Blinking Light Win NES Mod Review
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- Gaming Historian reviews Blinking Light Win, a mod for your NES that permanently fixes the blinking light error and redesigns the loading tray. Learn more about the device and find out if it's worth your money!
Note: I was not paid to review this product or given the product for free in exchange for a review. I purchased this for $30 at Game On Expo from the ArcadeWorks booth.
To purchase one for yourself, visit www.arcadeworks...
Some footage courtesy of @SpaceKappa. He has a great channel, check it out: / pkbloggin
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#BlinkingLightWin #NES #GamingHistorian
Hi everyone. Here are my thoughts on Blinking Light Win, an NES mod that is a more permanent fix to the "blinking light" error.
Please note, I was not paid to review this product, nor was I given the product for free in exchange for a review. I've always been curious about BLW since it was announced and I recently bought one for $30 at Game On Expo.
Enjoy!
No brand deals here, boys.
Howdy there, Duke.
You are Awesome!
Not like other A.hole YT's who get Paid and Lie to the People.
Gaming Historian is one of my Favourite YT Channels . THX Big Time!
I myself got a Top loader. They're much less likely to glitch out and blink. Still, the Top loader is less iconic looking, so there's pros and cons, I guess. Great video as usual, Norm!
Sweet video! Would love to see more like this one =)
I totally get the point but pressing down on the game was a really satisfying experience.
I will counter you with this statement. I was playing dragon quest, and due to the game limitations you could only save in the home town. I had played the last quarter or so of the game as it was a good ways to go to the final castle. Inside said castle a heavyish object of some sort fell or was knocked down from a shelf and landed on the floor near my NES. the impact was enough to cycle the cartridge and my progress for the week was gone just like that. It is 25 years later and I still remember that event vividly.
Colonel Overkill may be the battery that died while you played so once it turned off your save was gone
@@purplefish3609 no, I hadnt saved at all. The only save point was in the starting town and I was quite a ways off. It would have been a considerable trip there and back so I just kept going. As a result it wasnt saved and the power cycle killed my progress.
Yes, and when you press down the thing sound likes a bed
@@Colonel_Overkill check your battery
you'd think, considering the difficulty removing the carts and the depth of the space behind the cover that they would have extended the pin connector forward so the cart stops just inside the door for easier gripping
They should include an ejector tool to pry the game out.
@@Nat-jf2gewouldnt that damage the plastic of the games?
Many people keep asking "Why not get a top loader?" and "Why not get a Retron 5?"
Here is the issue with both. (read below)
The original NES top loader can only connect via RF cables (unless you have the ultra-rare AV version or you mod your console to output AV.) and the Retron 5 is not 100% compatable with all games and accessories (such as the zapper). Plus, the NES top loader AND the Retron 5 are over $100 each (as far as I know).
IMO, the Blinking Light Win is a better and cheaper option than both the top loader AND the Retron 5.
(EDIT) Great. This comment has now become a war of replies and comments......
Well, you have to admit those are some possible solutions, but thanks for pointing out the cons. No other comment I saw had any argument against the idea like this.
_Here, have a comment like._
Getting a Toploader modded for Composite is relatively cheap. If you take retro gaming seriously it's no biggie.
Yeah, but most people (and collectors) don't want to mod their consoles.
That's why you keep a vanilla frontloader, and then a modded toploader to then play your games on.
I don't understand the way some collectors run a hetz on modding. People are free to do what they want to things they have bought.
+Nukleon Yes, but what happens when you go to sell it and someone won't pay the usual price because of the modification? You won't be in a position to complain.
pro tip: hold down the reset button and gently rock the cart back and forth.
I have been doing this since the 80s and it literally works every single time.
or just dont push down the games (expet if the connector os so bend you need to push it down
THE ABOVE + Clipping the Lockout chip pin = NES victory....
@@purplefish3609 both your and king buzzo’s tips are very helpful!
I have literally tried everything. Alcohol, boiling, I even have a replacement connector in the mail right now. but when I tried this, it was like nothing was even wrong. How?
@@ElijahRulz honestly, i think that it is because the pins dont always make a good connection regardless of how clean everything is.
