Review
The T89 72-60 Pins Cartridge Converter, sometimes labeled “Spica,” is perhaps the best quality converter you can find without having to pay a fortune. It’s NTSC compatible, but it may not seem so at first due to lockout chip issues. Anyone who’s a collector of unlicensed games will be familiar with the way some of these things turn on: an eerie blank image followed by the startup screen. So it’s just a matter of waiting for the game to start up rather than assuming it’s incompatible or not working.
It comes in a common gray and includes the necessary ribbon for proper removal from any front-loader. The casing itself, however, is sturdy like an NES cartridge and, likewise, has ridges (although it seems it would be more appropriate if they had been put on the other side). Nintendo’s official cautionary statement has been “borrowed” and inscribed on the bottom side.
In an instance when the label may be missing, all you need to look out for is the similar casing.
If you’re lucky, you may even find one with a (generic) box.
And a final note. Where might you have heard the name “Spica” before? Well, some Asian NES pirate cartridges, including multi-carts, are made by the same company.
