Please name this Mario cartridge and game converter

[ninnywii]

I would greatly appreciate it if someone could name what system this game converter (http://homepage.mac.com/seehafer4/cart.jpg) is used in, and what Mario game is plugged into it.

Thanks!

[udisi]

looks like a JP Super Mario 3 with a famicom to NES converter.

[dlopez9069]

I second that.

[ninnywii]

Wow! Thanks for the fast response, guys.

[kentuckyfried]

The SMB3 is a fake, btw.

[fahlim003]

I agree with kf, it indeed looks like a pirate Famicom SMB3.

Observe: http://www.vintagecomputing.com/wp-content/images/smb3j_label/nesfam_2_large.jpg

[Blitzwing256]

its a very common one from the early 90s, it came in a box labeled "super mario 4 the flying racoon" alot of rental places had it in my area back in the day.

I'm actually looking for a copy of it myself for nostaligc reasons. (ie if its for sale let me know)

its the japanese version with the tougher dificulty (one hit drops you to small mario) and the differnt "losing a suit" animation

[ninnywii]

Thanks for the cartridge correction. Is the converter really a famicom to NES converter?

[Blitzwing256]

yup, it'll work with almost every famicom game released and is a rather relaible one to boot

[jwm2]

I seen that in korea back in 1992. It looked exactly like the on you posted a pic of.

[ccovell]

Yeah, something like that brings back memories, too. I remember back in 1988-89, there was a hobby shop named "Apollo Gifts & Toys" near my home in North Vancouver (Canada) that had a lot of Japanese toys, Game & Watch, etc. One day, there was a weird-looking (small) Japanese box with Mario on it in the store; I asked the owner what it was and he replied, "Super Mario Bros. 3". That blew my mind, but then I asked him if I could play it on my NES, and he said no. The store didn't sell convertors.

A really cool memory, that.

[Cobra Commander]

I bought that same converter a couple of years ago for $9 on a really cool site that had great prices on imports. Unfortunately, I've totally forgotten the site's name.

[Wolfrider31]

I picked up a japanese copy of Double Dragon 3 with one of those converters attached to it at a garage sale when I was.... oh 15 or so? Hmm... its back at my parents place, I should probably dig it up when I'm home for Christmas.

[Barbarianoutkast85]

I have a question, does anyone know a reliable website where I could buy one of those converters?

[InsaneDavid]

Build you one out of licensed Nintendo parts for $50.

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/Famicomver01.jpg

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/Famicomver02.jpg

[kentuckyfried]

I have a question, does anyone know a reliable website where I could buy one of those converters?

Check your copies of Gyromite, there may be a converter inside.

[Barbarianoutkast85]

Build you one out of licensed Nintendo parts for $50.

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/Famicomver01.jpg

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/Famicomver02.jpg

That looks pretty sweet InsaneDavid. I went to a Vo-Tech school my senior year of high school for electronics technology, then went on to get an associates degree at Thompsons Institute (in the same field), in a really crappy 18 month program. I may be a little rusty now since it's been a while since SUN Tech and Thompsons. But I think I should be able to build something like that if I had instructions.

So heres a new question; where can I get instructions to look at for the converter?
Also which method would be cheaper? I dont know how much one costs, but InsaneDavid says you can build one out of Nintendo parts for $50.

[Blitzwing256]

save yourself some cash, buy a 5$ copy of stackup open it up ,viola cheap

gyromite excitebike and hogans alley MAY have one inside too, but its hit or miss the trick is to check the weight of the games if they weigh a little more theres a good chance theres a converter inside. i've never came across a stackup that didn't have one in it(anyone ever found a non-converter version?).

admitedly david's put alot of work at making it much more usable, as for some/most famicom games you need to shave down the converter a bit, plus it takes time to create a custom shell so its easier to use. i've been using the stackup one for years with no problems whatsoever other then one of my prototypes (1943) not working with it (but working fine on a real famicom or a gamexe...go fig)

[Barbarianoutkast85]

save yourself some cash, buy a 5$ copy of stackup open it up ,viola cheap

gyromite excitebike and hogans alley MAY have one inside too, but its hit or miss the trick is to check the weight of the games if they weigh a little more theres a good chance theres a converter inside. i've never came across a stackup that didn't have one in it(anyone ever found a non-converter version?).

admitedly david's put alot of work at making it much more usable, as for some/most famicom games you need to shave down the converter a bit, plus it takes time to create a custom shell so its easier to use. i've been using the stackup one for years with no problems whatsoever other then one of my prototypes (1943) not working with it (but working fine on a real famicom or a gamexe...go fig)

Can you direct me to specific instructions on how to do this with the stackup cart?