I'm always fascinated that people have this problem with their machines, i've owned at least five NESes in my life and never had this issue.
I get the blinking light/grey screen, but blowing never stopped them working. I even had a copy of Punch out that pins were do corroded they had verdigris on them!
Larry Bundy Jr oof, dont blow on them!!
FailureGaming why not
@@jak3w because you are just pushing the dirt and debris into the cartridge rather then cleaning it. The best solution would be a cotton swabs and some rubbing alcohol to gently clean the cartridge connectors
Hello youuuuu
Blinking Light Win: 90% of the time, it works every time.
Great reference
Despite the cartridge being harder to take out when switching games, this mod is definitely worth it. When I ordered a Blinking Light Win however, it took 6 months to ship to my house. My guess it was due to an inventory shortage. Nonetheless, I'm very happy that my NES is now able to play games without blowing into the cartridge 2 to 7 times. :)
Nice video! I have a Blinking Light Win installed and it works flawlessly. Works with the Game Genie without issue. The only problem is, primarily at first, it holds the game cartridges in pretty snug...
how di you manage tu use game genie?? my doesn't fit with the BLW....
Giulio Maffei Mine fits properly with games installed...haven't had an issue.
probably the pal game genie is slightly bigger... that's why mine doesn't fit
Giulio Maffei Good possibility...I'm in North America.
The Nostalgia Factor I have BLW installed in my NES with the NES10 Chip disabled (did that before installing BLW), and have no issues.
This is why the Famicom had a superior design over the NES as it never had this issue.
bumbayker yes but the famicom didn't have detachable controllers
Bensor999 And? The NES controllers were incredibly uncomfortable to use with its angular edges. Famicom also had an awesome disk system add-on that produced a lot of games that never made it to the West and allowed you to save games without a battery. It could also utilize the VRC6 sound chip that produced superior tunes and BGM. Not to mention the NES was pretty bulky and much harder to port than the Famicom.
That awesome FDS addon won't help you much if your controller(s) break.
KuroNoTenno Famicom controllers are quite durable and mine never broke. I only needed to replace the rubber contacts for the d-pad and buttons every year or so and they were pretty much good as new. Sorry but the NES is quite lacking compared to the Famicom.
bumbayker Eh, whatevs. We all know Subor is the superior model.
Had the pleasure of meeting the Gaming Historian at Retroworld Expo on Saturday. He couldn't have been a nicer and more knowledgeable guy.
I bought Blinking Light Win! I was skeptical at first, but after I installed it, my NES has never been better! Installation takes about 20 minutes. But, pulling the games out is a little difficult.
The pulling out of the games is difficult even with new 72 pin connectors.
I just replaced my pins once 10 years and never pushed the cart down while playing to prevent pin bending. Has worked 100% of the time since then.
Just installed one of these two weeks ago. It's been great. Easy install and does what it's supposed to.
Just ordered mine! Thank you for this sharing this video!
Update: It really works! I'm satisfied.
This is how nintendo SHOULD'VE Designed the North American NES cartidge slot it's just like the N64 DD Cartridge slot now.
Does this void the warranty?
I think so, Nintendo pacifically says not to take apart any of their consoles because it may void warrantees
You could also just insert your carts into a fresh "crispy" 72-pin connector and *not* push it down.
It's the spring action that bent the connectors, but nothing keeps you from just sliding in the game.
Yes there is. It needs to be pushed down a certain amount to work, which isn’t much.
@@diskkun4120 My wife's childhood NES has the OG pin connector in it. I don't ever push the games down, and they work.
@@UNOxDExELLOS Huh. I've never heard of this connector before. I'll have to do my research.
Great review, as always. I really don't understand why some dislike such an informative and well done video. It blows my mind. Gaming Historian is quite frankly one of the best channels out there simply because of the quality in editing, sound, content and information, among other things. Keep it up!
Update: bought this thanks to your video and it works phenomenally, thanks for making me aware
I have a BLW; does fine when paired with an Everdrive since I'm not pulling out the cartridge. I'll occasionally swap in a cartridge to test it out; works fine as long as the cartridge is clean. Definitely worth the money.
People with OCD are going crazy at the crooked reset button.
Good for you.
