View Full Version : Donkey Kong Country 3 SNES?
369WIERDO369
08-25-2011, 10:35 AM
So I recently purchased a used copy of DKC 3 for the SNES, and I can't get it to work.
I put it in my FC16-Go and was told that the game will not operate on a device which makes illegal copies.
I figured it just didn't like being run on non-Nintendo hardware, so I put it in my actual SNES. Got the same message.
Tried 3 different gamepads (was told that could cause the issue if the gamepad was dirty), tried cleaning the contacts, tried cleaning the contacts in the SNES..
Any other suggestions?
buzz_n64
08-25-2011, 01:23 PM
It's a late release SNES game. Has a special lock-out chip. I tried playing it through a game genie, and it gave me the same illegal copies message. Hopefully the chip isn't damaged or the circuitry. I advise you to open it up, clean and inspect that sucker.
Sunnyvale
08-25-2011, 01:29 PM
It's a late release SNES game. Has a special lock-out chip. I tried playing it through a game genie, and it gave me the same illegal copies message. Hopefully the chip isn't damaged or the circuitry. I advise you to open it up, clean and inspect that sucker.
That's the best you can do. I've got a small hill of carts that I need to crack open myself.
Flack
08-25-2011, 01:31 PM
Several SNES games perform checksum checks to see if the game has been modified. If it has, you will (can) get that error screen. The most common reason for this to fail is dirty contacts, either in the cart or in the system. Since you said you tried that already, it's possible that the cartridge or lockout chip itself is damaged. That would also cause that error.
That what sucks about DRM and copy protection. Your copy that you paid for doesn't work, while my pirated ROM works great on my Console Copier. :)
leatherrebel5150
08-25-2011, 02:05 PM
So the cart itself has a lockout chip? I didn't have any problem playing through my retron 3.
I read that this can also happen if the battery is dead. You could try replacing the battery.
JLukas
08-25-2011, 02:43 PM
^ I agree, it's almost certainly the battery.
Emuaust
08-25-2011, 04:55 PM
Or it could be you're trying to play it on a pal snes with an ntsc cart, even with my pass through adapters I get that message on my pal snes, can you confirm what country you are from?
369WIERDO369
08-25-2011, 08:14 PM
I'm in the US, and the SNES is NTSC-format, definitely not PAL..
Assuming I open it up, do I need a gamebit? What would I look for once I open it?
If I were to go instead for the battery, how would I do so?
369WIERDO369
08-25-2011, 10:44 PM
Think I found the problem ...
I've discovered that if you shake the cart, there is something rattling around inside.
None of my other carts have anything rattling around.
So, can anyone say that this is possibly NOT the issue?
Aussie2B
08-25-2011, 11:16 PM
Not a good sign, but it's not a guarantee that a cart won't work. I have a few games that have pieces ratting inside that still work fine. Could just be a little piece of broken plastic or some such.
369WIERDO369
08-26-2011, 03:34 PM
Well, since the screws on the cart look as if they're not gonna come out with or without a special screwdriver, is there anything else I can do with this or should I just assume it's a lost cause and buy a 'new' copy?
leatherrebel5150
08-26-2011, 03:53 PM
I'd say get the bit needed to open the cart. There on sale now at lukiegames.com for like $4. Even it is something you can't fix at least you have a bit for future issues.
Aussie2B
08-26-2011, 04:05 PM
Considering it actually functions and gives you that message, there's a good chance that it could be salvaged. Don't go throwing it in the trash. I also recommend just getting the bit.
chrisballer
08-26-2011, 04:26 PM
Considering it actually functions and gives you that message, there's a good chance that it could be salvaged. Don't go throwing it in the trash. I also recommend just getting the bit.
My thoughts as well. I would just get the bit and change the battery. If you are into NES too you might as well grab both bits from where ever you order them.
NBaco
08-26-2011, 04:26 PM
Definitely get the gamebit. I got one and although it didn't fix the problem I was having, it has helped me correct other problems.
Unfortunately I have no idea what could be wrong. I would say the battery.
