What Should Beginners Know About The NES?

[racketboy]

To continue in the RetroGaming 101 Series, I would like to know what you think beginners should know about the NES.
You can look at my Dreamcast 101 piece to get an idea of what I'm looking for.
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2007/02/ ... guide.html

I'm not a big NES expert, so there are probably some of you that know some little tidbits that I'm kinda fuzzy on.

Let me know what you think.

Feel free to contribute sentences or paragraphs -- anything is greatly appreciated!

[Pullmyfinger]

There are many, many things that escape my memory, I will probably update later, but this will get things started, feel free to add things or correct me.

Must haves:

Megaman series
Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! (not the Mr. Sandman version)
Zelda series
SMB series
Contra series
Ninja Gaiden series
GIJoe series
Kirby's Adventure
Batman (if you like it, try Kabuki Quantum Fighter)
Final Fantasy
Crystalis

Other interesting games:

River City Ransom
Super Dodge Ball
Nintendo World Cup
Little Nemo
Shatterhand
Dragon Warrior
Journey to Silius
Metal Gear

Interesting translated ROMs:


Sweet Home
Final Fantasy III

Interesting Prototypes and unreleased games for emulation:

Batman (Different cutscenes, etc)
California Raisins
Earthbound
Maniac Mansion (uncensored)


Interesting Accesories:

Game Genie (mostly for debug and weird stuff than cheating)
Game Action Replay (gives you SaveState function I have yet to figure out entirely)
JoyCard Sansui SSS (great controller, famicom themed, turbo and simulated stereo on headphones)
NES Advantage (haven't used mine in years, but some people like them a lot)
ROB (Crappy but gives you bragging rights)
Cleaning Kit (avoid the blinking!)

Tips and mods:

USE A/V output for better video

You can disconnect the lockout chip to use PAL games and (supposedly) improve compatibility

SNES controllers can be rewired to work on it

Games are cheaper than their virtual console counterparts most of the time

Some old games have a Famicom adaptor, but a standalone adaptor is way better

Can be overclocked rather easily

Second version does not support A/V output without a mod

[All Hail The New Flesh]

I think you should include this guide, not really recommended for newbs, but it is interesting

http://www.classicgaming.com/features/a ... nesrepair/

[Pullmyfinger]

Forgot all about the pin-bending thing, only done it once myself

[Mozgus]

I think you should include this guide, not really recommended for newbs, but it is interesting

http://www.classicgaming.com/features/a ... nesrepair/

Much better to just buy a new 72 pin.

[extrarice]

I think you should include this guide, not really recommended for newbs, but it is interesting

http://www.classicgaming.com/features/a ... nesrepair/

Much better to just buy a new 72 pin.

New 72-pin parts tend to be a little tight, which makes taking games out of a "toaster"-style NES rather difficult. But it's a lot easier to just replace that part than bending the pins back into place on an original connector.

[CoreFighter]

You can still get factory 72 pin connectors which do not have the ninja grip of the aftermarket ones.

[grittykitty]

you can get bootleg carts with lots of games on it pretty easily. up until i sold it 2 years ago, i had a 31-in-1 cart that had mostly arcade games but did have some rare stuff (like yie-ar kung fu, pooyan, karateka). i've played a few bootleg carts when i had an nes and i was always pleased. my cart was a bit heavy though and sometimes required my "blinking screen" fix, which leads me to my next "thing you should know"...
a fix that almost always worked for me when i had that blinking screen was to wiggle the cart using my index fingers, held at the tips of the cart, from side to side (with the power off) while it was loaded and pressed down into the system. hoorah!

[racketboy]

Does anybody have any tips to add for what to look for when buying an NES?
Or any other tips for new NES owners

[Whatever]

Well for the beginner or someone getting into collecting/playing the original nes...
I'd suggest getting the game bit tool to open the nes cartridges. The most crucial thing with the original nes is keeping the game cartridges clean (the contacts) so they actually play when you put them into a nes. (everyone knows about the blinking light on the power button)
The only real way to clean the games is to open them up (need the game bit tool) and polish the contacts with a towel/rag and some copper/brass polish.
If you got a little skill you actually clean the original 72 pin connecters inside the nes. (take the 72 pin out first)

I'm not sure why but the original nes games are severly prone to oxidation/dirt/grime.
It might be related to how the games make contact inside the nes. (contact is made by pressure)