Famicom to NES adapter

[Scoots]

I need a foolproof way to tell if an American NES cart has the Famicom adapter in it without taking it apart first. I've read several articles online that mention things like "make sure it doesn't say "Rev A"" and "it weighs more than a standard cart." Both of these methods are unreliable at best. Is there any absolutely foolproof, works-every-time method? I really want to play these Famicom games, but I'm not going to buy an aftermarket adapter. Any ideas greatly appreciated!

[rbudrick]

You could try carrying a good mini scale (maybe a good pocket postal scale). Weigh what the cart weighs without the adapter (using one you know doesn't have it). Using your mini scale, if the same cart weighs several grams more, you probably have one. As far as I've been told, there is no other way short of opening the cart. AFAIK, the labels are identical. Rev A? never heard that one before...

-Rob

[CrazyImpmon]

Start with games that have 5 screws on the back and no tab on the end. Pick out only Hogan Alley. Gyromite, Stackup, Pinball, Excite Bike, Slalom, and Duck Hunt. Other titles may have the adapter but I haven't found it. (These games were also relased at launch day but i haven't found any with adapters included: 10- Yard Fight, Baseball, Clu Clu Land, Golf, Kung Fu, Mach Rider, Super Mario Bros, Tennis, Wild Gunmen, Wrecking Crew so they are unverified for now)

Look on the back label for stamped numbers. Carts with the number 00 stamped in had about 3 in 4 chance of having the adapter. I've also found them with "11" stamped in but that's about 1 in 4 carts.

AFAIK *all* Stackup has the adapter. But most Gyromite don't. :?

[leonk]

My stackup does not have the adapter in it...

Then again I'm in Canada, could there be a difference?

LK

[Achika]

I've usually found them in Gyromite carts with the 5 screws. You can usually just pick them up and weigh them in your two hands, I haven't had a problem doiing this before. It's kind like when you pick up a CD case with a CD in it and one without, you just know.

Just buying a bunch of Duck Hunts & Gyromites is your best bet. They are cheap enough, and atleast the Duck Hunt is common as hell in any Funco.

[Scoots]

Thanks for all the thoughts, guys. I went to about 5 stores last week and weighed every cart I thought was a possibiility in my hands. I bought the only copy of Gyromite I saw, but no dice.

[Scoots]

How about the screw style? Some use security bits, others simply small flat head screws... Does this lend any evidence one way or the other?

[mikeetler]

How about the screw style? Some use security bits, others simply small flat head screws... Does this lend any evidence one way or the other?

All of the five screw cases I've ever seen are flat head screws, and since you're looking for a five screw case from the start that eliminates security screws. The weight difference is very noticeable as long as you're comparing comparable carts. Obvioulsy holding a game with converter in one hand and a battery backed cart in the other won't help much.

[CrazyImpmon]

It is noticeable but the difference comes out to just a few grams between one with adapter and one without adapter so it's not quite reliable if you're not senstive. Just grab a cheap postal scale and use it. I see a few such scales at various stores like Goodwill (with old pricing system) for under a dollar.