Overview: Multi-function NES game cartridges have been around for a while. In the late 80s, Nintendo released the Action Set bundle in North America which included Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt on a single cartridge. Having two games on one cart was a big deal back then, but imagine being able to play your entire NES library on just one cartridge (without using ROMs). That’s exactly what a recent YouTuber set out to do.
James Channel explains that NES cartridges have a lot of empty space inside for aesthetics and future-proofing. He used an old copy of NES Open Tournament Golf for this project, even though it didn’t have the smallest PCB available.
Modern NES consoles are much smaller now, especially the knockoff versions that use system-on-chip components. The YouTuber used a console clone from AliExpress, and only the main PCB with the cartridge slot was necessary.
To make everything fit, the YouTuber had to remove plastic standoffs from inside the Golf cart, create holes for the controller ports, and make them into slimmer versions. For audio and video, an old headphone jack and a headphone-to-RCA cable were used to connect to the TV.
The next step was dealing with the 5V regulator. Instead of using the original one, James Channel opted for a USB supply that provides regulated 5V instantly. He also had to modify the cartridge slot to reduce clearance so it wouldn’t stick out of the cart, and make provisions for the power switch and reset button.
After wiring everything up, it was time for the moment of truth. And… nothing happened. But after some troubleshooting, a couple of issues were fixed and everything worked perfectly. Golf fit into a standard NES, regular NES games were playable on the cart console, and an adapter was even rigged up to play Golf on the cart.
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