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[Sensei]

So, as some of you may recall, I have a few NES games lying around (picked 'em up at a garage sale). And I've been wanting to get an SNES for a long time as well.

It occurred to me quite a while ago that they're well within my budget, and I know where to get them (there's a store within driving distance that carries old games, so I can even probably avoid ebay shenans).

So, if I buy an NES/SNES/both, will the cables be compatible with my TV?

And what about those NES/SNES combo console things? Are they good? Do they have weird 3rd party controllers? I can get one in new condition, but are they innately prone to failure? If there aren't many drawbacks, I'd like to do this because it costs about as much as either of the consoles alone.

Also, why is that fuzzy noise coming from my speaker when there's no audio playing? And what's the meaning of life? And why do geoducks exist?

[zchris13]

Didn't they always use the old component cables? Video, left, right?

[Duke 2.0]

 SNES uses your standard RCA cables to connect to your TV. Should still work with most TV's. If you can connect a modern console, you can connect a SNES. Now a NES I think had some funky crap because RCA didn't exist yet.

[Sensei]

I don't remember what my old TV had (I was like , but I had to buy an adapter for my N64 when we upgraded TVs that connected to VLR.

On a side note, writing that reminded me that it was a three-headed cable that has a gamecube, N64, and SNES hookup. If the SNES uses the same cable as the NES and that dual-console whatsit, then no problems.

[zchris13]

NES doesn't use the 3 headed yellow, red, white cable.

Duke just said that.

[Duke 2.0]

 Actually, after doing some very basic research I found that the NES came in both RCA and RF Modulator versions. Although considering the stories people have, the RF Modulator was more common. It was basically something you had to replace the rabbit ears of your television with. And it used small exposed cables for some ungodly reason.

 Not to mention it was apparently stupidly unreliable. Try to find a NES 2 if you can.

[beorn080]

Speaking from experience, the NES and SNES can both use a cable to RCA adaptor. Not sure about the double, but both are excellent purchases. I still play Kirby Super Star from time to time.

[Puck]

Actually, after doing some very basic research I found that the NES came in both RCA and RF Modulator versions. Although considering the stories people have, the RF Modulator was more common. It was basically something you had to replace the rabbit ears of your television with. And it used small exposed cables for some ungodly reason.

 Not to mention it was apparently stupidly unreliable. Try to find a NES 2 if you can.

I got the RF modulator version, never even heard of a different one. There are no exposed cables whatsoever and that thing STILL works after DECADES of abuse.

A common piece of equipment you might find in households with NESes might be ye olde VCRs. You can use one of those just fine to plug that NES into anything modern. (make the VCR receive that nes signal like a tv programme and spit it out via scart)

[Cody Corcoran]

Actually, after doing some very basic research I found that the NES came in both RCA and RF Modulator versions. Although considering the stories people have, the RF Modulator was more common. It was basically something you had to replace the rabbit ears of your television with. And it used small exposed cables for some ungodly reason.

 Not to mention it was apparently stupidly unreliable. Try to find a NES 2 if you can.

I own an NES 2, and as far as I know it was not available with the AV out, only the RF modulator.

I found mine for $10 with 2 controllers, the zapper, and 4 games at a garage sale.  The Game Exchange here in the town I live has some for approximately $65. 

[Sappho]

Don't forget that with cartridges that old, the internal battery for the games themselves is likely to be dead by now.  I've heard some very sad tales of people no longer able to save their Earthbound games on the original cart and being forced to resort to emulators.  The games should still work fine, but if the internal battery is dead, you won't be able to save anything between plays.  Of course, if the games you have don't have a save feature, it's nothing to worry about anyway.

[Sowelu]

Original NESes seem to still work great, with one exception:  The 72 pin connector (what the cart actually plugs into) is usually the first, and only, thing to go.  My understanding is that it is TIME based, not usage based, so picking up an old one might still give you some issues.

If you start having issues that make you want to blow into the cart and into the NES to fix them, (IE gray screen, flashing power, and maybe if you fuss with it for 15+ minutes, a garbled into screen), you need to replace your 72 pin connector.  You have to unscrew almost everything, and use a little bit of force to get the old 72 pin connector off, but it's early 80s tech, so any amateur electronics tech will probably be able to do it.

Any used-game store that stocks NES cartridges will almost CERTAINLY have brand new 72 pin connectors for somewhere in the $10 range, my local one offered to install it for me for another $10 (did it at home with no problems). As for NES 2s, I don't think any place even HAS replacement parts.  The original is probably a better investment!  Mine works just like new after replacing that part.

And for batteries, well, I know my old Wizardry cart still works fine and I think my Zelda one still works as well.  They are not ALL guaranteed to be dead by any stretch, there is probably a lot of variability.  (I ran into a dead Wrecking Crew cart like ten years ago!)  I wonder if it's possible to replace the batteries...hmm.