Mockduck Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 In all my years of collecting Atari VCS carts, I've only had two that I was simply unable to revive, no matter how much rubbing alcohol and scrubbing I did: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and Kool-Aid Man, both M-Network carts. Is this just pure un-luck, or is there something about the M-Network carts that make them less survivable over the years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 M-Network carts have trouble fitting in the cartridge slot sometimes. Try wiggling the cart a bit while it's plugged in. Also Kool-Aid Man will crash if the difficulty switch is left in a certain position when starting the game. The only carts I've had die on me were CBS RAM Plus carts like Tunnel Runner and Mountain King. I think they were more susceptible to static shocks or voltage spikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ave1 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 I recently inserted my M-Network games Burgertime and Bump and Jump in my 2600 for the 1st time in over 20 years. Neither worked properly. I think you may be on to something... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 I recently inserted my M-Network games Burgertime and Bump and Jump in my 2600 for the 1st time in over 20 years. Neither worked properly. I think you may be on to something... Nah, clean up the contacts on the edge connector and try again. Bet they boot right up. Probably just got a little dusty and rusty sitting all that time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadrunner Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 In all my years of collecting Atari VCS carts, I've only had two that I was simply unable to revive, no matter how much rubbing alcohol and scrubbing I did: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and Kool-Aid Man, both M-Network carts. Is this just pure un-luck, or is there something about the M-Network carts that make them less survivable over the years? Did u try flipping the difficulty switchs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Back in the day I had trouble with M-Network. Out of maybe 15 or 20 carts I had at least 3 dead ones. Nothing I did would revive them. So yeh, there's a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason_Atari Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Ive always had more trouble with activision carts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradhig Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Years ago Our Burgertime cartridge died and a friends astroblast died. Those M network carts are a pain to open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfriendly Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 had the same super challenge football for 35 years and its still going strong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Astroblast died on me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Do M-Network use Mask or EPROMs? If it's the latter, it could be bit-rot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 My carts had failed early on back in the day. Could'na been more than 2-3 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambouis de l'Atari Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Ive always had more trouble with activision carts +1 ! The only dead carts I got were barnstorming and enduro. Not a problem with m network ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mockduck Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 Did u try flipping the difficulty switchs? I didn't! I will give that a try when I get back to the office on Tuesday. Yes, I have an Atari 2600 next to my desk in the office... For He-Man, I can't get a picture to display at all. For Kool-Aid, I can get a picture to display, but there's a vertical line down the right side of the screen, sort of a series of dashes, from the top to the bottom of the screen, and I can't get the game to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Eyeball Mural Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 I play several old M-Network cartridges in my regular rotation and they work great, and are very reliable. I have plenty of trouble from Parker Brothers and Activision carts, though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPUWIZ Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Do M-Network use Mask or EPROMs? If it's the latter, it could be bit-rot. Only protos, I have never come across an EPROM board, taking those apart. Maybe Supergun has. Ironically, BOMB carts have worse mask ROM's in them, than their counter versions of EPROM populated ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Only protos, I have never come across an EPROM board, taking those apart. Maybe Supergun has. Ironically, BOMB carts have worse mask ROM's in them, than their counter versions of EPROM populated ones. BOMB cart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 ^ is that what you call the black silicon or plastic blob on their carts? Always referred to them as shit on a shingle. Funny Mattel chose to go that production route with their 2600 games. Much lower cost probably and weren't as concerned about quality compared to their Intellivision releases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 (edited) First things first... apparently I can't quote two different people in one reply... it always attributes the second quote to whoever the first quote was from. Technical Difficulties Aside: OP: I've had trouble with 1 M-Network cart over the years: Super Challenge Baseball... it's just dead... I accept it now. Jason Atari: I agree, I've had 3 Activision carts die on me: Skiing, Ice Hockey, and Dragster. Luckily I have a dupe of Dragster... but now I still gotta replace the other two... just as well, Ice Hockey had no label (not sure what happened there) and Skiing had SEVERE actiplaque; it's beyond actiplaque, someone must have spilled something on it. I got it from a friend who got it from his older cousin. Gotta love atari games... I don't think any games for a system since changed so many hands for free like they did. I like to think of Atari 2600 carts like trading cards. Just so fun to find, collect and trade dupes for. The italics are in reference to a post I made in another thread, where sometime it's fun to trade while collecting, other times things are so limited... no one would or should trade them! Edited January 17, 2016 by Torr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 ^ is that what you call the black silicon or plastic blob on their carts? Always referred to them as shit on a shingle. Nintendo had those too. This is from a Super Mario / Duck Hunt cart of all things... http://bootgod.dyndns.org:7777/image.php?ImageID=8004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lentzquest Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I know M Network games don't always like to agree with 2600 Jrs. I have a few that will work fine but I have to insert them with more force than what should be required because the game fits so tight. Kool Aid Man and He-Man are among them. When I swap over to a 4-switch woody there are no issues with fit whatsoever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ave1 Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Hmm, I was actually playing on a Jr... Maybe I'll see if Burgertime and Bump and Jump will work on a regular 2600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mockduck Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 Thanks for the tip, Roadrunner! Interestingly, playing with the difficulty switches (on my light 6) did indeed get Kool Aid Man working. No luck on He-Man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hizzy Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I had a few defective He-Man and the Masters of the Universe carts when I bought them new. Had to send them back 3 times before getting one that worked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ave1 Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 I recently inserted my M-Network games Burgertime and Bump and Jump in my 2600 for the 1st time in over 20 years. Neither worked properly. I think you may be on to something... Well I've now tried these 2 games out on my 7800 instead of my 2600 Jr, and I'm happy to say they both work as they should... must be something wrong with my 2600 Jr cartridge contacts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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