blowing into a cartridge [blo-wing-in-too-ey-kahr-trij]
verb
1. The popular process of fixing an inactive video game cartridge by attempting blow dust out of the cartridge's port. According to many resources, this doesn't actually do anything and, in fact, can damage a cartridge over time through exposure to the moisture of a breath. Do not blow into your cartridges or consoles!
EX. Unless exposed to retro gaming systems, like the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis, kids these days will probably play lots of video games without ever having the experience of blowing into a cartridge. I actually blew into a cart to get it to work the other day (it was Donkey Kong Country 3), but discovered something yesterday that, while I hate to admit it, makes sense. Blowing into game carts doesn't fix anything and can actually ruin them!
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| Even AVGN does it! |
According to an article from mental_floss, linked above, blowing into cartridges doesn't fix a cart when it won't start up; in actuality, the process seems to fix carts because your taking out and putting the game back into the console. The problem that is resolved by removing and repositioning the cartridge is that it allows it to line up properly into the console's slot.
By the way, if anyone is interested, I have been playing a Banjo Kazooie emulator that is to die for. All you need to emulate old N64 games is:
Also, for SNES games:
And I only condone emulators and the like for games and consoles at least ten years old. As the N64 was discontinued in Jan. 2002, and the SNES much earlier, I reckon its morally okay. If not well...
