Cart
0
Featured Blog Article
More Details
Piecing Together the History of Nintendo NES Game Box & Cartridges: Here are Some Clues to Use When Dating & Authenticating NES Boxed Games & Cartridges
- Promotional Copy in the USA
*A note about Box Flap Codes: Game codes seem to have been introduced to the box flaps of games sometime in the year 1987. Box flaps often feature a numeric code on them that seems to correspond to the date of production. Example: “81021” would translate to October 21, 1988. The first number indicates the year digit, which is followed by the month, then day. Please note that the earliest variations of black box games do not feature a code on the box flaps.
Dating the PCB Chips: Clues Inside the Cartridge
Say you don’t have a box to work with and you’re wondering when your game might have been produced. Or say you would like to confirm that the PCB inside your game is authentic and a likely match to the box that came with your game. Well, good news! You can peek at the game’s printed circuit board and find a date on its chips, most of the time.
The date format can vary by game.
Some chips use a YMW format, indicating the year, then month, then week of the month. For example, 5K2 corresponds to week 2 of October 1985. How did we get October? K is the 10th letter of the alphabet, and October is the 10th month of the year.
Other chips use a YW format, indicating the year then the week of the year. For example, 8549 would indicate the 49th week of 1985, approximatel
Featured Blog Article
More Details
Indicators that your Super Nintendo Console is a Rare 1-CHIP Model
Is my SNES a 1 Chip model? The very first Super Nintendo system was released in 1991 in North America. The Super Nintendo console delighted video game enthusiasts with its improved sound, visuals, and accompanying game library.
Although even the first Super Nintendo was groundbreaking in these areas, a later model released around 1995 called the "1-CHIP" SNES was especially pioneering. The motherboard design of the 1-CHIP SNES enables it to output better graphics than earlier revisions of this Nintendo system. The 1-CHIP is highly sought after by collectors because it offers some of the best gameplay visuals you can get on a Super Nintendo. It is also somewhat rare to find, which makes treasure hunting for it even more thrilling!
Prior to the year 1995 or so, Nintendo designed their Super Nintendo console motherboards so that they used 3 chips for graphics and central processing. These three chips are called the CPU, PPU1, and PPU2. When Nintendo revised the SNES motherboard around 1995, all 3 of these chips were combined into one single chip called the S-CPUN. This hardware change is what gave this model of the SNES more graphics processing power.
How do I know if my SNES is a 1-CHIP version?
1. Look at the serial number.
The serial number barcode is printed on a sticker located on the bottom of the console beneath a barcode.
One obvious indicator that you may have a SNES with a 1-CHIP motherboard design is if the console's serial number begins with "UN3". A 1-CHIP SNES serial number will always start with a UN3. However,
Featured Blog Article
More Details
The Basic Essentials of Soldering when it Comes to Gaming Systems and Video Game Save batteries.
Soldering can be scary for a lot of people at first. My first SNES save battery took me at least 50 minutes! Vegas Stakes! Now, it usually takes me 5 minutes. I wasn’t using the right equipment and obviously people tend to get better with practice. These are some suggestions for setting yourself up to solder!
- Buy a nice solder station. (Usually, will come with a roll of solder roll)
- Use the appropriate solder. (some elements work better with electronics than others) We recommend a 60 percent amount of tin and 40 percent lead.
- Use copper desoldering wick/braid with flux. (We recommend 2.4mm in width)
- Have flux handy! (No-clean flux preferred)
- Isopropyl alcohol. (preferred percentage minimum of 90%)
- Q-tips.
Let’s start with something simple:
- Power on your soldering station to approximately 600 to 650 Farenheit (You can use lower temperatures).
- Place your no clean flux on the old solder you want to remove.
- Cut a piece of copper wick braid to use for desoldering
- Copper conducts electricity, so be prepared for the braid to become hot
- Once your soldering iron is at the correct temperature place it over the old solder and hold it into place until you see the old solder s
Backwards Compatible,
Game Collecting,
Gamers Unite,
Gaming Community,
Gaming History,
Gaming Knowledge,
Nintendo GameCube,
Retro Gaming,
Retro Gaming Community,
The love of gaming,
The More You Know
0 comments
Which GameCube Games Don’t Work on the Wii? A Collector’s Guide
One of the Wii’s most underrated features is its backwards compatibility with the Nintendo GameCube. Pop in a GameCube disc, plug in your GC controller, and you’re playing like it’s 2001 all over again.
