![]() ![]() Successfully loading a cartridge into the NES became an art form, and kids traded their secret techniques. Thus, while removing all traces of dirt from the contacts could sometimes help this problem, the cleaning systems became less and less effective as the pins continued to bend. The bent pins meant that the connection between the two sets of contacts was not as tight as it was when the system was brand new. Over time, the pressure applied to the 72-pin connector began to bend the pins. Pushing the cartridge down locked it into position and applied some pressure between the cartridge’s contacts and the 72-pin connector. Instead, the user gently slid the cartridge in, then locked it down with a similar gentle touch. The front-loading mechanism differed from earlier game systems because the cartridge was not forced directly into the system. This is because, although dirt and dust could indeed cause loading errors, the real problem was the lock-and-load cartridge slot. ![]() A clean cartridge and a clean system meant that loading errors were virtually eliminated, but not for long.Įven if you took excellent care of your games and system and they never needed cleaning, NES decks would routinely break down. ![]() NES Cleaning Kits were more expensive than blowing on the contacts, but were also much more effective (and safer, as the alcohol solution would not degrade the connectors over time like a person’s breath would). Many companies, Nintendo included, provided cleaning kits for the system that included an applicator that fit into the games and console along with an alcohol-based cleaning solution. Blowing on the contacts begins to lose its effectiveness. After a while, the problem starts to show up more often, and becomes a little more difficult to fix. During these early stages of decrepitude, blowing air into the system and the cartridge usually gets just enough dust off the contacts to allow the game to load correctly. This problem starts off slowly, occurring only a small percentage of the time. ![]()
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