Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Landstalker (Genesis) Not Playing (Edit, 2024 - Fixed.)

  1. #1
    ServBot (Level 11) Slate's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    3,681
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    112
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    11
    Thanked in
    10 Posts

    Default Landstalker (Genesis) Not Playing (Edit, 2024 - Fixed.)

    I've tried to get this cart working by:

    1: Cleaning contacts with Rubbing Alcohol.
    2: Cleaning contacts with metal polish. (This worked for several other games I bought in the same lot when rubbing alcohol didn't work.)
    3: I checked all of the contact tracings with my VOM. Everything I tested was OK.
    4: I checked the save battery. Even that still holds a charge but I'm not sure how much it should hold.
    5: I have 2 Genesis (Model 2) systems and it doesn't work in either one.

    Unless I missed something or the game got wiped out of existence by a power surge or something, I'm not sure why this game would not work. Any ideas?

    - Austin
    Last edited by Slate; 07-10-2024 at 08:57 PM.

  2. #2
    Pac-Man (Level 10)
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    107
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    105
    Thanked in
    101 Posts

    Default

    I had the same problem with a Genesis cart. the only thing I could come up with was a corrupt ROM. there is a device where you can reflash the ROM or something but unless you have sentimental value with the cart or dozens of dead carts, your cheaper route might be to just buy the cheapest one you can find that works and swapping the guts with the one you have

    the other possibility and you didnt mention it is the capacitor. however I replaced mine with a known good cap so the only other possibility is a bad ROM. my two cents. probably worth about that much too

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to gbpxl For This Useful Post:

    Slate (12-21-2019)

  4. #3
    Insert Coin (Level 0) Pr3tty F1y's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    fhqwhgads
    Posts
    145
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    11
    Thanked in
    11 Posts

    Default

    Was the save battery just tested or was it replaced? My thought would be to just outright replace it. There always is the possibility of corrupt data in SRAM or lack of voltage causing the return of values which may make the game not work. And, if it ends up not being the battery, it shouldn't cost you that much and the battery likely could be used for another game (those old batteries aren't going to last forever).

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to Pr3tty F1y For This Useful Post:

    Slate (12-21-2019)

  6. #4
    Pac-Man (Level 10)
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    107
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    105
    Thanked in
    101 Posts

    Default

    ive never heard or a battery killing a game. has that ever happened?

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to gbpxl For This Useful Post:

    Slate (12-21-2019)

  8. #5
    Super Moderator Moderator
    Custom rank graphic
    Aussie2B's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    9,318
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    36
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    134
    Thanked in
    112 Posts

    Default

    Some games won't start up if the battery is dead or missing. It's not that it damaged anything else, it's just that the battery has to be replaced before the game will function again. I couldn't say if Landstalker is one such game, though. Most games with batteries aren't like that.

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Aussie2B For This Useful Post:

    Slate (12-21-2019)

  10. #6
    Great Puma (Level 12) Niku-Sama's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Deadford, OR
    Posts
    4,134
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    5
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    65
    Thanked in
    60 Posts

    Default

    Maybe it has a restraining order?

  11. #7
    ServBot (Level 11) Slate's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    3,681
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    112
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    11
    Thanked in
    10 Posts

    Default



    OK, long time since the last replies, but I found this Youtube video maybe a week ago. In short (no pun intended,) some games might have a broken diode. If you identify where that is, you can solder in a 1k Resistor in-between that point and a Ground, then the game should boot.

    I haven't tried this with Landstalker yet, but it is a possibility.

    - Austin

  12. #8
    ServBot (Level 11) Slate's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    3,681
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    112
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    11
    Thanked in
    10 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Slate View Post


    OK, long time since the last replies, but I found this Youtube video maybe a week ago. In short (no pun intended,) some games might have a broken diode. If you identify where that is, you can solder in a 1k Resistor in-between that point and a Ground, then the game should boot.

    I haven't tried this with Landstalker yet, but it is a possibility.

    - Austin
    OK, nearly 5 years after purchasing this game, now I found out that the video I linked in 2022 is accurate. The 1k resistor method worked to fix this otherwise dead Genesis game, and the save battery even seems to work as it is.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1233 full edit.jpg 
Views:	6 
Size:	85.1 KB 
ID:	11175

    (click to make this bigger.)

    Color Guide:

    Orange Circles and 1 Orange Line = The part where I held the Positive Lead on, or a part that I'm certain is attached to the same tracing.
    Green = A part that gives a positive reading in response to the positive lead.
    Yellow = A place that gives a negative reading.
    Red = A place that either doesn't give a reading, or is attached so directly that it's as if it doesn't give a reading.

    Purple = Where I put the 1k resistor after putting all other colors down, thus making the Red parts only indicative of what things would be without the resistor. (Resistor not pictured.)

    If you have any dead Genesis Cartridges, give the Youtube Guide that I linked previously a try. It worked very nicely for me.

    - Austin

  13. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Slate For This Useful Post:

    Aussie2B (07-14-2024), Nz17 (07-12-2024)

Similar Threads

  1. Playing Pal Genesis in US ?
    By elvis8atari in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 12-18-2008, 10:46 PM
  2. Game Genie codes for Landstalker on Genesis
    By majinbuu in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-14-2007, 05:10 AM
  3. FA Genesis/2600 games, Shinobi III, Landstalker
    By davepesc in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-22-2005, 01:01 PM
  4. Genesis:Landstalker,6-pak NES:Mega Man 3 for sale on Ebay
    By sliop24 in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-13-2005, 12:12 PM
  5. Wanted: Landstalker for Sega Genesis
    By calaskophix in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 02-17-2005, 07:20 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •