Bowser N64 Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 (edited) I have recently come into possession of a used Gameshark Pro version 3.3 for my N64(Nintendo 64) system. It seems to not be working. I don't know if this is useful info, but I exchanged the Gameshark for another one and the other one did not work either. I simply took the Gameshark, cleaned the bottom contacts with licensed N64 CleaningSolution, and then put it in my N64's game slot. I turned on my Nintendo 64, and nothing happened, except an "8" appearing on the Gameshark's display. I simply had a blank screen on the TV(It was on the right setup to get a picture from my N64), and nothing else. No Gameshark menu, nothing. Just the 8 on the Gameshark digital readout display. I am wondering if they released different versions of the Nintendo 64, and if I have a version that is not compatible with the Gameshark? Or are certain Gamesharks not compatible with other versions of N64s? PLEASE help me on this matter. I am desperate to get my Gameshark working. I have waited long to get my hands on one, and it seems disappointing for it not to work. I have never used the Gamesharks before. But I bought them used. Thank you. PLEASE help. Edited October 4, 2008 by Bowser N64 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prodos8 Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 The only thing I know to suggest comes from the manual of the GameShark, which basically says if you have problems with it start it up with SuperMario 64 inserted and it should resolve them. I'm not aware of any problems with different versions of the actuall N64 consoles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowser N64 Posted October 4, 2008 Author Share Posted October 4, 2008 Why thank you. But are there different version of Nintendo 64s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warriorisabouttodie Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 The 3.3 version doesnt have a light up led, or at least I should say the last version of the Gameshark. It has the little window but nothing behind it. Have you tried inserting a cartridge? As far as I know all the n64's are the same, I know my Gameshark works on my original grey model and my translucent green model, but I have the last revision of the Gameshark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowser N64 Posted October 4, 2008 Author Share Posted October 4, 2008 there's digital number that say 8 behind the little window. Mine is 3.3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace_1 Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 I have recently come into possession of a used Gameshark Pro version 3.3 for my N64(Nintendo 64) system. It seems to not be working. I don't know if this is useful info, but I exchanged the Gameshark for another one and the other one did not work either. I simply took the Gameshark, cleaned the bottom contacts with licensed N64 CleaningSolution, and then put it in my N64's game slot. I turned on my Nintendo 64, and nothing happened, except an "8" appearing on the Gameshark's display. I simply had a blank screen on the TV(It was on the right setup to get a picture from my N64), and nothing else. No Gameshark menu, nothing. Just the 8 on the Gameshark digital readout display. I am wondering if they released different versions of the Nintendo 64, and if I have a version that is not compatible with the Gameshark? Or are certain Gamesharks not compatible with other versions of N64s? PLEASE help me on this matter. I am desperate to get my Gameshark working. I have waited long to get my hands on one, and it seems disappointing for it not to work. I have never used the Gamesharks before. But I bought them used. Thank you. PLEASE help. I feel your pain, man. I had a GameShark do that to me as well, but it was an (older?) version with a green digital readout display that would either display an 8 or some other crap on the display. It wasn't a Pro version, and had no Parallel port on the back. Nothing worked to fix it, not cleaning the cartridge, not nudging/reinserting it into the cartridge slot/use different carts, blah, blah, blah. I believe the GameShark may be corrupt, as I heard that some of those things, after a failed update, can become corrupt and unusable. Not sure if that's what happened in my case and if that's what's happening in yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowser N64 Posted October 4, 2008 Author Share Posted October 4, 2008 Man that sucks. That is exactly my problem. thanks for telling me. Maybe that's what's wrong with mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow460 Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 Try it with different games. You may have to open it up for a good cleaning. You can really scrub the contacts if you've got the board out. You can also look for damage to the board when its out. I believe that most, if not all Game Sharks have surface mount components, so you'll have to be very precise with the soldering if you need to fix something. My 3.2 Game Shark will sit there with an 8 displayed until I insert particular games. California Speed seems to always work with it. If I load it up with Cal Speed, I can change the key code and then load it up with stuff like Pokemon or Zelda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowser N64 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Share Posted October 5, 2008 Ah thanks for the advice. I have tried this I hope it will work better. Does it need a game in it to power on? Or work? Get the menus up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow460 Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 Yes, you have to have a game hooked to the Game Shark in order for it to boot. The N64 has a lockout system, and in order for it to boot, lockout chips in the cart and system have to be in communication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowser N64 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Share Posted October 5, 2008 GOOD NEWS! I GOT IT! I GOT IT WORKING! I had to put Donkey Kong 64 in. Now I have it working for almost all my games. And I have two working Gamesharks. Thanks guys! I could not have done it without that advice of trying different games! