Conference rusure::nintendo

    I don't know the limit but I have played some games for about 3
    or 4 hours without noticing any problems.  I guess it depends on
    the cartridge.  Once in a while I have noticed "breaks" in the screen
    but I'm thinking it's cartridge problems not overuse problems. 
    The cratridges I've used for this time where Zelda, of course, and
    Metroid.  I got a new cartridge, Deadly Towers, which I would say
    you can play for quite a while but I get very frustrated and rip
    it out of the deck after 45 minutes.

    
        The only problem I have had is when I load a game. Like a game
    put out by a company other than nintendo sometimes I have trouble
    getting it to work. Seems like the cartridge might be smaller or
    something. Eventually it works though sometimes it's scarey 'cause
    these cartridges cost so much.
    
       Now on the heat problem I have had no problem, and I mean I've
    accidently left it on all night, played certain games for like 8
    hours and still no problem.  YET????? (knock on wood...)
    
                                     Charlie 
    

    Re .2:
    
    I too have had problems with freshly-bought cartridges, but I expect it
    is just dust or whatever on the contacts and nothing to worry about.  I
    suspect the cartridges are all made by Nintendo.
    
    
    Re .0:
    
    The warnings about playing for hours say to rest _yourself_, not the
    system.  I would expect any heating problems from the Nintendo,
    especially since the power supply is separate, at the power outlet.
    You should take ordinary precautions; make sure the unit plugged into
    the wall is in the open, the cord from it to the base is not crimped,
    stretched, under pressure, or rubbing against anything, and the base is
    on a flat, hard surface and also in the open, not tucked away in a
    small space.
    
    The reason for having the base on a flat, hard surface is to keep air
    holes open -- if anything inside gets hot, air currents form and blow a
    bit to keep it cool.  Radiation and convection should be enough.
    
    If you are still worried, feel the unit in various places and the
    cartridge about ten minutes after you turn it on.  I would expect you
    will feel nothing or a slight warmth.  Then feel it an hour later and a
    couple of hours later.  Chances are it will have reached at most a warm
    temperature and stabilized there.  As long as it is just warm, forget
    it.  Think about how long arcade games stay turned on.
    
    
    				-- edp 

	I got Zelda last Saturday and spent about 12 hours on it before going 
to bed.  I did not notice any problems with the game but my wrist was sore 
and swollen and I had a hard time standing up.  I also forgot to do a SAVE 
before shutting it down.  Oh, well.

    I've had mine on for over a week, three different times.  
    Ghost n' Goblins territory was too hard to get to ever let it go.
    Cats, kids and some other things always forced a restart though.
    
    Bill
    

    In a artical I read in Nintendo Power length of time problems refered
    to a deterioration of graphics quality not heat problems....  And
    it only mentioned the potential of the problem occuring.  
    
    Steve

    	I have experienced the deterioration of graphics when leaving
    Solomon's Key powered on overnight.  We did not see the problem
    on a friend's deck and cartridge when powered on for the same
    period of time.

    	Some pixels on the screen appeard to be smeared or missing.
    The problems did go away - I no longer remember the details.
    It was disturbing at the time - thoughts 'like did I cook the
    cartridge or the base unit?' don't go well while trying to enjoy
    yourself.
    			Joe

    I didn't know where else to put this note, so here goes..
    (I already checked the "Game-wont-start" keyword without
    any luck..)
    
    Well, I recently discovered Nintendo at a friend's place,
    and decided I'd borrow it from him while he's out of town.
    Only problem is, I can't seem to get it to work !
    
    I plugged it in, hooked it upto the TV just like he said I should,
    plugged in the Zapper and turned it on.  I get the picture
    on the TV, but there is no audio, and there doesn't seem to
    be any response to the Zapper (or the joystick for that matter).
    If it will help, the game cartridge has Mario and Duck Hunt on
    it.
    
    Please help, I can't wait to get hooked to Nintendo ! Thanks.

	Assuming the box is not blown you have two problems -

    1)	Audio - depending on the type of TV, you may have to make two 
    connections, not just one.  Check the following -

	Next to the power connection on the back there is an RF output using
    an RCA jack.  This should connect to the antenna connection on the TV.
    There is a switch that selects which channel it uses.  Alternately there 
    are two RCA jacks on the side.  One is VIDEO and the other is AUDIO.  
    These connect to the monitor inputs on the better quality TVs or video 
    monitors.

    2)	Getting the blasted thing started - There are two connections on the
    front.  If you plug into the wrong one, the start button does not seem to
    have any effect.  (I have hit this any number of times when the select
    switch on the Advantage was in the wrong position.)  Try both.

    I am looking for the phone number to NES Customer Service. I am haveing
    problems with the contacts/fingers in the controler. Any body have this
    info?  I looked around but could not find it under keywords or titles.
    
    		Wayne

    Look on the bottom of your game deck. It should be on the serial number
    tag .
    
    Jim C.