What Famiclone should I get?

[Tupin]

Ok, so I need some help deciding.

They sell Retro Duos and Gen-X's near me, and they are basically the same price.

I want to buy one because I don't own a Genesis or a SNES, I'm sick of the blinking screens on my front-loading NES, and I plan on importing a Disk System which requires a top-loading system.

So, based on everyone's experience with these two systems, which would you recommend?

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Both have compatibility issues, the Retro Duo has a more desirable scope of compatible software including Castlevania III.

Here's our official thread on the Duo.
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114088

[Ed Oscuro]

A/v Famicom for the win? Yes.

[Tupin]

Both have compatibility issues, the Retro Duo has a more desirable scope of compatible software including Castlevania III.

Here's our official thread on the Duo.
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114088

Very helpful thread, but since it doesn't work with the Disk System, I'll have to find other alternatives. Probably the Gen-X.

Are there any Famiclones confirmed to work with the Disk System? Because I do NOT want to have to hunt down the AV Famicom.

[Tupin]

I'm thinking about getting a Messiah now, is this a good choice?

[retro junkie]

The Generation NEX marketed by Messiah supposed to be compatible with the Disk System.
I have the Generation NEX but I don't have the Disk System. I got it because I needed one to play both the Famicom and the NES game carts. I love it! It has two cart slots, one for the Famicom and one for the NES. I have been very satisfied with mine.

[Tupin]

The Generation NEX marketed by Messiah supposed to be compatible with the Disk System.
I have the Generation NEX but I don't have the Disk System. I got it because I needed one to play both the Famicom and the NES game carts. I love it! It has two cart slots, one for the Famicom and one for the NES. I have been very satisfied with mine.

I have heard that there are audio and video glitches and that music is often sped up, can you vouch for this?

Yeah, I'm probably going to get the Generation NEX at this point, I think the price has lowered from the $60 they wanted for it when it first came out.

[Tron 2.0]

I'm thinking about getting a Messiah now, is this a good choice?
I just avoid it given the nex has compatibility issue with some games.

It sure won't play game such as,Akumajou Densetsu (Castlevania 3) among others.

You mention "you don't wanna mess with a famicom av" but if you realy wanna play it all then it's you're best bet.

The console can even use a adapter to play nes carts as well.

My current setup is a famicom av+fds and it works realy great for me so far.

Sure a nex,can run a fds but you wanna take a chance finding out what carts will work on it.

[Tupin]

Well, I'll have to think this over and look at all my options in depth. I might just have to take that risk because all forms of the redesigned NES are freakishly expensive.

I just checked, this guy on my local Craigslist wants $125 for an AV Famicom with 2 controllers and 36 games. I don't want THAT many, but I do want a few of the games he's selling along with the system itself, so I might be able to get one at a reasonable price.

Oh, and how hard is it to find an adaptor for playing NES games on a Famicom?

[retro junkie]

I have around 50 games and I've not had any problem with any of the games that I have for it. There is that slightly different color tint, here and there, and there is that occasional...hmmm... that music sounds a little off. But it does have slight compatiblity problems that is shared with all clones that are built around the NOAC technology. All clones share the glitch, sound, and color problems with some games. The Retro Duo is really the first clone system that is able to play Akumajou Densetsu (Castlevania 3). So I would say that it is the King of the Clones at this moment. I debated about the Retro Duo or the Messiah clone at first and finally went for the NEX. I will probably pick up the Retro Duo sometime later just for the SNES and Super Famicom capabilities.

[Ed Oscuro]

What's the problem with the A/V FC?

Some time ago I was worried about the power issues, but I'm pretty sure it will work just fine if you're on 120V or 110V 60 Hz current (as the U.S. and Japan are on), even over the long haul.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

While the FDS does work with the Messiah Generation NEX, it has some issues with the FM sound that the FDS outputs and games like Castlevania and Doki Doki Panic don't sound very good at all.

I found a Famiclone seller selling original Famicom style clones with built in AV out (w/mono sound) on eBay + 5 random brand new repro Famicom carts + a set of Fami to NES and an NES to Fami adapters for around $50 total per set a few months back.

Out of all my famiclones (I've got a ton) it not only fits my FDS the best (obviously), but it has the best compatibility.

I can't remember where I posted about it ... or if the seller has any more sets to sell ... he doesn't have any listed on eBay (just one JP Fami light gun clone) but you can contact him and see if he has them to sell.

http://myworld.ebay.com/nweshp/

here are the pics of mine, it was BRAND SPANKING FRESH & NEW in the box and even included some decent random games including Transformers Mystery of Convoy (which is freaking awful, but pretty rare).

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/FrankieViturello/Famiclone06.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/FrankieViturello/Famiclone05.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/FrankieViturello/Famiclone01-1.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/FrankieViturello/Famiclone03.jpg

Totally the most "authentic" Famiclone I have ... the only thing it doesn't have is the microphone on the P2 controller. (But AV output makes up for that.)

[retro junkie]

That is nice looking. It looks, from the pics, that it is a nice quality build. Are my eyes being deceived? The controllers are nice looking.

