Random Gaming Thoughts

[Erik_Twice]

Like I have said in the past, I think the reason most of the community has kept the Dreamcast as the "last retro console" for so long is not because it was a certain age, but instead because it represented a fundamental shift in ideas about what games should be.

I think I agree with that

[Westane]

blows on it

NO.

Westane - clear the dust away with canned air, by blowing, with an alcohol damped q-tip or any other means to remove whatever debris is in the way of getting a good connection.

I do not understand this craziness that surrounds blowing on your carts.

Here's what I do when I get a new PCB:
1. Rinse it under hot water
2. Scrub it with soap, water, and a bristle brush
3. Put it in the overn at 180 degrees for 30 minutes
4. Airdry it for a day

Here's how many issues i've had:

0

I've been blowing on carts that haven't loaded up the first time since 1986 - here's how many issues i've had:

0

The issue is moisture on the pin that is receiving power and the possibility of frying the system or cart. I've never seen this happen - i've only heard this can happen. So long as you don't dunk the cart in the bathtub and then immediately plug it in - you'll be good to go.

I'm guessing there is more natural moisture in the air in a humid areas than is emitted when your daughter blows on her carts.

Oh FFS...

[Ack]

Don't worry about it, Westane. Just sit back and enjoy watching the argument break out. A beautiful, glorious trainwreck this is.

[CRTGAMER]

blows on it

NO.

Westane - clear the dust away with canned air, by blowing, with an alcohol damped q-tip or any other means to remove whatever debris is in the way of getting a good connection.

I do not understand this craziness that surrounds blowing on your carts.

Here's what I do when I get a new PCB:
1. Rinse it under hot water
2. Scrub it with soap, water, and a bristle brush
3. Put it in the overn at 180 degrees for 30 minutes
4. Airdry it for a day

Here's how many issues i've had:
0

I've been blowing on carts that haven't loaded up the first time since 1986 - here's how many issues i've had:
0

The issue is moisture on the pin that is receiving power and the possibility of frying the system or cart. I've never seen this happen - I've only heard this can happen. So long as you don't dunk the cart in the bathtub and then immediately plug it in - you'll be good to go.

I'm guessing there is more natural moisture in the air in a humid areas than is emitted when your daughter blows on her carts.

I think what Hobie and others are leading to is the contamination from the spit on the contacts, the human mouth has the reputation as the most germ inhabited compared to most species. Hopefully no one blows on their cart especially during a gaming session gagging down a bag of Cheetos.

Water and electronics are never a good mix. It can get trapped inside chip sockets and possibly inside a capacitor which is basically a temporary battery which still might have stray voltage. Capacitors are usually air and water tight, though some decades old units might not be. Not worth frying something out or drying out the sensitive electronics in the oven even if only at a 180 degress.

[Westane]

Okay, truth time...

Every time I get a new game I blow the CRAP out of (and in to) it. Once I have a good layer going on the contacts I snap the cart shell open (No security bits, I'll just glue it later) and run the entire PCB under the sink, scrubbing off anything still on the contact with the rough edge of a regular sponge and a little dish soap. If there's anything that still wont come off those contact, I dry it with a dish towel and use a low grain sand paper, and that'll usually get it going.

When it's time to clean the cartridge slot on the console, I use that same sand paper, coated in some rubbing alcohol, and rub vigorously between the connectors. Then I blow into it.

With discs I tend to use a banana peel coated in a grainy toothpaste and rub around the disc, in a circular motion, then again counterclockwise. Then I blow on it.

I have cartridge copies of Chrono Trigger and Mega Man V that could use a good cleaning. I'll upload a video later!

[Ack]

I am highly disturbed to know you perform oral sex on your games like that, dude.

[dsheinem]

Okay, truth time...

Every time I get a new game I blow the CRAP out of (and in to) it. Once I have a good layer going on the contacts I snap the cart shell open (No security bits, I'll just glue it later) and run the entire PCB under the sink, scrubbing off anything still on the contact with the rough edge of a regular sponge and a little dish soap. If there's anything that still wont come off those contact, I dry it with a dish towel and use a low grain sand paper, and that'll usually get it going.

When it's time to clean the cartridge slot on the console, I use that same sand paper, coated in some rubbing alcohol, and rub vigorously between the connectors. Then I blow into it.

With discs I tend to use a banana peel coated in a grainy toothpaste and rub around the disc, in a circular motion, then again counterclockwise. Then I blow on it.

I have cartridge copies of Chrono Trigger and Mega Man V that could use a good cleaning. I'll upload a video later!

torturer

[isiolia]

This is why I believe the Dreamcast is considered the last "retro" system, even to this day - just because it lived and died against these new trends in console gaming. It was the last bastion of the mindset of the "classic era".

While I don't doubt that some see it that way (and others just like all the "you probably haven't heard of it" games on it), I'd have a hard time drawing a firm line in the sand there.

The DC also had online gaming, had a fair bit of popularity (in the U.S. at least) based around American sports titles, and so on. Heck, VMUs could be seen as foreshadowing PSN/Live style profile logins, since each player could have their own personal data. Also mobile/console game sync.
Sega also had, at the time, more experimental stuff like Seaman or Shenmue on it.

On a technical level, Sega was trying just as much as Sony was then. Main thing was likely developer support, or lack thereof, making Naomi ports appealing for low cost. Had the console lasted longer, who knows what it might have hosted.

[mas]

I'm reading these post and all this blowing and rubbing and sliding in carts has gotten me a little aroused. Feels like I'm reading penthouse video game forums

[TSTR]

Aside from getting freaky with games, cleaning discs in a circular motion is a big AHHH DON'T DO THAT! Always go from the inside out in a radius.