Uses for intact NES system lockout chip

[Koopa64 | 51]

Like many, I am a fan of disabling the lockout chip in NES Front Loaders. Not just cutting pin 4, but going further and removing the 10NES chip and adding a couple wires and resistors to make the system function like a Famicom. I understand doing this will fix some official licensed multi-cart games like SMB/DH/WCTM but also allow Nintendo World Championships 90 to work as well. This 10NES removal mod I found over at the nesdev forum.

https://forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?p=196881#p196881

What I'd like to know, is there any actual reason to keep an NES with its original lockout chip? Anything unlicensed that relies on it? Because I've tried the Aladdin Deck Enhancer on a 10NES-less Front Loader system and it works fine. Camerica carts also work fine with the lockout switch in Position B.

Otherwise, I think I'll just continue removing lockout chips from NES Front Loader consoles.

Edited July 25, 2023 by Koopa64

[The Count | 528]

Good question. I suppose I've always just cut the pin on toasters, but I am admittedly not smart.

[MrWunderful | 2,927]

Thats a cool fix. 
 

Hot take:

It always felt like too much trouble to me. Get a top loader/fpga/emulate if you really need to play the stuff that doesnt work on a front loader normally. 

[the_wizard_666 | 1,325]

I would argue that it's a LOT simpler just to cut the one pin, but that does look good on the board. Though wouldn't making an add on board via PCBWay make a cleaner overall project?  It'd cut out the connecting wires entirely at the very least.

I think it's cool you figured that out, but I don't see the appeal of doing more work and having it look like a bit of a mess (no offense intended).  Not to mention the cost of components...not that anything there is super pricey or anything, but clipping the chip is more or less free.

[Koopa64 | 51]

I didn't figure this mod out myself, this was made by a person (lidnariq) smarter than me over at the Nesdev forums.

https://forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?p=196881#p196881

Edited January 17 by Koopa64

[SNESNESCUBE64 | 541]

I still want to make a tiny mod board for this. I just can't be bothered to disassemble my Nintendo.

I've never been much of a fan of snipping pin 4. I think the only thing that's stopping me from doing this to my Nintendo permanently is that I sometimes make homebrew carts and need to make sure that I programmed the CIC correctly.