Nasty Classic Gaming Items

[STICH666]

My parents checked everywhere. Especially the garbage.

 

Should have thrown it away before you got home, then! Not that I imagine any of this worked out well... didn't it just make them twice as mad as you just coming home with bad grades?

Yes but as a kid you don't think things through.

[darthkur]

The absolute worst case has been with the Timex/Sinclair 1000 that I discovered at a yard sale last year. [snip out the good story] After all of that I still feel uncomfortable with the thought of handling it.

 

Okay, last weekend I tried to read some of this thread, but made the mistake of doing it while I was eating. I had to back out after just a few posts. It's a good thing I didn't run into this story, or I'd have lost my lunch.

 

I guess, in a way, I admire your... courage (?)... but... sorry, there's no way I would have bought that thing. Seriously, it's just a T/S 1000. If I'd had any way of knowing about this at the time, I'd have somehow bought one on ebay, checked it to make sure it works, repeat until one actually works and mailed it to you. No one should have to endure that, especially for a Timex FFS.

 

See, the last line you wrote there (quoted above), I would have predicted that upon seeing the thing!

 

After reading some of these posts, I'm never bringing something in the house again until it's thoroughly checked. I cannot believe nothing like these stories has ever happened to me. Just dumb luck I guess. Worst I've found is a few dead bugs, but nothing like roaches, more like ladybugs etc.

 

 

 

Yeah, I know, it doesn't seem like it was worth it after all. It's my obsessive/compulsive nature I guess. Maybe one of these days I'll either feel that enough time has eroded by that I can use it without thinking bad thoughts or I'll just get another one that's clean and works. At least I can claim that I saved the poor thing from a living hell.

[SnapCraft]

Yeah, dealing with old tech, you know roaches are going to be a problem. Nothing like a warm console to make your home in.

 

So check this one out...

 

I recently got a Model 1 Sega Saturn. I mention Model 1, but because if it was a Model 2, I don't know if I would have gone through all this trouble. I brought it home and realized it had the "rattling." Anyone who has dealt with the roach problem, knows that rattling could be a roach problem (probably at 9%). Sure enough I opened it up and saw the typical roach spots all scattered over the RF shielding. Great. Closer inspection reveals a pack of dead roaches in a corner of the Saturn. Right then, my wife says, "you know, you should be careful, there could be alive ones." Yeah right, why? What is there to do in a console box? Oh my, what was that? I saw a roach crawl under the power supply strip. Damn. Knowing the wife will freak out, I bring it outside. I come back in a little while later and tell her there are live ones in it.

 

I hate bugs. But I was able to take the whole Saturn apart with one hand using the screw driver while keeping a "safe" distance. I sprayed a good portion of it with Raid. Killed the SOB, then proceeded to wash all the parts. Now, I had tested this Saturn before and it worked good. Yeah, I know, the thought!

 

I reassembled it and then realized I didn't have sound. It took a while, and I was desperate so I finally wanted to remove the ribbon that was stuck inside the controller circuit board side. I couldn't understand why it was glued (?) in there. Sure enough it was stuck in from dead roach guts. I toothbrushed it clean and tried the Saturn again.

 

It works! Yeah, the smell. Well, I was thinking of opening it and semi-secluding it with a scented candle or incense.

 

This is a Model 1 damn it, I'm not tossing it.

[STICH666]

Yeah, dealing with old tech, you know roaches are going to be a problem. Nothing like a warm console to make your home in.

 

So check this one out...

 

I recently got a Model 1 Sega Saturn. I mention Model 1, but because if it was a Model 2, I don't know if I would have gone through all this trouble. I brought it home and realized it had the "rattling." Anyone who has dealt with the roach problem, knows that rattling could be a roach problem (probably at 9%). Sure enough I opened it up and saw the typical roach spots all scattered over the RF shielding. Great. Closer inspection reveals a pack of dead roaches in a corner of the Saturn. Right then, my wife says, "you know, you should be careful, there could be alive ones." Yeah right, why? What is there to do in a console box? Oh my, what was that? I saw a roach crawl under the power supply strip. Damn. Knowing the wife will freak out, I bring it outside. I come back in a little while later and tell her there are live ones in it.

 

I hate bugs. But I was able to take the whole Saturn apart with one hand using the screw driver while keeping a "safe" distance. I sprayed a good portion of it with Raid. Killed the SOB, then proceeded to wash all the parts. Now, I had tested this Saturn before and it worked good. Yeah, I know, the thought!

 

I reassembled it and then realized I didn't have sound. It took a while, and I was desperate so I finally wanted to remove the ribbon that was stuck inside the controller circuit board side. I couldn't understand why it was glued (?) in there. Sure enough it was stuck in from dead roach guts. I toothbrushed it clean and tried the Saturn again.

 

It works! Yeah, the smell. Well, I was thinking of opening it and semi-secluding it with a scented candle or incense.

 

This is a Model 1 damn it, I'm not tossing it.

Damn!

[Jess Ragan]

All that for a Model 1, with its tiny oval buttons and mod-proof design. I would have let the roaches have it myself.

[Retro Rogue]

Had a centipede come slithering out of a console I brought home from a ghetto thrift store once. I'm talking "Indiana Jones" style centipede - mostly yellow with some orange and other colors and really big. Scared the crap out of me when it first happened.

[shadow460]

Yes I have gotten some semi nasty stuff since this thread died the last time. I got a Model 1 Game Gear from a member here, and it was absolutely covered inside with corrosion, which is caused by electrolyte leaking from the caps. Now I have to be fair, the unit cost me shipping only, and I agreed to the deal knowing I'd probably find that.

