I Paid Only $30 for Pokémon Emerald - But It's In BAD Shape

[@Tronicsfix]

Wanna see me try to fix even more game cartridges? I tried to fix 9 of them in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/roq4iGOri6ejZs0si=FzB4iJJF54AEyX5k

[@allansantos8085]

Bravo !! Só vídeo top

[@allansantos8085]

Bravo , só vídeo top

[@ellaquin]

I still have a New 2ds XL that I need to send over, I keep forgetting to send it

[@Ryan_DeWitt]

Yes, that was great. Probably one of if not the hardest fix I have seen you do yet. Most people would have said no way not worth it.

[@johndorian4078]

Would you, with a good conscious, try to sell that cartridge for full asking price....:) or would you feel the need to disclose all the work you had to do just to get it to work.

[@jasonslawinski9506]

Hey Steve! Im Jason, the guy you bought this from! I knew you were the one for the job! I knew better than to even attempt this one as I’m still learning. Can’t believe how much was wrong! I learned a lot! I’m so glad this game can be played another day! Also, I tried to return this for my $100 back, but they didn’t even try to work with me when I was obviously scammed. People really need to be careful! Thanks so much for doing this video!

[@WhenTheyToldTheTruth]

Many fake iPhones

[@AmritSingh-si3pv]

You should be pinned good sir.

[@chefizzy2238]

@@jasonslawinski9506 big thing when buying from Mercari/online always look at the seller and how many sales and stars they have anyone with 1000+ sales 5 stars. They tend to be the best and most legit.

[@XeonProductions]

That cartridge was a crime scene, someone tried to murder it for good. You're truly a necromancer for bringing that thing back from the dead.

[@killingtime4444]

You could say Steve was.... Super Effective

[@GeomancerHT]

That would be called a Technomancer.

[@WheeledHamster]

$30 for that POS.

[@epictomat]

Bro is fr a necromancer lvl 5 💀💀💀

[@Supermack20]

Of course, he could have used a necromancer spell, but those use a lot of glitter….

[@12345.......]

Impressive how many things can be wrong in a single came cartridge.

[@Tronicsfix]

Lol, yes, there's a lot of little things going on inside these things

[@HD-wf3bp]

It's completly fine to break stuff while you learn but selling this stuff I think is unacceptable for customers or other Repair people. It's really disrespectful and says everything about a person that is selling this.

[@kaosaetern5794]

@@HD-wf3bpit’s okay to sell broken stuff to other who can fix it as long as you disclose it

[@CanadianBakin42O]

Game*

[@HD-wf3bp]

@@kaosaetern5794 that's true :)

[@DiatribeDeity]

Am I the only one who finds these under microscope fixes increadibly relaxing?

[@jasonshapiro6420]

Nope. That is why we love him

[@-FAFO-]

It's kinda like a tinkerer's ASMR

[@cupcakemedia1143]

I often let Steve's videos autoplay while I'm working on something, they're great to watch out of the corner of my eye or switch focus to to recharge a bit 😊

[@doctorjango1]

Same, I often have Steve on autoplay

[@HD-wf3bp]

That's why I started fixing things too but honestly I get really excited when something start to work xD

[@JoshsTechWorkshop]

I just did something similar with a Pokemon FireRed game. Cracked PCB. managed to scratch away the PCB to bridge the traces between the crack. But despite getting the game to play the game it would not save, and gave me a save error I have never seen in a Pokemon Game. So I took the PCB from a Mario Kart Super Circuit game and migrated the components to that PCB. It was my first time using a hot sir station and migrating components. And I did it! It now plays and saves :) Always good to see these videos, whether the repair was successful or not. It's always a learning experience.

[@Alex-rw3ij]

Steve, you make very delicate work look easy. Thanks for putting these out and letting us enjoy the thrill of the repair by proxy.

[@Tronicsfix]

Thank you! So glad you enjoy these!

