Plug it in & Play TV Games Question.

[8bitmusic]

While treasure hunting today, I bought two 'Plug it in & Play' mini-arcades for less than a buck each. Both of them are made by Namco, and feature classic arcade games that you plug into your TV, and control by using a joystick and/or buttons.

One of them has issues with the screen going fuzzy/glitchy on me, and on the other one--down doesn't work on the joystick.

Can any one advise me on how to fix these things? They're really cool, but I know nothing of electronics. Is this a simple cleaning we're talking about? Or do I need to give these to an electrician?

[Ace]

Which stick has a broken DOWN direction? If it doesn't click, odds are the microswitch is broken. I had that same problem with the newest of the Namco Plug & Plays released where the UP direction failed because the microswitch had fallen apart on the inside(the spring inside the switch came loose). If the stick clicks, then there must be a loose wire either on the microswitch or the motherboard.

Fuzzy video might be due to a loose connection on the motherboard where the A/V cable is soldered or your A/V cable is damaged. I have the purple stick, and on that one, the A/V cable was damaged so I was getting oversaturated video, out-of-sync video, complete loss of video output and complete loss of audio output until I replaced the cable. First try to resolder the A/V cable, then if that fails, replace it entirely.

[8bitmusic]

Which stick has a broken DOWN direction? If it doesn't click, odds are the microswitch is broken. I had that same problem with the newest of the Namco Plug & Plays released where the UP direction failed because the microswitch had fallen apart on the inside(the spring inside the switch came loose). If the stick clicks, then there must be a loose wire either on the microswitch or the motherboard.

Fuzzy video might be due to a loose connection on the motherboard where the A/V cable is soldered or your A/V cable is damaged. I have the purple stick, and on that one, the A/V cable was damaged so I was getting oversaturated video, out-of-sync video, complete loss of video output and complete loss of audio output until I replaced the cable. First try to resolder the A/V cable, then if that fails, replace it entirely.

The blue, Ms. Pac Man featured game is the one with the not working DOWN direction. It does click, though. I guess that means the chip isn't broken, but how do you tighten a wire? Wire glue (good name for a metal band)?

The Fuzzy one isn't so much "fuzzy" as it is a slippery slope. Basically, it starts fine when I turn it on. Within seconds (not including the first time I tried it which took minutes), the game devolves steadily into a glitchy, unrecognizable mess that resembles an NES cart you need to blow on.

[NoahsMyBro]

The Fuzzy one isn't so much "fuzzy" as it is a slippery slope. Basically, it starts fine when I turn it on. Within seconds (not including the first time I tried it which took minutes), the game devolves steadily into a glitchy, unrecognizable mess that resembles an NES cart you need to blow on.

Maybe this is obvious and you've already checked, but might the batteries be drained?

[Arcade Antics]

The purple one isn't worth fixing, the game emulation is crazy bad.

[8bitmusic]

Maybe this is obvious and you've already checked, but might the batteries be drained?

That thing has batteries? Huh.. Well, paint me ignorant.

I solved the problem. What I did was I found another copy of the purple one, sealed in the box for 6 bucks. But wait, I still can't play it... Next question, I suppose, is how do you magically take a game out of a box without opening the box. Does it have anything to do with osmosis--or perhaps fitting Sunny D in a lunchbox?