Major fail on my part when buying Donkey Kong 64

[CrispyGoomba]

So today I went to Game Exchange (A place where they sell retro video game hardware/software) and I saw Donkey Kong 64. I freaked out because I been wanting that game a lot and it was only for $10 (Would've thought it would be around 20). I bought the game and the guy said that I needed the Expansion Pak to be able to play it.

Now, knowing my stuck-up ass self I said "Oh, I'm pretty sure I got that already". Besides, they was selling it for $12, which isn't bad, but money is tight.

So I get home and wouldn't ya know, I don't have one. FAAAAAIIIILLLL. Guess where I'm going to go tomorrow!? Yup...

Have any of y'all ever made a mistake or stupid move like this?

[The_Dude1212]

Just bought Mario Party 1 for $20 at the flea market. Considering another stall was selling it for $45, thought I got myself quite the deal.

I notice after I left the connectors are rather dirty, but I got home and plugged it in anyways. Nothing doing. Grabbed some 95% Isopropyl alcohol and Q-tips, swabbed the HECK out of them, made them as clean as a whistle.

Still nothing doing.

Anything else to suggest? I do sort of know the guy, and he might take it back off me...at the same time, realistically I think I learned the hard way to test your used N64 games before you buy them.

[Koopzilla]

Just bought Mario Party 1 for $20 at the flea market. Considering another stall was selling it for $45, thought I got myself quite the deal.

I notice after I left the connectors are rather dirty, but I got home and plugged it in anyways. Nothing doing. Grabbed some 95% Isopropyl alcohol and Q-tips, swabbed the HECK out of them, made them as clean as a whistle.

Still nothing doing.

Anything else to suggest? I do sort of know the guy, and he might take it back off me...at the same time, realistically I think I learned the hard way to test your used N64 games before you buy them.

I always take apart old used games I buy and rub the connectors off real good with an eraser and clean out any dirt and stuff that got up in there. You need a special set of screwdrivers for this though. It could also just be broken.

[hellfire888]

You need a special set of screwdrivers for this though. It could also just be broken.

is it the triwing screwdriver? never had to take one apart, so i've never known what kind it is.. i think you can get those on ebay for a couple bucks if i'm not mistaken.

and if you can't get it to work, take it back... also, when buying cartridge games from somewhere like the flea market or thrift store, make sure they have a sticker or identifying mark of the store on it.. that way they know it's one of theirs.. i've had trouble in the past with games not working and the people not want to take them back because they wasn't sure it was one of theirs. so I make sure from now on that it has a sticker, or that I can bring it back.. some places like pawn shops won't take them back no matter what... which can be very annoying.. considering they have very hard to find carts for very cheap.. but you just never know if they work or not... though, 3 to 5 bucks for Majoras Mask or DK64 is worth the try i think.... about 70% end up working.

[Koopzilla]

You need a special set of screwdrivers for this though. It could also just be broken.

is it the triwing screwdriver? never had to take one apart, so i've never known what kind it is.. i think you can get those on ebay for a couple bucks if i'm not mistaken.

No on the N64 games it's a strange one, it looks like a weird bolt or something. It's called a 3.8 mm Gamebit screwdriver. You can get them online for 5 or 6 dollars. The same one works on all Nintendo cartridges from NES to N64 and gameboy games. I bought a screwdriver set from Fryes Electronics for about $25.00 that will open any Game system or game from Nintendo Microsft and Sony. If you buy any old games or systems from flea markets or used game stores it comes in handy.

[The_Dude1212]

Thanks for the help guys! Definitely gonna see if I can score one of those screwdrivers online. Failing that, I'll prolly just get another copy of Mario Party off eBay, lmao. But I know the guy and he knows me, so hopefully he'll still take it back.

[Carbondog]

Out of all the games I have ever bought there has only been 2 or 3 that did not work for me and a few with dead save batteries (which I replaced). I only use a nintendo cleaning kit, they work like a charm, you dont have to tear the game apart and you dont use any potentially harmful chemicals, just a little hot water.

[sundin13]

hmmm...nothing exactly like that has ever happened to me but the other day i rushed and bought amnesia on sale and then tried to play it but my computer couldnt play it. So i just wasted my money No big deal cuz it was under 5bucks but still sucks

[Rock Lobster]

I bought a copy of DK64 myself off a guy a few years ago for $15. Paid a lot more than it's worth.

[chris_the_wing]

Awhile back I bought around 20 N64 games off of Ebay. Each one worked like a charm! My old copy of Goldeneye however had a "game save malfunction" after sitting un-played for close to 10 years, but after playing the game for a few hours the save battery came back to life, happy day

Honestly I've never been unable to get a game to work, even an old copy of Super Mario Kart that had highly corroded connectors & a spider hiding inside of it worked after I hit it with some sandpaper.

[The_Dude1212]

even an old copy of Super Mario Kart that had highly corroded connectors & a spider hiding inside of it worked after I hit it with some sandpaper.

That just made my day. Thanks you.

[Mirr0rR3flection]

Have any of y'all ever made a mistake or stupid move like this?

At a movie and trading company shop where they sell games I bought Sonic Heroes for the GCN that was in a bargain bin for $5.99. I checked the disk and saw faint scratches but thought nothing of them. Though I should have since the place offers to fix disks with scratches for free if you just bought it. Well when I got home I tried it on my Wii and low and behold it didn't work. So next I hook up my GCN and try it on there and it still didn't work. I don't drive to places so I could go return it so I bought a used Sonic Heroes off Amazon for $20 cause I'm lazy like that. :p

(The Amazon one worked no duh >_>)

[Jazzy]

I bought Fallout New Vegas on Steam for 50$ before knowing whether I would even like it.. and it turns out I didn't really like it and then later it was on sale for waaaay cheaper >__>

Also I spent 50$ on Game & Watch Gallery 3 for GBC when I was little, and meanwhile I didn't have any Mario Land games, or Link's Awakening or anything like that, just Pokemon. Even another Pokemon game would have been a better choice than that. An average kid like me rarely got to have 50$...

[TheLastBlade]

I just went to Gamestop... The jerk kind. And ummm yeah, like I went to get a copy of Valkyria Chronicles, but they "only had the disc". So I said it was fine, bought it, and went on my way.... That's when I saw the actual box.... Ugh.