the past and I don't remember the model 2 unit having worse video than the model 1? :confused: The Genesis 2 might have even been better because it was capable of using RCA cables while the original genesis was not, as far as I can remember. I haven't used my Genesis/ Sega CD in years. These days, I just use Gens to play my Sega Cd games on.

Though, there are places like this around that can mod your Genesis to have S-video and stereo outputs for a small fee:

http://www.oldschoolgamer.ca/information.aspx?SID=14

Ecmaster76

02-24-2008, 05:44 PM

You can get adapters to convert original Nintendo controllers to USB, etc. Personally I would get one of them since they are cheap and realtively simple compared to a hardware clone. Soft emulation on the PC is very mature these days so I would use that (only if its legal wherever you live ;) ).

Llama Gibbz

02-25-2008, 11:33 AM

Id sooner do it this way.
Already have a large legit rom collection.

The Stinger

02-25-2008, 11:40 AM

Emulation isn't as fun as playing on the actual console it came on, it isn't as nostalgic.

Dr. Kill

02-25-2008, 01:53 PM

The Stinger

02-25-2008, 02:44 PM

No having to worry about the controller falling out of the slot (like with the NES), no having to clearn the carts, better image quality through hq4x filtering. Emulation has a lot of plusses. And in the case of PS1, no having to worry about memory card space, and ability to use higher resolutions. Also, you don't have to have all the big bulky equiptment and carts/discs around.

Yeah, thats what I don't like about it. Mario wasn't hq4x-ised 80bit era.
And you can't emulate the zapper, a mouse is like holding the zapper point blank. I'll have to admit more space for saved games is a big plus though, but
you could just buy one of those bigger cards. You even have those usb things
that let you save on your computer.

Zero

02-25-2008, 02:50 PM

^^
It's not that it's impossible to actually make accurate emulation of the zapper, it's that most people don't have light guns for there pcs and with LCD technology the "zapper" doesn't work, there are very few light guns what work with LCD's so it's the the fact that it can't be done, it just easier ont eh dev team to use the mouse as the zapper, I dont see epsxe, zsnes or fceultra teams buying up countless light guns just to test them to see if they all work properly.

avatar_58

02-25-2008, 02:53 PM

Yeah, thats what I don't like about it. Mario wasn't hq4x-ised 80bit era.
And you can't emulate the zapper, a mouse is like holding the zapper point blank. I'll have to admit more space for saved games is a big plus though, but
you could just buy one of those bigger cards. You even have those usb things
that let you save on your computer.

How many light gun games were worth playing on the NES? Duck Hunt - end list. Nuff said.

As for the filters - they are optional. I personally play with everything off because I prefer the original look.

The Stinger

02-25-2008, 03:19 PM

I know the zapper can't be emulated, but it's not duck hunt if you click on a duck with your mouse.
I'm not saying emulating is bad, I even play some game on an emulator from time to time.
It's just that I prefer to play it on the actual console. :)

Dr. Kill

02-26-2008, 10:26 PM

Light gun games are best on the real consoles, but as I use an LCD most of the time, emulation is the best solution. Without hq4x, the games don't look that great on my HDTV, and when hooking up my original NES or Genesis to it, forget it. Looks freakin awful. The NES games look horribly destorted, and look nothing like how they do on my 20inch SDTV. The SNES at least supports S-Video, which actually looks quite good, though.

Don't get me wrong, I still love playing on my actual consoles, and still use them all quite often, but unless said console supports at least S-Video, emulation is best for my HDTV. All the consoles that don't at least support S-Video will be in another room with my SDTV.

Wamplet

02-27-2008, 09:40 AM

As Llama had posted, I was gonna suggest just getting a top-loading one, if you really must play with the original cartridges.

I think the front loading design was a bad design choice. Although, anything that relies on a spring is a bad design in my opinion.

Daveman

02-27-2008, 09:48 AM

I wonder how much money Ninty could make if they produced and sold a few thousand NES consoles. They could mark the price up SO much...then again they're probably more interested in the VC at this point.

avatar_58

02-27-2008, 09:50 AM

Well we still haven't learned from bad designs - look at the Wii remote. It STILL uses the standard 20-30 year old remote clip backing for the battery compartment. How stupid could they have been? Those clips break so easily, every last remote I've owned is taped up....as seems to be the norm in households I've visited.

