Alrighty, well here's the problem:

I'm having problems with a few games when I play them on here:

Tiny Toon Adventures:

Starts off to run great. Everything looks and sounds the way it should. But after about 5-10 minutes, the graphics get all glitchy and messy and shit! Not even cleaning the connectors with rubbing alcohol helped! And it didn't have this problem when I played it on my top loader!!!

And the next two: Okay, I've used my NES to Famicom converter for three games so far:Mad City, Rockman and Twinbee 3. I got Mad City to work from beginning to end with out any graphical problems or anything, but on Rockman and Twinbee 3, I get the same problem with Tiny Toon Adventures, plus they just FREEZE UP FOR NO REASON in the middle of gameplay! I don't know if it's the converter or the cartridges or what. I blow in the Famicom cart, I blow in the connectors of the converter, I blow in the area where the connectors of the Famicom cart go on the converter, and I blow inside the NES! I'm really concerned here. And I also try to rub that ribbon (to get the converter and cart out on a toaster) between my fingers to see if that helps.

Hmm, I'd try it on another toaster to see if it performs the same.  Then I'd try the converter in another toaster to see if it is the toaster or the converter.  Then if that all works, I'd assume it is the cartridge.

mewithoutYou52 wrote on 01. May 2007 at 05:37:

Hmm, I'd try it on another toaster to see if it performs the same.  Then I'd try the converter in another toaster to see if it is the toaster or the converter.  Then if that all works, I'd assume it is the cartridge.

I only got one toaster. I'm not gonna buy two more just to test and see if it's the cart or system or converter or whatever.

The only time I've ever experienced this kind of incremental degradation is when I used to blow on carts. As the moisture eventually evaporated, the connection failed and the game eventually locked up.

If you don't blow on it but instead use rubbing alcohol and put the cart straight in before it evaporates you'll have the same problem. Try using greater pressure with your q-tip to get rid of more crud with your rubbing alcohol, and using a higher "proof" (70% isopropyl is available at drug stores) that will evaporate more quickly. Also a dry swab afterwards with a new q-tip with the same amount of pressure will not only guarantee the connectors are completely dry, but also remove more gunk before you insert your game.

mikeroach113 wrote on 01. May 2007 at 06:00:

mewithoutYou52 wrote on 01. May 2007 at 05:37: Hmm, I'd try it on another toaster to see if it performs the same.  Then I'd try the converter in another toaster to see if it is the toaster or the converter.  Then if that all works, I'd assume it is the cartridge. I only got one toaster. I'm not gonna buy two more just to test and see if it's the cart or system or converter or whatever.

I didn't mean to imply you should buy more.  I assumed you had a friend nearby that might have one.

Sorry.

dangevin wrote on 01. May 2007 at 23:07:

If you don't blow on it but instead use rubbing alcohol and put the cart straight in before it evaporates you'll have the same problem. Try using greater pressure with your q-tip to get rid of more crud with your rubbing alcohol, and using a higher "proof" (70% isopropyl is available at drug stores) that will evaporate more quickly. Also a dry swab afterwards with a new q-tip with the same amount of pressure will not only guarantee the connectors are completely dry, but also remove more gunk before you insert your game.

It's also a good idea to wait 15 minutes after cleaning the contacts before inserting it into a console (I know, Official NES Cleaner guidelines; but the ONC is kind of right about that!)