[@mepik15]

He makes it look easy bc it is easy if you know what youre doing. You mostly need steady hands and patience

[@Tazxding0]

​@@mepik15Steady hands come with a lot of practice i imagine.. so not that easy after all 🤓

[@HMNNO]

@@mepik15 yea I don't have great steady hands

[@aikou2886]

​@@mepik15You basically need to be a surgeon so it isn't that easy if you don't have years of experience lol.

[@Kangamoos]

it's marvelous how you managed to salvage that game. Especially having to redo all the chips, plus that extra resistor that came off in the process :D

[@Tronicsfix]

This was a difficult repair for sure.

[@boofkharia472]

@@TheLazyCat1 friend, don't read the comments before watching the video lol.

[@petruccilewis]

Awesome work! You know, I started watching your videos knowing nothing about electronics or soldering, but now I am doing similar repairs. Thanks for inspiring me into this beautiful work!

[@Tronicsfix]

So glad you're learning this stuff! Love comments like this.

[@Retro6502]

"Only $30" for a poor quality cart! The market's gone nuts lol

[@maxalmonte14]

Yup, and the worst part is with so many people capitalizing on it the ones that just want to play some games are in a really bad situation.

[@4ndrewMac]

@@maxalmonte14 if you just want to play the games there’s loads of options between reproduction cartridges and emulation. These prices are inflated by the collectors market

[@MrManBuzz]

​@@maxalmonte14 Emulate. If money is an issue, it won't cost you anything either. You know what I mean.

[@aikou2886]

​@@MrManBuzzYeah. At this point a GBA flashcard is definitely more convenient and way cheaper.

[@aporue5893]

ah yes,people really want a broken,unplayable game. 🙄

[@MichaelDoran23]

I like how you showed diagnosing the board and tracing through it with the meter explaining what you were doing. I know you do this in your other videos but this one seemed more detailed. Really like that.

[@cupcakemedia1143]

I really want to believe that someone desperately was trying to fix that cart because it was their favorite game or something, but just didn't have the skill to do it and it made its way to the scammer somehow. Thank you for giving this wonderful little cartridge a new life ❤️

[@Jooligan1]

I can tell Steve looks at these damaged components and just thinks "I love a challenge". That was an awesome fix !!!

[@Tronicsfix]

Ha, ha, yep!

[@ArticAzelhart]

230$ for a Pokemon Emerald cartridge??????? Here in spain with that much money you can get a full copy with box and manuals and still have spare money wtf

[@Qwerty10254]

People in the US are crazy

[@samuelmoreno974]

Scalpers

[@CubbyTech]

I did not expect that! Amazing that you were able to bring that poor cartridge back to life!

[@WallyWallcakes]

Not sure why, but to me, this might be the most impressive fix yet. So many small, intimate details to troubleshoot and correct. Well done, sir!

[@KiseiruYoshioka]

That is definitely an S-Rank difficulty fix and you've nailed it, I am tremendously impressed ! You are truly a miracle maker with a top notch skill ✌️

[@steven-i6j]

looks like when you go down the DIY repair video guides and one thing leads to another.

[@Tronicsfix]

Lol, that's good way to describe it!

[@JSnakeRepair]

Just want to thank you for your work; finally decided to branch out and do real cartridge repair (after buying some tools). I installed two jumper wires on a Pokemon Crystal and brought it back to life (after probing for an hour). Probably would have never thought possible if I hadn't seen your videos. It only gets easier!

[@mattnorth7452]

Always a pleasure to watch you bringing hardware back to life! You inspired me to start reviving and modding older consoles and I'm having an absolute blast.

[@andrespacino4985]

These kind of fixes are the best! When you know a replacement will be hard to get and you start scrapping and using creativity, This cartridge is now half Play Station! Great fix mate, keeping it up as always!

[@Puzznik]

Wicking all the old solder off pad bared by removing a component gives a clean slate and makes reattaching easier/more trustworthy. Awesome job, I thought that was a no-fix for sure!

[@hogwobblin9630]

Came back to you after about a year and so glad to see its become more chilled out, really enjoyed this!

[@aanmaaklimonade]

These video’s are the best, challenging soldering and recovery of such a small item!