Leo_A
08-26-2011, 07:51 PM
I have several SuperNes games that will make sounds when you shake it. And none of them have a broken component that is loose inside the cart. So I don't think the sound you're hearing is necessarily the problem.
I say don't bother ordering a gamebit. It doesn't sound as if you're very familiar with this type of stuff. Once you get it open, are you going to attempt to desolder the existing battery and install a replacement (Something that very well might not even be the problem, considering it's just about the newest SuperNes game with a battery and many NES cartridges and such are still going strong with their original batteries)?
Unless you're prepared to do so. why bother taking it apart? You're not likely going to find anything to do inside of it that doesn't require some electronics skills. Reviving it will require more than just popping the cart open and having a look inside.
If I were you, I'd sell it here on the marketplace since I'm sure you could get someone that would take it off your hands believing that they could fix it, and just get a replacement. It's not a particularly valuable game and it's not like you have any nostalgia associated with this particular game, so I'd take the easy way out.
369WIERDO369
08-26-2011, 08:56 PM
I have several SuperNes games that will make sounds when you shake it. And none of them have a broken component that is loose inside the cart. So I don't think the sound you're hearing is necessarily the problem.
I say don't bother ordering a gamebit. It doesn't sound as if you're very familiar with this type of stuff. Once you get it open, are you going to attempt to desolder the existing battery and install a replacement (Something that very well might not even be the problem, considering it's just about the newest SuperNes game with a battery and many NES cartridges and such are still going strong with their original batteries)?
Unless you're prepared to do so. why bother taking it apart? You're not likely going to find anything to do inside of it that doesn't require some electronics skills. Reviving it will require more than just popping the cart open and having a look inside.
If I were you, I'd sell it here on the marketplace since I'm sure you could get someone that would take it off your hands believing that they could fix it, and just get a replacement. It's not a particularly valuable game and it's not like you have any nostalgia associated with this particular game, so I'd take the easy way out.
You're right, I don't have much experience with this type of thing. I looked into what would be involved in a battery replacement and I don't know anything about soldering or anything that requires knowledge of electronics.
My biggest thing is that I paid for this game, so it'd suck to not be able to use it after that.
alec006
08-27-2011, 01:57 AM
You're right, I don't have much experience with this type of thing. I looked into what would be involved in a battery replacement and I don't know anything about soldering or anything that requires knowledge of electronics.
My biggest thing is that I paid for this game, so it'd suck to not be able to use it after that.
You could have a coin holder soldered on for you so you can replace the battery anytime it dies which takes about 5-15 years. A guy on Nintendo Age goes it for a small fee
http://www.nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?StartRow=1&catid=6&threadid=31878
And I'm willing to be someone here can do it as well :)
Gameguy
08-27-2011, 02:13 AM
I had a Genesis sports game with a rattle, when I opened it the save battery was loose inside. I didn't bother to fix it as it was a sports game, but maybe that's what your rattle is.
Leo_A
08-27-2011, 03:42 AM
You could have a coin holder soldered on for you so you can replace the battery anytime it dies which takes about 5-15 years. A guy on Nintendo Age goes it for a small fee
http://www.nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?StartRow=1&catid=6&threadid=31878
And I'm willing to be someone here can do it as well :)
Not a bad idea if he ever had a batch of carts that needed that work done, just to see if it did fix it.
But when you don't know what's up with this particular cart, I vote for cutting your losses instead of bothering to ship just it out and pay a fee just for work that very well might not cure the problem.
NBaco
08-27-2011, 07:13 AM
If you have cold feet about replacing the battery yourself, I suggest having someone else do it. Like alec said, there's a guy on Nintendoage who will do it and several people here who will do it. I've been attempting to replace a save battery in one of my GB games and unfortunately am having no luck. I'm more than likely going to end up giving someone 5-10$ to do it for me, a decision I would have been better off making in the first place.
But like Leo said, it would suck butt if that wasn't even the problem...
The game sells for like $15. I'd just sell that copy for $5 stating that it needs a new battery or something and move on.