220°

Debunked: Blowing On Nintendo Game Cartridges Never Worked

We have all been there! Blowing on a Nintendo video game cartridge when the game we were playing just would not launch or appeared to be glitching.

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fortressofsolitude.co.za
Neonridr306d ago

I mean it worked for me. Regardless if it was just a poor connection between the cartridge and the console or some random bug that was preventing the game from loading properly, the placebo effect of knowing your breath is what fixed the game is dead set in the minds of plenty of 80s gamers.

wesnytsfs305d ago

Blow on the game and then use something about hte thickness of a deck of cards in my case it a was plastic sport card holder of about 20 cards that would keep the mechnaism all the eway down. Ahh and the famous left to right shuffle hoping the contact would touch.

VenomUK305d ago (Edited 305d ago )

Stupid Zoomer tries to debunk a technique used successfully by millions of people over many years.

Look out for they/them’s next article ‘DEBUNKED! Why the Xbox 360 towel trick is all a myth’.

Cacabunga305d ago

It did work, not only Nintendo but sega genesis and saturn as well

Seraphim304d ago (Edited 304d ago )

I mean, sure it worked, but did it work every single time? If the answer is yes then you were probably just lucky, or more likely, not remembering correctly. Regardless, it did work be that luck or scientific reasons.

wesnytsfs301d ago

I literally have the same nes from when i was a kid and it still works doing these things. Played on multiple nes consoels when i was a kid always did the same thing and it would always work eventually. PLayed a ton of tecmo bowl with on diff consoles we all did the same thing to get the contacts to register.

thorstein306d ago

Clearing the dust from inside the cartridge by blowing on it did work.

Perhaps YOU are unfamiliar with how easily dust can disrupt electronics, but entire generations of gamers and computer users are.

DodoDojo305d ago

Yup. The pins would get dirty and dusty, anyone that's cleaned a game with a q tip knows that. Blowing the cartridge out would had have to helped.

Relientk77306d ago

It worked for me and my cartridges. So I refuse to believe it's just a myth

shinoff2183306d ago

It definitely works. They can go on and on about how it didn't but I was there for 100s of games. It was pretty damn common.

Wretchedstain305d ago

The salt in your saliva is conductive

305d ago Replies(1)
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190°

Nintendo Switch 2 To Sell 100M+ Units by 2029, Is The Most Important Console Launch Ever, Says DFC

DFC Intelligence has big expectations for the Nintendo Switch 2. They estimate over 100 million units sold by the end of 2029.

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wccftech.com
_SilverHawk_5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

dont think itll happen because of COQ. it costs as much as gaming consoles that are way better in a lot of ways and nintendo normally thrives on selling cheaper hardware than the competition. i believe that because the switch 2 and the games are so expensive and are far inferior to better versions available for the same price or cheaper on better gaming consoles that gamers would rather get a better value for their money and buy something better than the switch 2. the switch 2 can do a lot better if it isnt expensive and the games are cheaper.

Muigi5d ago

Yeah but I can’t play my PS5 Pro on a plane or the subway.

Neonridr5d ago

don't worry, they'll tell you to buy a $300 accessory on top of the console so you can "stream" it to play it. (subject to network capabilities of course)

MrNinosan5d ago

@Neonridr
The Playstation Portal is amazing, but if you don't want to spend the 300$, just use your phone or tablet that you probably own already

jznrpg5d ago

@MrNinosan it’s 199$ for Portal

MrNinosan5d ago

@jznrpg
Might be, I just answered to his bullshit comment.
As I live in Sweden, I paid way more for my Portal, around 350$ at release, but still use it daily at work and in my bed, so well invested 👍

b00mFargl34d ago

However, the Switch 1.5's capabilities do not compare to those of the PS5 Pro; in fact, the Series S is more powerful.

The PlayStation does offer an accessory that provides a similar function, but many other handheld devices offer superior capabilities. Essentially, you are purchasing a device primarily for playing Mario games, with some niche features that Nintendo cleverly markets to its loyal customer base.

Jingsing4d ago

Also remember Switch 2 is now bigger than Switch. People don't like to carry as much stuff these days.

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Neonridr5d ago

*costs as much currently.

We've already seen MS have to adjust the price of their consoles, and it's possible Sony could follow suit.

And your definition of "far inferior" is subjective to the end-user. Can I take my PS5 Pro version of the game with me on the go? No.

4d ago
princejb1344d ago

Inferior according to who? You may not like Nintendo because they don’t have the most updated graphics but they do well when it comes to fun games. What’s the point of a game that looks beautiful but is boring to play. There’s a reason why they keep selling millions every generation.

thesoftware7304d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Silver, I disagree.

Nintendo sells consoles primarily off of their exclusive content that you can't get anywhere else ever. I will add that that content is regarded by many as some of the best in gaming, if not the best, along with a super loyal fanbase, nostalgia, and the most popular IPs ever created. The system will run exclusive 3rd party games as well as playable ports of current and future games for the next 4-5 years, the majority of casual gamers don't care about tech specs or FPS, and even some hardcore fans don't care that much, and will choose a very playable portable port for the versatility of playing on the T.V or on the go...

