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| Physical Quality of Carts |
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| dharmajones93:
Hey all, I've been collecting for a few days... In the last few years I have really picked up the hobby again. I have noticed the quality of carts really declining. It is to the point where cleaning and resuscitating carts is part of the hobby. I have piecemeal cleaning kits and tools; my girlfriend says I'm performing "surgery". It's mostly getting rid of corrosion on the pins, and re-soldering cold joint and broken components, and removing what I can only imagine was orange juice spilled into a cart 20-30 years ago. This is strange, as most of my carts that I purchased so long ago really don't have this, I pop them in and they work like new, and I was just as grimy as anyone else when I was a kid. But, I don't think I have purchased a single cart in the last two years that worked on first play; i.e. that didn't require "surgery". My theory, we're at a stage in cartridge/collecting history where the quality, well tended consoles and cartridges are all in collections, and the remaining carts/consoles in the wild are the picked over and less cared for. I am kind of pleased with myself, in a way, because these are carts that in the hands of others may end up in the garbage, but instead are getting a new life. Any other theories out there? Anyone having similar experiences with carts in the wild? Any fascinating surgery/resurrection stories? What tools/kits/strategies have you for keeping your collection running in top shape? Thank all! |
| rayne315:
I think it may just be your area. for me the only not-well-tended carts I ever come across are: 1. Dollar bin carts. (sports games and bad games nobody cares about) 2. N64 carts (don't know why but I have never found but a handful of pristine carts 3. Carts that came from blockbuster, family video, video games ETC (a local store, and only their old sales), ETC because they all put on the foil, super glued, void if removed stickers that are a pain in the ass to remove without damage. everything that's worth anything in my area is at least in good condition. As for resurrecting a damaged cart goes I got a broken Conkers bad fur day (n64) cart that never turned on from a local game store for a penny because im a regular. I opened it up and saw that the board was snapped in the upper left hand corner of the cart, so all the connections were severed from the main board. I looked up a tutorial for how to solder across a gap as I was scared moving it back would break the section off. it definitely does not look pretty but I was able to get the cartridge to work. when I first opened it I was worried that it was a fake. you know someone putting a label onto an old sports cart and trying to sell it type of thing but It ended up really being CBFD |
| emporerdragon:
--- Quote from: rayne315 on September 01, 2017, 10:19:44 am ---2. N64 carts (don't know why but I have never found but a handful of pristine carts --- End quote --- I know what you mean here. Whenever I add to my N64 collection, it makes me feel like I was the only kid in America growing up that actually took care of their cartridges. |
| sworddude:
really depends on what you collect I Usually only go for cib sets moreover in very good upwards condition. Seen plenty of pristine carts but to be fair in most cases people just left them somewhere to be forgotten in a closed closet wich is the best scenario if you want nice condition stuff. Also seen plenty of people who have taken well care of their stuff, in those cases carts are pristine and boxes very good excellent condition. In general if you look at the whole picture the really nice condition stuff is just a very small margin so it is expected, I avoid such lots though since it's just not for me. With disc based games a plastic case wich is damaged can be replaced since the inserts and box inlay can still be pristine but cardboard boxes are obviously a whole different story. |
| dharmajones93:
--- Quote from: rayne315 on September 01, 2017, 10:19:44 am ---As for resurrecting a damaged cart goes I got a broken Conkers bad fur day (n64) cart that never turned on from a local game store for a penny because im a regular. I opened it up and saw that the board was snapped in the upper left hand corner of the cart, so all the connections were severed from the main board. I looked up a tutorial for how to solder across a gap as I was scared moving it back would break the section off. it definitely does not look pretty but I was able to get the cartridge to work. when I first opened it I was worried that it was a fake. you know someone putting a label onto an old sports cart and trying to sell it type of thing but It ended up really being CBFD --- End quote --- Oh wow, great job! I had a similar occurrence with a SNES Starfox cart. The brackets that hold it in place in the cart had broken, so that when you placed it into the console it would not push down into the pin connectors; it would just float up into the cart. I ended up with a cut up old credit card and hot glue... But the similar part was opening a first generation Starfox cart. It looks bizarre (with the black goo globs) but turns out that is legitimately how casio made chips back then. I thought it was fake for sure. --- Quote from: emporerdragon on September 01, 2017, 02:30:49 pm --- --- Quote from: rayne315 on September 01, 2017, 10:19:44 am ---2. N64 carts (don't know why but I have never found but a handful of pristine carts --- End quote --- I know what you mean here. Whenever I add to my N64 collection, it makes me feel like I was the only kid in America growing up that actually took care of their cartridges. --- End quote --- Seriously, I swear 9/10 times its like someone turned the cart upside down and poured in a coca cola... |
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