Can anyone tell me what this is? (Noob question I assume)

[JPjuice23]

I don't have my Atari yet, (Its coming), but I got 2 games for like 50 cents. I'm just wondering if anyone here knows what this is on one of the cartridge's, and knows whats it called... As well as its purpose. Also, how do you remove it, I don't want to damage the cartridge, thanks

 

Here's a pic of what I'm talking about. (Top)

 

[moycon]

The plastic cover? Don't sweat it, some carts have them...some do not. Should play as long as the game works.

[iwan-iwanowitsch-goratschin]

Are you talking about the dust cover???

[+GroovyBee]

Its a dust protector. You can't remove it unless you take the cart apart. When you insert the cart into the console the dust protector will slide further into the cart body exposing the edge connector. Don't worry about it, they are perfectly normal.

[JPjuice23]

I assumed it was a dust cover, but when I tried to slide a card into the slip there, it wouldn't budge, but hopefully when I get my atari it will work. Thanks!

[Zwackery]

See those little open rectangles to each side of the tabs on the dust cover? If you put a flat blade (screwdriver, knife, etc.) in there, it will trigger the mechanism that allows the dust cover to slide down and expose the PCB (the cart port of the Atari has little tabs that trigger this mechanism). This is good to know in case you need to clean the contacts, but in my experience carts with a dust cover usually suffer less contact corrosion than the kind without dust covers.