Good for you.
Good for you.
Good for you.
Good for you.
Nice choice on the closing music. Blades of Steel is one of my favorite NES games.
Hey man. Huge fan, for years! I learned about you through other retrorware peeps, namely HVGN. If you are from AZ, so am I! I'd love to say what's up and meet you; you are an amazing and clearly dedicated producer of content (based on your meticulous detail and present love of the video game medium when creating a clean-cut/finely edited video). If not spur of the moment, maybe at next year's Comic-Con!
Sorry to nerd out and make this personal, but feel free to continue over PM. You are awesome and I hope your work(s) continue to evolve in the way they have thus far. Your craft has gone from a hobby to a pursuit, and that is so welcoming to see :)
I've got one sitting on my desk right now. I've got two blinking NES', I'll put this in the worse off the two, and boil the 72-pin connector from the other and see how they compare.
Update?
Update?
Update?
Update?
This "you need to push the cartridge down" seems to be rather hard to kill myth (and yes, also spread by Nintendo...)
Sure, you were instructed to, and the system was clearly designed to operate with cartridges pushed down. However, there wasn't really ever need to do that. Pins take contact just fine, if you just slide the cartridge in.
HOWEVER, as mentioned in the video, pushing the cart down does indeed eventually bend the pins, and AFTER that has happened, the carts might no longer work, unless pushed down. This has happened to my current second hand unit too.
Don't believe me? Remember that during the lifetime of NES, there was some 3rd party hardware, such as region free adaptors, action replay etc. that actually prevent the cart from being pushed down. Yet, they worked.
I don't have anything againist Blinking Light Win, afaik it's a working fix for all the NES units, that have been permanently damaged by unnecessarily pushing the carts down.
then Why do my games never work when I don't push them down
Sigh. The game genie and other accessories don’t go down all the way but they go down just enough to allow play. Don’t believe me? Put a game in, don’t push it down, turn on the console. I guarantee it won’t work. But push it down just far enough, which isn’t far, and it’ll work.
Lucas H its because your connector is bend mine works great without pushing them sowing
Morons like this drive me nuts. This is the flat earth crap of the Nintendo.
I backed the kickstarter because you talked about it on your podcast. I still have my kickstarter edition.
I got my BLW about a year ago and I love it. I am happy to have my NES back to doing what it does best, play my games.
According to Guru Larry, the PAL region had two different versions of the NES (one made by a third-party, and one made by Nintendo themselves), and each had their own set of games that they were compatible with. Would this new lock-out chip work with both types of PAL NES games?
Yes. The chip on this is known as the Cyclone II chip, it works with ALL REGIONS.
Good choice in music, Gimmick! has great music, and you used the best tune. :)
Hieronymus di Colonna which game is it from again? Ugh it's killing me lol
Hieronymus di Colonna nvm Blades of Steel. It just hit me!
I don't know, Sophia's pretty good too.
Hieronymus di Colonna does anyone know what the second song is? it starts around 0:41
You just made 250,000 subscribers. Congratulations.
Nice video, I like the region lock-out feature. Much more convenient than disabling the on-board chip.
I’m over in the UK and resorted to buying multiple systems for each region (boxed NES consoles used to sell for peanuts here about 15 years ago). It would be good to not mod the main-board, it’s one of my pet peeves when classic machines get tampered with.
Getting the cartridge out looks a little awkward (but as yousay, necessary).
For collectors that still use the NES a lot I think top loaders are the way to go. Keep up the good work on the channel.
Hey Norm I love you stuff especially your book reviews, that being said will you do a review or even a video on Pat's "Certain NES Guide"?
The only thing that concerns me is the shipping rate. I've been told from several people that ordered the blinking light win that it took quite a long time for their item to be delivered. I'm curious as to knowing how long did anyone here have to wait and if this assumption is correct, is there a reason for the long shipping process?
RileySkye100 I got mine in the mail in 3 days.
Same here. Been about a year...nothing
Order it from lost_levels on eBay. It's $39.99 delivered, and you'll get it in 2-3 days.
Your NES is thirty five years old, she'll be fine waiting for another few weeks for her part.