[InsaneDavid]

save yourself some cash, buy a 5$ copy of stackup open it up ,viola cheap

Nooooooo.... don't kill StackUp for a converter. There are plenty of Gyromite, Pinball, Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, etc. out there with converters inside. And yes, all StackUp's are Famicom boards with converter cards inside. The trick is noticing differences concering the connectors, the tiny little parts at the very edge of the connectors. They'll either be offset (converter board) or in the center (USA release board). I need to edit my editorial on the converters to reflect this. Of course the cartridge has to be an early release NES cart to begin with, etc. Once you know what to look for and what criteria all need to be met, finding the converter cartridges is easy.


admitedly david's put alot of work at making it much more usable, as for some/most famicom games you need to shave down the converter a bit, plus it takes time to create a custom shell so its easier to use.

Yup, a LOT of face time with the bench grinder after a good amount of Dremel work. For this in perticular it's a lot less technical work and far more engineering and hands on craftsman type stuff. (another reason why there are plenty of people that have the technical skill to do region mods, etc. but the work comes out looking like crap)

No reason to kill innocent StackUp's though - there are plenty more common cartridges out there with the parts you need. :)


Can you direct me to specific instructions on how to do this with the stackup cart?

If it was that easy I wouldn't charge $50 per custom converter cartridge.

[Blitzwing256]

like david says its ALOT of tweaking to get it just right if you're not patient 50$ is a good deal.

I've never checked pinball myself (I know i picked up 2 loose copies recnetly most go look...)

I still need to make myself a custom case for mine, I ordered a few of those clear tinted cases from the guy doing the nes flash carts (retrousb.com i think) to use for mine..

the short version of doing it with stackup is just open up the game and you'll find a converter attached to a famicom board, depending on what famicom game you are using with it you'll have to shave down the corners on the famicom converter (takes forever) so it fits just right..alot of pirate carts are a little wider and take less work but alot of famicom games espeicaly first party games have a very tight fit.

and no copies of stack-up were hurt in this post

[kentuckyfried]

Those old first gen US games looked something like this on the inside:

http://www.bermuda.ch/balduin/blog/60p_72p.jpg


Note the famicom game with the converter.


AND those old launch carts used a normal screwdriver to boot! (You'll probably need to physically remove the centre screw cylinder so it doesn't touch the cart, it normally goes through a hole in the US circuit boards)

I've often swapped the board with a famicom multicart board making a very cool US 199-in-1 :)

[InsaneDavid]

Those old first gen US games looked something like this on the inside:

http://www.bermuda.ch/balduin/blog/60p_72p.jpg


Note the famicom game with the converter.

Doesn't help you identify the cartridges from the outside however. I wrote an editorial about this at DVGI (http://www.classicplastic.net/dvgi) a long time ago with internal pictures and notes.

[kentuckyfried]

Doesn't help you identify the cartridges from the outside however. I wrote an editorial about this at DVGI (http://www.classicplastic.net/dvgi) a long time ago with internal pictures and notes.

Eh, I wasn't trying to show anything but what it would look like to ninnywii as it sounds like he's never seen it before.

You don't have to hurt a stack up BTW, you can just pull out the converter and use it in another cart. Just put it back when you're done ;)

[InsaneDavid]

You don't have to hurt a stack up BTW, you can just pull out the converter and use it in another cart. Just put it back when you're done ;)

The Famicom cartridge you want to play may not always fit over the 60 pin Famicom passthrough though, which is why I slim them down considerably.

[hypurchick]

I just put my copy of it up on ebay... wonder what it's worth ..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160171761751&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=006

[MarioMania]

Just search Google to fine how to build your own Adapter..