atarilovesyou Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Hey guys...I just picked up a sealed copy of this great game..only to find that it's constantly blinking. You can see the opening screen try to load, only to flash on and off. I followed the instructions inside regarding this problem, and there's even a small switch on the back of this unlicensed cartridge. Nothing works. I recall reading somewhere that the latest NES machines made after 91 had 'lockout' chips...so you couldn't use a Game Genie or other unlicensed games. Is this true? My current NES is a latter machine...it came with Super Mario 3 bundled. What are my options? ...anybody experience this? I guess I'll have to track down an older NES so I can play this great game. Are there any easy mods I can do to my newer NES to get it to play unlicensed games? Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari5200 Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 i don't know, sounds to me like a bad pin connection. This happens all the time with my NES that I'll either get a blinking grey screen or blinking title screen. Just need to wiggle the cart a little bit while hitting reset and eventually the games work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperman Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 disabling the lockout chip is easy though. just look it up on youtube, there are videos--takes all of about 15 min depending on how fast you can get the thing open. I agree with above though--probably a bad pin connection. but it's not like disabling the lockout chip will hurt, but if it's a bad pin connection you'll just get a green screen instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theking21083 Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 You have to disable the lockout chip on your NES to play Micro Machines, it will keep your NES from ever blinking again and you will be able to play Unlicensed games. Here is a video that I made that will explain just what you need to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegaManFan Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 If memory serves it will also work if plugged in through a GameGenie, which I think bypasses the lockout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Charlie Cat Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Hi guys, I had a issue with my used copy of Micro Machines not to long ago. It worked on my NES top loader, but not the front loader. This version had the switch in the back. Then I purchased another Micro Machine game without the switch board in the back and it work fine on the systems. Must be a problem with either the pin connections or your version of your console. But now I only use the switchless version. Anthony.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theking21083 Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Hi guys, I had a issue with my used copy of Micro Machines not to long ago. It worked on my NES top loader, but not the front loader. This version had the switch in the back. Then I purchased another Micro Machine game without the switch board in the back and it work fine on the systems. Must be a problem with either the pin connections or your version of your console. But now I only use the switchless version. Anthony.... The copy with the switch is an unlicensed game and will not work on the front loading NES. The reason it works on the top loader is because it doesn't have a lockout chip. I own this same game that you are speaking about and also own the front loading NES. Now that the lockout chip is clipped in my NES I can play it along with any other unlicensed game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarilovesyou Posted October 18, 2008 Author Share Posted October 18, 2008 Thanks for the tips, dudes. I'm not going to disable the lockout chip on my 'new' nes, as it was sitting in a box since the early nineties and has to last a loooong time...lol. I'm going to go pick up a junky console from a pawn shop and disable IT'S chip...mind you, it'll probably have a filthy connector in it as well so maybe a cleaning will be in order. I'm certain that it's not the equipment...the Micro game was factory sealed and my NES is brank spankin' new as well. I remember having a bit of a problem with this game back in the day, but I don't recall it had a switch on the back of it. I'm thinking picking up a Game Genie may be worthwhile if I can just bypass the safety chip without clipping anything off. Thanks again!... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theking21083 Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 I don't think that the Game Genie lets you bypass the lockout chip. I remember trying it in the past and having no success. The Game Genie uses the lockout chip in the game in order to work. Unlicensed games don't have that chip. Your only options are to disable the chip in the NES or get a top loader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperman Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 the unlicensed games were supposed to deal with the nes lockout chip thanks to some quick reverse engineering. I remember not having any trouble with an unmodded nes and micro machines back in the day. that said, there are different versions of the game. My *current* one has the gold cart with the hole in the back, but just an unused connector where the switch would have been. I imagine that as nintendos evolved the complexity of defeating the lockout chip also had to evolve and older versions just can't work on newer nes toasters. that lockout chip is such a pain in the rear... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarilovesyou Posted October 19, 2008 Author Share Posted October 19, 2008 I remember mine from back in the day without the switch on the back...this copy I have now, however, has it. And it's useless in bypassing the lockout chip...lol. I really don't want to clip any chips in my NES unless absolutely neccessary so I'm just going to pick up a beat up older toaster and clip that one instead. Let ya know how it turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarilovesyou Posted October 24, 2008 Author Share Posted October 24, 2008 ...soooo.... The game is 'running' on my NES with the lockout chip disabled, but the video is very quirky...it's like the vertical hold is shot on some levels, especially on the pool table level...the game screen scrambles when there's a lot of checker pattern on the screen, it seems. However, the NES may be faulty as well. For some reason, the start buttons won't work when playing regular games! What's the prognosis? Shot NES, or shot cart? Does anybody remember their copy of Micro Machines being unstable, even IF it was running? Thanks! I'll get to the bottom of this, somehow...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Video Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Micromachines was one of my favorite NES games, me and my friends could play that for HOURS. And the last time I played it was on a toploader, so I doubt any lockout would cause problems (unless Nintendo Saved on the Toploader by removeing some er...unnecessary baggage or something) Just clean the crap out of it, and keep trying. It's an awesome game, especially with some friends. And it has some supriseingly fast and smooth scrolling scenes, even for a late era NES game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Morbis Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 (edited) A small run of production Micro Machines carts was made with EPROMS instead of mask ROMs, and the symptoms you're writing about may be the presence of bit rot. The cart does not contain security screws so it will be pretty easy to eliminate this as a possibility yourself: just open the cart up and look to see if any of the ROM chips have windows. Edited October 28, 2008 by Dr. Morbis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theking21083 Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Micromachines was one of my favorite NES games, me and my friends could play that for HOURS. And the last time I played it was on a toploader, so I doubt any lockout would cause problems (unless Nintendo Saved on the Toploader by removeing some er...unnecessary baggage or something) Just clean the crap out of it, and keep trying. It's an awesome game, especially with some friends. And it has some supriseingly fast and smooth scrolling scenes, even for a late era NES game. A small run of production Micro Machines carts was made with EPROMS instead of mask ROMs, and the symptoms you're writing about may be the presence of bit rot. The cart does not contain security screws so it will be pretty easy to eliminate this as a possibility yourself: just open the cart up and look to see if any of the ROM chips have windows. Like I said before Micro Machines with the switch on the back is Unlicenced and will not work on the NES toaster. The top loader does not have a lockout chip in it so any unlicenced game will work. If you want to play it on the toaster you must disable the lockout chip. Here is a link to Nintendoage that shows that it is an unlicenced game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnya Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Before I sold this and a bunch of the other unlicensed games I had, I was able to play them just fine on my frontloader. It was weird though, they wouldn't work unless the carts were pushed down. I had left it up because I was just testing games to make sure they worked, and I was getting frustrated b/c several games which I had cleaned wouldn't work. Then I tried pushing them down, and they worked fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Morbis Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 A small run of production Micro Machines carts was made with EPROMS instead of mask ROMs, and the symptoms you're writing about may be the presence of bit rot. The cart does not contain security screws so it will be pretty easy to eliminate this as a possibility yourself: just open the cart up and look to see if any of the ROM chips have windows. Like I said before Micro Machines with the switch on the back is Unlicenced and will not work on the NES toaster. Dude you can't make blanket statements about unlicensed games and the toaster NES like that. There were MANY revisions to the NES (prior to the toploader) and it's pretty hit and miss as far as what unlicensed game will or won't work on what console. I have a Micro Machines with a switch that works on 2 of the 3 toasters I currently have unclipped, and that game will definitely work on any NES made through 1988. Bottom line: for best compatibility, get yourself an older system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarilovesyou Posted December 7, 2008 Author Share Posted December 7, 2008 Well, the bottom line is I can't get this sucker to work...lol. And simply picking up a new toaster isn't a foolproof solution, since it appears to work on some, not on others. Since I bought this game sealed, I didn't realize it had the switch on the back. I guess I'm just going to have to try with a couple proven older units. If it won't work, then I'll just have to find another one on ebay that doesn't have that switch. Not fun, since I kinda overpaid for the sealed copy...not expecting this issues. Does anybody have a version of this game with the switch that can get it to work on a toaster?...I mean, some must exist. Either that or buy an NES off ebay with the chip disabled and 'somewhat' guaranteed. