From now until the end of 2019 we will be celebrating next year by looking back and republishing some of our best features over the past twelve months, in addition to our regular releases. The article first appeared on the site in April. Enjoy!
"It's all mixed up" is the kind of commercial like the sage you often hear older relatives offering over a Brexit bite dining table and discussing the weather, and it's a name many people under the age of 30 definitely throw out without a hand, but to me personally – as a beating old man. 40 years old this year – it's also getting harder and harder to ignore, for more reasons than one.
If anything like me, you've found a great collection of precious retro system, from back in your childhood (my first love was Mega Drive) to more recent information (last year's biggest retro purchase was the complete GameCube of Japan with an HDMI connector). While I know about the rigidity of optical media and the critical hardware needed to read such discs, I've always worked under the assumption that anything based on cartridge is near impossible, and will still work great when I hit 80 – at that point I doubt I get a comment from in it Elijah Wood punks teasing me for & # 39; using my hands & # 39; playing & # 39; my child's toy & # 39; (if I'm in a permanent position in those years to do so, of course).
My latest wake-up call came when I put together my review of the excellent Analogue Mega Sg, an FPG-based Clone program that effectively duplicated Sega & # 39; s Mega Drive / Genesis performance – down to the point where it was possible to connect the program to the Mega CD. It was about this time that I was given a sobering lesson on how vintage hardware is slowly but surely dying.
Mega Sg and Mega CD simply refused to play nice with each other, and for a while, I actually thought this was the fault of the new Analogue system – their stupidity indeed hits home as I type. I blamed it on a program that had just come from the production line, rather than a piece of technology itself more than a quarter of a century old. In my defense, the Mega CD works fine with my original Mega Drive, but this fact just solved the problems that needed fixing, and fast.
Or I got closer Simon Lock, someone I've been following on Twitter for years because of his delightful retro editing work done, I still had the impression that while my favorite CD was Mega power suspicious, perhaps it was a subordinate to it being a hardware review that people in Analogue have never encountered before, which is why it's a difficult issue. Just taking a few interior photos of the Mega CD – torn from Lokile's Center – completely destroys that mindset and sends me wandering the rabbit hole of retro gaming despair.
Lock, I'm looking for a better term, a technical wizard. He has repaired countless machines over the past few years, many of which appeared to have been set up for this shooter. He has a love for Sega & # 39; 90s data, and has raised Famicom, Famicom Disk System, Twin Famicom, NEO-GEO AES, MVS, Master System, PC Engine Duo, Mega Drive, Multi-Mega, Saturn Mk1 / Mk2, PlayStation, and PlayStation 2 console during his performance.
I did not know that Lock's genius was Mega CD programs, which is why my first interaction. His bizarre reaction to the photos I deleted told me everything I needed to know – the news was wrong. Ironically, prior to my experience with Mega Sg, I thought that my Mega CD had many years working a lot before it; purchased just a few years ago on eBay, the Japanese Mk1 model & # 39; by the dealer, with a belt of new CD drive installed for complete service. Until Mega Sg, I thought my Mega CD was in good health.
Lock quickly identified a few key issues with my unit, some of which could be the cause of the Analogue Mega Sg imbalance. You have completely obliterated my belief that retro comforts, big, endless; it is a reality check that he usually releases. "I come across many ideas that & # 39; s well, mine was well cared & # 39; and mine is still working new & # 39 ;, he explains." Sadly, how well you take care of something doesn't always mean that you have a non-perishable system; by using the age, humidity or quality of the life expectancy / builder of that period. "
A pill that is hard to swallow, especially when it is perfectly possible to find an Atari 2600 in a charity shop that is (seemingly) a good workout; when a console from the & # 39; 40s is still viable today, it's easy to see why retro collectors – like me – have been released with a false sense of security. It is unfortunate that the advanced technology of our machines, like any other hardware component, is slowly but surely breaking down, and it's not just one thing – these platforms are being attacked at several frames at the same time.
"Electrolytic capacitors / Surface Mount technology / device (SMT / SMD) from late & # 39; 80s to mid-to-late & # 39; 90s era was one of the most common problems," Lok said. "The project, which surpasses all the time packages, developed during meetings and allowed to use other swap machines. This causes the fluid to go straight out of the circuit board directly to where it comes in contact with metals – such as copper leads or copper screws – that can result in damage to the foundation or worse, an unintended bridge or shorts to the extent. My Mega CD; Lock compared the impact to "adding small amounts of Coca-cola sugar to the circuit board" – gulp.
Batteries located inside certain pins can also cause problems if left unattended. "This is also slowing down and their content is becoming more flexible as time goes on," continued Lok. Many systems have batteries installed or sold directly on the board which means that if they fail, the contents will pour on the board. Some programs have installed batteries inside integrated circuits to save time, save data or output keys. Failed, the system will work incorrectly or not.
