Game Cartridges Dying?

I have a few games on the SNES and N64 that use a battery inside the cartridges to save game data. However, I've heard over time the battery might die, and you'll lose all your data. But i've even heard that you can replace the battery. Does the battery really die, and can I actually get it replaced? Please help! Also, how long does the battery actually last? Can you still play the game with a dead battery?

i honestly never heard of that

Yes the battery can die over time, and yes you can replace it. You can get the goods from Nintendo Repair Shop to fix your games, controllers, systems, etc.

If the battery dies, you do lose all your saved information. You can still play your games, though they might malfunction sometimes, but you won't be able to save.

There is no real set limit on a battery's life expectancy. I have some games that are almost 25 years old and the battery still works fine (Zelda, for example). Supposedly, you may lose your data if a game w/a battery isn't fired up after a long time, but I recently played a Dragon Warrior cartridge that I haven't touched in at least 15 years and it still had my old game saves on it!

It's kind of the luck of the draw about this type of failure but there are some things you can do to prolong your cartridges' longevity. It mainly has to do with proper care and storage.I have only had to replace one battery (so far) in one of my games and it was on a former rental that had no doubt been abused before I got it.

Keep them in a temperature controlled space that doesn't get too hot or cold and isn't subject to high humidity(an uninsulated attic is NOT the best place for your collection)

Don't drop them

Basically, handle with care.

I have heard that before I know alot of Pokemon blue and reds suffored when people digged them up, you can replace them but I'm not sure how

It was my impression that only some NES games use batteries to save. Never heard of there being batteries in SNES games and certainly not N64 games! Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

i have replaced batteries in nes, snes, n64, gameboy and genesis cartridges. as someone else said there is not a set time they will last. my secret of mana is still going strong but my donkey kong country 3 ive had to replace.

my best advice is to practice on a cheap game like super mario world so if you mess it up no big deal.

use a low wattage soldering iron like 25w and buy a battery clip from radio shack for like 98cents. that will make it so much easier.

the you just solder the battery clip in and slide the battery into the clip, plus in 25 more years it will be easy to change the batterey again once the clip is already there.

the factory way they have it is like the prongs are welded to the actual battery which would be hard to replicate.

Yes the batteries die, and yes they are replaceable.

Thanks, but yah i'll probably have to replace the batteries sometime.

yeah the batteries die, and you have to replace them. its farley easy.

Like people already mentioned, yes, they are replaceable, but your saves are not. And there is no way to transfer saves from one catriage to another. At least none that I know of.

It was my impression that only some NES games use batteries to save. Never heard of there being batteries in SNES games and certainly not N64 games! Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

amsfm6

there designed to last at least 11 years but if got a SMW that still saves, also depends on how much it has been played, never replaced one myself

The snes is the system this problemmost affects, but the batteries aren't too hard to replace

NES game's mostly used password save back in those days so there's not as many with batteries in them.

Virtually no N64 games at all use battery saves, Smash Bros is pretty much the only one I can think of, so N64 gamesare mostly pretty much free from this issue.

Virtually no N64 games at all use battery saves, Smash Bros is pretty much the only one I can think of, so N64 gamesare mostly pretty much free from this issue.

Domino_slayer

That's not entirely true. Some do use eeproms and some use flash memory, but those are not entirely fail-safe. For example, eeproms will quit functioning after so many rewrites. There is no real exact number, but an estimate puts it near 100k rewrites. Flash memory wears down than eeproms quicker due to its write/erase/rewrite nature, but again there's no exact number stated as to when it will fail.

Also, games like Zelda:OoT, Resident Evil 2, F-Zero X,1080, Ogre Battle 64, Harvest Moon 64, The New Tetris, and Mario Golf use a battery. The list is relatively small, but there are a few games that do use one, not just SSB.

OP: Enjoy playing your games instead of worrying about when they'll crap out on you. I've got some games from the early 70's that are still going strong! I'm sure you'll get lots of miles out of yours before you need to do any serious (albeit pretty easy) work on them.

[QUOTE="Domino_slayer"]

Virtually no N64 games at all use battery saves, Smash Bros is pretty much the only one I can think of, so N64 games are mostly pretty much free from this issue.

slingshot_ylo

That's not entirely true. Some do use eeproms and some use flash memory, but those are not entirely fail-safe. For example, eeproms will quit functioning after so many rewrites. There is no real exact number, but an estimate puts it near 100k rewrites. Flash memory wears down than eeproms quicker due to its write/erase/rewrite nature, but again there's no exact number stated as to when it will fail.

To be honest, there's no way i've even saved most of my games 100 times let alone anywhere near 100,000 so this doesn't really worry me as its more a distant future thing, not only this but don't all memory cards use eeprom anyway? which pretty much puts all consoles such as the PS1 into the exact same bracket as the N64.

Also, games like Zelda:OoT, Resident Evil 2, F-Zero X,1080, Ogre Battle 64, Harvest Moon 64, The New Tetris, and Mario Golf use a battery. The list is relatively small, but there are a few games that do use one, not just SSB.slingshot_ylo

There's apparently 12 total N64 games with battery back up, and you pretty much listed all the worthwhile one's (all the worthwhile ones, as well as New Tetris and Mario Golf) and from what i've heard some of the ones you listed actually have an option for internal save or memory card save.

Domino_slayer:

I was just stating that every save mechanism will eventually breakdown (just like every thing else in this world, watch Life After People on History). Also, I just wanted to point out that were some more notable games on the N64 that contain batteries, besides SSB.

As far as N64 controller pak and PS1 memory card saves, you might be able to find an old DexDrive pretty cheaply and simply back them up to a PC. In the PS1's case you could also get a memory card adapter and load them onto a PS3's harddrive.

One other note: Cheat devices can mess up your game saves. I replaced the battery in a co-workers Zelda:OoT this morning that screwed up royally after his son messed around with a GameShark.

Look around with google. There are tons of how to guides on replacing game batteries. I did because I recently bought a Genesis with 7 RPGs. They all save and work well in that department. I also have 2 action games that have no batteries. I know a gameshop near me replaces batteries in cartridges, I called and asked. Its called Power Gamer. They said they replace batteries in N64 carts, Gameboy carts, SNES and the guy said they probably did Genesis carts as well.

If not I maybe doing it myself. Like I said I read some of the guides and it seems easy. I may even have to repair my genesis myself since it has that annoying power connector problem where the power flickers on and off.

I was just on google and I have found some tutorials, I think I could replace it myself, doesn't look hard :)

i honestly never heard of that

youngmurk911