most common defects / parts missing

[Kid Ice]

It seems like certain games and systems always have the same problems or parts that are missing. Here's my list, I'm sure the gang here can list many, many more.

VCS Activision carts- actiplaque, it goes without saying

VCS Sesame Street carts - actiplaque

VCS Parker Brothers carts - peeling labels. At some point they must have switched to a cheap glue; Frogger and ESB carts are usually fine, but I don't think I've ever seen a Gyruss or Popeye cart without a peeling label. I've seen more Parker Brothers games without labels than I care to count.

VCS Konami carts - the labels for these were all one piece. Always seem to be messed up.

VCS paddles - nuff said

Odyssey 2 big box games - Quest for the Rings, Conquest of the World, etc. are always missing pieces

5200 console - nuff said

7800 console - often missing the power adapter

Vectrex 3D imager - there is a foam piece that goes over the bridge of your nose, that piece always falls off

Coleco tabletops - OK, all tabletops - missing battery cover. What did kids do with these, eat them?

Coleco tabletops - actiplaque and peeling labels

NES systems - blink

NES Arkanoid controllers- usually broken

SNES systems - yellow, cover on cartridge slot seems to be missing a lot

32X - either can't get it to work, can't get it to stay working, or games crash

3DO FZ1 systems - I've had 3, one kinda works

Playstation long box games - lots of peeling labels, broken plastic on the piece that holds the CD in place

Playstation games - getting hard to find complete games. I'm rooting for the PS3 to not be backwards compatible so some of these will get coughed up.

Saturn system - dead battery, can't save

Saturn games - cracked cases

Dreamcast games - in my experience, the most non-working games of any system

[Cryomancer]

32X commonly has missing cables or the little metal thingies. Not that you need the metal thingies. There's also a fix for most of the "not working" problems that used to be on sonic cult, but I can't remember it as i never had the problem.

Saturn Battery is easily replacable, same as VMU/motherboard type.

Dreamcast has most non-working games? Sure you're not buying launch titles without the HOT NEW! thing on it, or have a defective system? My Dreamcast will play anything...I has some issues with scratched saturn games before, but modding one made a lot of them work again since the first thing to die on a saturn disc is usually the security ring.


now to actually add more to the post...

VMUs rarely have their caps

I hear a lot of people break their n64 sticks.

The cracked saturn cases also appalied to Sega CD and some psx, and then you could also say that the foam is often missing.

I'll venture to guess that a lot of the games that come in the outer cardboard with an accesory will be annoying to find in that condition in the future, ie mario party 6, zelda four swords, karaoke revolution, ect.

[Kid Ice]

Saturn Battery is easily replacable, same as VMU/motherboard type.

Yeah, I know, it's just that I've had to do that a couple too many times. Same w/ regluing cart labels and replacing the pins in an NES.


Dreamcast has most non-working games? Sure you're not buying launch titles without the HOT NEW! thing on it, or have a defective system? My Dreamcast will play anything...I has some issues with scratched saturn games before, but modding one made a lot of them work again since the first thing to die on a saturn disc is usually the security ring.


I have two Dreamcasts, usually if a game doesn't work on one I try it on the other, and sure enough it doesn't work on either. The first one I got at launch, the other one I got used. Maybe it's just bad luck. I've even had a couple of brand new out-of-the-box games not work (not HOT NEW).

[Jumpman Jr.]

Three of my Virtual Boys either only show 1 screen or neither screen.

[fishsandwich]

Saturn Battery is easily replacable, same as VMU/motherboard type.

Yeah, I know, it's just that I've had to do that a couple too many times. Same w/ regluing cart labels and replacing the pins in an NES.


Dreamcast has most non-working games? Sure you're not buying launch titles without the HOT NEW! thing on it, or have a defective system? My Dreamcast will play anything...I has some issues with scratched saturn games before, but modding one made a lot of them work again since the first thing to die on a saturn disc is usually the security ring.


I have two Dreamcasts, usually if a game doesn't work on one I try it on the other, and sure enough it doesn't work on either. The first one I got at launch, the other one I got used. Maybe it's just bad luck. I've even had a couple of brand new out-of-the-box games not work (not HOT NEW).


