Video Game "Look what I found"

[Blu]

Went to a local antique mall in Bristol, WI. Their local thrift shop was closed (being New Year's Eve and all) so at first I was reluctant to want to go in, having driven for a short while to find out the store was closed. I was convinced to go here instead. Found one vendor who I the following from:

Resident Evil Code Veronica - Dreamcast, CIB
Metropolis Street Racer - Dreamcast, CIB
Outrigger - Dreamcast, Disc Only
NBA 2K1 - Dreamcast, CIB
Test Drive 6 - Dreamcast, CIB


Each of these were marked $3. The vendor was having a sale, so they were all 30% off.

My total for the day: $11.08. So in my time in Wisconsin, I found 12 Dreamcast games and paid a little over $24 total.

[Hobie-wan]

What do you guys typically apply the contact cleaner to, before cleaning the cart (like Q-tips)? I usually make a mess when I break it out.

If just really lightly cleaning, just spray over a trash can toward the pin edge so it sprays off and let it evaporate. Or spray some on a cotton implement or a folded little square of paper towel. For really dirty contacts, I just spray while I'm at my formica covered desk and then use a plastic eraser until it all evaporates, then brush the eraser bits off the contacts and do the other side. Then wipe up the dirt and eraser bits left on the desk. You will end up spraying a little of it everywhere, but it will evaporate. I'd be careful if you're at a varnished desk as it might soften the varnish until it evaporates or make funny spots.

[J_Wil]

Swung by the "Evil Gamestop" today and picked up a few cheapies:
NHL 2K7 (PS3)- $0.89
Genji: Days of the Blade (PS3)- $2.69
Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)- $8.99
Virtua Fighter 5 (PS3)- $4.49
Destroy All Humans 2 (PS2)- $8.99
Rumble Roses XX (360)- $8.99

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I had an itch for a hockey game the other day and realized I hadn't played one since the 16 bit era so I figured I'd try NHL 2k7 (can't lose at less than $1.00 for a complete came). I don't know anything about Genji, but it was cheap and looking it up on YouTube quickly, it looks playable. I FINALLY found a cheap non-Greatest Hits version of MGS 4 in good condition. I've been looking for about 4 months. Virtua Fighter 5 was on impulse. I missed out on the Destroy All Humans series and found it in great condition and figured "why not?"
Funny story on Rumble Roses XX- I had the itch to play this after watching a video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOlerSk2FSY. I hadn't realized that this is a somewhat difficult game to find cheaply these days. I called a number of Gamestops and found a single copy on Christmas eve in my area at drove out to grab it. I always check to make sure the used games I buy there are complete and there's no damage to the case/instructions. I walked up to the counter with some other games, paid, and went on my way. When I got home, I realized that my copy of Rumble Roses was littered with rental stickers on the disk and manual and the cover art was severely sun faded. The clerk did the ol'switcheroo while I wasn't looking and gave me a case & instructions different from what I brought to the counter. I saw a clerk do this once before at a different store and had him give me the better case on the spot but I was caught slipping this time. I don't get why they do this, seeing as they throw cases and manuals away as a common business practice and litter the cases with stickers anyway. I get more and more disgruntled with Gamestop every time I shop there. Anyway, this is a condition upgrade and I'll probably sell the other copy.

Also picked up a few PS2 games on Amazon brand new for less than $11.00 each including shipping (2 thanks to the PS2 Gems article on Racketboy).
Gungrave Overdose
Death by Degrees
The Red Star

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[retrosportsgamer]

What do you guys typically apply the contact cleaner to, before cleaning the cart (like Q-tips)? I usually make a mess when I break it out.

If just really lightly cleaning, just spray over a trash can toward the pin edge so it sprays off and let it evaporate. Or spray some on a cotton implement or a folded little square of paper towel. For really dirty contacts, I just spray while I'm at my formica covered desk and then use a plastic eraser until it all evaporates, then brush the eraser bits off the contacts and do the other side. Then wipe up the dirt and eraser bits left on the desk. You will end up spraying a little of it everywhere, but it will evaporate. I'd be careful if you're at a varnished desk as it might soften the varnish until it evaporates or make funny spots.

Cool, thanks Hobie.

