Is it possible that unlicensed games may damage an NES with disabled lockout chip?
Hi guys, just a quick question. I found very brief mentions online that certain games (ones that use a voltage spike to defeat the NES10 lockout chip) may either cause damage or excess heat when used in an NES with the chip disabled. Can anyone verify this, or is it just speculation? I also heard they heat up when used on a toploader (as it lacks the lockout chip). Is this true, and can this heat cause damage to either the cart or system?
I have two PAL NES frontloaders, both of which I have personally disabled the chips on. I also own 3 unlicensed PAL Codemasters games, including Micromachines, which I would like to play. However, I would probably rather not fry my systems, if possible! So can anyone put my mind to rest?
Cheers.
I have two PAL NES frontloaders, both of which I have personally disabled the chips on. I also own 3 unlicensed PAL Codemasters games, including Micromachines, which I would like to play. However, I would probably rather not fry my systems, if possible! So can anyone put my mind to rest?
Cheers.
Comments
Edit:
I was trying to get the game to boot up when it happened, so it wasn't an "over time" thing.
If I recall, at the time I researched a bit and decided that the sachen games try to send some shit down to overload the lockout chip, and when the lockout chip was disabled it overloaded something else instead...
I will certainly be holding off on playing my Codemasters games until we get more information!
Is it possible to mod an NES in a way that you can switch the lockout on and off?
Sure, but a Blinking Light Win makes more sense. The CIC pins aren't even connected.
Is it possible to mod an NES in a way that you can switch the lockout on and off?
Yeah add a switch in line on the trace that you cut to disable it
Perhaps KEVBOT could tell us? The man definitely knows how to fry an NES through the cartridge.
Oh this old thing?
Perhaps KEVBOT could tell us? The man definitely knows how to fry an NES through the cartridge.
Oh this old thing?
I fried one of mine (toaster) with a Sachen game. Not because of heat though, I'm pretty sure it was due to it sending current down somewhere that couldn't handle current.
Edit:
I was trying to get the game to boot up when it happened, so it wasn't an "over time" thing.
If I recall, at the time I researched a bit and decided that the sachen games try to send some shit down to overload the lockout chip, and when the lockout chip was disabled it overloaded something else instead...
Similar story here, fried one of my toasters trying to get Action 52 to play (that game never wants to start up). Magic smoke and the terrible fried electronics smell. Poor NES, I actually thought about throwing the game away after that, lol.
In reply to OP - I wouldn't be deterred by playing unlicensed. I play unlicensed games all the time, never had issues except that one incident. I've left them on for days at a time as well, no issues. My theory is that as long you don't power-cycle/reset the system in short bursts trying to get it to play, you'll be alright.
Perhaps KEVBOT could tell us? The man definitely knows how to fry an NES through the cartridge.
Oh this old thing?
Holy Crap! I had no idea that this thing existed! I just looked up this monstrosity and I honestly want to build one at this point! It would be like that USB killer thing that Linus tech tips showed off but with an NES. It honestly would be worth having just to kill some clone consoles off, or just in general. But anyway, yeah KEVBOT really does know his stuff and this is something that's pretty frightening.
Perhaps KEVBOT could tell us? The man definitely knows how to fry an NES through the cartridge.
Oh this old thing?
Holy Crap! I had no idea that this thing existed! I just looked up this monstrosity and I honestly want to build one at this point! It would be like that USB killer thing that Linus tech tips showed off but with an NES. It honestly would be worth having just to kill some clone consoles off, or just in general. But anyway, yeah KEVBOT really does know his stuff and this is something that's pretty frightening.
hell yeah! Start yourself a real clone wars!
I am in a position where my nearest replacement for either of my 2 consoles is about 6,000 miles away, so I am not going to be risking them in a hurry! This may be an insane question, but would it be possible to modify the unlicensed carts in any way, so as to eliminate the voltage spike on boot-up? There's no way I'm soldering a switch on to either of my systems to reactivate the NES10 chip!
I dont actually know if it will work on a clone, if I run into one ill try it.
I think he showed it frying a clone.
So it's looking like this sort of problem has actually occurred then... amazing! You know I grew up reading Nintendo manuals telling me that modifying and using 3rd party products with my systems could cause damage, but I always thought they were just bullshitting! Turns out things are not so clear cut...
I am in a position where my nearest replacement for either of my 2 consoles is about 6,000 miles away, so I am not going to be risking them in a hurry! This may be an insane question, but would it be possible to modify the unlicensed carts in any way, so as to eliminate the voltage spike on boot-up? There's no way I'm soldering a switch on to either of my systems to reactivate the NES10 chip!
I assume you could cut all the traces that connect to the CIC pins. Doubt it could do any harm without those, but I could be wrong.
http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=173424
Thinking back on it, I should probably have posted this information here in this thread, but I am stupid and didn't think to! Anyway, I have played the Micro Machines cart on my NES, and it didn't blow up, although I am still a little bit shaky on it...
One interesting thing is the difference between the circumvention methods seen in different releases of codemasters/camerica games. Does anyone have any more information about this at all?