If the wii's backing breaks however....what are you going to do tape it? Thats crappy. I'm hoping when it happens a lithium battery pack will be released and I can just stick those in as replacements.

Dr. Kill

02-27-2008, 01:26 PM

The NES's front loading design was flawed, but I love it. Classic. I hate the top loader Nintendo released shortly before they stopped support for it. It looks horrible, and I hear it only supports an RF adapter, and the colors are all washed out.

Wamplet

02-27-2008, 01:58 PM

avatar_58

02-27-2008, 02:24 PM

There was certainly nothing wrong with the SNES and Genesis top loaders. :o

Those were always top loading thats why. The top loading NES was a late redesign, probably without much thought put into it.

Llama Gibbz

02-28-2008, 06:55 AM

Seems the NES pins are prone to corrosion.
But the blinking light problem was a issue with the lock out chip. :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System#Hardware_design_flaw s

Llama Gibbz

03-07-2008, 01:25 PM

I ordered a Gen X (http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/01/ces-2008-retro.html) console for $40.
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/38/51yspiwuelss500hq1.th.jpg (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=51yspiwuelss500hq1.jpg)

It plays Genesis and nes games.
Stay tuned for a review.

Correction i only paid $30.(glad i did)

Anyway,i can only recommend this system as a genesis drive replacement,if you cant find a used one in good condition.
Its seems to be the only thing it does fairly.

The NES portion seems problematic.
Which unfortunately was the main reason i purchased this.
Just like the original old front loading NES,some games need to be reseated a few times to work.
While others work on the first boot.
I even cleaned my cartridges prior to using the system,to avoid the possibility of dirty contacts.

Dragon Warrior 2 doesn't work,i suspect the same games that don't work on the FC Twin and the YOBO NES may be the case with this one also.

Some other gripes i have with the system
Over all colors and sound aren't perfect
Build quality is cheap.
The small foot print and lightness of the system makes cartridge removal a pain.
You have to pick up the system to remove NES carts.

Gamepad cords could be about 2 feet longer and could be slightly bigger.(roughly 4 feet)

NES sound playback has line noise from the power supply.

Superczar

03-07-2008, 05:24 PM

That sucks. Sounds like a shitty hackjob on the electronics. If there is line noise in the audio from the PSU, I'm surprised then that there isn't a 60hz humbar then on the screen (not from the TV either)... :o

Steve

03-07-2008, 05:26 PM

You have to pick up the system to remove NES carts..

That's sound bloody funny! :D

The Stinger

03-07-2008, 05:43 PM

Couldn't they just think up an eject button.. maybe shoot out of the console at mach 5. :D

Llama Gibbz

03-07-2008, 08:39 PM

UPDATE

Avoid at all costs,got more problems

Believe it or not,sticking a clean NES cartridge in perfectly straight can prevent some games not to work.
I have to have one side up higher than the other to make contact.

Theres simply not enough plastic around the cartridge slot to support the weight of NES cartridges.

While playing genesis and NES games the chip speed seems to ramp up now and then.
Game speed sometimes goes into some super turbo crack whore mode.
It makes sega's sonic blast processing look pathetic.:D

I cant see that after 20 some years we dont have the tech to make a good NES clone.

Llama Gibbz

03-07-2008, 09:24 PM

Been looking at the retro duo.
Supposedly its a hardware clone and doesn't use emulation.

+plays imports

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdRkXsGvKug&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kcCbgVkfY4

Llama Gibbz

03-07-2008, 11:55 PM

Got my front loading nes working again.

The colors and were really off and image quality wasnt nearly as crisp on the gen x.
Sticking with real deal i guess.

But stereo would be nice.

The Stinger

03-08-2008, 02:47 AM

The Retro Duo looks pretty good, and it's cheap too.
Too bad they don't have it here in Europe.

Nacho

03-09-2008, 10:06 AM

How many light gun games were worth playing on the NES? Duck Hunt - end list. Nuff said.

As for the filters - they are optional. I personally play with everything off because I prefer the original look.

16 games supported the light gun on the Nintendo I do believe.