Famiclone at Big Lots $10 [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

Captain Wrong

11-21-2005, 06:57 PM

Just wanted to post a heads up.

At Big Lots over the weekend I found the Power Joy "Supermax" for $10. As always, YMMV.

I'm not a collector of these things, but I hadn't seen this particular configuration before. It's the same N64 controller + light gun and a second player controller that looks like a cheap third party non dual shock PSX controller. Runs off 4 AAA batteries or the included power supply. Has what I'm guessing to be a 60 pin port on the bottom of the controller and comes with two carts, a 30 game one and a 60 game one. Both are total shit that make the Action 52 look like pure genius. I've seen this hardware with the clearly copywrite infringing 75000 in 1 cart, but never these two originals.

Ahh yes, here's the critter...

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukgscripts/detail.dll?item=734079

seems like all the links I'm finding are UK or Canada. Hmm...

Anyway, if you've wanted one, now's your chance to get one cheap. Oh, they also had TONS of Megaman action figures and play sets and whatnot as well as some Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat figures.

boatofcar

11-21-2005, 08:05 PM

Thanks for the heads up! I'm tempted to pick one up, but...must...save...for...mario kart ds....bundle....

Sniderman

11-21-2005, 08:32 PM

Soooo.....you can plug regular NES games into it and play 'em? Little fuzzy on the Familclones...

Sniderman

11-21-2005, 08:33 PM

Jibbajaba

11-21-2005, 08:34 PM

Soooo.....you can plug regular NES games into it and play 'em? Little fuzzy on the Familclones...

I believe that you can plug Famicom games into it. As stated, it has a 60 pin port, not a 72. I have never tried this, but I know that the carts that come with it will work on a NES, using a fami to NES adapter.

Chris

boatofcar

11-21-2005, 08:35 PM

Captain Wrong

11-22-2005, 09:07 AM

Soooo.....you can plug regular NES games into it and play 'em? Little fuzzy on the Familclones...

Most of the ones like in CW's post with the built in games require a 60-72 pin adapter. Famicom games are plug-n-play though.

Right. I've seen someone do just that with an adapter (which not I gotta find). The NES cart + adapter combo is very long, but it should work.

jasonlotp

11-22-2005, 01:08 PM

Thanks for the tip. I went and got one of the Power Joy systems last night for $9.99 though they had a different version with two flight stick controllers and only a 50 game cartridge.
I tested it and it will indeed play famicom games. So if you were like me with a ton of famicom games and no way to play them then this system is awesome! :D

googlefest1

11-22-2005, 01:59 PM

Oooooh - i hope they still havem when i get a chance to go

Captain Wrong

11-22-2005, 02:02 PM

Thanks for the tip. I went and got one of the Power Joy systems last night for $9.99 though they had a different version with two flight stick controllers and only a 50 game cartridge.

Really? That's interesting.

Oh, I forgot to mention, there was also a knock off Jakks 20 in 1 joystick for $13. The screen shots looked pure Famiclone, but you only get one controller and no cart port.

alm0stfinished

11-22-2005, 02:35 PM

I hope they have these at my big lots. I don't really know why, but i have a weird obsession with pirated shit.

CYRiX

11-22-2005, 02:54 PM

^ I also have a fassionation for quality pirated stuff.

Captain Wrong

11-22-2005, 03:42 PM

More thoughts:

The vibration feature only works on the gun. It's pretty funny, if you think about it. You want to hold steady when you're playing a light gun game, yet here's Power Joy going off like an adult toy hooked up to a car battery every time you squeeze the trigger.

The two light gun games I've found so far are pretty hilarious. Jumping Fish and the same game done with gophers (can't remember the name.) Horrible horrible horrible.

My favorite game so far is the quiz game. The questions make no sence at all (Engrish rulz) and you can't pass to the next question until you get the last one right. Luckily, it tells you the answer, which kind of takes all the challenge right out.

There's also a Tamogachi/Nintendogs hybrid which is equally confusing. No instructions and the symbols in the menu aren't that clear. I think I ended up feeding the dog a plate of baseballs and he just shook his head "no" at me.

