Hi all,
Sorry if this has been addressed before; I couldn't find any reference to it using the search function. I have a copy of the NES Spelunker and Atari 2600 Moonraker that appear to be dead. I woke up today with images dancing in my head of converting these to hold DS or Advance carts or something; was wondering if anybody could give me advice on opening up an NES cart or an Atari cart without junking the exterior. Also any amusing ideas for what to do with the carts would be welcome. Thanks everyone!! :D
Got a BB gun?
"Pull!"
*BANG*
NES carts are held together with three screws in the back. Older carts have phillips-head screws and are very easy to remove. Most carts, however, have 3.8mm security screws. You'll need to order a special bit (just google for it (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=nes%20security%20bits)) to get it open without damaging the cart.
Another option would be the "melted pen" technique (here (http://hubpages.com/hub/Utility-Gadgets--Torch-Pen--Multi-Use-Key--Spork)), but it might be tough to find a pen that will fit into the NES cart's screw wells.
You're going to have a hard time opening up an Atari cartridge without damaging it. They're usually held together with two screws hidden under the label, so you have to poke a screwdriver through it for disassembly.
As for other uses for cartridges, I don't know.. Drink coasters? Huge thumb drive? Doorstop?
I used to use mine to stack my laptop on so it wouldn't overheat.
Also I have a couple on my desk that a cloud statue sits on.
That's it I guess..
UglyJoe summed it up nicely.
As for usage, the idea to make it a DS card case is very nice, and I have thought about something like that, too.
Another thing I've thought about is making a cool looking Famicom cart into a business card holder. :D