Worst Condition Consoles You've Ever Picked Up...

[xan_racketBOY_fan]

Though not a console, it is still the most disgusting game related item I've picked up. The black gunk in the crevices just freak me out - then after a good cleaning, the price magically reappears ... lol.

[Jrecee]

I wouldn't have touched that snes if it had a stack of hundred dollar bills in it much less buy it. I can't stand my systems not looking good. I had to pull that stupid little plastic strip off my master system because it was all wrinkly. What's the point of that strip anyway?

To protect the shiny surface during packing and shipping. Lots of other electronics from that era had them too. Heck, I remember my friend's early 360 still had the film on the IR eye when I was trying to fix it for him.

I guess I'm weird that the messed up and dirty systems I've gotten were taken as challenges. Even if it's kinda gross, I want to clean it up and make it look nice and get it working again. Granted most of the icky ones I've gotten were free or nearly so. As noted in my sig, send me your icky stuff to clean up for you for a modest fee or barter.

I just assumed it was something that was meant to be left on since 90% of the master systems I've seen on ebay had that bubbling plastic strip on it and if I didn't see bubbling I assumed it was just in good condition. I guess I'm just the guy who finally peels the protective film off the vintage iphone I bought in 2025. Or who finally picks off the system specs sticker on the computer.

[RCBH928]

bad karma will come back to get you

[flamepanther]

Isn't there a way to get the yellow colour to turn back to normal?

The yellow is usually only on the surface. Sanding down will help expose white plastic again. There is a forum here somewhere that mentions vinegar and another that mentions some bright chemical mix.

Don't sand it unless you intend to paint over it!

Here is what you want:
http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/

[Curlypaul]

Though not a console, it is still the most disgusting game related item I've picked up. The black gunk in the crevices just freak me out - then after a good cleaning, the price magically reappears ... lol.

Any used controller I buy has a thourough clean as soon as it arrives at my house. My wife laughs at me, but even seemingly clean controllers house years worth of other peoples finger dirt in their crevices and thats just gotta go.

[bacteria]

Dirtiest console i've opened so far was a Sega SMS 2, the shielding plate was about 20% rusted, and parts of the grounding strip on the console board itself; the cart port was thick in dust, as were a lot of components around the cart slot. System worked (it was the board I washed and got looking pretty good again a while back) but it had been badly looked after. Paid £2 for it as I recall, so a good deal, especially as the board still works fine!

Regularly open up controllers where the screws are grimy with old dust and the insides are similar. Not seen a console that had its casing melted though!

Thing is, old cart based consoles are very robust and built to last, it's the CD/DVD based consoles that fare poorly in comparison so far less likely to work if badly treated.

[ApolloBoy]

My Atari 5200 was covered in grime and had spider egg sacs in it (along with several tiny spiders, some dead and some alive) when I bought it almost 7 years ago. The tip of the RF/power cable was badly corroded too, so bad that I had to snip it off and replace it with a new connector. I guess I can't complain much considering it was $5 for the system by itself, and it worked perfectly after a good cleaning.

[eSPy]

got an original playstation and a bunch of games in a garbage bag from some yardsale. i think that it was thrown in a corner of the garage for several years. lots of mouse poo everywhere....had to take the system appart to get it all out.

other than that it cleaned up fine. lots of the cords had bite marks.....

[AppleQueso]

I never picked up anything that nasty myself, but I did once see a picture of a playstation with its insides COVERED AND SWARMING WITH ANTS.

[gravitone]

Damn, these all look grose. Here in Northern europe we don't have cockroaches. It also helps that our houses are not made of plywood and cardboard, so mouse infestations are uncommon. It's also pretty rare these days to even have a basement, so the only consoles/games you find that are bad condition have either been stored in a garage/shed or improperly insulated attic. And of course the usuall console or handheld that has been stored in a chronic smokers den (plenty of those sadly).
Any gunk, grit, dirt, etc. I can clean off with the right chemicals. But nicotine on plastic, and especially the rubbery stuff used on cords is pretty much mission impossible. Any console, game, or accesory I buy gets a mandatory disassembly down to the smallest parts, and a complete cleaning to remove even the faintest trace of crap.