[@bryans8656]

There's no way I could or would attempt something like this. Which is why I enjoy watching you do it with just the perfect amount of solder.

[@Tazxding0]

I get the opposite feeling, i want to practice and get this good, thats money!

[@gsus4751]

I find videos like this so relaxing, just diagnosis and soldering. Actually watched this while soldering on a little pcb for a homework

[@speedwaynutt]

If games could talk I would love to hear this emerald explain what the heck happened to it.

[@Tronicsfix]

YES! Agreed

[@haloslayer255]

It all started when my original owner spilled salt and then his drink spilled into my pins. I thought I was dead, oh was I wrong but it felt like it. Thankfully I was saved!

[@kattriella1331]

This copy in particular would probably need therapy. Poor thing probably has PTSD.

[@carlosho3989]

Thanks!

[@Tronicsfix]

You’re welcome! And thank you for the support!

[@JesusRodriguezCisneros]

Amazing fix! Impressive how you made this look so easy, when in fact is a super complex fix that not everyone would be able to do. Well done!

[@awilliams1701]

I recently saw HDD repair services have a flash memory that was missing a TON of legs. He had to grind it down as you were suggesting you might have to. Another recovery shop gave up on it. He got the data recovered. He's absolutely incredible.

[@Tronicsfix]

I almost did that in this video but there was enough there to solder to. Flash memory would be a difficult repair for sure.

[@awilliams1701]

@@Tronicsfix yeah he always impresses. My favorite is still a microsd card damaged by salt water. He ground down the plastic coating on it to expose the traces, but just barely touching them broken them. He had to solder something like 30 traces the size of a hair to tiny ass vias!! The entire area he worked in was the size of a large water droplet. I still don't know how he did that. He recovered that as well.

[@steveaustin330]

Steve, straight up performed voodoo magic on that fix.

[@pawouapproval984]

You really are a master of your craft... This is incredibly impressive. As someone that has tried to do things similarly and has made things so much worse... I am impressed

[@saturn580]

My first thought was "Why didn't they practice on some cheaper cartridges first?". Then it occurred to me that perhaps they did! 🤣

[@emlyndewar]

RIP to all the lesser games that were butchered before this one.

[@jasongoswelluk7475]

I just cannot believe the state of the things you get and then manage to fix. Amazing 👍

[@Tronicsfix]

Thanks! So glad you enjoyed this one.

[@lenorkhide2873]

I really enjoyed this one! I liked the explanations of some of your process in troubleshooting the issues

[@danieleriksson3170]

Well done! We need to see some game play though! :D the reason why the big tip didn't work, was it has burnt solder on it, not leading heat good enough. you should get one of those wet sponges (similar to stamp mats). That will quickly clean the tip to take solder off it and clean it fast.

[@MsJom123]

You gotta show what it looks like after the restoration is completed. Cleaning the game cart shell, flux off the circuit board and ideally figuring out something with the game sticker. That makes the videos all the more satisfying. Even so, I appreciate the time and talent you have going on in this video.

[@B_M_A]

Nice job man. People underestimate how much time and patience it takes when you are learning to solder. Whomever attempted to mess with that cartridge really had no clue what they were doing and it was painful to see how damaged that was.

[@ericperkins971]

Looks like the person watched one of your videos and failed miserably. Another fantastic video.

[@Tronicsfix]

That's possible, but at least they tried!

[@smasher2265]

that was beautiful, it was so satisfying seeing the cartridge working fine after all that

[@reinhardt6217]

That was fantastic! I’ve watched probably all of your videos and that one was one of the best! Can’t wait to see next Fridays video now!

[@michaelmay9728]

Dang!!! Excellent fix I just repaired my old Pokémon Yellow cart! Was kinda tedious but with watching your videos it helped a lot, also fixed my GameCube.

[@evanfields6478]

It’s wild that less than five years ago, I paid $22 for a working copy of Pokémon Emerald with just a bit of cosmetic damage to the label. Prices have really shot up. Glad you could fix this one!

[@___Zack___]

He got ripped off, I can find the gamne easily for under $30 in perfect working condition.

