New mod by Arcade Works permanently replaces NES ZIF socket

[mickcris]

I just got my V2 back from arcadeworks. Ill let you know how it works.

I tried just plugging a game into it (not installed in console yet) and it already seems a whole lot easier to pull the game out of the connector.

i have a feeling its going to be much better than V1.

I got mine a couple days ago also. forgot to post that it arrived.

[BazookaBen]

I got mine a couple days ago also. forgot to post that it arrived.

Cool, let us know how you like it. I played my NES quite a bit last weekend, cycling through a few games, and it's just awesome not having to fiddle with games anymore. It's mind blowing in a way, because I have 25 years of memories of struggling to get games to work. It feels like a higher quality system now.

A little disappointed it's not easier to get games out, and it's just because there's not much clearance below or to either side to get a nice solid grip. But it's definitely worth the tradeoff.

[mvsfan]

you could modify the top shell like i did. I have plenty of room to get my finger under the game now.

[BazookaBen]

you could modify the top shell like i did. I have plenty of room to get my finger under the game now

Yeah, I know I should probably do that, but I don't think I can bring myself to permanently modify the shell of such an iconic system.

[CkRtech]

I don't know how tight the grip is on those connectors, myself, however the replacement connector I picked up in 1999 has a strong grip as well. What I do to remove carts is pinch in the grip on the cart with my right hand and then use my left index finger on the left side of the cart.

It sounds over the top after I actually write the process down, but I have gotten used to it over the last 15 years. Ha! I don't know if that will help give enough force to comfortably remove carts from the BLW, but the extra pressure from my left index helps with grip and reduces pinch stress on my right index and thumb.

...deep thoughts concerning NES cart removal...

[mvsfan]

you dont even notice when the flaps closed.

I kind of think if he left the metal out and made the blw a little bit taller it wouldnt be an issue.

the blw was designed to fit underneath the metal though.

[mvsfan]

they have raised the price on this. its now 29.99.

I wish i would have got the 10 pack on the kickstarter.

instead i got 2.

[BONKERS]

they have raised the price on this. its now 29.99.

I wish i would have got the 10 pack on the kickstarter.

instead i got 2.

Still worth 30$

[mvsfan]

Ive got this installed now.

This second version of the BLW is fine.

the game pulls out easy, but it still feels like a solid connection.

[leonk]

A customer just gave me an NES for NESRGB mod, and it has BLW in it (Says V2 on the PCB). Very nice device. I'd say the cart connector has a grip 1/2 way between regular NES, and the aftermarket NES connectors that hold on to the cart real tight.

[Guspaz]

Is there a good place to get them that ships domestically instead of importing from the US? I think I might finally be willing to admit defeat. Adjusting my 72-pin connector to make a bunch of new games work made all the old games not work, and vice versa. At this point, I'm willing to just give up and get a BLW.

The aftermarket connector does work perfectly on all games, but deathgrip is insane, and I'm not sure how to loosen it.

[mvsfan]

as far as i know the only place you can get them is from arcadeworks.net.

the owner of arcadeworks is the inventor of the blw.

[BazookaBen]

Is there a good place to get them that ships domestically instead of importing from the US?

It took Arcade works over half a year to ship out to their kickstarter backers, and another few months to catch up on back orders from their store. So that shows they aren't producing huge quantities, and I doubt you'll be able to BLW's outside of their store.

[leonk]

Alternatively you can do what many others have done. Give up on the front loader and settle on a modded top loader.

[BazookaBen]

Alternatively you can do what many others have done. Give up on the front loader and settle on a modded top loader.

For Canada, getting a toploader might be cheaper right now due to exchange rate/shipping on BLW, but if you're in the US, the toploader is basically obsolete thanks to the BLW.

[leonk]

Alternatively you can do what many others have done. Give up on the front loader and settle on a modded top loader.

For Canada, getting a toploader might be cheaper right now due to exchange rate/shipping on BLW, but if you're in the US, the toploader is basically obsolete thanks to the BLW.

Each console has its merits, and it is a personal choice at the end of the day.

- For the most authentic look, nothing beats the Front Loader
- For top notch reliability and cross system compatibility, nothing beats a top loader

BLW does blur the line between the 2, but V2 has just a bit more work to do on the grip. Maybe V3?

Personally, I have one of each (including every single Famicom and Sharp variation that ever came out - including the Titler) but my go-to console is still my USA Top Loader. My connector has seen over 5000 carts (seriously!) and is good as the day it was made.

I'm glad to see BLW exists, and would strongly suggest it to anyone who wants to play on a Front Loader.