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warriorisabouttodie Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 (edited) there's digital number that say 8 behind the little window. Mine is 3.3. Actually, if yours has the digital display it is a 3.2 that has been upgraded to 3.3. A real 3.3 does not have the digital display, just a window with nothing behind it. I took the plastic window off to show you (see pic). It shouldn't make any real difference since you have the 3.3 firmware, but it does explain why you might have had some problems since the Gameshark's are notorious for being flaky after having been upgraded. Edited October 5, 2008 by Warriorisabouttodie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowser N64 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Share Posted October 5, 2008 Oh. Thanks. It works great for me though. Plus the display looks cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow460 Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 A real 3.3 should also have "3.3" printed on the round white sticker you find on the back. That is, if InterAct didn't decide to upgrade some in the factory after they'd been built as 3.2 units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowser N64 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Share Posted October 5, 2008 (edited) Ah. Well mine must be that way. Both of mine have a sticker. Here I'll show them to you. Edited October 5, 2008 by Bowser N64 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyingdead17 Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 (edited) Try taking it apart, and using an alcohol wipe on the connectors. i did it with mine tonight, and it works like brand new, now. Edited November 3, 2009 by lyingdead17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyingdead17 Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 (edited) try taking it apart, and clean the connectors with an alcohol wipe. i did it with mine tonight, cause i was having the same problem, and it worked. my gameshark works like brand new now. Edited November 3, 2009 by lyingdead17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richie leal Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 dude i made an account just to let you know that i found u through Google and im going through the same thing.no gamshark screen,I've tried all my game "including mario"and all i get is a stupid number 8 on the led readout.If you have found a solution please help me broski .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybercylon Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I just picked one of these up complete. Haven't had a chance to mess with it yet... will let you know what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfusa Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 My Gameshark, version 3.2, had the number 8 on the display, the TV screen was green and it would not start. I opened the cartridge and noticed that several pins on the upper connector, that were supposed to be soldered down to the board, were actually dangling in the air! I touched up all of them with a soldering iron and the unit started working again. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGameCollector Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Yeah that was one weird thing about that Gameshark. It was like certain games were grouped together in one category while others belonged to others. "Super Mario 64" setting was the most commonly used setting for games, but some had to use the "Yoshi's Story" or "Diddy Kong Racing" setting. If you tried booting a game using the wrong setting and you didn't have a game from that group to even set the thing back to normal, you were basically screwed till you bought one of those games. Luckily for me when I had one, I had all those main game suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow460 Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 If I had to guess, I'd say the settings were loosely matched to the engine those particular games used. One of them had to be a default setting, though, probably the Super Mario 64 one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari the Jedi Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 I just bought a game shark and I had trouble with it. I was trying Zelda. So the only other generic game that I had was Star Wars pod racers. That seem to do the trick. I am happy because I bought the game shark while I was out of town and could not tested at that game shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradhig1 Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 I am having the save problem with my gameshark n64 it works with super mario 64 but not donkey kong 64. I changed the keycode to diddy and it won't boot on anything now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye9723 Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Sorry for reviving such an old thread, but after several weeks of search on how to fix my v3.3 Shark I finally got it working and wanted to share what I did. First of all I had 2 GSs. One was v2.0 without the parallel port, and the other was a v3.3 (early 3.3 with the sparkling case and the LEDs). The 2.0 worked fine, but the 3.3 was DOA (8 in the GS window and not booting). I tried to piggy back them, but since they were different versions that didn't work. I went to the local used game store to see if they had any used Sharks (I also brought my 3.3 with me). I was in luck and they had a 3.3 (solid color case and no LEDs) I asked if I could test it first and they let me. I made sure theirs would boot, and it did. J piggy backed mine and this is what I did: 1) Booted working Shark with mine plugged in and Mario 64 in mine. 2) Went into the key code menu and selected Mario 64 and confirmed. 3) Power cycled the N64 and made sure their Shark still booted. 4) Swapped their Shark with mine, and it now booted to the menu. 5) Thanked then for letting me use their setup to recover my Shark After I got home I wanted to test the connectivity with my Windows 10 PC. I kept having an issue with the N64 Utility not being able to detect the shark. Found that this was caused by how Windows assigned resources to my parallel port. I ended up having to use a Windows 98 VM with the parallel port passed through to it. That allowed me to communicate with the Shark, and I was able to flash the firmware. Now here's the kicker. I plugged the v2.0 GameShark (not a pro) into the 3.3 and booted to the menu. Again, I flashed the firmware. To my surprise the original GameShark took the 3.3 Pro firmware. I now have 2 GameShark pros. One with and one without the parallel port. I hope this write up helps at least one person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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