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2600Lives Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 Again, as said before, disable the lockout chip. It's VERY easy to do. I have the mechanical aptitude of a retarded squirrell, and I've done it successfully. Another option may be getting a new 72 pin connector. They're pretty easy to replace, just lots of screws to undo, really. I got one several years ago, and WOW. I don't even have to push the games down into the system for them to work anymore. Over time, the 72 pin connectors get REALLY loose, and the unlicensed games are the first to suffer from this problem. A new connector will help, trust me. Along with clipping the lockout chip, this should eliminate the blinking screen from now on. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarilovesyou Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 Here I am over two yeara, and STILL having issues with my Micro Machines!...grr. I've disabled the lockout chip, and it STILL has an issue that I don't know if I mentioned...for some reason, the game graphics get all wonky on certain levels..mainly the edges of the table, and especially during the bonus rounds with the monster truck. It literally looks as if the channel on your tv 'scrambles'...now, it's not as bad as it was (I recently did a 72 pin connector swap), but I'm just wondering what the deal is....I certainly don't remember this happening back in the day! Anybody have any suggestions? My previous posts tell you about my cart, which was sealed when I purchased it. It has a two way dip switch on the back, and right now the game is only stable (with the graphic distortions) in the A, or first, position. This game is hard enough as it is without the glitchiness...but I can't see what else to do. Such a shame, cause it's one of my all time favorites on the NES...even thought the difficulty is high and the game 'cheats' like many racing titles of its kind back then, lol. Thoughts? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuplayer Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Eh... I have an NES. Probably from 1990. It has a lockout chip. It's not disabled. (I know how to disable it. I did it for some other people. I just never cared to open mine and do it on my own.) My Micro Machines cart works on it. My NES had a new 72-pin connector installed back in 2002. However, it worked fine with Micro Machines before that. My Micro Machines cart has that switch on the back. atarilovesyou, have you tried opening the cart to see if it has EPROMs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nester Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 You know, I'm having similar trouble with my Micro Machines. It worked the first time I played it, but the graphics were kind of wavy. Then it just started blinking forever. I think all my other Camerica games work just fine. There's also one AVE and one Wisdom Tree game that I can't get to work. All my other unlicensed games work fine though. Maybe I'll try disabling my lockout chip with my extra NES if that's what the problem is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A2600 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 (edited) Buy the SNES version and save yourself the hassle! SNES NES Edited February 13, 2011 by A2600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarilovesyou Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 Thanks for the replies...EPROMS? I wasn't thinking of opening it up, but is there something I could do in there to fix it?...lol, without any soldering, replacing of parts? I was thinking of trying to find a copy without that goofy switch on the back of the game, perhaps that would work. I've clipped an NES in the past to get rid of the lockout, but it's not that the game isn't 'playing', it's just that when it does work, it goes all wavy and screwy on certain levels...something I don't remember from back in the 90s. I should record it, but I'm sure nobody would really care, lol. It's almost always on the pool table F1 level, and also the bonus rounds. Just takes a lot of the fun out of the game when you get hosed because you can't see what's going on the screen! The SNES version looks great, but...I'm an NES freak, so I gotta take the bad with the good, lol! Any other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Video Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Sounds like you just have a bad connection, or the game/console thinks it does. I assume you have a front loader. Sometimes I can shove the cart in, and pull it part way out then push it down and that will often work. You could clean, or even replace the zif connector, but if this is the only game you have that does that, then it probably isn't the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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