Thinking of buying a FAMICOM

[Time]

I'm a NES fan and I've been thinking of buying a Famicom. Anyone have any words of wisdom before I begin the process. Is there any thing I should avoid?

[TheRedEye]

Advice can vary. Tell us why you want to buy a Famicom.

[TheSmirk]

Yeah, whats the reasoning? You want to play famicom games that you may already own, maybe? It's alot easier to get a "honeybee" converter... iyou're talking carts or disk system?

[Time]

I guess for the cool factor. It would be cool to play carts on the actual system!!!

[gamergary]

We have a whole forum for this. http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41010

[delafro]

Well, since "coolness" factor is important here, would you rather use the original maroon Famicom, or the newer gray AV Famicom? It may not be as "cool", but you might also want to look into pirate systems as an alternative.

[rbudrick]

Well, it sure is a whole lot easier to play FDS games on a Famicom than a NES... :)

Are there some Japan only games you wanted to play?

-Rob

[TheRedEye]

heh. Well, the ultimate in "coolness factor" would (I guess) be the original maroon Famicom, but good luck getting it to work on your television. If you just want to play authentic Famicom games on an authentic Famicom, get the reissue AV Famicom. It looks just like a toploading NES, but it's a Famicom, and it has AV output so getting it to work is not a problem.

[Lord Contaminous]

I suggest getting a real Famicom system instead of a Honeybee. At least get a Famiclone like I got. Sometimes with a HB you'll have a hard time getting the game to work.

My Famiclone is Sachen made with 8 games built into it.

Another reason why I recommend getting a FC system, is that there are some certain games with extra chips that make the games sound a whole lot better than the traditional bleeps, to the point they almost sound 16-bit. Even with a Honeybee, you can't hear anything on these games if you play them on an American NES, cuz the Famicom has more sound channels than an NES does.

[TheRedEye]

My Famiclone is Sachen made with 8 games built into it.

I used to sell those. If you turn it upside-down, it looks like a happy clown face!

As far as FM chip stuff goes, get a real AV Famicom if you're interested in that. None of the clones have approached perfection yet, though that may change now that the hardware patents are public domain.

[o2william]

Since we're on the subject, now is a good time to reveal (and hopefully remedy) my massive Famicom ignorance.

Are A/V Famicoms reliable like toploaders, as in good cartridge connectors?

Do they suffer from the vertical line interference problem of toploaders?

Is there any kind of reverse Honeybee adapter that lets you play NES games on an A/V Famicom?

Can A/V Famicoms use NES controllers?

I have a toploader now, but the vertical line problem drives me crazy and I'm tired of being stuck with RF. But I don't want to go back to my frontloader because... frontloaders suck. (And I've heard replacement 72-pin connectors aren't always reliable.) Plus I don't really want to give up my dogbone controller either. :) Would an A/V Famicom be a suitable replacement?

Also, I have a Famicom Dracula III cart and I'd like to hear the extra sound channels.

[TheRedEye]

Since we're on the subject, now is a good time to reveal (and hopefully remedy) my massive Famicom ignorance.

Are A/V Famicoms reliable like toploaders, as in good cartridge connectors?

Do they suffer from the vertical line interference problem of toploaders?

Is there any kind of reverse Honeybee adapter that lets you play NES games on an A/V Famicom?

Can A/V Famicoms use NES controllers?

I have a toploader now, but the vertical line problem drives me crazy and I'm tired of being stuck with RF. But I don't want to go back to my frontloader because... frontloaders suck. (And I've heard replacement 72-pin connectors aren't always reliable.) Plus I don't really want to give up my dogbone controller either. :) Would an A/V Famicom be a suitable replacement?

Also, I have a Famicom Dracula III cart and I'd like to hear the extra sound channels.

AV Famicoms are every bit as reliable with cart connectors, have none of that video interference stuff, and can use standard NES controllers (though they come with their own dogbones, too!). Reverse converters are much easier and cheaper to find (just nab a Game Axe or Game Theory Admiral converter from eBay), and sound from your Akumajou Densestu cart should be perfect. So yes, I think that would be a more than suitable replacement!

[o2william]

Thanks, TheRedEye! I bow to your superior Famiknowledge. I'm nearly sold already, but I did think of two more questions.

Will I have any difficulty using an A/V Famicom on a U.S. power outlet? (I could be wrong here, but I thought Japan uses a different standard voltage than the U.S...)

