Has anyone's N64 games begin to degrade?

[01toubib]

Not a great day. Went to go play Majoras Mask, and the game keeps resetting itself mid-game. If any of you have played the game, you know it means I can't save. Ughhh, so I lost all my old data.

I did the cleaning and everything, but I think the game has begun falling apart from the inside. I can hear little bits moving around when I shake the cartridge. Not sure how it happened, the game was in mint condition, and was in dry cool storage for years.

So far it looks to be my only victim, so I'm just curious, has anyone else ever had this problem? Or is it a isolated case?


I'm also thinking it could also potentially be a Majoras Mask isolated thing, as I googled it, and it looked like I'm not solo on this problem. So any thoughts?

[BoringSupreez]

You should open the cart up and see what's going on inside.

[01toubib]

You should open the cart up and see what's going on inside.

Yeah, I was thinking about it. I don't have a darn hex to open the 2 security screws on the back of the cartridge. I guess I'll have to buy one.

[flojocabron]

It really depends where they were laying around.

I've seen some with faded labels and some of the contacts have gone green and/or rusty.

Theres (in mexico) a traveling fleamarket and the dude has the same games for sale. They are too expensive and they are in real bad condition. Faded, peeling labels. scratched in too many places from being thrown around the back of his van. And they've been out in the heat/sun for far too many years.

I never bought anything from him and I dont plan to.

Not to say that you are not taking care of your things. It takes a lot of abuse, but carts do break down.

How many times have you stepped on an NES cart or dropped them? The main board is more sturdy, but the plastic housing tends to break off at the tips inside the cart. Hence the little sounds when you shake the cart.

Maybe you dont remember dropping it, or a sibling messed it up and nonchalantly put it back so you wouldn't notice?

If you're good at taking stuff apart and the case is still good, maybe you can find another zelda game and swap it out?

[Curlypaul]

It might well be a duff battery making it reset. I'd have a look at that if you open it and don't see anything obviously wrong with the board. A gamebit is a decent investment, you can fix all sorts of things once you have one

[emwearz]

You should open the cart up and see what's going on inside.

Yeah, I was thinking about it. I don't have a darn hex to open the 2 security screws on the back of the cartridge. I guess I'll have to buy one.

Hex doesn't open them, you will need a 'gamebit'.

[o.pwuaioc]

You should open the cart up and see what's going on inside.

Yeah, I was thinking about it. I don't have a darn hex to open the 2 security screws on the back of the cartridge. I guess I'll have to buy one.

Hex doesn't open them, you will need a 'gamebit'.

Which you can buy here.

[BoneSnapDeez]

The bits you hear moving inside are probably just plastic, it's generally harmless if those break off. Buy the necessary tools and pop open that sucker. In addition to the gamebit screws, there are two more tiny Phillips head ones further inside. My wife has a screwdriver from an eyeglasses repair kit which I use to open those. Open it up, give it a thorough cleaning. Carts are pretty tough, thankfully.

[AppleQueso]

It might well be a duff battery making it reset. I'd have a look at that if you open it and don't see anything obviously wrong with the board. A gamebit is a decent investment, you can fix all sorts of things once you have one

iirc, N64 carts don't use batteries for save backup, they use some kind of flash memory.

[Protronrob]

the only issue ive had with a N64 game is with Space Station Silicon Valley
the copy i have will freeze about 4 mins into the opening cinematic every single time as if it was a CD with a scratch on it, since i would have no idea what to even look for (other then cleaning contacts) I havent bothered to pull it apart.

But Majoras Mask is a much better game so if nothing else you should find another copy along the way if this one never gets going for you