Great opening music choice of Mr. Gimmick! Its intro satirises toys even before Toy Story and having a plushie merch to exist would lead to reports of missing persons.
A few weeks ago, I got an NES off someone that wouldn't load any games. So I manually bent all the pins up and under the black plastic the cartridge sits on I jammed in an eraser wrapped in electrical tape to prevent the mechanism from being pressed down. I then cut pin 4 off the 10NES lockout chip. For the cost of an eraser at the dollar store I got the exact same effect as the Blinking Light Win.
It's been a couple weeks now with the NES played every day, and the games still start up every time. :)
I was going to get one of these, but I don't need to anymore. I'm going to get the RetroAVS console instead. You should do a review on that Norm! Heck I'd bet Bunnyboy would send you a review copy. He's sent it out to lesser youtube channels that don't put even a 4th of the effort you do. Keep up the good work!
iVirtualPlays which is all the more reason to get it. it's emulated hardware...but that is vastly superior to software emulation...plus there is HDMI...if you like that sort of thing...unless you have a hard-on for composite and old time NES look.
True, albeit much more expensive.
It is indeed more when you factor in everything the AVS has to offer. 1) 4 controller ports, vs. buying a four score/nes satellite for the Hi-Def/RGB NES. 2) Game Genie built in vs. having to buy a game genie for the Hi-Def/RGB NES. 3) Better compatibility vs. the Hi-Def NES (some games still have picture/sound problems.) the RGB mod NES is unaffected by this though. 4) if you can't perform mod, you need to send your NES to be modded for a price+shipping both ways 5) If you don't even have an NES, still have to purchase one in varying condition...unless you buy new...which can add up REAL fast. See? after awhile you are spending a fortune vs. the $189+shipping for the AVS.
For me personally, its future planning. I'm about to have a kid and I want my children to be able to play the classics easily. I still have my original NES that arrived back in 88. It still works, but the ease of access with the AVS is very convenient. Also it's cheap compared to other things like modding or buying one of those 800 dollar gold plated Famicom/nes systems those guys made a year or so ago. (I know they are making a newer, smaller and better version but that is still several hundred of dollars more than I want to pay...)
Also the AVs just looks cool to me. I really like how Bunnyboy designed it plus the software that was created is really neat with several options on how you want it to look and play.
Eventually wireless controllers will arrive too.
Disassemble NES. Remove a bunch of shit including the 72 pin connector. Clean the shit out of it by boiling it and using some very fine sand paper. And here's the hard part. Bend each pin to make a tighter than normal connection. My NES boots games without pushing the cart down. See video @ 4:18.
yes this bending works very well :) I do the same!
I have one, and love it. No more pin swap and it's less wear and tear on the cart too because it doesn't hang at an angle anymore. The way they designed the tray for the horizontal loading adds support for the whole cart so it's not "free hanging" by the PCB board/pins.
Hey Norm, huge fan over here (California) & I just wanted to congratulate you & your amazing channel on making the WatchMojo's Top 10 Retro Gaming CZcams Critics. Your channel rocks & keep up the amazing work.
You should do voice-overs!
He would be excellent at that.
Any advantange of using this over the NES 2 (NES-101)?
AV out and I prefer the look of the original console
Also, game genie is easier to use on the original..it gets lodged into the top loader.
Actually you're not supposed to use a regular Game Genie on a Top Loader. There was another one made specifically for the Top Loader and its a lot harder to find
Stereo?
MrGencyExit64
The NES is mono regardless. Stereo requires more modding.
Just ordered mine a hour ago. I can't wait to get it😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Installed it and nothing happened. Customer service is non existent.
Will be calling credit card company tomorrow
I understand the frustration of games not working properly, but now that we're nearly 40 years on, the iconic click of the tray, the angled cartridge, and inconsistent loading is just part of the charm and characteristics of the NES. Taking away the loading tray is like taking the carbon contacts from it's controller, and replacing them with momentary switches like the Joy Cons. Sure, it'll work just fine and be a bit more reliable, but it just feels wrong.
Alternatively, if you keep your games clean, and don't abuse the connector, it'll last from the console's launch, to the present day. My NES which I've had for some time now, has the same pin connector it was shipped with 4 decades ago, and still works perfectly every single time, no matter the angle of the system itself, the state of the cartridge pins, or, in a few cases, whether you've even pressed it down or not.
