Should You Fix Your Own Consoles (And Games)? - Retro Bird

Comments · 487

• RE

  @RetroBirdGaming · 4 years ago · pinned

  Games played: Earthworm Jim (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSPBb_FiGw&amp;t=1">0:01</a>), Magical Hat Flying Turbo Adventure (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSPBb_FiGw&amp;t=6">0:06</a>), Power Stone (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSPBb_FiGw&amp;t=16">0:16</a>), Soul Calibur (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSPBb_FiGw&amp;t=29">0:29</a>), Elemental Master (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSPBb_FiGw&amp;t=56">0:56</a>), Cotton 2 (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSPBb_FiGw&amp;t=110">1:50</a>), Alien Crush (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSPBb_FiGw&amp;t=120">2:00</a>), Dracula X (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSPBb_FiGw&amp;t=160">2:40</a>), Castlevania Chronicles (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSPBb_FiGw&amp;t=350">5:50</a>), Super Mario World (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSPBb_FiGw&amp;t=1175">19:35</a>)

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• LE

  @legos746 · 4 years ago

  I really started collecting around 2019, that year I found an NES near a trash bin in my neighborhood and from then on I had a quest to see if it worked/if I could get it to work. First I got a couple of games for the NES and was very saddened to see that it indeed did not work. I eventually then decided to open up the machine and clean it out. I tried it again and it still didn’t work. I tried various cleaning techniques, none that worked. I then did some reading and saw that replacing the pin connector could do the trick, so I ordered one right away. It arrived, I replaced it, but yet again it didn’t work. I sort of gave up at this point thinking I couldn’t ever fix it. But I still had some hope which is why I never threw it away or sold it (I did end up just getting a working NES on eBay so that I could play the games I bought xD). After about a few months of really starting to collect retro games, and opening more consoles, I got a bit more experienced and thought it’d be a good idea to open up the NES again. I now noticed that there was clearly one wire within the circuit board that lead from the pin connector port into the main machine that seemed corroded. Within the next few days I brought the console over to a friends house that knows how to solder. We found where that wire was supposed to connect in the circuit board so we desoldered the points and then soldered a new external wire so that the connection could be made. We plugged it into his tv, put in contra, and then (after a bit of cleaning of the Contra cartridge) the NES finally worked and displayed the beautiful Contra main menu! After that point we put in the good ol’ Konami code and had some fun. I felt so accomplished driving home knowing that I, with help from a good friend, was able to fix not only an important console with regards to the history of gaming but also the console that started me on my game collecting journey. Sorry for the long read, but I hope you enjoyed it!

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• TH

  @theconsolecollector · 4 years ago

  Just want to say as I start this video. I feel like learning to repair and maintain the games and consoles in our collections is essential to keep them alive to enjoy for years to come

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• SO

  @sohutohh · 1 year ago

  In Spain we are taught how to solder in school

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• TI

  @tijuanatacotoker · 4 years ago

  I&apos;ve &quot;fixed&quot; a &nbsp;controllerwith a hammer when the sticks on a crummy 3rd party GameCube controller finally made me lose my patience. &nbsp;Ah, the sweet satisfaction of seeing multiple pieces of plastic shrapnel fly in all directions....truly bliss.

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• SH

  @sheep83 · 4 years ago

  It&apos;s crazy you don&apos;t have more subs. Love your sense of humour, presentation and the content is always entertaining as well as informative and thought provoking.

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• MA

  @mariox20 · 4 years ago

  Being able to repair your consoles only adds to the rewarding feeling that gamers have and can be proud of having done for the preservation of the collection! &nbsp;Repair, and share your notes so other people can repair too! &nbsp;On a side note soldering takes practice, anyone can do it, it just takes practice.

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• VI

  @videogameobsession · 4 years ago

  I also highly recommend using a white pencil eraser to clean pin contacts. It does an amazing job, it&apos;s not overly abrasive, and it doesn&apos;t leave a thin layer of film as isopropyl alcohol will do. Also please leave the Brasso and other harsh stuff in your shed! :)

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• IN

  @infinitegalaxy2079 · 4 years ago (edited)

  Reheating the solder fixes a problem referred to as ‘cold solder’. What happens is the solder connections get brittle after time and the legs on the chips won’t actually be touching the pads anymore because the solder ‘broke’ &nbsp;So reheating the solder causes the solder to flow and reconnect the leg to the pad.

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• FU

  @furyousj · 2 years ago

  Recently I recapped my Sega Game Gear and was super paranoid doing it with the understanding that I may ruin it all together, however I took my time and carefully followed the instructions that came with the kit. The euphoria that I experienced when I was finished and that Game Gear fired right up like new was incredible! Since then I&apos;ve had a lot more confidence opening up my retro consoles and game cartridges and cleaning and/or repairing them with much success. Finally my OCD, perfectionism and attention to detail has come in handy! I highly recommend trying to repair your own consoles and games. You may be good at it, but you&apos;ll never know unless you try!

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• ST

  @stevenzerbe3966 · 7 months ago

  About a year ago I got a real nagging urge to take serious effort into preserving the systems I had lying around in storage all grimy and neglected and only half working. I&apos;ve disassembled and cleaned practically every system, controller, cartridge, and disc I owned. Beyond that I&apos;ve completely recapped a Sega CDX, I&apos;ve rebuilt multiple Dreamcasts by salvaging spare parts, and I&apos;ve even gotten creative with some modding. It&apos;s intimidating at first, but once you realize you don&apos;t need the most expensive gear and that trial and error are just part of the experience you start to gain more confidence. The biggest confidence booster will always be research. Research research research. For tricky projects, absorb as much research and demonstration as you can find. Don&apos;t settle for just one YouTube video.

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• GR

  @gregoryshuler · 4 years ago

  I really liked this one. I hope you do more episodes about the insides of things.<br><br>I kinda got into collecting older consoles when I found 3 broken Wiis for practically nothing on the floor of a game store. I got them all going, gave them away as gifts, and kept on buying broken old consoles. Having these old consoles is nice, especially knowing they were all doomed. It&apos;s nice to know they can keep on going and have a second life 😊

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