my love for video games started young! The first system that was truly mine was the Sony PlayStation 2 slim. I got older and played other systems and started getting more and more into games. I got hit with the “gaming bug.” Before Facebook Marketplace, the place to find video games was Craigslist. There weren’t many places to buy the “older” games. People always wanted to sell everything in a lot which is understandable when it comes to cherry picking. But… I kept getting duplicates! I started to trade them in at a game store eventually, but often times, I would get non-working games, but at their volume size, I understood. Finally

When it comes to retro gaming, whether you're a collector, someone who loves to repair and restore old gaming cartridges or you simply just want to see what the inside of a retro video game cartridge looks like, then understanding the tools required to disassemble these games is essential. One of the most crucial tools in your gaming kit when dealing with classic game carts such as, but not limited to, the Nintendo NES, SNES, and the Sega Genesis is the Gamebit screwdriver. These specialized tools are designed to handle the unique screws used in these systems, particularly the 3.8mm and 4.5mm variants. These games aren’t getting any younger and if you want to really get in and clean those dirty carts or just study a board, then let’s educate ourselves on the gaming bit required to disassemble those bad boys!

Dude… What Are Gamebit Screws?

Gamebit screws are distinctive, five-pointed screws used in many retro gaming cartridges. Their unique shape is designed to prevent tampering and unauthorized repairs, making them a pain for anyone trying to disassemble these devices without the right tools. Remember, Amazon didn’t have cheap and super-fast shipping back when this preventative measure was first implemented. Although, back in the 80s and 90s, people still got their hands on these bits and would sometimes switch out the boards in game cartridges from the video rental store. Remember those? To open up these game cartridges, you need a 3.8mm or 4.5mm Gamebit screwdriver... most of the time. We’ll dive deeper. However, these sizes are the most common for accessing the internal cartridge components safely and effectively

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

When it comes to retro gaming, few franchises evoke as much nostalgia as Sonic the Hedgehog. Released in 1991 for the Sega Genesis, Sonic the Hedgehog not only revolutionized platforming games but also became a cornerstone of Sega’s marketing efforts during the 16-bit console wars. Collectors of retro games often find themselves fascinated by the different retail variants of Sonic the Hedgehog cartridges and cases, including the original release, the second print run, and the iconic “Not For Resale” edition. This blog dives into the differences among these versions, examining their inserts, case designs, and how they were originally distributed.

The “Not For Resale” variant is significantly less expensive than the “Retail” version of the first Sonic game. Usually when we see a “Not For Resale” on a game cartridge we see $$$, but it is the complete opposite in the case of Sonic The Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis! Many people assume that the NFS version is more valuable and often you’ll see on local marketplaces that they jack the price up on these, but if you look hard enough, you can snatch up a Retail version for way less than on Ebay or Mercari. I have noticed that a lot of video game stores do not price these variants differently.

Every Mario Kart Video Game Ever Released and Their Own Unique Appeal! 1. Super Mario Kart (1992) Platform: Super Nintendo...