I just cleaned my small collection of games, except for one.  As you can see in the picture below, there is some sort of hard plasticy glue substance over the screws in the back.  They are there to prevent tampering (it was originally a rental game).  Anyone have any idea on how to remove it?  I've already tried melting it by heating up a needle and applying it to the...substance, but to no avail.  Somebody suggested I try using suction to pull it out, but I don't think it will work.



It looks like it isn't in too tight, but it seems stuck in fast.

Honestly, I don't really care if the back piece of the cartridge gets too messed up, as I can just get a copy of SMB/Duck Hunt for $0.97, but I would prefer not to break it.

Thanks for any help.

Oh, and yeah, this is my first post here.

Thanks for the welcome.

I tried nail polish thinner (it's what I found first, heh), to no avail.  I even let it sit a while.  The stuff might be a tiny bit more brittle than before, but not significantly.  I'll try paint thinner later, if there is any difference, but I expect the result to be the same.  Thanks for the idea, though.

Get a small drill bit and drill it out.  If you get the right size, the cart should just pop open after it is drilled, just be sure to not apply to much pressure and go all the way through the cart.

I've tried heating it up with a needle that I held over a flame (I don't have a hot glue gun, or at least I don't know where one is), though a larger surface area than a broad needle might have better results.  It feels more hard than rubbery, and scratches a bit when I gouge it.

I'll try the gimlet later today.  The drillbit will probably be my last-ditch effort.  In theory, it shouldn't hurt the front piece of the cartridge, right?

It's funny, I recently bought two carts that ended up being rentals and have the same type of substance over the screws, but in a very bright pink color...heheh.