The unit is just absolutely green on the inside. There's not a single part of that case inside that's the original silver color. I have not cleaned it up or serviced it yet, save for removing the power board which, miraculously, had no corrosion on it at all.

I got a Lynx I that was also partly green with corrosion as well, but not nearly to the extent of the Game Gear. It works, but its NiMH batteries are cooked. It probably had leaking batteries in it to begin with. The unit had been listed twice on CL by a local pawn shop. I've been in it fixing things that I assume were damaged by corrosion or acid.

 

I've still got the computers I mentioned. The one that had food and cigarette smoke in it is dead. The board overheats, warps, and pops the memory sticks out. I put additional fans on it but the memory problems helped corrupt the OS and I haven't installed a replacement yet.

The other computer is full of dust, but has had no evidence of mice or any other varmints since I first brought it home. I have upgraded it to the max, and it is my "daily driver".

 

Why can't video games be like cars? I purchased an old truck recently and found $10 behind the seat. Yes!! Why can't I find $10 inside every cartridge I buy?

 

Had a centipede come slithering out of a console I brought home from a ghetto thrift store once. I'm talking "Indiana Jones" style centipede - mostly yellow with some orange and other colors and really big. Scared the crap out of me when it first happened.

 

Watch out, 'cause you know the spider is coming after you next.

Edited October 25, 2009 by shadow460

[Frizo]

I saw this 1 cart at play n trade with the cart taken apart, AND the motherboard was in 3 pieces...Ill never forget that day

[SnapCraft]

All that for a Model 1, with its tiny oval buttons and mod-proof design. I would have let the roaches have it myself.

 

It's all about the simpler swap.

[Eltigro]

Yeah, I second all the posts about dead bugs. I bought a Sega Master System on Ebay and took it apart to clean it and found a dead roach inside.

[Rev. Rob]

Yeah, I second all the posts about dead bugs. I bought a Sega Master System on Ebay and took it apart to clean it and found a dead roach inside.

 

I third it.

 

I've found all manner of dead bugs inside old consoles. Moths, roaches, crickets. Arachnids too; spiders and scorpions. Never anything living, though.

 

The nastiest thing I've acquired is my JVC X'Eye. Some had spilled something sticky in it, like soda, and it was gunky inside, and none of the CD parts could even move. Smelled bad too. There was probably some mold in the goop.

Edited October 26, 2009 by Rev. Rob

[Video]

EEWWW!! I found a 2600 in a storage building (like a redneck hobo storage, not a nice one0 and it was covered in dirt, had a broken switch and a wire ripped out the back. Anyhow, it was free (thanks to five fingered discounts and all) so I jacked it, took it home, figured it'd be full of all kids of shit (nice black console with sunlight to keep it warm) so I opened it up, it was full of dirt. I don't mean was dirty inside, Imean it looked like someone had taken it apart and packed it. Everything was rusty too, so I sprayed the hell out of it with the garden hose, took a toothbrush to it, and after drying it out, put a new RF wire in it, an tried it. IT WORKED WTF, witha ll that shit, it still worked.

[STICH666]

EEWWW!! I found a 2600 in a storage building (like a redneck hobo storage, not a nice one0 and it was covered in dirt, had a broken switch and a wire ripped out the back. Anyhow, it was free (thanks to five fingered discounts and all) so I jacked it, took it home, figured it'd be full of all kids of shit (nice black console with sunlight to keep it warm) so I opened it up, it was full of dirt. I don't mean was dirty inside, Imean it looked like someone had taken it apart and packed it. Everything was rusty too, so I sprayed the hell out of it with the garden hose, took a toothbrush to it, and after drying it out, put a new RF wire in it, an tried it. IT WORKED WTF, witha ll that shit, it still worked.

That is why when all other consoles are dead the 2600 will be the last to survive. those things are freaking tanks. Do you have any pics?

[Video]

No, this is from the 90's before digital cameras. Well...before I had one. I don't even have the console anymore, I gave it to one of my friends a long time ago after fixing it up. I was just so surprised it still worked, I didn't really do anything to it (beyond hella cleaning) but really, I was half expecting the circuit board to be half rusted out like the metal shields and such.

[STICH666]

No, this is from the 90's before digital cameras. Well...before I had one. I don't even have the console anymore, I gave it to one of my friends a long time ago after fixing it up. I was just so surprised it still worked, I didn't really do anything to it (beyond hella cleaning) but really, I was half expecting the circuit board to be half rusted out like the metal shields and such.

About that 2600, I remember a similar story about a Master System that was so dirty, it looked to have been buried. But somehow it still worked even though the SMS is know for having very finicky hardware.

[Jess Ragan]

That is why when all other consoles are dead the 2600 will be the last to survive.

 

Much like the roaches inside!

[Eltigro]

No, this is from the 90's before digital cameras. Well...before I had one. I don't even have the console anymore, I gave it to one of my friends a long time ago after fixing it up. I was just so surprised it still worked, I didn't really do anything to it (beyond hella cleaning) but really, I was half expecting the circuit board to be half rusted out like the metal shields and such.

About that 2600, I remember a similar story about a Master System that was so dirty, it looked to have been buried. But somehow it still worked even though the SMS is know for having very finicky hardware.

 

Heh, yeah, the SMS I found the roach in didn't work, so I took it apart and removed the roach carcass, did some very minor cleaning, inspected everything and couldn't find anything obviously wrong, put it back together, and it worked.

 

Did pretty much nothing to it but remove the roach.

 

Guess SMS and Roaches aren't a good combo.

[Video]

Pretty literal "Debugging" right there. Maybe the roach melted two circuit paths together and shorted something out? Especially if that's all it took to bring it back.

 

Yeah...mud encrusted Atari's and roaches will rule for all time That, and Commodore Monitors (so the roaches can play ET or something)