FC Twin -JapanVersion-

[Batou]

Hi Everyone,

I don't know if this has been posted before. I have searched for FC Twin Japan but couldn't find any thread about it. Please feel free to delete if it has.

I was looking for a Combo FamiClone here in Japan but unfortunately, the Retro Duo does not seem to be available. Play nTrade's FC Dual can be found but it usually is a US model with a NES-to-Famicom Converter thrown in. There is also another console called the FC Twin (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41D0ChGzU5L.jpg) by Answer which has gotten really poor reviews all around. Some shops also carry the "usual" FC Twin under the name FCX2.

It seems it was only in March 2009 that the FC Twin was officially released in Japan. It got a new paint job reminiscent of the old Famicom, an official site (http://www.fctwin.jp/) with a full compatibility list (http://www.fctwin.jp/software.html). On top of that, it has a one year warranty!

I haven't peeked at the insides yet since I'm not a modder but I guess I wouldn't be afraid of a few screws if people are interested. The NOAC seems fairly recent since Akumajo Densetsu (Castlevania III: Simon's Quest) plays beautifully. On the SNES side, Rockman X (Megaman X), StarFox, Yoshi's Island, the Super GameBoy as well as Hori's SuperGameBoy Commander (special gamepad for the SGB) are all compatible as well. The compatibility list does list the usual suspects as not working: PaperBoy and many obscure Japan-only games for the Famicom and all the SA-1 and special chips games (Kirby3, Star Ocean etc...) for the SNES. Super Mario RPG is listed as working and so is Famicom BatteToads but I have yet to buy them and check if it really is the case.

I have also noticed that in some old reviews of the FC Twin on YouTube (Circa 2007) people could switch from NES to SNES at any time. Doing this on this model results in the two images being blended with the Famicom playing in the back and the Super Famicom having clear priority over the Famicom part.

The only thing that bums me for now is that my TV input is Mono only meaning I only get one channel when playing Famicom games. Any workaround for that? It plays fine on a "proper" TV with stereo input and a Y-Cable doesn't cut it =(. The SNES ouputs just fine in Mono.

All in all, this probably isn't new hardware but I find the warranty and official site part especially interesting. Japanese customers are used to being treated well and I suspect this is just another illustration of that!

Thanks for your time and again, sorry if this isn't anything new!

Some pics:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4375854986_4d83cffd85.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2697/4375105457_c5de5ece68.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4375105499_cbbe149c95.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4375105561_689278e823.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4375105619_955573fec3.jpg

[ZombieRyushu]

You could get a cheap $25 Stereo and go that route. Or you can plug the whole thing into an RF Modulator and use RF out.

[Leo_A]

Why doesn't a Y cable cut it?

It will work just fine to blend the two channels into one. I used to use that setup before getting a stereo tv after noticing I wasn't hearing everything I should in games despite selecting mono in the options menu (For example, in Pilotwings 64 in the gyrocopter with mono sound selected in the options, I could glance left and not hear the sound of the engine despite hearing it when I glanced right, which the Y cable solved just fine).

If you're not willing to purchase the cheap piece that will fix it for you (The Y cable), I guess you'll just have to live with it, get a stereo, or upgrade to a better tv with more than just mono sound.

[ApolloBoy]

Would it be able to fit an FDS RAM adapter? The cart slot looks a little on the deep side.

[MarioMania]

Was it even made for the FDS in mind??

[T2KFreeker]

Oooh, that system looks slick. I so want one so I can start collecting Famicom games.

[Batou]

@Leo_Ames: Sorry, I think I misused "won't cut it" (not a native speaker here, from the Old Cheese Land :/). What I mean is that a Y cable doesn't work. I have tried two different ones but the sound effects are much louder than the music (or the other way around depending on the games I try). I think it's a limitation of the NoaC. And of course there is no option in famicom games (or on the FC Twin) to change from Stereo to Mono. I would change the TV but it was given to me for free and is actually pretty decent (2004 15" flat screen analog from Toshiba). I think I'll try to find a cheap RF Switch/Modulator or exchange my TV in one of those recycle shops. Thanks for your input though, much appreciated!

@ApolloBoy: Older versions of the FC Twin (and even RetroDuo) were reported incompatible with the FDS. A friend of mine happens to have one, I guess I could ask him if he doesn't mind lending it to me for a few tests.

@T2KFreeker: Don't let the images fool you, it really is cheaply built! I have a Japanese AV Famicom/New Famicom ('93 top loader) and this is definitely the system you want if you are serious about collecting. I just bought this one to put in a kitchen so everybody can play =)

[Leo_A]

That sounds more like a flaw with this console rather than being the result of using a Y cable. I don't see how using a Y cable would have any effect on the volume levels of the audio signals passing through it.

I suspect even with a stereo setup, you'd be noticing this.

[duo_r]

Do any of these clone systems offer S-video output? Is it best to get one of these or a Famicom Twin (original)?