[@revengenerd1]

Around 2011 I paid £18 for a purple GBC and Pokemon red, blue, yellow, gold, silver all shipped (unboxed though) now I am like wow.

[@flyingsquadron]

@@___Zack___ No you cant

[@James_D.]

Great job, as always!

[@DarkCobra88]

This was like a action movie for me (as weird as that sounds), it was oddly gripping to see what was honestly one hell of a battered cartridge slowly coming around bit by bit, but somehow, you did it. Magic fingers for sure! honestly, that was quite the fix.

[@Odysseus1999]

Dude is a surgeon. Very impressive Steve.

[@Anthoonius1]

This was a pretty crazy success! Nice job !

[@seguramlk]

Nice. You're an Electronic Magician, Steve. Keep it up 👍

[@Spartan122S]

Another great experiment Steve! Happy weekend! 🍻

[@Tronicsfix]

Thanks, you too!

[@TechiesUnofficial]

One of the most satisfying fixes to watch.

[@b3ar529]

its been so long since i watch your videos and wow look at the number of your subs, congrats man 😊

[@GrizzlyBearmann]

I’m floored that you made new legs for that chip. Great work. I was totally absorbed!

[@raygarcia4062]

I am so glad I found this channel. I have learned so much on here.

[@briancoulomb]

That was an amazing repair. It didn’t look remotely salvageable at first. Nice work.

[@djbawb]

this recovery is incredible. great job!!

[@jbeyond7402]

This is clearly the difference between an amateur trying a repair and a Professional doing a repair! Very nice

[@rupeesong555]

Just subscribed. The cool thing about repairing old games is that you can potentially restore someone's childhood memories.

[@mikecole6842]

Great job fixing history! Enjoy watching you fix this old stuff🤣

[@Enjoymentboy]

That's some impressive work you did there. Big respect sir

[@snoogabean]

This past week I did my first soldering job ever on my copy of Pokémon Emerald. I replaced the clock battery as it finally died this year. It's crazy how pricey they've become, I got mine for $28 around 2017.

[@revengenerd1]

I bought a sealed one around 2004 for £20 but by then grew out of the series and sold it before completing it for about £15 a few months later. Hindsight makes me cringe.

[@MaxSxB]

Probably your best video for the longest time, the amount of repairs you did is insane !

[@Tazxding0]

Your level of skill is so good i want to practice! sometimes when u grab stuff to show in camara i have the feeling i paused the video by accident, but is just that the object is not moving at all 🤯

[@alext6933]

Challenge the argument, not the person. I like that.

[@GenericPast]

Great job. I would've looked at that and decided to try salvaging the ROM chip in another board. I couldn't do the effort you did into bringing it back to life.

[@FAhmad1782]

I'm so addicted to this channel! Watching him fix stuff is very entertaining

[@pharynx007]

i like how you called a resistor a capacitor, and a capacitor a resistor, despite the board telling you what they were right next to them.

[@angelofranso6849]

So much work for such a small game, but got it working. Always enjoy watching such difficult repairs!

[@alexlefevre3555]

The bent conical tips are THE BEST for trace and component level repair like this

[@ianburkard]

Oh my... one minute in and this looks like a complete cluster. Fingers crossed.

[@rrobroy]

Best video I've seen today. Thank you. Cheers! 🍺

[@HouseCiliviel]

What a professional, thanks for bringing these to us. Keep up the great work.

[@gofer123guy]

removing that glob of solder was impressive to watch. I have some boards I keep as soldering/desoldering practice and I no matter what cannot get the globs off yet you did that so easily and even expected the process to work like clockwork!!!!!

[@austinwilburn1772]

God I wish I had a fraction of your skill. You have so much talent when it comes to this, just amazing work.

[@cris.villegas]

i don't understand many of the things you do in your videos but can't quit watching them XD

[@Stoneyke]

I was fixing myself a joint when I heard you say you needed to fix this joints, this joint, .... 😂😂 Made me LOL

[@EricDupuis-j8q]

Excellent video. What type of flux do you use, and what tool are you applying with? I've been using a q-tip with more of a paste consistency flux, and your technique is much stronger.