[CRTGAMER]

What do you guys typically apply the contact cleaner to, before cleaning the cart (like Q-tips)? I usually make a mess when I break it out.

If just really lightly cleaning, just spray over a trash can toward the pin edge so it sprays off and let it evaporate. Or spray some on a cotton implement or a folded little square of paper towel. For really dirty contacts, I just spray while I'm at my formica covered desk and then use a plastic eraser until it all evaporates, then brush the eraser bits off the contacts and do the other side. Then wipe up the dirt and eraser bits left on the desk. You will end up spraying a little of it everywhere, but it will evaporate. I'd be careful if you're at a varnished desk as it might soften the varnish until it evaporates or make funny spots.

Cool, thanks Hobie.

When possible, best to take the cart apart. For example, Atari carts are a pain since the screw is behind the label, but NES and Gameboy carts are easy with the right tool. Worth the small investment for a proper clean. I prefer the pencil eraser for a chemical free way to clean. I use Alcohol if grimy and Contact Cleaner ONLY if really dirty. That Contact Cleaner is a last resort since it is aggressive on the metal.

Game Cart Cleaning Guide: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 02#p501002

[retrosportsgamer]

^ Thanks, yes I do. Just hadn't used the heavy duty cleaner before and wanted to make sure I wasn't messing it up.

[Hobie-wan]

That Contact Cleaner is a last resort since it is aggressive on the metal.

It isn't. That's the whole point of contact cleaner that it is safe on the metal. I have yet to find plastic that it isn't safe on too. The solvents dissolve the crap and wash it away and then evaporate. If you're doing it on a desk, that's why you end up with dirty puddles and if you're using an eraser too, that's why the eraser bits turn black. But sometimes an eraser is all that is needed.

When possible, best to take the cart apart.

I was assuming this was the case here as people don't usually buy contact cleaner until after they have bits and are serious about cleaning. But it could have been a bad assumption.

[J_Wil]

My girlfriend who HATES my gaming addiction, of all people, put me up on a huge game store in North Hollywood called Game Dude. They have an AMAZING selection. 3DO, NES, Xbox 360 and everything in between. I just hate that they are about as obnoxious with their stickers as GameStop. No prob if they're on a plastic case but infuriating on a paper box. The prices were just so-so on most games but I found a bunch of games that have been on my want list for a long time like Indigo Prophecy, Yakuza, and Final Fight One. I wish I had more time to browse and more spending money woud help too.
Not gonna go into too much detail about the condition of everything but as you can see in the pic there's a bag of cotton squares, Q-tips, and paper towels. I spent about 45 minutes cleaning everything with rubbing alcohol and Goo Gone. Needless to say, I'm not doing well with my $100 monthly gaming budget as I'm already $60 over for January.

Final Fight One (GBA)- Cart only $7
Aliens Vs Predator (PSP)- Complete $16
Tomb Raider Legend (PSP)- Complete $12
College Slam (Saturn)- Complete $3
Slam City w/Scottie Pippen (Sega CD)- Complete $14
Yakuza (PS2)- Complete $12
Final Fight Streetwise (Xbox)- Complete $6
Indigo Prophecy (Xbox)- Complete $15
Dino Crisis 3 (Xbox)- Complete $16
Road Rash II (Genesis)- Box only $7
NBA Action 94 (Genesis)- Complete $0.49
NBA Action 95 (Genesis)- Complete $2
Bulls Vs Lakers (Genesis)- Complete $2
NBA All-Star Challenge (Genesis)- Box only $0.49
Batman Returns (SNES)- Makeshift case w/instructions $12

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[flojocabron]

Does that Gamedude Store still put those shiny metal sticker on their stuff?

It's annoying and they suck. They are pretty much like old blockbuster Rental/Void stickers from back then.

I've got some stuff down here where I live that originally came from farther up north. And I've gotten product with that Gamedude sticker on it. Some SNES,GEN and NES games and some strategy guides with the stores sticker on them.

I've googled that store in the past and it looks like they have cool stuff.

But that sticker! Arrgh!

[pierrot]

I bought a game from o.pwuaioc recently that had a Gamer Dude sticker on it. My initial thought was that that is a really stupid name for a store.
Sticker should be in the trash before long, though.