Question about the gold pins/contacts on an NES game...

[John-Lennon]

Hello, I am new here.
I was wondering if the fact that a game is missing 2 pins next to each other if it would affect play. And if so, how do I repair it?

[Satoshi_Matrix]

What do you mean, missing? Broken off? eroded? very dirty? in any case, yes, in all likelihood such a cartridge would be little more than a paperweight. NES games didn't use the middle pins, so those are far less critical, but the end pins on either side are vital to operations.

[John-Lennon]

Yes the 2 on the edge are missing on my battle toads, it will still play but it's tought to get it to work. How do you replace those?

[jordandavid]

I'm not sure if I'm recalling NES cartridges or Genesis cartridges, but I'm pretty sure I've opened some games with one side of the contacts not being full of pins but having substrate extending to the end in some places (gaps of green circuit board in places instead of gold contacts down the entire side), if that makes sense. If that's what you're talking about, then it's the way they come and it's not a problem.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

again...what do you mean by missing? broken off? If so, I'd recommend you stop using that cartridge, throw it out and get a new one. damaged edge connectors can't be fixed, and you can't easily replace edge connectors on NES games.

Using games with missing pins could create electrical shorts that could damage your NES and potentially start an electrical fire. At the very least, it could damage the NES 72 pin connector, which wasn't designed that well to begin with.

C'mon man. Battletoads costs like $5. Buy get a new copy.

[Ninjamohawk]

Yeah buy a new one, you're asking for trouble otherwise.

My question is, how did it come off in the first place? O_o Those are on there preeeeetty good.

[John-Lennon]

I just bought it and received it like that. I have no idea why.

[tubeway]

I think we're all ignoring the most important item of business here and that's this person is claiming to be John Lennon. Pfft. John Lennon wouldn't be playing Battletoads on NES.

He's more of a Millipede kind of guy.

[SpaceHarrier]

Pfft. John Lennon wouldn't be playing Battletoads on NES.

He's more of a Millipede kind of guy.

I thought he liked First-Person Shooters

[Rev. Link]

I thought he liked First-Person Shooters

Too soon.

[Enigmus]

I think we're all ignoring the most important item of business here and that's this person is claiming to be John Lennon. Pfft. John Lennon wouldn't be playing Battletoads on NES.

He's more of a Millipede kind of guy.

Nah, Ringo's the Millipede guy. John is a Donkey Kong/Space Harrier kind of guy.

[Rolf&Nei]

--Ignore this, my browser jogged.--

[Rolf&Nei]

They probably don't matter; not all games seem to come with a full chip of them. The reason is as far to seek as why all NES games came with the seal of quality. Anyhow, take a q-tip and a bottle of rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover; shake the bottle, then dip the q-tip in what's left on cap's underside (no more). Use that to clean the exposed part of the NES game.

[Oldskool]

newbies. Many NES carts come with a pin or two mising here and there. But just for reference, I checked my Battletoads and yes, the middle pins are missing, so it must be normal.

If you have having a hard time getting it to start, try cleaning the pins on the cart first. If that doesn't work a little blowing here and there. If that doesn't work then your 72-pin connector inside the NES is suspect. Which would not be a surprise.