[BONKERS]

I'm sure the grip will wear with age

[Guspaz]

I'm willing to compromise on the nostalgia by giving up the push-down (although I'm grumbling about that), but not to the extent of getting a toploader.

Also, I'm not sure I follow the logic. The BLW costs around $72 all-in, while a toploader would be around $150ish.

There's something funky with the shipping options for the BLW, though. There were three shipping options, IIRC it was something like $27, $13, and $3... But the ~$3 option had a null name and description, which leads me to believe that it's an error. You can't ship something that size from the US to Canada for under $3.

[cfx]

.

[moltomolto]

Well at least with the NG Omega console, one version has the virtual memory card, and the other (cheaper console) does not. I only know this because I emailed him...but yeah it's not clear at all on the website.

[Guspaz]

So, it arrived today... The shipping label indicates they paid $4.79 in shipping, after charging me $12.35 in shipping. Needless to say, everything about this whole process has been terribly unprofessional on their parts. They say ships in 2-3 days but then don't ship for 9 days, their shipping options on their site are half broken with an almost free shipping option with a null title that was clearly a bogus option, and then they vastly overcharge me on shipping.

Arcade Works needs to get their shit together. They're a joke.

[BazookaBen]

Arcade Works needs to get their shit together.

That is certainly true, but the BLW is still great.

[Guspaz]

For the most part, yeah. I installed it this evening, and games that gave me trouble before work fine now (although I've got some games that don't work, but that I haven't cleaned since I bought them, so they'll probably be fine).

The thing has a death grip on the cartridge, though. It's really hard to get them back out again. So it's a bit of a mixed bag. Games work now, sure, but they worked with the Hyperkin slot too, and that also had a death grip.

Admittedly the death grip from the BLW isn't quite as bad, but it's enough that I have to grip the console firmly in one hand to avoid sliding it around, and then pull the cart as hard as I can while wiggling it.

[Einzelherz]

For the most part, yeah. I installed it this evening, and games that gave me trouble before work fine now (although I've got some games that don't work, but that I haven't cleaned since I bought them, so they'll probably be fine).

The thing has a death grip on the cartridge, though. It's really hard to get them back out again. So it's a bit of a mixed bag. Games work now, sure, but they worked with the Hyperkin slot too, and that also had a death grip.

Admittedly the death grip from the BLW isn't quite as bad, but it's enough that I have to grip the console firmly in one hand to avoid sliding it around, and then pull the cart as hard as I can while wiggling it.

So basically like every other cartridge system? There's a good reason the SNES has an eject lever with a significant mechanical advantage.

[mvsfan]

Fun fact: when your games are dirty they are a lot harder to pull out of the blw.

sofar i think the redesign is fine.

clean them and try it.

[Guspaz]

The game that gave me the most trouble getting out was Zelda, which was cleaned. I barely got that one out, it was just as bad as the Hyperkin connector... And considering the hyperkin connector also worked with all games, it's not clear what advantage the blinking-light-win offers in that regard.

Hopefully it'll loosen up over time? Otherwise it may end up being useless, no more reliable than third-party connectors, and just as bad of a death grip... Although not all games were as hard as that to get out.

[CkRtech]

Hopefully it'll loosen up over time? Otherwise it may end up being useless

Why is a tight grip useless (provided it still runs the games)? I mean I guess it could be a bit annoying, but useless?

Didn't the earlier Nintendo games (black box) have thicker PCBs? Maybe you could leave one of the older games in there for a little bit -or- use it to break-in the connector? Leaving the top and shield off during this time would help make the back and forth easier. ....otherwise, it would be a bit of a torture exercise, eh?

[bobrocks95]

Jam a Game Genie in there a few times, that's what ruined lots of peoples' connectors, right?

[Guspaz]

Hopefully it'll loosen up over time? Otherwise it may end up being useless

Why is a tight grip useless (provided it still runs the games)? I mean I guess it could be a bit annoying, but useless?

Didn't the earlier Nintendo games (black box) have thicker PCBs? Maybe you could leave one of the older games in there for a little bit -or- use it to break-in the connector? Leaving the top and shield off during this time would help make the back and forth easier. ....otherwise, it would be a bit of a torture exercise, eh?

I don't mean useless by itself, I mean useless as compared to the Hyperkin connector that I had. I spent money to replace the Hyperkin with the BLW because the Hyperkin worked with everything, but had a death grip. But the BLW has a death grip too...

It becomes more than annoying when there's a risk at damaging the NES because of the amount of force that I'm exerting trying to get games out, dragging the NES around on the wire mesh shelf.

Hopefully I can loosen it up.

[leonk]

... and this is why 10 years ago I switched to playinng on top loader and never looked back. All my front loaders are shelf queens.