Where can I get a decent price on an A/V Fami? :)

[Querjek]

Will I have any difficulty using an A/V Famicom on a U.S. power outlet? (I could be wrong here, but I thought Japan uses a different standard voltage than the U.S...)

Where can I get a decent price on an A/V Fami? :)
1. No. It is a DC adaptor (instead of AC), but it works fine
2. Try buying and selling maybe? Geelw hooked me up with mine.

Oh yeah, the Famicom dogbones have cords that are like 30 cm long... I suggest you use US controllers unless if you plan on playing VERY close to the system.

And Lik-Sang has the convertor you want (To play NES games on a Famicom)for like $10 shipped which I bought and have been satisfied with :)

[leonk]

What about the original NES systems? I assume they only connect via RF.. but will this RF work on our US TV's? I was under the impression that they too use NTSC and don't see why a Famicom from Japan will work as is when connected here (both power and video).

[jerkov]

I would also love an A/V Famicom, but prices are way too high for them on eBay. For now, I just play my Fami carts on my top-loading NES with a converter ripped straight out of a Stack-Up cart. I also have another Stack-Up cart and a Gyromite cart sitting around that have converters inside of them in case anything happens to the one I'm using now.

But I think it would be awesome to play carts on a real Fami.......not to mention the benefits of A/V hookups, which is probably a lot nicer than the RF and the screen lines of the top-loading NES.

[Querjek]

What about the original NES systems? I assume they only connect via RF.. but will this RF work on our US TV's? I was under the impression that they too use NTSC and don't see why a Famicom from Japan will work as is when connected here (both power and video).
It's a hit-or-miss thing with the original Famicom (I mean 1st model). I have one (it died :( ) that would not work on my TV, but I've heard reports of them working on some others. My AV looks especially nice on my COmmodore monitor :)

[Dr. Morbis]

Another reason why I recommend getting a FC system, is that there are some certain games with extra chips that make the games sound a whole lot better than the traditional bleeps, to the point they almost sound 16-bit. Even with a Honeybee, you can't hear anything on these games if you play them on an American NES, cuz the Famicom has more sound channels than an NES does.
If the 'extra chips' are on the carts and not in the console, why wouldn't you hear the extra sounds? I mean, the internals of a nes and famicom are the same right? A US nes will accept custom mappers, custom sound chips, etc from these same games. The only reason we didn't get the custom stuff over here is because NOA wanted more standardized mappers for US games. US games are really 60 pin games on a 72 pin board. Late era games don't have the extra pins in the middle of the cart contacts, and the middle pins on the earliest games lead to nothing anyway.

Has anyone played Castlevania III (jap) on a US nes with a converter and NOT heard the higher quality sound?

[TheRedEye]

If the 'extra chips' are on the carts and not in the console, why wouldn't you hear the extra sounds? I mean, the internals of a nes and famicom are the same right?

Nope. They're not. If you plug in a game with an extra sound chip to an NES, the sounds they generate will be silent.

[rbudrick]

You can actually AV mod an original Famicom and it is very easy. I did it myself and it took all of 10 minutes.

Or, using RF, you just turn to channel 95 or 96. Some TVs will auto adjust the tuning to make the picture come clear, but on older TVs you actually have to adjust the fine tuning, but then it looks fine (for RF).

As for the AC plug, the Japanese use a 100v system, where ours is 120. It works fine, but just to be safe, you may want to unplug the system when not in use.

-Rob

[Querjek]

Or, using RF, you just turn to channel 95 or 96. Some TVs will auto adjust the tuning to make the picture come clear, but on older TVs you actually have to adjust the fine tuning, but then it looks fine (for RF).
-Rob
Some TVs (like mine) don't quite go up that high.

[o2william]

Has anyone played Castlevania III (jap) on a US nes with a converter and NOT heard the higher quality sound?

TheRedEye's right, you don't get the extra sounds when playing it through a NES (I know from experience). In fact, you can tell certain channels are missing and the soundtrack ends up sounding worse than in the NES version of the game.

[Dr. Morbis]

TheRedEye's right, you don't get the extra sounds when playing it through a NES (I know from experience). In fact, you can tell certain channels are missing and the soundtrack ends up sounding worse than in the NES version of the game.
What about graphics? If I play Gryzor on my NES (with a converter) will I get the extra animation that's missing from Contra? I've always been under the impression that I would.

[Push Upstairs]

I wouldn't mind getting one of those re-issued AV Famicom systems myself, but i really don't wanna pay to have it shipped from Japan.

I've been itching to play the Fami games i currently have.

