However, one element of the NES has attracted negativity over the years – the ZIF, or Zero Insertion Force cartridge connector. While it was designed to give the console a futuristic feel back in 1985, it has become a critical failure point for the system.
Because traditional cartridge contacts naturally get 'scrubbed' when inserted and removed from the console, debris and dust are dealt with, to a degree – however, ZIF systems lack this element, which allows gunk to accumulate over time, leading to the dreading 'blinking light' fault (and the foolhardy practice of 'blowing on the cart').
@RockerGaming and @reventlow have spent the past six months developing a solution to this problem, dubbed the Ninten-drawer. "The Ninten-drawer is more than just a basic 72-pin connector," says RockerGaming's Twitter. "It fixes the blinking red light often associated with a bad 72-pin connector; it accomplishes this by effectively creating a straight shot to the cartridge slot."
6 months ago @reventlow and I discussed kitting our NES consoles with a RGR clear shell; however, we both hated the idea of using the unreliable OG 72-pin connector. So we embarked on a journey to fix the sin @nintendo committed 35 years ago, say hello to the Ninten-drawer: a 🧵 pic.twitter.com/PFkUG2fBnk
— RockerGaming (@RockerGameMod) February 7, 2024
Now, this isn't the first time a solution to this problem has been created – we already have the Blinking Light Win. However, RockerGaming feels the Ninten-drawer is an improvement on that.
"The drawer can do what the win can’t… which is extend. This gives the drawer a massive leg up when it comes to actually removing the cart. You see, this design, along with a few other clever tricks, makes death grip, which plagued other 72 pin connectors, a thing of the past. Reliable connection to play games and you can remove the cartridge no problem."
RockerGaming is now looking for testers to put the mod through its paces; if you think you can help, drop them a line on Twitter.
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Related Forum: Gaming Discussion
Source: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/02/nes-modders-fix-the-sin-committed-by-nintendo-39-years-ago
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