SMS - Random Cartridge Question

[fiatbravodriver]

While choosing which Shinobi Cart to keep against another I noticed that some of the Pin outs / PCB tracks are missing on one cart and not the other.
Both are covered in the remains of stupid security sicky tags.

Is this simply that all the tracks were not needed in a later production run and it was a production cost cutting method?

Or is it something far more sinister, something bigger than the faked moon landings or Spaceships at Area 51?

[sheep2001]

strange - never noticed that before. My Shinobi has all pins intact

[fiatbravodriver]

Ummmm puzzler this is. Maybe its like back to the future....

[komodos]

My Shinobi is missing teeth as well and is genuine. I think its just a regional difference probably difference between the US and Canadian vers.

[satoshi_matrix]

There are a great many SMS games that don't have all of the contact pins, but then again, the same is true of NES games. Some pins are only needed for certain games that use paging chips, sram, etc. Games that dont need them don't need the pins either - so it was a cost cutting measure.

[wiggy]

As carts get older they tend to loose teeth, the same as us humans.

I'm currently developing cartridge dentures for a myriad of consoles, including the SMS.  I'll be offering brass alloy and a pricier gold option

[satoshi_matrix]

That's not the case here. These SMS games haven't "lost" their contacts (what you call "teeth") they simply never had them to begin with. The same is also true of many MMC3 NES games. While not all copies, chances are if you look at the bottom of Super Mario Bros. 2 or 3 you'll find they are missing the contract pins in the middle of the carts. They simply aren't there because they are not needed.

[wiggy]

Satoshi, please tell me that you didn't actually take that seriously?

[satoshi_matrix]

lol sorry. humor is kinda hard to tell in forums.

[ShoothimNow]

Satoshi, please tell me that you didn't actually take that seriously?

This is how I read Wiggy's post:

[wiggy]

lol sorry. humor is kinda hard to tell in forums.

 

Satoshi, please tell me that you didn't actually take that seriously?

This is how I read Wiggy's post:

I expect no less