Voltage controllers can also fail over time, mainly due to the amount of heat they produce during normal use. "Favorable found in the mid & # 39; 80s to mid – & # 39; 90s is the 7805 power supply controller, which usually takes 8.5V to 12V DC output voltage to operate the 5V system used in the system. -NECs of this type mainly & # 39; re looking for & # 39; t because of their construction age and their health.When this part fails, power outages can drop or spike high causing the system to become unstable and this puts a strain on other systems. fail, unable to turn on (no output) or closed (input to ground, or worse, to exit); the latter can be catastrophic.The system areas with high temperature exposure cause rapid corrosion of some corrosive materials, such as electrolytic Some systems with these capacitors are set aside of the components of the electrical controller, are more prone to causing failure of the local component. "
We're not finished in the forest yet, either. As well as the acquired tech inside your console, the energy you use to bring health can also become a major problem as the years pass. "There is a school of thought that instructs you only Use the original constructor provided by the external PSU for the program it was sent to, or has been authorized by, "Lok said. While this has been true for many systems during production – though not all, the Amstrad GX4000 is a notable example – these also suffer from age and temperature-related failure, with a consequence causing damage to the systems used with them. I would allow it to not use the original external PSU of systems produced in the 90s or earlier, unless it was fully utilized by a qualified expert. "
We've already touched on issues with media systems, but it's worth emphasizing that often, the problems with the most prevalent CD and DVD consoles can do with moving parts than a real laser reading disc. "Usually, when you look at a system with moving parts, the word" # 39; maintenance, "& # 39; Vacuuming machines deteriorate over time, the plastic becomes more susceptible to movement and the conveyor belts also disappear under increasing pressure. Most commonly diagnosed as & # 39; laser failure & # 39; it is more common than non-mechanical parts to remove the original electrical appliance. The original oil can be broken down into a composite or resin-like material as a result of heavy coating on other parts of the system without the addition of metals – including belts, rail rails, and traction motors. "
The last issue is one of the fact that more and more of your decline may require avoiding reading. "If you keep the console long enough, something will make it a great home for their kids," Lok said with a grin. "It's very common to find insects and arachnids – or worse – it makes your grape hardware a new nursery where it can raise its family. This is a common finding of systems stored in attic, garage, and halls, where human presence is inconsistent. and all kinds of impacts on your program. "Er, yuck.
Storage, is another factor that can damage your console. We may think that the old system trapped in the attic or garage is safe and sound, but that's often far from the truth. "Keeping your devices out of ambient room temperature can lead to complications, as well as overheating during the changing season," Lok said. "Excessive humidity will lead to an explosion of hazardous materials – especially a problem with PAL systems under RF protection laws, which require that every part or part of the system is internally covered (usually low quality) metal cover inside. Summer heat can have a significant impact on heat sensitive materials. – such as cables and fittings – and things, batteries in particular. Plastics that tend to yellow due to the high content of bromine in their composition are at high risk of getting excess heat and humidity to speed up the process. "
Of all the equipment that Lock has worked on, he says there are fewer plants more often than most. The Mega CD, which we've already touched on, is a clear violation. "Failure of the Suface Mount Device capacitor on the main board may result in improper conduct, loss of performance or complete failure of the system," he explained. "In general, this results in the ML2016 failing to recharge the battery as a result. The NEC 2405 (7805 design) overcaps the control of the NEC and can cause local component acceleration, especially for nearby capacitors."
In addition to the Mega CD, Nintendo's popular 8-bit console is one of Lok's standard repair jobs. "The NES suffers from oxidation and corrosion problems, leading to the introduction of & # 39; Zero Insertion Force & # 39; preload programs, often due to vehicle and cartridge & # 39; & # 39 ;, "he said. "It is unfortunate that the culture of gamers spraying on their Game PAKs to provide a temporary solution to this has not helped things as the systems age. While this kind of problem can arise with almost any basketball-based system, especially when games are kept complete, it is a NES practice."
