FC Game Console by Yobo Gameware

[SlayerX]

Just picked one of these up today from a local gaming store that had maybe 30 or 35.

It had a hefty $60 canadian price tag, but looking on ebay, they sell for around $30-$40, then you have to pay shipping, then you have to wait for what seems like forever, so I paid the extra money to have mine today.

I thought they only had the White and Red versions, but opening the box in the car, it was the silver one (kinda close to the NES I suppose LOL ). THEN i realized the color of the console and controllers were on the top (You get Red/White, Silver/Black, or Indigo/White). Im happy with the Silver/Black I lucked out on.

Anyways, onto the console.

Opening up the package, I didnt realize how light the console is! It's about the same weight as 2 NES games.

The controllers have 8 buttons (D-Pad, start, select, slow, AA turbo, BB turbo, A, and B) They are almost shaped like a SNES controller, with the same general layout for the buttons, so getting used to it is easy.

Getting the cart in and out of the console is brutal. You have to push it in until it clicks, and getting it out is a scare-and-a-half. Im worried Ill snap something pulling it out, but it's fine. I'd rather pull it out of this console than a new 72-pin connector!

It feels weird, you put your NES game in, and after pressing the Power button ONCE, it starts up no problems! Even with a new 72-pin connector, Im having problems with getting them to start, it takes around 10 minute, and then they finally work without a hitch.

One of my favorite features, is the ability to use old NES accessories with the unit. I didn't really like the difference between NES/FC Game Console buttons (with the SNES A/B layout), so I popped my NES controller back in, and it's much better. The guy said that it works with the zapper's too, but I haven't tried them yet. As for power pads, glove, and all the other NES accessories, I dont have any, so I cant test them.

Overall, im glad I got this. No more power/power off/adjust cart/power/reset/blow into cart/cart adjust/power with the regular NES, which is what makes me the happiest.

I'd say get this console if you can, it's definitly worth it. Ill use my other 2 NES's as backups to this, and maybe in a few years buy another one of these consoles, just in case.

Pros:
+ Light/Small
+ Easy to get a game going
+ Uses old NES accessories

Cons:
- Getting the game in and out

More added as I experience more time with this console.

Sorry for boring you :D

[CosmicMonkey]

Good review :)

I think we should have a general Famiclone review thread. Giving an objective view of the machine, with a summary of pros & cons, NES accesory compatability (NES pad, ROB, FamiDisk etc) and game compatability. Much like this well writen review.

I know Famiclones have been around forever in all shapes and sizes, but lately theres been several decent ones, that actually look like proper consoles. And dont have several thousand dodgy bootleg games built in.

So, anyone fancy reviewing the Fam[i/u]lator and the NEX? Or any other Famiclone.

[RetroYoungen]

Very nice review, I picked up one of these this past CGE (wanted to play some imports) and it's really not too bad. Though pulling out an American cart specifically from the adapter has scared me quite a bit. It's like the contacts are ready to just snap.

How did you get your US controllers to work on it? Did you get an adapter for them when you picked up yours?

[sisko]

How do the graphic and sound reproduction compare to the actual NES?

[RetroYoungen]

How do the graphic and sound reproduction compare to the actual NES?

I honestly haven't been able to notice a difference. It's really very nice, and with the A/V cables the presentation is beautiful. The only thing I've found is that the controllers feel a bit flimsy.

[icbrkr]

I picked up one of these over the summer as well - I'm happy with it :) Something odd happened on mine though, it now only uses the controllers that came with it and won't take standard NES controllers any longer (but it used to!). No idea why.

[Flack]

Very nice review, I picked up one of these this past CGE (wanted to play some imports) and it's really not too bad. Though pulling out an American cart specifically from the adapter has scared me quite a bit. It's like the contacts are ready to just snap.

How did you get your US controllers to work on it? Did you get an adapter for them when you picked up yours?
There are two versions of the Yobo, an import one and a US one. The US one comes with a 72 pin port so it doesn't need an adapter, and has the same ports as a US NES so no adapters are needed for the controllers.


I picked up one of these over the summer as well - I'm happy with it :) Something odd happened on mine though, it now only uses the controllers that came with it and won't take standard NES controllers any longer (but it used to!). No idea why.
Huh, that's weird. I was just playing with mine earlier today and the original NES controllers still work on mine. I guess time will tell ...


Opening up the package, I didnt realize how light the console is! It's about the same weight as 2 NES games.
More surprisingly I thought is that it's thinner and smaller than 2 NES games.


How do the graphic and sound reproduction compare to the actual NES?
It's a Nintendo on a Chip (NOAC), so all the complaints about colors being slightly off, sounds being slightly off, and some games not working apply here. Everybody has their own opinions on whether or not they can live with the differences so hopefully we won't even open that can of worms here.

[SlayerX]

Ever since I picked up my "new" nes in 2004, I've used a/v cords. It didnt come with an RF switch, and I found a bunch of a/v cords upstairs, so I used that, and I prefer it. Much easier to hook up, than hooking the satellite cable through the RF switch, blah blah blah.

Thanks to everyone who commented on my mini review.. thanks to those comments, the review is gonna be fixed up a bit, and going onto my site :)