GAH! Don't get me started on defective Dreamcast games.... actually, they're not defective... they are USED. The bane of the Dreamcast collector is the bloody used game. I can't tell you how many I've bought just to get them home and one small scratch keeps them from playing. I see why people like to get their Dreamcast games SEALED.

:angry:

[drewbrim]

The only one for me that seems consitant as gravity is the liklihood of a NES having a cracked or broken off door/lid. As far as the blink goes, was there really ever a time when they didn't? Honestly, I'm pretty sure the trial and error was always a part of the process.

[Slate]

PS2 - Launch units. Enough said.

Xbox - 2001 units Skip & Freeze.

Genesis Model 1 - Volume slider

Sega CD - Fuse Blows when you use the NES power adaptor (But can be fixed)

PSP - Dead pixel issue & Air bubbles. Who can forget.

Nintendo DS - Try to play Warioware touched on that unit at Walmart. O_O

[culltyler]

GameCubes usually have cracks. I have a launch day one and its got those weird mold cracks around the power and reset buttons.

SNES used systems are usually staind to hell.

Battery Covers for Game Boys are always gone at flea markets.

[Promophile]

Just like to echo the sega saturn dead battery thing. Back in 2000 I bought back a saturn after selling it (long story), and had the can't save problem. Didn't know what the problem was so i returned it and got another system. Well that one also had the problem. I went through over 10 (yes 10) different systems before I read an FAQ online and found out how to replace the battery.

[DigitalSpace]

PlayStation - some models have to be placed upside down just so they'll play a game.

VCS Activision carts - Labels usually have dark spots all over them due to a crappy glue that was used.

N64 - missing jumper/expansion pak covers

N64 controllers - Loose and broken analog sticks

Dreamcast - Lid problems

Xbox - Poor thompson drives

[Emily]

The only one for me that seems consitant as gravity is the liklihood of a NES having a cracked or broken off door/lid. As far as the blink goes, was there really ever a time when they didn't? Honestly, I'm pretty sure the trial and error was always a part of the process.

LOL so true! I honestly cant remember a time when my NES didnt blink! Stupid hunk of crap, how I love you.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Man if I had a dime for every time I've had these happen

N64- Missing PSU, Jumper Pak, no controllers

N64 Controllers - flaking joystick that's a pain to replace or fix sometimes.

Genesis Controllers- Something rattling inside, a button won't budge

GameCube controllers- C-Stick will sometimes go out during mistreatment and cause all kinds of odd problems during gameplay

32X- Already mentioned up above, especially the cable parts.

Sega CD - the frustration of a dead Sega CD is a pain..

ColecoVision/Atari/INTV- Never has the correct RF supplies with it when finding one out in the wild...

Genesis 1/2 - Missing an RF Switch or a PSU...Missing the bottom cover to hide the Sega CD contacts.

NES- That damn blink....RF Switch port will go out...leaving only the AV port okay....sometimes the main DC unit will crap out, I've noticed this on a certain brand (notice the symbol markings, if it doesn't say MATSUMI...chances are it's a cheap part that Nintendo used back in the day)

SNES- Dead AV Output....Dead RF Switch.....the plug in for the AC Power looks like someone ripped out the cover, leaving two little prongs sticking out, it'll work...but makes you kind of worried)

SNES Controllers....sticky buttons...(I think every used controller for a system suffers from this) which means...a button that won't come back up....and god knows what's inside it when you open it....

AC Power Supplies- Bent cords (Causing the system not to power up unless you bend it in a certain direction)....torn cords that reveal wires hanging out.....crap that's duct taped...and you're afraid to remove the duct tupe... :eek 2:

Systems with cracked cart slots...cases...broken LED lights..yellowing....fire victims (I have a burnt SNES and it still works!)

and my worst pet peeve....Insect graveyards....a system that looks so bad...that dead bugs are falling out of it...

[GrandAmChandler]

Old School Gameboys- The little plastic cover for the game link port!!!

[fergojisan]

Missing controller overlays (Inty, 5200 etc.).


Coleco tabletops - OK, all tabletops - missing battery cover. What did kids do with these, eat them?

I am missing a few myself. But I do have one with a fine handcrafted balsa wood battery cover. LOL

[InsaneDavid]

PlayStation - some models have to be placed upside down just so they'll play a game.