[@chenming91]

First glance the game card was in so bad condition than see the after repair it lives again really impressed on the repair steve.

[@_RETROFIX_]

Awesome effort! A joy to watch! thank you!

[@flynn8860]

one of the most satisfying butchered cartridge restoration ever ...

[@TrainerPeter]

Please help me! For the battery pad ripped of you just needed to make the connection between the + part and the R7 as in 15:50 on the video? Edit: It’s for making the battery work, because I saw someone saying it should be connected to R9 and on R7 did not make the battery work.

[@bloomins8088]

I've been binge watching a lot of your fixing videos. They are so cool. I love how close in you get woth the microscope! A question: I know nothing about circuit boards and the like. What would happen if you accidentally get a bit of solder onto one of the tiny holes in the circuit board? I don't know what the holes are for, but it sounds like they have copper on them (based on your numerous videos). If you do get solder on them, is it possible to remove the solder to fix it?

[@jeffreycooper2967]

wow!!!! just wow. never cease to impress and educate my man

[@lilligma1519]

You have inspired me to fix stuff like these, not quite as professional but im still learning. Thank you!

[@carlostrevino8248]

You did it again, a lot of implicit work, another great class of electronics... Best regards.

[@papyrusskeleton2331]

Putting a ps5 resistor inside a 2002 gameboy cartridge is hilarious 😂 Good job man

[@emannova2407]

that repair was insanely impressive!

[@hadla]

Love the solder wick! The mix of silver and copper looks so cool 💕

[@CDRaff]

Is there some trick to a solder braid, or is the solder braid I have trash? The stuff I have doesn't seem to pull anything up into it so usually I just do the hand burning dance of the sucker bulb.

[@Tronicsfix]

4 things: 1) Your iron has to be hot enough and have really good contact with the braid 2) It works better for me when there's a little solder already in the braid 3) Flux also helps to get the solder to flow into the braid 4) The braid has to have really good contact with the solder you're trying to suck up

[@SbassLaser]

You said at the end that the resistor you replaced was meant to be a capacitor. The component location is labeled R10, which would mean Resistor 10. Capacitors are labeled with a C, meaning it wouldve said C10 for a capacitor. With that said, when you measured the resistance of the resistor at .8 ohms, I would assume that resistor was damaged to the point of an internal short, as .8 ohms is basically a dead short. It's interesting to hear that it worked after putting a capacitor in the resistors place. Nice work on this one!

[@1kreature]

The resistor was externally shorted by solder you clearly see it on the side of the chip as he measures it.

[@SbassLaser]

@@1kreature its hard to see for sure if there is a solder bridge there, but youre right it definitely looks like there could be. Im surprised he didnt clean off some of that excess solder before measuring the resistance.

[@robertday5243]

Great fix Steve, that looked a right ol mess

[@3v068]

Im no expert at fixing things, but man that was such a botched job. Good thing you saved this precious game. Good stuff!

[@TheTaskurapu]

Absolutely inspirational! Fantastic job, sir!

[@femtosecond15]

“Sometimes with a larger iron it’s hard to get the tip in there”. Good for you Steve. Good for you.

[@mrbisshie]

That Pokemon Emerald cart lived a tough life.

[@Tronicsfix]

Yep, it's got some stories to tell, lol

[@PawlEZ]

These vids are the best when you fix something ultra destined for the landfill.

[@gavinmaurice4]

the soldering on the battery at the end was was kinda crazy. seeing it harden was wild.

[@GretgorPooper]

There's something very zen about watching electronic boards being repaired, bit by bit.

[@alexisgarza1223]

Excellent job!!😎 I didn't know it cost that much, I bought mine for 2 dollars but the only problem is that the battery is dead.😅

[@jody19027]

You know it’s going to be an amazing Friday because a new video dropped!

[@zomm30]

awesome job repairing that damaged cartridge. One sub and like for the video. What is the reference of the battery that inside the cartridge?