Not using center screw for nes cartridge is fine?

A friend in Japan is preparing for the release of his game in November. There was supposed to be the FC and NES version but because of some time constrains, it was not possible for the NES version to be done by a 3rd party. He has since tried to find a solution to have a few nes cart asap with using a FC cart with an adapter (like gyromite) but he hit a snag: the FC cart is a little bit too tall, obstructing the middle hole.

So he has 2 choices:
- delay the nes game more until someone can help him make a proper nes cart (I'm already helping on that)
- release a small batch with converter but with only 2 screws

Would there be issues to release a cart that way? I know that it would be better to have all 3 screws in place but that could be a compromise until proper carts are done.

Thanks for any opinion on the subject.

In the short term, probably most of the carts should be fine? In the long term, if you can shake the cart and the boards will detach inside, that's a quality issue. How much do you care about it?

For comparison, Gyromite had not just a centre post securing the famicom board inside, but also two more internal posts securing the adapter itself.

I see. I don't think that he will go with that solution but it's more I'm asking if it was something common (which I think it isn't).

What I can get from your comment is the only way to use it without the screw it to add an extra way to secure the cart. If not done, the cart could get loose and that's would be a quality issue.

I will inform him about that if he try to do it that way. I think he's looking already at other cases that could work with that adaptor+current fc cart but I'm just checking what he can do. 2 screws only seems a bad idea for now

Thanks!

Screws/posts aren't the only way to hold it in place. You could use resin or something similar to secure it, though it wouldn't be very serviceable.

I think it will be fine, as long as the cart shells are as good as the originals. And if the adapter connector holds the board tightly enough. The NES PowerPak never used the center screw, they cut off the center posts and I think the FPGA is right there in the middle. It hasn't been a problem for me, bunnyboy would be the one to ask though, to see if there have been any complaints. On the 3-screw shell design, the tabs at the top hold it together pretty well (it has to "lift up" vertically to disconnect), and the 2 at the bottom are enough to prevent it from being pried open. Nintendo probably could have gotten away with using just 2 screws.

I just looked at my PowerPak, it has just one screw left in it. It's been years since I've taken it apart, so I guess I've been using it with 1 screw for a while now.

This drawback of hot melt adhesive never stopped Drakon though.

Thanks for everyone comments! I will let him no about everyone's opinion. Hopefully it won't be necessary to do it that way but that is a last resort to get a few nes cart released.

I forgot about him... I wonder if he's still "modding" after his online reputation took a nosedive?

I didn't know about that It must have happened when I was less active on nesdev so I didn't know about him. That's was quite messy what he did ^-^;;;