The easiest fix I've found for this is to attach a piece of SMOOTH foam (like what motherboards come wrapped in sometimes) beneath the path of the read laser carriage...

http://www.classicplastic.info/PS1-DriveFoamMod.jpg

It lifts the whole assembly up enough to read the disc properly, an since the foam is nice and slick the carriage doesn't get tripped up in it.

JVC X'Eye - NEVER seem to have the damn original power supply or JVC branded controllers in the wild. (although I'm not complaining since mine was $3) Also the little pinswitch that senses if the CD lid is closed or not is NOTORIOUS for breaking off. Has this happened to you? Then read my post on repair / walkaround...

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=57804

[KJN]

Game & Watch: missing serial number sticker and/or battery cover.

[Zadoc]

Virtual Boy: Missing Stand, rubber goggle piece that goes aroung the viwing area.

[NESaholic]

NES:

Rad racer-most of the time without 3D glasses ( also i miss alot of posters coming with games in general )
Power Glove - alot are incomplete
R.O.B. - same story alot incomplete

[Cauterize]

R.O.B. - alot incomplete

heh you beat me to it!

i own 2 incomplete Rob's! im dying for the part for him to play gyromite!

[c2000]

DC; Triggers on early JAP pads. Dead in a few days.

Gamegear: Cardboard boxes. There must've been tons of these things been thrown away.

[esquire]

32X - Missing the metal clips or base extension.

Sega CD - Missing the grounding plates.

Atari 5200 - Controller is usually f'd up - its usally the carbon contacts under the buttons worn out, or the membrane is either not lined up or damaged.

Intellivision - Cut/Pinch in controller wire; also, like the 5200, controller membrane not lined up inside, or cut in circuit.

Atari 2600 - The standard controller breaks (the little white thingies snap off inside.

Atari Jaguar CD - The player is DOA.

Philips CD-i - unit won't scan disc initially; have to reboot.

Dreamcast/Saturn - CD lid probelems; can't tell you how many times I've had to jimmy rig these.

Any CD based game (in particular Playstation) - scartch that goes through CD (you can see light through it); no amount of buffing will save the game.

Genesis and Atari 2600 carts - rattling inside; with 2600 usally means one of the plastic pegs holding the case together broke.

GB/GBC/GBA - worn labels from idiots who don't know how to remove a cartridge from the console. Not really a defect, but more of a pet peeve.

[Immutable]

My major problem with finds at the flea markets has been missing AV cords. Also, I once picked up a Colecovision system that didn't work. :/

[Tatsu]

X-Box: is picky with reading lightly scratched/dirty games and tends to freeze. If the discs are shiny everything seems fine.

[Lady Jaye]

GameCubes usually have cracks. I have a launch day one and its got those weird mold cracks around the power and reset buttons.

SNES used systems are usually staind to hell.

Battery Covers for Game Boys are always gone at flea markets.

Actually, it's not so much that the SNES are stained that they change color -- it's known that Nintendo used for a long while a type of plastic that eventually changed color with prolonged air contact. Thus, the yellowed SNES. They're not stained, they don't come from smokers' houses, they're simply discolored into a nasty yellow hue.

[Cthulhu]

SNES used systems are usually staind to hell.


Anyone know why that is? Is it just the type of plastic? I've had mine since I bought it new and and have taken good care of it... yet it's still quite yellow. I don't smoke either. LOL

EDIT: Apparently while I was typing in my post my question was answered. ^^;

[bargora]

While this theory of the plastic oxidizing is nicely scientific-sounding, you need to stop deluding yourselves.

Your SNES has been sneaking cigarettes when you aren't looking. Now that you've got a PlayStation 2 that makes kajillions of polygons per second and you barely ever play Super anything anymore, your SNES is feeling inadequate and neglected. You need to sit down and have a talk with your SNES.

This yellow thing is ALL YOUR FAULT!!1!

Parents. The Anti-drug.

[SoulBlazer]

I don't think the plastic for the SNES was used for THAT long -- from what I've seen online, they switched to a non-yellowing plastic around 93-94.

[GarrettCRW]

I've been told that it was the plastic originated from Mexico, though any of a number of countries could have caused this (search for original Storm Shadow, Snow Job, and Spirit figures on ebay, and you'll find the same degree of discoloration).