But here’s the thing — while almost the entire NTSC-U GameCube library works f
Gamers Unite,
Gaming Community,
Gaming History,
Gaming Knowledge,
NES,
Retro Gaming,
Retro Gaming Community,
Video Games
0 comments
Where Did Mario First Appear? The Surprising Start (and Strange Early Days) of Nintendo’s Mascot
the rights to make a Popeye game. So they invented their own characters—Donkey Kong, Pauline, and the soon-to-be-iconic Jumpman, who was quickly renamed “Mario” (inspired by a real-life landlord, Mario Segale, who apparently wasn't thrilled about overdue rent).
By 1983, Mario switched professions from carpenter to plumber (because of all the pipes in Mario Bros.) and even brought along his lesser-known brother, Luigi. The duo started appearing in all kinds of titles, not all of which you’d expect.
Here’s where it gets weird:
-
In Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (1987), Mario randomly appears as the referee, calling knockouts with a cheerful little hop.
-
0 comments
Save The Dreamcast: The Fans Rallied (Failure of Sega's Last Console)
The Road to Failure: Did It Start with the Saturn?
Absolutely. The seeds of the Dreamcast’s downfall were sown long before its launch—with the Sega Saturn.
1. Complex Hardware = Developer Nightmare
The Saturn used a dual-CPU architecture that made development notoriously difficult. Meanwhile, Sony’s PlayStation was a breeze to program for. Guess where the developers went?
2. Surprise Launch Debacle
Sega of America randomly launched the Saturn early in May 1995—months ahead of schedule. Retailers like Walmart and KB Toys weren’t told and flat-out refused to carry it. Worse, devs weren’t ready either, leaving the launch lineup bone-dry.
Why the PlayStation 1 Is Still One of the Best Retro Gaming Consoles in 2025
The PlayStation 1 isn’t just retro — it’s iconic. Here’s why the PS1 still has gamers collecting, playing, and repairing this classic console even in 2025.
Authenticating Retro Game Cartridges,
Game Boy Advance (GBA),
Gaming Knowledge,
Retro Game Cartridges,
Retro Gaming,
Retro Gaming Community
0 comments
What and Where Is a Nintendo Product Code for GBA Games? (With Super Mario Advance 4 Example)
Discover how to read Nintendo product codes for Game Boy Advance (GBA) games. Using Super Mario Advance 4, learn how to identify authentic GBA cartridges by title, region, and more.
What Are Nintendo Product Codes?
Nintendo product codes are unique identifiers used for GBA games to distinguish titles and regions. Found on the cartridge label, game box, and manuals, these codes are particularly helpful for collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts.
GBA Product Code Format
The product code for every official GBA game follows this format:
AGB-XXXX-XXX
- AGB = Advanced Game Boy (Nintendo's internal codename for the GBA). Is it that "internal" when they named the first GBA handheld AGB-001? Hmmm
- XXXX = A four-letter game identifier, usually an abbreviation of the title.
- XXX = A three-letter region code (USA, EUR, JPN, etc.).
Example: Super Mario Advance 4 Product Code
Let’s look at the product code for Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (North American version):
AGB-AA4E-USA
- AGB = Advanced Game Boy
- AX4E = The unique code for Super Mario Advance 4
- USA = North Am
Authenticating Retro Game Cartridges,
Retro Game Cartridges,
Retro Gaming,
Retro Gaming Community,
SNES,
Super Nintendo
0 comments
Where is the Nintendo Product Code on a SNES Video Game Cartridge?
The Nintendo product code for SNES cartridges typically follows this format:
SNS-XXXX-XXX
Here’s the breakdown:
-
SNS = Super Nintendo System (denoting it’s a Super Nintendo game).
-
XXXX = A 2 to 4-letter unique identifier for the specific game (often an abbreviation of the title).
-
XXX = Region code (commonly USA, CAN, EUR, JPN, etc.).
Example:
-
SNS-SM-USA → For Super Mario World (North American release).
-
SNS = Super Nintendo System
-
SM = Super M Collectors and retro enthusiasts often use these codes to verify authenticity, identify regional versions, or spot re-releases!
-