My Smash Bros 3DS cartridge stopped working. :-(

[Kwyjor]

I was feeling nostalgic for some Smash Bros just now. Alas, my physical cart no longer seems to work.

On my N3DS (completely stock firmware), it loads up fine and I can access all the menus, but upon trying to start any kind of game, it just loads infinitely. Even if I leave it alone on the title screen, it freezes when it tries to load the attract mode. On my o3DS, it just doesn't load at all.

The cart has been handled well, but for good measure I tried cleaning the contacts with isopropyl alcohol. It didn't help.

I found at least one other thread on the subject.

I guess I can try dumping the cart with godmode9 as discussed over here. Otherwise, I can't think of much else I can do.

I had heard that Pokemon ORAS carts and Persona Q were unusually susceptible, but this?

 

[WG481]

I was feeling nostalgic for some Smash Bros just now. Alas, my physical cart no longer seems to work.

On my N3DS (completely stock firmware), it loads up fine and I can access all the menus, but upon trying to start any kind of game, it just loads infinitely. Even if I leave it alone on the title screen, it freezes when it tries to load the attract mode. On my o3DS, it just doesn't load at all.

The cart has been handled well, but for good measure I tried cleaning the contacts with isopropyl alcohol. It didn't help.

I found at least one other thread on the subject.

I guess I can try dumping the cart with godmode9 as discussed over here. Otherwise, I can't think of much else I can do.

I had heard that Pokemon ORAS carts and Persona Q were unusually susceptible, but this?

The best solution is to dump the game (which may take a few tries), dump the save, and install both on your 3DS. Make sure to use Checkpoint to install the save, or use the 3DS Move to SD tool.

Cartridges just die (even though ORAS and PQ die a ton faster), so it may just be the cartridge being defective.

 

[ghjfdtg]

To find out if the game is bad you don't need to dump it. Calculate a SHA256 hash over the full ROM (not trimmed) using GodMode9 and then compare it to the known good one on: https://datomatic.no-intro.org/index.php

 

[Kwyjor]

To find out if the game is bad you don't need to dump it. Calculate a SHA256 hash over the full ROM (not trimmed) using GodMode9 and then compare it to the known good one on: https://datomatic.no-intro.org/index.php

Well, sure, but – then what? It doesn't really matter if the hash is good or not if the cartridge just isn't working.

Has Nintendo been known to replace carts in situations like this?

 

[ghjfdtg]

You at least know for sure it's bad and not something strange going on with your 3DSs or the save data of the game.

They probably don't give a fuck since it's long out of warranty. A reflow of the ROM chip apparently fixes games where the ROM appears corrupted.

 

[CoolMe]

Calculate a SHA256 hash over the full ROM (not trimmed) using GodMode9 and then compare it to the known good one

Maybe, if the end result of corrupted carts is always different to the verified ones, otherwise it's not that reliable, maybe someone could confirm this? But definitely worth a try IMO.

Has Nintendo been known to replace carts in situations like this?

Certainly not now.

You at least know for sure it's bad and not something strange going on with your 3DSs

I think him trying it on two different systems, with both having similar problems roots that idea out, and a corrupted save wouldn't load and it would tell you that's corrupted.
Unless if both systems have faulty cart readers which is unlikely if @Kwyjor have already tested with other carts...

 

[VinsCool]

I'm afraid the cart may be very dead.
I have experienced the very same thing, there was nothing I could do to save it, the game was toast, and dumping the ROM lead to corrupted data.
I had all the same symptoms, the game worked fine and one day it never worked again.

[Edit] and to make the matter worse, the game actually couldn't even get to the title screen, no matter what, N3ds or O3ds it made no difference either.

 

[CoolMe]

I'm afraid the cart may be very dead.
I have experienced the very same thing, there was nothing I could do to save it, the game was toast, and dumping the ROM lead to corrupted data.
I had all the same symptoms, the game worked fine and one day it never worked again.

[Edit] and to make the matter worse, the game actually couldn't even get to the title screen, no matter what, N3ds or O3ds it made no difference either.

That sucks.. This is definitely a big discouragement for those who want to collect and build their 3DS library, specially when the prices of these carts are getting pricier by the minute..

 

[Kwyjor]

Consulting the Nintendo support website (which I should have done in the first place) suggests they only offer warranty repair for game cards within 90 days of purchase. Maybe they'll change their tune if there are widespread reports of cartridges dying?

My N3DS seems to be working fine otherwise, but then I have the impression that there is no other game that can stress the system as much as Smash Bros.

ETA: Even viewing the 3D scenes in the "Challenges" menu is enough to cause the game to freeze, sometimes crashing back to the Home menu.

Attempting to access the game via JKSM launched from *hax on my o3DS just produces a red screen.

This is depressing! People are pounding away at 35-year-old NES carts and now this thing is kaput.

 

[WG481]

That sucks.. This is definitely a big discouragement for those who want to collect and build their 3DS library, specially when the prices of these carts are getting pricier by the minute..

Collectors are gonna have to dump everything...

...and then get sued by Nintendo for copyright infringement.