Finally got a jaguar

[20eyes]

I finally got a jaguar. I ended up getting cybermorph, kasumi ninja, checkered flag, and a memory track cartridge with it. I wasn't real happy with the picture quailty of the rf switch so I added some RCA plugs and its a million times better.

Is the CD unit worth getting?

Are the games always this hard to get working? I cleaned the contacts and they are still picky. And they keep locking up after a while.

Edited November 7, 2006 by 20eyes

[V.R]

Congrats on the purcahse.

 

All cartridge machines have connection problems, its usually just a buildup of dust rather than sticky gunk.

Your games however shouldnt lock up, that could be a faulty cartridge. If all your games are locking up, Id be taking a closer look at the machine, it is most likely the culprit.

[ls650]

Congrats. The cartridges often need a good cleaning if they haven't been used much; I find I get the red screen on boot-up fairly often, but once the game gets past the title screen I haven't had problems with lock-ups.

 

Some good games that are common and relatively cheap: T2K (a must-have I think), Val d'Isere Skking, Iron Soldier, Super Burnout, IWar. If you don't mind spending a few more dollars, I recommend Missile Command 3D and Power Drive Rally.

 

The JagCD add-on is quite pricey - they usually eBay with a handful of CD games for $150 or more. For that price you can pick up quite a few common carts.

 

Enjoy!

Edited November 7, 2006 by ls650

[superjudge3]

I usually get the red screen too, but after pulling the cartridge out and putting it back in several times it goes away. It seems to only happen if I haven't played the game in a good while. I guess dust collects in it when I'm not using it.

[kmcclarnon]

congrats on the purchase, just make sure to stay out of all the jag politics

make sure you find some way to try out AVP and T2K

[LinkoVitch]

Interesting they gave you a memory Trak and yet no CD it's only of any use with a CD Unit.

 

When thegames lockup this could be due to a poor contact on the cart. The jag will run through the whole cart address (for all official released games anyway) and check it is valid before the game starts. If you get a RED screen this is the jag failing the cart. If a game fails part way through I would suspect that the connection to the cart isn't the best in the world and possibly the console warming up has interfered with this. check your carts and the cart slot for any buildup on the pins.

 

Jag games will run for HOURS and HOURS without issue on the most part.

 

good luck and welcome to the club

[Trench]

I finally got one, but found there to be a pen mark on the system. How do I get that ***t off?

[ls650]

I bought a Jaguar not too long ago that had black ink slopped on the shell. I used a cloth and rubbing alcohol - and just rubbed at it for while.

Elbow grease does the trick.

[Broonale]

Goo Be Gone is awesome!

 

I've even gotten sharpie marks off game boxes with it!

[+remowilliams]

I finally got a jaguar. I ended up getting cybermorph, kasumi ninja, checkered flag, and a memory track cartridge with it. I wasn't real happy with the picture quailty of the rf switch so I added some RCA plugs and its a million times better.

Congrats

 

The Jag is a great little system that never got the chance it deserved. Lots of fun games including some that were never seen elsewhere, or never done better (Tempest 2000 ) Over the years I'm having ever increasing incidences of the annoying 'red screen' and have to clean the already pristine carts more than I should, but it's all good.

 

I would (as was mentioned above) stay out of the inane Jaguar forum 'politics' and away from the associated myopic jackasses though. It will really just make you sick in the end

Edited November 8, 2006 by remowilliams

[20eyes]

I've had to clean my not dirty carts in order to make them work, but the more I play them the faster im able to get them to work.

[Pete5125]

I've had to clean my not dirty carts in order to make them work, but the more I play them the faster im able to get them to work.

 

 

Buy a Can of Dust Off for computers blow out the Jag and the games, alchol swab the games to get the gunk off too...

[+remowilliams]

I've had to clean my not dirty carts in order to make them work, but the more I play them the faster im able to get them to work.

My Jag does seem to be the pickiest of all my cart based systems. Even though all the gold contacts are spotless to the eye, if I haven't used a cart in a little while I'll usually get a red screen and have to break out the cleaning stuff.

[ls650]

Likewise. I find that if I play a Jaguar game regularly there are no problems, but if I put a cart aside for even a week or two it'll want to "red screen" the first time or two I try to power it up. The only explanation I can think of is that the contacts oxide very quickly, and it takes the scraping of a plugging in/out to get a good contact again.

