Hardware 3DS game cart randomly stopped working. What could have caused this?

[TripleSMoon]

So, for the first time in about two months, I decided to give my copy of Spider-Man: Edge of Time another chance. I pulled it from one of the cart cases I keep it and all my other DS/3DS games in, put it in the 3DS, and sadly saw that the 3DS wouldn't detect it.

I have no idea what's wrong. I've tried powering off and powering on the 3DS multiple times, both with and without the game in it, and no go. My 3DS has no problems reading any of my other DS/3DS games, and I've kept the game in the same protective plastic carrying case as all my other games. It's also never been in water or anything similar.

Anyway, fate has it that this was one of the few games I got insurance on at Gamestop, so replacing it won't be a big deal. However, this leaves me a bit curious and concerned as to what could have caused this in the first place. If there's something I'm doing wrong with how I store my games, I want to know so I can stop and prevent this from happening to my other uninsured games. Any feedback is appreciated!

 

[Link615]

I can't help much since my 3DS never gives me problems, but you might need to send it in for a repair. Did you drop you 3DS anywhere? Dropping handhelds can sometimes mess them up. (Or break them completely, that was the cause of death of my old DS lites.)

 

[TripleSMoon]

I can't help much since my 3DS never gives me problems, but you might need to send it in for a repair. Did you drop you 3DS anywhere? Dropping handhelds can sometimes mess them up. (Or break them completely, that was the cause of death of my old DS lites.)

I'm sorry, you misunderstand. This is the only game that I have trouble with. I don't have trouble with any of my other games. So I think it's the game cart, not the 3DS.

 

[pyromaniac123]

Dirty contacts?

 

[TripleSMoon]

Dirty contacts?

I tried wiping them with a clean, dry tissue, and no results. Either way, they look sparkly and clean to me. At least, as much as the other games I have. There's no sign of physical damage whatsoever.

 

[Luigi2012SM64DS]

have you tried blowing the slot?

 

[TripleSMoon]

have you tried blowing the slot?

Yes, I have.

But again, it's only this particular game, not any of the others. It doesnt make any sense that the 3DS is defective with just this one game, right?

 

[Luigi2012SM64DS]

have you tried blowing the slot?

Yes, I have.

But again, it's only this particular game, not any of the others. It doesnt make any sense that the 3DS is defective with just this one game, right?

yeah.
i think its because you haven't touched the game in over 2 months it breaks

 

[TripleSMoon]

yeah.
i think its because you haven't touched the game in over 2 months it breaks

That doesn't make sense either... there would be mass complaints if the game carts had such horrible shelf life, i'm sure.

Also, it's definitely not the only game I've left sitting for many months. Just last week, I played my copy of Zelda 3D after not touching it since February and it works fine.

I'm thinking there might have been some sort of electrical damage... static electricity, or something.

 

[mysticwaterfall]

If not dirty/scratched/damaged contacts and all your other games are fine, could just be a fluke. I remember my Yoshi's Cookie on GB doing this back in the day for seemingly no reason.

As for age, I have 2600 cartridges from 1982 that still work, lol

 

[TripleSMoon]

Haha, yeah... only thing you have to worry about with old games is the save batteries going bad.

 

[Critica1]

Is it the 3DS verision or the DS version? Also, where did you buy it from?

 

[TripleSMoon]

Is it the 3DS verision or the DS version? Also, where did you buy it from?

3DS version, purchased new at Gamestop. I bought the insurance that Gamestop offers, so it should be no problem to replace it. I'm just curious because I want to avoid this issue in the future.

 

[Janthran]

Is it the 3DS verision or the DS version? Also, where did you buy it from?

3DS version, purchased new at Gamestop. I bought the insurance that Gamestop offers, so it should be no problem to replace it. I'm just curious because I want to avoid this issue in the future.

If they replace it, do they take the old one back?
I would be interested in looking at it.

 

[lithium210]

I've seen videos or comments from people pulling the cart out once its in instead of the pushing it in until it clicks then pulling out. Would this cause any issues? Also not sure if you do this at all.

 

[TripleSMoon]

If they replace it, do they take the old one back?
I would be interested in looking at it.

I imagine they would take it back (it would cause too many potential "insurance fraud" issues if they didn't). But I'm curious, what would you do if you got your hands on it?

I've seen videos or comments from people pulling the cart out once its in instead of the pushing it in until it clicks then pulling out. Would this cause any issues? Also not sure if you do this at all.

I've heard of this too, and it's definitely a stupid thing to do. Why anyone would even try is beyond me. No, I've never done that.

 

[Sicklyboy]

I've seen videos or comments from people pulling the cart out once its in instead of the pushing it in until it clicks then pulling out. Would this cause any issues? Also not sure if you do this at all.

So much unnecessary effort to do that, because it's hard enough to get that good a grip on the cart.

But no, it wouldn't damage it.

 

[Janthran]

If they replace it, do they take the old one back?
I would be interested in looking at it.

I imagine they would take it back (it would cause too many potential "insurance fraud" issues if they didn't). But I'm curious, what would you do if you got your hands on it?

No idea. random messing around with it and maybe hit it with a hammer.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

Try using an eraser on the contacts of the cart. No joke.

 

[TripleSMoon]

No idea. random messing around with it and maybe hit it with a hammer.

ROFL.

Try using an eraser on the contacts of the cart. No joke.

Um... Ok, sure. Why not?

Where did you hear this idea, though?