Question about original Nintendo and poll

[powderfinger]

Everyone I have ever talked to that owned the original Nintendo has told me that they had to blow in the games to make them work (which I did as well). What I wanna know is this... HOW did everyone know to blow in the games? lol.

And did blowing in the games actually WORK for you? Me and my brother used to beat on the top of the system itself to make it "work".

Also, what were your favorite games? Mine were Contra, Castlevania, and Bases Loaded!

And also, how did everyone figure up the up up down down left right left right b a select start code? Some kid at school told me. Dunno how he knew> It surely wasnt on the internet in 1989 or 90!!

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

And also, how did everyone figure up the up up down down left right left right b a select start code? Some kid at school told me. Dunno how he knew> It surely wasnt on the internet in 1989 or 90!!

That's what the Nintendo Counselors were there for. One person called and it spread like wildfire. Nintendo Power and other mags as well had the cheats section.

Now you are playing with power.

[CrispyDelicious]

It's the moisture your breath puts on the metal connections of the cartridge. As years pass, they get covered in gunk, and the connection fails pretty bad. Blowing temporarily remedies it, but if you actually want to clean them, there's cleaning tips online. You can open up the cartridges and use a mild, non-abrasive cleaner to remove the gunk and they will work much better.

If you're feeling really adventurous, disassemble the NES itself and clean it as well.

Dragon Warrior 3+4, Mario 3(legendary), Zelda. There are other great games but those 3 really stand head and shoulders above the rest, IMO.

[fenderhutz]

Q-Tips dipped in a tiny bit of alcohol works wonders

[CrispyDelicious]

Yep, I still fire up my NES on occasion. I still cannnot get over how well Mario 3 was designed. That game is the pinnacle of 8-bit vidya.

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by CrispyDelicious

It's the moisture your breath puts on the metal connections of the cartridge. As years pass, they get covered in gunk, and the connection fails pretty bad. Blowing temporarily remedies it, but if you actually want to clean them, there's cleaning tips online. You can open up the cartridges and use a mild, non-abrasive cleaner to remove the gunk and they will work much better.

If you're feeling really adventurous, disassemble the NES itself and clean it as well.

Dragon Warrior 3+4, Mario 3(legendary), Zelda. There are other great games but those 3 really stand head and shoulders above the rest, IMO.

Oh well, I don't actually *own* an NES any longer. I think we tossed it out when we got a Sega Genesis in 1993 or so. But my question was how did everyone know to instinctively BLOW In the games.

[echoSE7EN]

Why is it that everyone (in America) went to a school where a certain girl had intimate relations with a hot dog? Seriously, it's the same thing. I have no idea about your question, but blowing in the cartridges, and girls and hot dogs, are universal things.

[powderfinger]

Ill tell you something funny. I found an old Nintendo Power a while back in an old box I had put up. There was an article in there about a kid named "Ace Ebb" who beat Super Mario Bros. in like 8 minutes or something. I decided to google Ace Ebb to see if he had gone onto any greatness in his life since 1989. All that came up on Google was his Facebook page. I clicked on his page, and his avatar was the SAME photo that was in Nintendo Power. NO kidding.

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by echoSE7EN

Why is it that everyone (in America) went to a school where a certain girl had intimate relations with a hot dog? Seriously, it's the same thing. I have no idea about your question, but blowing in the cartridges, and girls and hot dogs, are universal things.

That was *my* school that the hot dog incident happened at. She was a friend of someone my cousin knew. I never caught her name.

[jmattbassplaya]

I actually own the first issue (and a few others) of Nintendo Power. I doubt it's worth anything, but it's kinda cool to say I have it.

[tastybasslines]

After blowing on it, I inserted the cartridge and then pushed it to the right by using the notch on the games. Seemed also necessary to get them working.

[MJ5150]

TECMO Bowl is a great NES game.

-Mike

[Mr. Pickles]

I have the compulsion of blowing on all cassette style cartridges. I even catch myself blowing on CDs once in a while

Weird, though

[Jim Nazium]

...

[dblthumbballad]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

TECMO Bowl is a great NES game.

-Mike

+1

I still play TB and TSB (albeit on an emulator) to this day...And yes, Bo Jackson is a beast...

[dozicusmaximus]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

After blowing on it, I inserted the cartridge and then pushed it to the right by using the notch on the games. Seemed also necessary to get them working.

+1
Some games you had to slide to the left or the right. I had a few games where I had a technique. Blow on the cartridge, with my shirt over the game, while I blow. Then put the game in slide left, right, left right, left... power.
Some games needed some extra pressure on top of the cartridge after it was already pressed down. I used a tube of chapstick. Or another cartridge would work.
I still love Mario 3, Excitebike, RBI, Techmo Bowl, Paperboy, Hockey, Maniac Mansion

[macaroni tony]

I heard of blowing in the cartridges from friends at school. I did it, and I always doubted whether it actually "worked," or if it was just a mind thing.

My favorite game was the track meet game I got with the NES, that had a pad for you to run on and control the runners with!

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by dozicusmaximus

+1
Some games you had to slide to the left or the right. I had a few games where I had a technique. Blow on the cartridge, with my shirt over the game, while I blow. Then put the game in slide left, right, left right, left... power.
Some games needed some extra pressure on top of the cartridge after it was already pressed down. I used a tube of chapstick. Or another cartridge would work.

I think it was worse on the games that had batteries? Like the gold Zelda I think it was, when they were able to start saving your games.

What a big step it was to be able to save your games. Instead I used to leave the unit on for days at a time and just turn off the TV.

[dozicusmaximus]

Oh, yah. Had to leave it on for days. The worst was coming home and seeing the power light blinking. NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
For some reason all my friends who used Game Genies their systems started acting up alot faster than mine. I never used one.

[baalroo]

IMO, the best games for NES were:

Mario 3, Contra, Dragon Warrior, Punch Out, Blades of Steel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ducktales, Base Wars, Baseball Stars, Shadowgate, River City Ransom, Star Tropics, Bubble Bobble.