[Zerosquare]

The only explanation I can think of is that the contacts oxide very quickly, and it takes the scraping of a plugging in/out to get a good contact again.

Hmm, gold definitely shouldn't oxidize...

[LinkoVitch]

The only explanation I can think of is that the contacts oxide very quickly, and it takes the scraping of a plugging in/out to get a good contact again.

Hmm, gold definitely shouldn't oxidize...

 

That would be assuming the contacts were 24 karat gold and not just gold plated

 

I am pretty sure they are not pure gold, the price may be high on some carts but I don't think thats the reason

[superjudge3]

That's exactly what happens to me. If I haven't played that game in a few weeks or so, I get the red screen. But after plugging it in several times it goes away. And I've never had a game lock up before.

[+remowilliams]

The only explanation I can think of is that the contacts oxide very quickly, and it takes the scraping of a plugging in/out to get a good contact again.

The funny thing is the Jag is far worse than my NES (the benchmark of cart hassle) when it comes to this. I've used a cart, put it aside for half a day, and still had the damn red screen later on.

 

The cart jiggle dance can really kill your enthusiasm for a quick game.

[20eyes]

It irritating to bump the system slightyly and have it lock up on me. Seems like all I need to do is look at it wrong and it quits working.

I'm just surprised at how finicky the system is. I tried electronic cleaner on the cart connector and I sill get random lock ups.

[Forrest]

You should clean the cartridge slot - that's where the dust builds up. Unplug the Jaguar, and use a pipe cleaner soaked with Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the cartridge slot. Wait a minute or two for the excess alcohol to evaporate before plugging in the Jaguar.

[Zwackery]

The cart slot in the CD unit red screens for me occasionally, but I have never had the red screen pop up in the actual base unit.

 

Games That I Think Are Way Fun

Attack of the Mutant Penguins

Brutal Sports Football

Evolution: Dino Dudes

Iron Soldier

Ultra Vortek

Worms

 

Games for the Way Cool Retro Factor

Breakout 2000 [caveat: I just ordered this, but I am looking forward to it based on user comments and screenshots]

Defender 2000

Missile Command 3D

Tempest 2000

 

(I'm not putting Dragon's Lair here because even though it is a game from back in the day, it is done better in other formats. Still, it's nice to have if you get the CD "toilet".)

 

Killer App for the Jag

Alien vs. Predator

 

(T2K would certainly be at home here, too, but AvP is what motivated me into getting the Jag more than T2K. I know plenty of people that flipped for T2K, but it would be interesting to see some sales figures for each title.)

 

Games That Are Buggy and Make You Wish to Destroy Your Jag

Cannon Fodder (track down the PC version instead)

 

Other nice titles to track down include Atari Karts, Iron Soldier II, Hover Strike, I-War, Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure, and Primal Rage.

I thought Flashback was an okay port having played it on the Amiga.

[+remowilliams]

You should clean the cartridge slot - that's where the dust builds up. Unplug the Jaguar, and use a pipe cleaner soaked with Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the cartridge slot. Wait a minute or two for the excess alcohol to evaporate before plugging in the Jaguar.

No matter how clean the cart/system is, I often get the same thing. Even when they're treated with industrial contact cleaners/enhancers. Same thing on all three Jags I've got here, it's just a pain in the ass.

[LinkoVitch]

You should clean the cartridge slot - that's where the dust builds up. Unplug the Jaguar, and use a pipe cleaner soaked with Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the cartridge slot. Wait a minute or two for the excess alcohol to evaporate before plugging in the Jaguar.

No matter how clean the cart/system is, I often get the same thing. Even when they're treated with industrial contact cleaners/enhancers. Same thing on all three Jags I've got here, it's just a pain in the ass.

 

I think it's due to the high density and therefore the small size of the contacts in Jags. They just don't have much space to contact on so if your slot gets a bit slack (ooer missus) you are likley to get issues.

[Isgoed]

Well I am sorry to say this, but I am really wondering how you guys (that have those problems) clean their carts?

 

If you clean them once, you won't have the red screens again, just clean them properly.....

[ls650]

Isgoed: I have cleaned the carts and the cart connector numerous times with cotton swabs, pipe cleaners, toothbrush, isopropyl alcohol, compressed air, etc etc etc...

 

It helps, but the red screens still occur.