So how does OK go about returning these machines to the dead – or at least extending their lifespan? "I usually like to do my homework first," she replies. "I would like to know the history of the use of a particular program if possible; have you been to it before? Have you worked on it before? If it has been stored; if so, where and how? This information may prove important for getting an idea of where the program is before it arrives. If the owner is confident in doing it, sometimes I will ask for pictures of specific areas within the program to help assist in finding the error. "
"The next step in general will include some research on the system, common issues, getting a service manual if available, getting job updates if applicable (manufacturer's changes / product lifecycle solutions to solve problems accepted) and consulting any hardware wiki to get When the unit arrives, I check for evidence that the system may have been activated, changed or turned on before (if not known). I would also like to check to see any input / output connection as that can be an indication of how to save the unit. obvious possible damage: natural or non-natural. This can serve as a road map for error. If something is detected immediately, it is examined if it can affect what the user reports as bad about the system. "
With a memory test out of the way, the work flesh can begin. "The following is used for general health checks, fuse checks, DC insulation, power base and appliances, even if there is no resistance (direct path) or very low resistance between the transmission and the ground (short to low)) Other systems will fall into the category of known errors where all known service issues are first resolved before any issues are reached.If no obvious error or known issues are corrected, I move on to strengthening the system to check the performance. Problems with respect to supply, CPU, RAM and address cables are quickly identified. Systems may have problems with ICs performing procedures that require donor components from other failed systems, or Unfortunately they cannot be fixed. I usually go through any areas that require work under a microscope to see hat no other errors waiting to occur in the problem area. Abnormal sound issues and drawback problems can be a long process to fix. "
A good lock does a very good job; you just need to take a look at his feed on Twitter and see all the photos he sends to see the clever way he brings back these old programs. But what difference does all this work make? How many more years do you add to the console life?
"It would be very difficult to say," replied Lok. "These systems do not take small, so new errors that have never been encountered are sadly depressing. When using the same parts of today you have to have an OEM part of life – on average, aluminum electrolytic capacitors are up to 15 years., For example, while coin batteries up to 10. The biggest issue that happens is when ICs customize.We are currently seeing this with Nintendo PPU and CPU on NES / Famicom, PPU1 / PPU2 and CPU on SNES and other IC related ICs. -NEO-GEO, SIDs on the C64 – to name a few.Replaced sites tend to be malfunctioning or construction related to components from other unfriendly programs that can be contributors, which can increase with similar problems eventually. ICs that can be used to restore systems to system functions e. This is very encouraging and something I like to see. As an alternative, we see a significant increase in the cycle – a "Produced by ccurate or eye-catching systems to fill the space created by the lack of available apps or those looking for the latest luxury / upgrades to original free designs."
Indeed, the realization that these vintage systems – while seemingly numerous now – are slowly diminishing as the number of error-enhancing units makes modern-day saturation such as Super Nt and Mega Sg become more important; The general answer when I talk to someone about these types of FPGA machines is, "I have my old SNES and Mega Drive in the desk, chum. Why do I need to spend all this money on things that do the same?" I have to admit, at some point in time I've got a tendency to think the same lines (heck, my first Mega Drive and Mega CD combo are still set for TV even though it comes with Mega Sg, who is totally my wife I'm happy about, as you can imagine), but there may come a time when using vintage games on real things is less expensive due to the amount of crossing the equipment running, but it's also very expensive. Retro & # 39; business playback & # 39; supply & demand &, and where purchasing power is provided, prices are heaven.
Repairing systems that are used for years or even decades longer than their original manufacturer intended was one thing, but what kind of longevity can we expect to see in modern applications, such as switch, 3DS, PS4 and Xbox One? "I argue that we are seeing a lot of failures in modern programs due to various factors," Lock said. Temperature is a never-ending problem in today's system life, as well as in long-term storage. Some are due to large numbers, the quality control of the number of elements needed to satisfy numbers is much greater than in previous generations of systems. it's a matter of course that some game may no longer work well for some Hardware updates, but now we also see some peripheral or console hardware / firmware issues from new ones. Many manufacturers are used to simplify initial demand, so different issues they appear during the warranty period for what may appear to be two identical plans. "
The complexity of today's consoles is another problem; while locks unlock the NES and easily detect problems, modern systems rely on scaled-Down chipsets that cannot be replaced without proper equipment. "The systems are facing internal IC failures that can be solved without reaching new direct business arrangements from suppliers and industry-level equipment for parts repair," Lok said. "Smaller and easier-to-use systems cause problems with access control for reading computers as the learning composition gets smaller, more complex and less human interaction within the assembly. There is also the right & # 39; fixing & # 39; Another cycle of Hardware updates is affected; new features are added and short warranties are provided on startup plans. There is controversy that & # 39; s organized planning & # 39; and set product cycles & # 39; end of life & # 39; in both drawings. and software performance as we rely heavily on Internet-based services on our modern devices. "
In what ways can collectors make sure that their hearts stay on track for as long as possible? "Don't keep known programs that work in boxes for decades unless they're used," begins Lok. "Similarly, if you continue to use unmanaged system and related related troubleshooting, please activate it; there are only so many times you can buy used repair systems before people eventually run out of active programs to sell. If you don't always use a reusable battery If you want to save the system for a long time with a battery, replace or replace it professionally. If you have a system and battery that can no longer work, replace or replace it. "
Even though I have these steps – or repairs to a skilled handset like Lock – it's pretty clear (to me, at least) that I've taken my gaming hardware for granted. I've always thought that they would bury me and my Japanese Mk1 Mega Drive that worked when I finally broke my deadly coil, but it looked like I'd need to be plugged in with my Analogue Mega Sg – anything like the same conone at that point in time. Spray.
