Just how tough are those old Nintendo games?

[PepperElf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCLOxK6FpfA

my boyfriend sent me this link yesterday

basically they decided to see how much damage they could inflict on about 8 or 9 NES cartridges before they stopped working.

pretty amazing what these puppies can go through
especially when you consider how easily you can damage modern game CDs/DVDs

[Amina516]

My husband and I stumbled across that a few days ago.

it made me want to go get an NES. ...Games can still be found on eBay. Im honestly thinking about it.

[AdminAssistant]

it made me want to go get an NES. ...Games can still be found on eBay. Im honestly thinking about it.

If you have a locally-owned buy/sell/trade game store, they might have NES systems, games, and accessories. There's one in my town...and it is awesome!

[Evil Queen]

I kept my SNES until 5 or 6 years ago. I sold it for a deal to a girl who's boyfriend wanted her to play The Legend of Zelda; Link to the Past. She was having trouble playing it on an emulator.

(As a console gamer, I don't blame her. Computers are hard!)

[NightAngel]

(As a console gamer, I don't blame her. Computers are hard!)

I had to mostly give up console gaming a couple of years ago as my hands tend to cramp button mashing. Once you get used to it- computer games rule.

[Broomjockey]

You know, I've still got my NES, SNES, and N64 kicking around my apartment. I should plug them in and see if they still work. I love being a PC gamer (but don't tell my Wii or my 360 that...), but those classics pretty much defined my childhood.

[Shards]

I'm a console guy. I actually still had my Sega Genisis and N64 up until about a year ago when my cousin bought them off me for a friend of his.

[AdminAssistant]

My SNES is hooked up at my parents' house for me to play on breaks and, eventually, for my nephew to play when he visits. I just brought the N64 up to my apartment. Had to buy a new adapter for it, but it still works!

[draggar]

Nice video I only have one concern with it.

The washing machine.

While I'm sure it would still survive, if it was in there with clothes there would be a lot more moving around.

Also, did they use hot, warm, or cold water? Cold usually doesn't affect cartridges that much and hot water (under boiling, what's the average "hot" for a washing machine? 130-180 degrees (F)?

But yes, even Arati 2600 cartridges were pretty trough (and I remember my C=64 cartridges taking a beating and still working).

Today you almost need to back up your originals and use the backups.

[tropicsgoddess]

SO's friend's girlfriend still has her NES. Shoot, if a game didn't work, blow on it and voila! It's loaded!!!

[Broomjockey]

blow on it and voila! It's loaded!!!

That's massively bad for the games, though. You're not only blowing whatever crud is in your mouth on to the connectors, your breath has a high moisture content, making corrosion more of an issue. You're better off with q-tips.

[tropicsgoddess]

That's massively bad for the games, though. You're not only blowing whatever crud is in your mouth on to the connectors, your breath has a high moisture content, making corrosion more of an issue. You're better off with q-tips.

True and the same principle applied with my Advance SP cartridges. Still amazed at how resilient the cartridges are compared to the CDs. I wonder with all the kids that have the DS how they don't end up losing those tiny ass chip/cartridge games.

[Sunsetsky]

My parents still have their NES. All the games still work on it too! It's impressive how strong those cartridges are.

[Dave1982]

My husband and I stumbled across that a few days ago.

it made me want to go get an NES. ...Games can still be found on eBay. Im honestly thinking about it.

Used NESs are about a dime a dozen for the original "toaster" model. Trouble is, while they probably still work, the cartridge slots are likely hosed, so you'll either have to put up with a lot a flashing screens and poking at the cartridge, or spring for a "refurbished" model. If you want to go the eBay route, there's a used games dealer I've dealt with several times who I believe to be reputable; PM me and I'll tell you who he is. Otherwise, any local flea market or swap meet should be able to net you a toaster NES for cheap (I picked one up with two controllers, a gray zapper, ten games, and a nice leather case for the games, all for $16).

If you're willing to splurge a bit, go for a "top-loading" NES, sometimes known as the NES2. They are MUCH more reliable than the original model, not to mention smaller and cooler looking. However, they are pretty rare, and so will set you back $75-100 easily. Also, they do NOT have RCA video output, so you can only hook it up via a coaxial RF input.

[tuck319]

Still have my original NES and "gold" Legend of Zelda cart.

Dampen a q-tip with deoxit and clean the cart and system interface contacts, works wonders on glitchy systems.