These things were built to last the same way the Atari 2600 was, and if cared for properly, and not thrown around, they will work forever until the chips themselves burn out. Plus, the NES cartridges themselves have cleaning and proper care instructions printed on the back. Combined with the blatantly obvious Reset button, you really can't go wrong.
Take all of that, with the added difficulty to remove the cartridges due to the decreased space between the door flap and cartridge grips, and accounting for the shape of the Tengen carts, and you have all the makings of a horrible device, that we don't even need to do either of the things it's designed to do. The added pressure of the modern pins will also wear out the aging brass pins of the cartridge itself, rendering the game useless.
If you want a region free NES, socket the Lockout chip, and tie Pin 4 to ground, removing it from the board in the process. To get the games to work reliably, don't treat them like frisbees, and clean them regularly.
This is merely an unnecessary, uncharacteristic, expensive, and inelegant solution, to two completely avoidable problems.
You could always just get a toploader instead.
it's not the same if you grew up the original model.
The top loader is going to cost you more than 30 bucks though.
The A/V Famicom is a nice alternative, as it has composite output.
[but not the NES top loader]
It doesn't play Bad News Baseball so it's a piece of shit to me! Hehe
why doesn't it play that game?
If you have the skill to open up the NES to install this, you have the skill to clean and repair your 72pin connector and disable the lockout chip. Will take about 30 minutes.
seriously.. why would anyone buy this? A fool and his money are soon parted.
Like the man already said: That's a temporary fix.
J Benson My Mother used to always tell me this when I was a teenager. I had an after school job & I would spend my whole check within 2 days.
J Benson My Mother used to always tell me this when I was a teenager. I had an after school job & I would spend my whole check within 2 days.
Daandude1 the cause of a blinking light is usually due to dirty pins, not loose ones. this will get dirty too. it's temporary as well. this is a perfect example that you shouldn't believe everything you hear on the internet.
Finally a mod for an old console that not only works as advertised but also adds value to your old console, i.e. making it region-free. Thanks for the video as I had never heard of it before prior to this.
Oh hell yeah it starts with Gimmick music, best video yet Norman.
I'd rather run an emulator, have my games on my HDD, be able to run romhacks (like JP fan translations,) have a built in sound test for all the MIDI music, select my own choice of graphical mods like AA, choose my own controller / button layout and not have to deal with extra wires / cartridges / parts.
Some people just like the feeling of playing on actual hardware
AnTi90d ok
I'm at the middle ground. I like the original consoles, but reproduction games, or modchipped consoles, in the case of 5th and 6th gen stuff. Why sort out plugins and map out an Xbox or PS3 controller when I can just burn a Dreamcast game to a disc and play it on my console?
Nice mod, but "Blinking Lights Win" is such a tacky, unprofessional and immature name, ugh! Couldn't they have chosen something better?
What would you have suggested?
nintendo pin connector fixer 2000
When you're catering to retro gamers and providing a mod / replacement part for a 30 year old game system, professionalism isn't that big of a deal. You're dealing with a very niche market.
Steven Tyler "NES Pin Connector Improvement Kit w/ Region Unlock", as boring as it sounds, is a much better name than anything with the word "Win".
But if we had to really give it a brand name, "Blink B' Gone" would be an excellent choice, plus describe what the mod does a lot better.
+Berubium Guess so, but still, "Win" sounds like something a bunch of old, out-of-touch, farts at a meeting room would (and sadly, have) come up with to sell their new, RADICAL product to the kiddies, and is something that, IMO, should be avoided.
Reminds me of all those "gamer" PC accessories with silly lights, dragon motifs and ridiculous amount of angles - c'mon, is it really that hard to make something modest and minimalistic yet works amazingly instead of having it look like a prop from a bad sci-fi movie?
Mine came in the mail today after pre-ordering one 6 months ago in August. While it did take a good long while to show up, the results were as promised, leaving me satisfied. After cleaning my NES cartridges, they all worked perfectly on the first try. As of now though, they're out of stock. My guess is that there's currently an issue with restocking and shipping the product. Hopefully that'll be resolved in the future as lot of NES owners could use this upgrade.