[jerkov]

I wouldn't mind getting one of those re-issued AV Famicom systems myself, but i really don't wanna pay to have it shipped from Japan.

I've been itching to play the Fami games i currently have.

You could just get a converter......find a 50 cent Gyromite cartridge that feels heavy, unscrew it when you get home to make sure a converter is in there, and you're in business. Or, you could always buy a more expensive converter.

[Push Upstairs]

I have a converter. Three actually. But i own some Famicom games that will not fit in an NES without the top half of it being removed.

I either shop for a toploader (no) or a find a Famicom AV and avoid making my NES a convertable when i wanna play my Famicom games.

[racecar]

if you have an nes you can buy a honeybee coverter to try out sone famicon games ,that what iam using right now , then there are those crazzy multi-cart that u can pick up with 100's of games in one, oh and becareful with those caused i brought one that said 76 in one and only got 75 games .pick it up at some garage sale for 5 whole canadian loonies,what a rip off

[racecar]

I either shop for a toploader (no) or a find a Famicom AV and avoid making my NES a convertable when i wanna play my Famicom games.---
> this could cost alotta $$ , some of people may not have the deep pockets

[Cobra Commander]

You can actually AV mod an original Famicom and it is very easy. I did it myself and it took all of 10 minutes.
-Rob
Would you care to go into detail on how you did that? Frankly I've been wondering about that for awhile now. I don't even know if my Fami works or not, it was fairly cheap so I wouldn't be out too much if I screwed it up.

[Querjek]

You can actually AV mod an original Famicom and it is very easy. I did it myself and it took all of 10 minutes.
-Rob
Would you care to go into detail on how you did that? Frankly I've been wondering about that for awhile now. I don't even know if my Fami works or not, it was fairly cheap so I wouldn't be out too much if I screwed it up.
Whatever you do, don't use an NES AC adaptor with it. The results could be fatal.

[TheRedEye]

[quote]What about graphics? If I play Gryzor on my NES (with a converter) will I get the extra animation that's missing from Contra? I've always been under the impression that I would.

sigh.

CONTRA for the Famicom (it wasn't released as Gryzor, people!) will have the extra animation and cinematics and stuff when played on an NES, because extra animation and cinematics have absolutely nothing to do with sound output. The reason the Famicom version is superior is due to the different storage capacities of the two carts. Our Contra was hacked up a bit to save space and make production cheaper.

[Lord Contaminous]

In fact for new Famicom collectors, I'll make a list of Famicom games that have those custom sound chips in them.

Konami VRC6
------------------
Akumajou Densetsu (CV3j)
Moryu Senki Madara
Esper Dream 2: Aratanaru Tatakai

Konami VRC7
------------------
Lagrange Point (the VRC7 is the most powerful of the custom chips. In fact it's so powerful it mimics PC Engine music. An 8-bit game breaking sound barriers like that is a straight MIRACLE.

Namco106 (Lots of games uses this chip. I'll post the ones I know)
-------------
Mappy Kids
Megami Tensei II
King of Kings
Erika to Satoru no Yumebouken
Namco Classic II
Final Lap
Rolling Thunder (basically the NES version by Tengen, but with enhanced music by the chip)

Sunsoft FME7
------------------
Gimmick (that's Mr. Gimmick to European gamers)

Nintendo MMC5
----------------------
Enix's "Just Breed"

[The Manimal]

You can actually AV mod an original Famicom and it is very easy. I did it myself and it took all of 10 minutes.
-Rob
Would you care to go into detail on how you did that? Frankly I've been wondering about that for awhile now. I don't even know if my Fami works or not, it was fairly cheap so I wouldn't be out too much if I screwed it up.
Whatever you do, don't use an NES AC adaptor with it. The results could be fatal.

Are you talking about the original Famicom or the AV Famicom? Which will the NES AC adaptor kill?

[Querjek]

You can actually AV mod an original Famicom and it is very easy. I did it myself and it took all of 10 minutes.
-Rob
Would you care to go into detail on how you did that? Frankly I've been wondering about that for awhile now. I don't even know if my Fami works or not, it was fairly cheap so I wouldn't be out too much if I screwed it up.
Whatever you do, don't use an NES AC adaptor with it. The results could be fatal.

Are you talking about the original Famicom or the AV Famicom? Which will the NES AC adaptor kill?
Well, it killed my original one, but I wouldn't want to take a chance with either model.

[Cobra Commander]

Still pretty interested to hear how to AV mod that Fami....