OutdateRef 208: Stranger Things Ep 1-4

This week it's a two man crew with Russ & Nathan catching up on Stranger Things Episode 1-4 while reminiscing about growing up in the 80s while also Nathan sharing his experience with a medical procedure because we old. Speaking of old, Nathan had to update Russ that his Sega Saturn collection is worth a pretty mint, then we bitch about how kids don't play with toys and lack imagination.  

Ugh, anyways...

 I hope you guys enjoy this as our last episode of 2025, especially since we forgot to hit record on actual last episode of 2025. D'oh!

--Nathan

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Outdated References 179: Everything Old is Cool Again

This week, we have a two man show with Russ and Nathan. Russ is updating Nathan about World of Warcraft and that weird Amazon Lord of the Ring show. Nathan shares his insanity of Laserdisc collecting and rebuilding his old NES. 

--Nathan 

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Fix Your NES Controller & While You're At It, Customize it!

I love customizing my gaming hardware especially gaming controllers. They are one of the easiest to get parts for and the NES Controllers are also one of the easiest things to customize. You really don't need to be a "professional modders" to make your NES controllers look great. Granted, you can always buy a premade controller but if you do a quick search on Etsy or Ebay, you see a lot of people are selling premade customized controllers for some outrageous prices. I like the feeling that with a little effort and some fairly cheap parts, I can be playing my personalized controller that not only plays well, but looks awesome. The one thing I can confirm to all of you import Famicom gamers is that the controller membranes are 100% compatible with the NES kits. The inside of the controllers are the same, with the only exception being the 2nd Controller on the original Famicom due to the microphone.

What you will need:

• (x1) NES Controllers 
• (x1) NES Controller Membrane Kit
• (x1) Small tipped Phillips Screwdriver
• Cotton Swabs
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Old Toothbrush

Optional Items if you want to Customize Your Controller. 

• (x1) Vinyl Dye or Spray Paint
• (x1) Custom Controller Overlay 
• (x1) Custom DPad & Buttons

NES Upgrade: Replace your 72 Pin connector

This was another article that I wrote for Pineconeattack back on 02.10.2013. While replacing the 72 pin connector is pretty drastic, I never had any issues with the aftermarket parts being too tight. I guess you miles may vary. One of these days I'll get around to doing a walk-through for the Blinking Light Win apparatus.  I hope this article will still be useful to those in need of repairing your NES. I will keep it up here for archival purpose. 

--Nathan

The Nintendo Entertainment System, easily one of the most iconic and leading gaming console from the 80’s selling into the millions across America, capturing the imaginations of children while firmly grasping at the wallets of parents. For every coin collected, every duck shot, and for every Princess saved, the Nintendo Entertainment System has filled me with great memories including strange gaming rituals like blowing into the cartridges, clicking up and down and hitting power and reset. Wonky rituals that I do just so I can play the damn thing. As popular as the NES was, Nintendo really cheaped out on the one main component that actually have the console work: the 72-pin connector.

So what is the 72-pin connector?

The 72-pin connector is what makes contact to the game cart and the main motherboard. The pins over time will begin to separate and the cartridge doesn’t make a tight connection and that’s when the video will glitch out or you just get that blue screen. Lucky for you, it’s really an easy cheap fix to make your NES work better than before. Just replace the 72-pin connector.

 And here is how to do just that, but before that he's the standard warning:

WARNING:

Attempt at your own risk!

DO NOT ATTEMPT unless you have some technical skills and can follow instructions. This walkthrough is as simplified as I can make it so if none of my instructions makes any sense then please DO NOT ATTEMPT.

This project will void your warranty.

[Pineconeattack (Outdated References) will not take any responsibility if you kill your NES.]