Glad to see you're still making videos, going to pick up one of these
No one is going to talk about the obviously beautiful female voice at the end talking about Patreon?
Ninja His wife.
(NES MUSIC PLAYS)
AUSTIN PEYTON *8 bit jazz music begins to play
I'll stick to everdrive
All of your videos are amazing and informative. My new pin connector hasn't faltered just yet but it's great to know I have a totally secure backup plan. You rock brother!
Back in the 90s when i was a kid I figured out the pin bending issue. When we got our new NES, I figured out that you only needed to push the game down a little bit so I stole a mini bic lighter from my mom to hold the game in place. She took her lighter back and pointed out that I could use the Zapper plug to do that with. But I was one of those kids that liked playing Duck Hunt so I then figured out that the second controller plug would do the job too. Anyway, that NES lasted way longer than the first one and died when the power supply burnt out. The last NES we bought was when they were marked way down since the SNES was out already so we got it cheap and my brother got the SNES for Christmas since the NES was so cheap. Wow, this comment is about as long as this video is old LOL.
I wish there was a women blinking light win mod..... life would be easier
I got one and once I put in my NES Ever drive and added a HDMI Mod to my nes I could never be any happier with my nes.
Good to know that theirs other alternatives to fixing the NES than a standard pin replacement but call me whatever you want I remember and have painful, exciting, gratifying, and most importantly memorable memories trying to get my NES games to work and having to press up / down to get the games to work, and I find that to be an important part of the NES experience.
i actually just ordered one last night should be here next week. I really cant wait to try it out and play my old games again and have a reason to pick up some more
Bought one of these a while ago, took me a long time to have it shipped to the UK, but it was worth every second of waiting. Really is a life saver.
Got this and the RGB mod plus RetroTink 4K hehe!!! HD NES for all games and flawless experience
Boiling + bending the pins + clipping the CIC = a free solution that has lasted me 3 years so far. My games boot up about 90% of the time on the first try.
you just cant beat that iconic VCR *Click*, but times are changing, and our NESs need a tune up.
if you own an NES and don't have a Blinking Light Win, you are WRONG. absolute best thing I've ever bought!
the "NES" is my 4th favorite game console ever!! It was the first console I've owned!!
I had this mod done to my NES by my local retro gaming store for $12. Don't know if it is the same hardware but it functions just the same. NES Games work awesomely now.
Once again, a great video. Thanks For your honest review on this product. I've wondered about it for sometime. now I have a trusted source that has reviewed it. so many other "fan boys" have just boasted how great it is, and refused to say anything bad. I like how the true "reviewer" in you had to pint out a negative. while ill still use replacement 72 pins for the systems i flip, i might just pic up a BLW for my personal system.
BLW saved my NES, best purchase ever
I bought an Nes 2 months ago for $25 bucks :) I never grew up with a NES. I grew up with a N64. I love my Nes :)
I just bought a refurbished NES at a retro game convention a few months back. I may have to look into this for my other NES's however.
I have 3 different NES systems, an AV modded Top Loader, the "toaster" and the SHARP TV one. I wound up refurbing the pins on the TV, leaving the pins alone on the Top Loader and replacing the pins for the Blinking Light Win on the, "toaster". I couldn't be happier with the BLW. I just keep my Everdrive in it to get around the tight grip. I wound up supporting them back on Kickstarter.
Man! We've needed something like this for ages! Maybe I should consider this if I start a new collection of NES games.
The solution I used to use as a kid was to jam the black sleeve into the console, but that didn't always work.
In the end though, what worked for me almost 100% of the time, particularly for problematic games was inserting the game, pressing down, then pulling the game back a little bit, where it wasn't all the way pressed against the back. Once I figured this out, I never had a problem with the solid gray screen or blinking lights practically ever.
If any of you still have your old Nintendo, and a game or two that struggle with this, give it a shot, I'd be interested to see if it works as well for other people.
Yet another entertaining/educational video, Norm! I would also love to visit that convention in Mesa!