[Ed Oscuro]

Totally the most "authentic" Famiclone I have ... the only thing it doesn't have is the microphone on the P2 controller. (But AV output makes up for that.)
Or the word "Family Computer" along the front. Pretty darn close shell design though - maybe even exact; I haven't studied an original (uhhgly) FC design that closely!

[InsaneDavid]

Honestly if you're going to import a Famicom Disk System I suggest just getting a Sharp Twin Famicom instead. It's basically an AV Famicom with a Famicom Disk System built into an all-in-one unit. Four different color schemes (two design schemes) as well. It features the proper Famicom controllers (microphone on controller 2) and expansion ports. Performance is superb.

[Ed Oscuro]

I bet I've asked this before, but how's the belt performance on the Sharp Twin?

I...still won't take mine out of its box. Hell, emulators are easy, this thing is a museum piece already! :P

[InsaneDavid]

I bet I've asked this before, but how's the belt performance on the Sharp Twin?

I...still won't take mine out of its box. Hell, emulators are easy, this thing is a museum piece already! :P

Outstanding. Granted I have a new belt that I just put in the drive since the one that was on there before was melted and snapped as most are. After replacing it with a fresh one from jfgoods.net I get instant reads and seek times around two seconds or so. The FDS drive assembly simply unplugs and is lifted out (after removing a couple screws) so replacement was easy, same drive that is in the standard FDS from what I can gather, so you can swap parts. I ended up paying about $100 shipped for the system, power adapter, AV cables and six loose cartridge games (US seller thankfully) (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114824). It's the AN-505 model, black and green.

[Ed Oscuro]

Good deal all around. Black and green...that'd be the system for me. Well, maybe I'd go for the "fire" model I thought I saw (although it could've just been a red unit, or painted, but I'm not sure) some years ago on YAJ.

The unit I have is black with maroon trim.

[ice1605]

I don't think that there are any clones that can match the actual hardware in terms of compatibility and quality. However, they are more expensive, so I guess it is a price vs. benefit scenario. Maybe you will get lucky and find a cheap A/V Famicom. I got mine for ~3000 yen (approx. $30US) in Japan. I guess shipping charges would be a killer, though.

[ssjlance]

I say Sharp Twin Famicom or Generation NEX. If you need 100% compatibility on everything, go for the Twin. If you want something to play NES and Famicom games on the same system using a wireless controller and other friviolous things, go for the NEX.

[Tupin]

I may sound like a flip-flopper here, but I think I'm going with the Generation NEX mainly for two reasons:

1. It will allow me to play my NES games without blowing into them for five minutes.

2. It can run then Disk System, and it's the only Famiclone I've seen around here that advertises it plays Famicom games and works with it. I can't get the Twin because it is way out of my price range.

Of course, this might change if I can find a cheap NES 2/AV Famicom. If I find one for $50 or under (which I think a guy around here regularly sells them for), I'm going with that.

[ooXxXoo]

If you decide to go for the Generation NEX, make sure is not one of the latest revisions (version 3 or above) which is hard to tell just by looking at it....It is a piece of trash....NEX later revisions=cheaper manufacturing production costs and parts....The color palettes are horribly wrong among other issues.....

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

That is nice looking. It looks, from the pics, that it is a nice quality build. Are my eyes being deceived? The controllers are nice looking.

Well...they're about as nice as cloned Fami controlers could be. Nothing cheap or shoddy about the plastic, good button action.

I only use this system when I'm running my Fami Disk System (which isn't that often) and it's been very good to me so far.

[Tron 2.0]

I may sound like a flip-flopper here, but I think I'm going with the Generation NEX mainly for two reasons:

1. It will allow me to play my NES games without blowing into them for five minutes.

2. It can run then Disk System, and it's the only Famiclone I've seen around here that advertises it plays Famicom games and works with it. I can't get the Twin because it is way out of my price range.

Of course, this might change if I can find a cheap NES 2/AV Famicom. If I find one for $50 or under (which I think a guy around here regularly sells them for), I'm going with that.
Most have recomend,Sharp Twin Famicom also a good model that does it all.

Though if you're looking for a good price on a,Famicom AV without looking for one on ebay try here.

http://www.japangamestock.com/buy_video_games.php?cPath=67&products_id=5442

It will cost ya extra for the ac adapter and controllers but jgs is great on service.

Btw it use the same av cable that's used on N64&GC consoles.

As for the converter for "useing nes carts on a famicom" try here that's where i got mine.
http://store.videogamecentral.com/orfa60to72pi.html

Still it's up to you what you want though i think the real deal is better,not some cheap clone such as the nex.

Btw when i got the fds it was through jgs boxed and all.

[Tupin]

Thanks, but as you will see in my thread in the import board, I decided not to get a Disk System, but rather a few Super Famicom games and and a Retro Duo. Since I have a Famicom converter, I am basically getting an American NES, an American SNES, a Japanese Famicom, and a Japanese Super Famicom all in one.

Besides, I already have MOTHER 2 on the way. :D