I think the price will have a small impact, but 100M in 4 years is totally doable. Where else can you play the next Zelda, Mario Kart, Metroid, and Pokemon games? It will sell.

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darthv725d ago

Pretty ambitious... it could be done so long as they lower the price of the games and the system to something more reasonable.

jznrpg5d ago

Least exciting Nintendo launch for me.

MrNinosan5d ago

First console I won't buy at release since the original NES.

repsahj5d ago

Not me. I am excited as when I first bought my Mario Odyssey bundle Switch 1.

MrNinosan5d ago

Because of Mario Kart?
Or what is it that excites you?

repsahj5d ago

Because of everything Switch 2, I am very impressed with what I am seeing so far. And because 3 of my friends who I play Helldivers 2 with will also get it. We will all be getting the Mario Kart World bundle.

Elda5d ago

For me...I beg to differ it's an important launch knowing it's not launching with any interesting exclusives except the $80 Mario Kart & I'm not into racers. Until I see some interesting Switch 2 exclusives that I think are a must play I can wait as long as possible before obtaining a Switch 2.

Neonridr5d ago

While I'm getting MK at launch, I'm actually most interested in Donkey Kong. I love the destructible environments.

NotoriousWhiz5d ago

I'm most interested in trying out cyberpunk with mouse controls. If they work really well, Switch 2 may be my console of choice for shooters.

MrNinosan5d ago

Couldn't you try that on PC for the last 5+ years?

NotoriousWhiz4d ago

^ I don't game at a desk and am not interested in using one of those lap desk things. My only "gaming computer" is a steam deck.

neutralgamer19925d ago

I’ve seen a lot of people projecting that the Switch 2 will sell over 100 million units by 2029. While I understand the optimism—especially considering the original Switch’s success—I think those numbers might be overlooking the current state of the market and how much it’s shifted.

First off, we need to stop using early sellouts or pre-order hype as a reliable indicator of long-term success. Every major console that’s launched in the last 25 years has sold out during its pre-order window. Even consoles that were ultimately considered commercial disappointments—like the Wii U—sold out at launch. The PS3, which launched at a hefty $600 back in 2007, still had people lining up. That early rush is almost always driven by the core gaming audience, not the mass market. The real test comes after that honeymoon phase, when sales depend on casual gamers and broader adoption.

And that’s where things get trickier now.

The gaming landscape has changed dramatically. Mobile gaming has completely taken over in terms of both revenue and number of players. It’s bigger than console and PC gaming combined, and it's still growing. That makes sense when you think about it: everyone already has a phone, and many have tablets too. Pair that with a Bluetooth controller and you’ve got a portable, high-quality gaming experience with almost no extra cost.

Consoles and gaming PCs, on the other hand, require a substantial investment just to get started. When money is tighter for a lot of households and the average consumer is more price-conscious, it becomes harder to justify spending $400–600+ on a single-use gaming device—especially when they already own something that plays games well enough.

I’m not saying the Switch 2 won’t be successful. Nintendo has a strong brand and a loyal fanbase. But I do think people are underestimating how much harder it is today to move that kind of hardware volume. The market’s more competitive, more fragmented, and more mobile than ever before

Neonridr5d ago

I fully expect the Switch 2 to sell 100M units. But to say it'll do it within 4 years is a big ask.

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200°

30 Years Ago, Sega Took Its Biggest Gamble With Saturn And Failed

"That’s not how you launch a system".

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timeextension.com
thorstein8d ago

The Dreamcast was the biggest gamble and way ahead of its time.

OtterX8d ago

I wish we lived in the Alternate Timeline where Sega was still a dominant force in the console space and it hadn't been Microsoft.

Deeeeznuuuts7d ago

I've always said this, would much prefer SEGA, such a shame.

blacktiger7d ago

this was all part of the plan to give Microsoft the spot

chicken_in_the_corn7d ago

Would be interesting to see what they would do for a modern console.

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darthv728d ago

Saturn was a fantastic piece of kit... they just went a little too ambitious with its dual CPU setup. which turned a lot of developers off (at the time). The homebrew community have done some amazing work many years later, thanks to multichip experience. It is still the best platform for arcade fighters and shmups of all time. Dreamcast is a close 2nd though.

Profchaos8d ago

Yeah it was a interesting decision especially when looking at how dual CPU is considered a root cause of why the Jaguar was a failure.

Also the hardware rendered four sided polygons where the standard was three if they kept with triangle polygons I feel the systems development would have been easier to work with and we would have seen more third party ports in the west.

I think it was a victim of its time more than anything it saw huge success in Japan but the leadership and internal turmoil in the west meant games were not getting localised along with a focus on arcade like games were the PlayStation and later the N64 were pushing more in depth experiences over coin munching high score driven games.

Knightofelemia8d ago

I still enjoy my Saturn it was the first console I mowed lawns for and saved up for to purchase. I went so far as to purchase a used Saturn to run off an SD card. I even have a second Dreamcast modded to run off an SD card as well.

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50°

Gamescom latam 2025 just ended with record-breaking numbers

"gamescom latam 2025, the Latin edition of the world's biggest games event, was a total success, breaking records during its second year.." - gamescom latam.