Blinking Light Win is a great piece of kit. (I did a quick install video) As a UK gamer, I had no option to get a top loader, and now am able to play the many, many great games that didn't get a EU release. Only downside is how difficult it is to take the games out. So I bought a Game Genie, and now I have no problems whatsoever.
Boiling has produced the longest lasting solution for me; still using my original pin connector too!
Good timing, I happen to pick up an NES the other day.
I loved the PBS feel at the end!!! Simple and straight to the point!
sweet Gunsmoke getting some screen time, wish that was one the nes mini coming out
Wow that's one clean RF shield you got in that bad boy :) I am still waiting on my BLW... they have been back ordered for awhile unfortunately. Can't wait until I get it. I have tried everything, boiling multiple times, cleaning, re-bending pins etc. I think I needed to bend my top pins better, but they are really tough to get to properly.
I heard the Mr. Gimmick intro at the beginning and died
I usually just use my Top Loader, but it doesn't have a/v out.... so this would be really nice to have for my original NES. Brilliant design idea! Glad it was actually successful!
Watching this video actually makes me want to buy an NES and add this new pin connector
I'm still using my 2 old NES systems, one from 1985, the other 1988, both have their original cart mechanisms. The only mod I've ever done was to disable the NES10 lockout on the '88 model (way back in '89), so I could boot a 250in1 SuperVision multi-cart. The '85 launch model, doesn't even contain the ability to lock out the multi-carts.
The trick to this is a 3 step process..
1. Always use clean carts.
2. NEVER blow on your cart!
3. If the NES ever displays garbled gfx or blinking light, simply use a NES system cleaner. I've been using the same exact *Eliminator* (pink color) brand since 1988. Just insert it a few times and then clean with 91% or higher rubbing alcohol.
I think a lot of the bending or wearing of the pins is a myth. The issues most often stem from dirty pins, on both the NES carts, as well as the connector. I often get carts to work on the very first try. I've even kept a NES cart in the slot at all times for the past 34 years and it doesn't bend the cart pin adapter out of shape, as some would have you believe. (Also a myth). So "Keep it clean, and carry on". :)
My boy Quan made that! He is a beast!Great episode Norm
I've never experienced or even heard of the blinking light problem. Blowing on a cartridge always did the trick for me.
I feel like the only issue with this device is that I have to remember NOT to push the cartridges down because it's not designed to push down... I'd prefer the old way of doing it, pushing the game in, and pushing it down. And it feels so satisfying, too!
Great work as always Norm. I cannot wait to see a video about the NES Classic, if you plan to do one on it.
The NES really is really a decoration. I’d recommend if you have one that doesn’t work just get a top loader and keep the old one as decoration
After installing this, I have to wonder why I didn't do this sooner. Works great. I have yet to find a game, after cleaning, that doesn't boot up. Yes, the grip is a little strong, but I can still pull out my cartridges with relative ease.
Best $35 I have spent on NES related stuff in a long time.
Thank you for all your hard work. When i see a new video I'm genuinely excited.
I got this thing because you talked about it on the Level 7 Podcast
This is cool. Idk if I’ll get one. I bought an nes recently. Cleaned it out. Cut the little leg on the chip to disable the lock out chip. I bent the pins up a bit. Gave em a very fine sanding. And boiled it. It works amazing. Boots up first every time. I don’t push the cartridge down. The pins make good connections without pushing them down. It keeps my pin connector from getting bent up
i love this idea. absolutely genius. The one issue i have is that the transition from classic NES loading to WIN loading is jarring. It feels unnatural as we have been conditioned to depress the cart down when inserting a new game
Definitely going to pick one of these up. Thanks for doing the video and letting me know that these exist! Install looks nice and simple too.
It was always funniest with Mike Tyson's Punch Out! Everytime the game loads up it opens with a ringing bell, so every time it did the blinking light error, it would keep ringing the bell to rythym! lmao
I don't understand how there are any dislikes on this video. It is just a video with some info on this product, no wild opinions or bullshit, literally just information . Do you dislike information?
The last several years of using our NES, we just used the Game Genie as a pass thru to make the games have better contact.
That approach never seemed to wear out at all.
Got one for my NES recently and it works like a charm, I highly recommend it!