Pokemon Stadium 2 requirements?

[Aussie2B]

I recently picked up Pokemon Stadium 2 with a bunch of other N64 games, and while it was very dirty to begin with (like the others), it is now perfectly clean (as is the N64), but it doesn't work whatsoever. All the other games I bought at that place work on the very first try, as do the other 40-50 N64 games I own.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe, considering it's a later N64 release, it might require the expansion pak (which I don't want to go out and buy since I'm only using this system for the summer; my other does have an expansion pak). I have the box, which makes no mention of it, but I still have the feeling that that might just be it. I just can't accept that it's dead on arrival when it looks so nice (only flaws are a little sticker residue and a very slightly worn out label). Out of the hundreds of used games I've bought I've never had an official game that I couldn't get to work with some thorough cleaning (I have a dead pirate and a NES cart that always has scrambled graphics, but that's it).

I've searched the net for info, and I can't find anything stating that the expansion pak is or is not a requirement (one guide mentioned that the game can be used with the expansion pak, but that doesn't tell me much :/ ). So... can anyone confirm for me that it is or isn't the expansion pak that's causes this?

[Joelius]

i just tested my copy without the Expansion pack and it works just fine. Sounds like a definate problem with the cartridge. Try cleaning it out a few more times and see what happens. But it does work for sure without the expanison pack. Hope that helps ya out.

[Aussie2B]

Thanks, that helps a lot. Yeah, I'll try cleaning it some more, and if that fails, I'll see if I can return it.

[Aussie2B]

Well, after three more cleanings with q-tips and alcohol and two cleanings with a white eraser, I've seen no improvement.

My boyfriend came up with the theory that since it's a former rental and a popular Pokemon game perhaps the connectors have been worn thin from extensive (rough) use, thus resulting in it not making proper contact. When I turn the system on, it's as if there is no game in the system at all. It seems like that could be the case. After comparing its connectors to several other N64 carts, they do appear to be a bit thinner than the norm. One side looks okay, but it's rather thin looking on the other when I tilt it to get the light to glare off the edges. One in particular is so thin that it doesn't even really have a visible edge. I can't get the light to glare off it at all. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the problem.

So, unless somebody has any ideas or suggestions, I'll likely cross my fingers and hope I can return it. Pretty disappointing, though... It's pretty valuable as far as N64 games go, and it was the only copy they had, so I'll likely have to get a different game if I'm even able to exchange it.