Humorous How To Hook Up The Nes

[Phillyman]

As anyone who's ever tangled with an RF switcher knows, hooking up consoles in the old days was more plug and less play.

Helpfully the gang at Shamoozal have put together this step-by-step look at rigging up your Nintendo Entertainment System. It's done in the style of the old Disney explainers with Goofy as the hapless, frustrated and frequently maimed subject. And it's funny because, while caricatured to the extreme, we've all done everything depicted in it. Well, maybe not the shoe thing.

[Hidinger]

That might be one of the most awesome things you have ever posted Philly.

Not only did it show the crap you had to go through to get it installed, but also showed the great "blow on it" and then "Shove excitebike into the opening to hold down the cartridge" approach.

The he-man reference just got it bonus points in the "awesome" category.

[8bitforever]

My kids made me replay this video about ten times before they were satisfied. Brings back memories. My friend used to keep a bottle of alcohol and cotton swabs beside his nes to clean the games....crazy!!

[Hidinger]

My kids made me replay this video about ten times before they were satisfied. Brings back memories. My friend used to keep a bottle of alcohol and cotton swabs beside his nes to clean the games....crazy!!

Yeah..sadly it didn't show the "Ultimate" way to get the cartridge to work...I.e. Chucking the 2p controller into the deck to hold it down properly.

[9646gt]

I remember renting video games that refused to play and having to take them all the way back to the store. That killed your weekend as a kid! Later I actually discovered a cleaning cartridge and my weekends were peaceful again! Nice post on the video. Watched a ton of NES vids and never saw this one!

[epsileth]

blowing into the cartridge introduces moisture to the metal pins to both the cartridge and the system. the real reason is system's connectors becoming misaligned due to multiple carts inserted/removed, or use of third party devices like the galoob game genie bending the contact pins further.

unless you're still concerned about warranty issues, open up your nes unit, and gently re-bend the pins evenly to the proper position.

[Mister Zero]

Nintendo Repair Shop: http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopexd.asp?id=63&bc=no

If you're really concerned and tried re-bending the pins already or just don't want to bother, it's just as much work to just open the NES and replace the pin connector. It's about $7-9 and readily available on eBay or at the Nintendo Repair Shop(which I recommend as they have a tutorial on how to do it).

A couple of years ago I replaced mine and it works just like new. I love being able to go back to a system I've had for over 20 years and have it work almost every time.

Then again, the connectors on the insides of the carts can wear and tear too which isn't replaceable.

[Areala]

up down up down left right left right B A start

If you don't know, now you know...

I feel compelled to point out that the correct annotation for this code is actually, "Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, (Select), Start." My apologies, but I just cannot leave this alone.

*huggles*

Areala

[Data]

Konami also used another code for their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games.

B A B A Up Down B A Left Right B A Start.

[RocketLauncher]

This video expresses every frustration I've had with cartridges. Usually I get it working by slipping the cartridge in slowly, not all the way in, then try every position. Works for me all the time.

blowing into the cartridge introduces moisture to the metal pins to both the cartridge and the system. the real reason is system's connectors becoming misaligned due to multiple carts inserted/removed, or use of third party devices like the galoob game genie bending the contact pins further.

unless you're still concerned about warranty issues, open up your nes unit, and gently re-bend the pins evenly to the proper position.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who knew this. I wonder why alcohol isn't recommended (which I noticed there was a warning on the back of cartridges about cleaning with it).

[Data]

This video expresses every frustration I've had with cartridges. Usually I get it working by slipping the cartridge in slowly, not all the way in, then try every position. Works for me all the time.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who knew this. I wonder why alcohol isn't recommended (which I noticed there was a warning on the back of cartridges about cleaning with it).

Yeah I used to blow in the console and the cartridge. I've seen alot of people do it and so a monkey see, a monkey do. The game genie is hard on the connectors.

After I installed a new NES Connector I bought from Ebay into my NES console I took a second lease on it's life. I keep the lid closed and the cartridges anywhere but on the floor. Slip cases are the best.

When I buy a used cartridge, I dip a swab in a cleaning fluid which contains alcohol.(the same stuff that cleans records) This cleans the cartridge the best but Nintendo wants you to purchase their cleaning kit. To much alcohol can also ruin the inside of the cartridge as well as smear the ink off the label and turn the glue to slime.