Dropped my 3ds for the first time - horrified about cartridge, game corruption?

[kamiyama34]

I always take the best care of my 3ds, but I was stupid a couple minutes ago and left it on my slanted computer desk. T_T I heard it hit the floor and my heart just about stopped. Thankfully I keep it in one of those plastic protector cases, so there's no screen crack or apparent damage to the DS itself...

But my new leaf cartridge did get knocked loose. However after reinserting it and starting it up nothing seems wrong. Can the cartridge get corrupted if it's removed while I'm playing the game, or is that just when you turn it off or remove it while saving?

It feels like I dodged a bullet, my heart is pounding so I just felt the need to ramble...any tips or reassurance very welcome.

 

[Naiad]

Don't sweat it. I've dropped my 3ds tons of times.

It also has a crack now but eh

If your game wasn't corrupted upon opening, you're probably fine.

 

[Amalthea]

If everything seems to be functioning properly, there's nothing to worry about. Your game hasn't been corrupted if it's working alright and all your data is still accessible.

Electronics are more sturdy than you might think. They're designed with it in mind that people aren't perfect and will drop things. A lot. I've dropped my 3DS several times, the cartridge has been knocked loose once or twice, heck I even spilled some maple syrup on it this morning, and everything's still working like clockwork.

The most probable damage you'll see is physical damage like knicks and scratches or small screen glitches like flashing, discoloration, and lines. I'm no expert on technology, but I strongly doubt internal damage will randomly show up in a few weeks. If it works fine now, then it should be good to go!

 

[Elise]

I think the game can only corrupt if the cartridge is removed while saving so you should be fine. The only issue with dropping it that you wouldn't be able to see right away is that the system might be slightly weakened and more likely to break if you drop it again. You mentioned though that you're careful and don't drop it often though so that's probably not an issue

 

[kamiyama34]

:') Thanks lots everyone for the quick answers, I feel a bit better now and it's still running smoothly. I usually trust Nintendo stuff, but a couple years back I accidentally bricked a DS Lite with only a 2 foot drop to laminated flooring. Cracked screen, wouldn't work no matter what, freaking traumatized me and I've always treated handhelds as if they were heirloom china ever since (lol).

 

[mattyboo1]

I always take the best care of my 3ds, but I was stupid a couple minutes ago and left it on my slanted computer desk. T_T I heard it hit the floor and my heart just about stopped. Thankfully I keep it in one of those plastic protector cases, so there's no screen crack or apparent damage to the DS itself...

But my new leaf cartridge did get knocked loose. However after reinserting it and starting it up nothing seems wrong. Can the cartridge get corrupted if it's removed while I'm playing the game, or is that just when you turn it off or remove it while saving?

It feels like I dodged a bullet, my heart is pounding so I just felt the need to ramble...any tips or reassurance very welcome.

I have dropped my DS before and I worried SO much, I know exactly how you feel, I have smashed my game cards so many times, I absolutely smashed a TV remote on my card last week by accident, my card was fine though, yours should be too. my game cards have always been fine, eventually I did get a crack in my DS lite but a lot of people complained about faulty hinges on those.

 

[samsquared]

I've dropped my 3DS in some of the worst places. It's been in the bathtub, through a glass table, on hardwood floor, on the driveway, in the hot sun, stepped on, lol... I've been very bad to it at times. But it is dang resilient. It's in near perfect condition despite a few scratches and some looseness in the joint that connects the screens.
So I wouldn't be too worried about it: Nintendo's hardware is handheld perfection.