View Full Version : Weird Famicom controller
thom_m
11-11-2009, 02:55 PM
There's some guy selling a weird-looking Famicom control pad on an auction site here. It's dark grey with light grey buttons, and has a numeric pad in it. I guess it connects on the expansion port, just like the Famicom zapper. You can see it here (http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-117191119-nintendo-8-bit-controle-original-nintendo-com-teclado-net-_JM).
What was it used for? I guess I never saw one of those before.
TonyTheTiger
11-11-2009, 03:39 PM
There was an internet attachment for the Famicom and this is the controller for it.
http://www.viste-family.net/mateusz/nes/hardware/fmodem.jpg
Ed Oscuro
11-11-2009, 03:58 PM
Right on. The Start and Select buttons are conveniently placed and look a bit easier to press, but overall this doesn't seem worthwhile (unless you want to play with stocks or bid on horse races...in 1980s Japan). Also, check out the connector in the later pictures...despite the NES- or dogbone-style controller plug shape, it looks to have many more pins than you can use, so it probably plugs directly into the modem attachment, not the Famicom.
thom_m
11-11-2009, 03:58 PM
Cool. Thanks for the information, TonytheTiger!
And what exactly did this internet attachment do?
Ed Oscuro
11-11-2009, 04:02 PM
Cool. Thanks for the information, TonytheTiger!
And what exactly did this internet attachment do?
The best information I've seen indicates you could access a limited number of online services. I don't know how successful it would've been dialing into (from the keypad in the middle I guess) BBSes and the like, but reports say you could bet on horses and do something related to banking.