Ghosts 'N Goblins 5 Screw PCB Question

[Shomaw | 0]

Hello!

I recently got an extra copy of a 5 screw Ghosts N Goblins and I was going to sell it. Before prepping to sell I inspected the cart and realized the screws on the back were not the normal nintendo screws; or at least they did not require the special screw driver to remove. As a result, I decided to open the game up and look at the PCB to see if it had been modified. It did not match what I could find on pricing chart and bootgod (rip). 

I have attached pictures of the two different 5 screw variants I have. One matches the known PCB and the other doesn't; anyone happen to know anything about this?

It is interesting to note that both 5 screw copies that I have had the same screws.

Thanks in advance.

[ThePhleo | 2,198]

Nintendo used flathead screws early on in the NES lifespan. I’m not entirely sure when they switched over.

[Shomaw | 0]

I was thinking that was probably the case, I just didn't know what to make of the board.

[Nintegageo | 582]

Those are same as in my game. Is the 5 screw rare??

[Shomaw | 0]

 

1 minute ago, Nintegageo said:

Those are same as in my game. Is the 5 screw rare??

Less common probably, but not rare

[Nintegageo | 582]

Haha yeah, I was gonna say.. I thought those Capcom games were normally the case. Prior to them changing to the blue, purple and red theme.

[PII | 1,916]

The lower board is from late '86 and the upper board is from mid '87.  A given chip was often produced by different companies throughout the production life of a game ie. initially produced by NEC and later produced by SHARP.  I've seen the half-size chips before on other games, but not often.  In this case that chip and it's predecessor in the lower pic. are produced by the same company and I would have to guess that the half-size was simply a more compact version of the same.  

This is purely speculation now but that sort of thing could be indicative of a functional difference between boards and perhaps even in gameplay (see Castlevania 5-screw vs. 3-screw for example.)  I'm not saying it is, or even that it is likely.  In all likelihood there will be no discernible difference aside from the physical build on the board.  But sometimes bugs were corrected in successive versions of a game and there is an outside possibility of observing some playable difference.  

Play the crap out of both of 'em and see if you notice anything.

 

[Shomaw | 0]

38 minutes ago, PII said:

The lower board is from late '86 and the upper board is from mid '87.  A given chip was often produced by different companies throughout the production life of a game ie. initially produced by NEC and later produced by SHARP.  I've seen the half-size chips before on other games, but not often.  In this case that chip and it's predecessor in the lower pic. are produced by the same company and I would have to guess that the half-size was simply a more compact version of the same.  

This is purely speculation now but that sort of thing could be indicative of a functional difference between boards and perhaps even in gameplay (see Castlevania 5-screw vs. 3-screw for example.)  I'm not saying it is, or even that it is likely.  In all likelihood there will be no discernible difference aside from the physical build on the board.  But sometimes bugs were corrected in successive versions of a game and there is an outside possibility of observing some playable difference.  

Play the crap out of both of 'em and see if you notice anything.

 

Will do! Thanks for taking a look.

[NESfiend | 1,520]

I have a 5 screw ghosts n goblins that is still physically in my NES from last weeks' weekly contest. I can check the screws on it tonight if youd like. 

[Shomaw | 0]

2 hours ago, NESfiend said:

I have a 5 screw ghosts n goblins that is still physically in my NES from last weeks' weekly contest. I can check the screws on it tonight if youd like. 

I looked at all my copies and they all have the same screws, even my three screw variant which I thought was interesting.

[Shomaw | 0]

I also opened up my 3 screw variant, thinking I might see the half size chip, but it had the regular chip.

[Armageddon Potato | 124]

21 hours ago, Shomaw said:

Hello!

I recently got an extra copy of a 5 screw Ghosts N Goblins and I was going to sell it. Before prepping to sell I inspected the cart and realized the screws on the back were not the normal nintendo screws; or at least they did not require the special screw driver to remove. As a result, I decided to open the game up and look at the PCB to see if it had been modified. It did not match what I could find on pricing chart and bootgod (rip). 

I have attached pictures of the two different 5 screw variants I have. One matches the known PCB and the other doesn't; anyone happen to know anything about this?

It is interesting to note that both 5 screw copies that I have had the same screws.

Thanks in advance.

You may have an early version of the game that has the "poison ladder glitch" still present. Play until you reach the point marked in my attached picture. In the early poison ladder glitch version the Red Arremer on the right(or left?) incorrectly spawns invisibly on top of the ladder. To "correct" it climb up partially near the top of the ladder, but then head back down and get the hidden armor far below. Then walk back up and the Ogre in the picture will turn into scrambled letters and the Red Arremer on the ladder will be visible now.

[Shomaw | 0]

2 hours ago, Armageddon Potato said:

You may have an early version of the game that has the "poison ladder glitch" still present. Play until you reach the point marked in my attached picture. In the early poison ladder glitch version the Red Arremer on the right(or left?) incorrectly spawns invisibly on top of the ladder. To "correct" it climb up partially near the top of the ladder, but then head back down and get the hidden armor far below. Then walk back up and the Ogre in the picture will turn into scrambled letters and the Red Arremer on the ladder will be visible now.

Interesting! I will give it a shot.

[Tulpa | 3,569]

On 10/25/2020 at 6:41 PM, ThePhleo said:

Nintendo used flathead screws early on in the NES lifespan. I’m not entirely sure when they switched over.

It was sometime after the switch to three screw carts, as some of the three screws still use slotted screws rather than security screws. Zanac is one, and I believe Stadium Events never had security bits. So sometime in late 1987.

[Shomaw | 0]

18 hours ago, Tulpa said:

It was sometime after the switch to three screw carts, as some of the three screws still use slotted screws rather than security screws. Zanac is one, and I believe Stadium Events never had security bits. So sometime in late 1987.

I don’t know how I didn’t notice this before. I guess I have not been taking apart many five screw games. Too busy playing...some many games. My daughter and I are still on games that start with A

[guitarzombie | 929]

On 10/26/2020 at 7:58 PM, Armageddon Potato said:

You may have an early version of the game that has the "poison ladder glitch" still present. Play until you reach the point marked in my attached picture. In the early poison ladder glitch version the Red Arremer on the right(or left?) incorrectly spawns invisibly on top of the ladder. To "correct" it climb up partially near the top of the ladder, but then head back down and get the hidden armor far below. Then walk back up and the Ogre in the picture will turn into scrambled letters and the Red Arremer on the ladder will be visible now.

If there was a change in the code, you wouldn't even need to get to this point.  The PRG chip would have a "1" instead of a "0" on it, IE NES-GG-1