I've also found a Tetris clone that looks a lot like Bubble Bath Babes without the pr0n. There's several variations on Kaboom! (including Mad Xmas, the Santa Claus vs. the Martians of videogames) and a lot of games where I haven't the foggiest idea what's going on. Seems to me like many of the graphics were "borrowed" from other NES games. There's one game that has a distinctly SMB2 feel to it...

Oh. Warning. Turn the sound off if you're actually going to play any of these turds. Trust me. Your ears will be bleeding after 5 minutes.

Jagasian

11-22-2005, 03:52 PM

Famiclones suck really bad, but $10 for one that comes with original games, a controller, and a lightgun... it is actually worth considering. I mean, it is just $10, so if you hate it, you haven't lost much money. I wouldn't trust any of my valuable carts to a Famiclone though. They are often wired so poorly that you just wouldn't want to risk a good cart getting fried because of a stupid Famiclone.

DogP

11-22-2005, 05:16 PM

Sweet! I'll have to go pick one of these up... but do you think the Messiah wireless controllers are compatible with this??? Ugh, SORRY!!!! I'M JOKING!!! DON'T TAKE THIS POST SERIOUSLY :P .

DogP

alm0stfinished

11-22-2005, 07:39 PM

shitty pirate originals kick ass.

Zoe F

11-22-2005, 08:07 PM

alm0stfinished

11-22-2005, 08:24 PM

yeah, i'm pissed too. Read about those weird games, and i just had to go get one, but my biglots didn't have any.

someone really should pick one up for me. And if they have the flightstick + 50 game one, you should pick that up for me too.

Gapporin

11-22-2005, 08:24 PM

I've also found a Tetris clone that looks a lot like Bubble Bath Babes without the pr0n.

Is it called..."Magic Jewelry" or something like that? I think it's on the Famiclone I have (Power Joy III!) as well.

Jagasian

11-22-2005, 08:26 PM

I just checked my Big Lots, and they have nothing except the weird 20 in 1 joystick that was mentioned earlier. I wanted one of these Famiclones. :( I only have one so far, and weird pirated stuff is great.

I also checked my local Big Lots... where there are several, but I went to the nearest store, and I couldn't find the Famiclone. There were other plug-in-play game systems, such as an EA sports system and some gambling system. Again, original pirate games, a controller, a lightgun, and a Famicom cart slot. Not bad for $10, but I guess you are lucky if you can find one.

Pantechnicon

11-22-2005, 09:19 PM

I've got this exact model albeit with a different model number on it. Had it for a couple years and as Famiclones go I higjly recommend it. It has a 60-pin connector, yes, but the 60-to-72 pin adapter sold by Lik-Sang takes care of that.

If you play 72-pin carts on it I recommend wrapping a rubber band around the cart, then up over the gun. This will keep the cart from wobbling and resetting the system. I admit it looks ghetto but it works. Also this model of Famiclone has an extremely long battery life.

Just throwing in my two whuffie.

dcescott

11-22-2005, 09:28 PM

I need to get one, I have a power joy (pj-008)cart just sittin here. I got it at a thrift store. I have no earthly idea whats on it.

Niku-Sama

11-22-2005, 11:12 PM

easy to make portable NES's with....go check ben hecks website (you know the dude with the atari laptop)

gotta give some pimpage to the portables

InsaneDavid

11-22-2005, 11:20 PM

Hmm, no "THIS IS BETTER THAN THE GENERATION NEX!!" posts yet, guess a couple people have yet to discover this thread. LOL

We harsh on the ones we love.

Anyway, I hate Big Lots but I'll have to check out the nearest one tomorrow, thanks for the heads up!

Icarus Moonsight

11-23-2005, 02:36 AM

Captain Wrong

11-23-2005, 08:43 AM

The Big Lots near me had these... or rather it looked like the same. I asked to look in the box so I could see if it had a cart slot but of course it didn't. Before you up the $10 make sure it's the model you want.

http://i20.ebayimg.com/04/i/05/52/6f/83_1_b.JPG

That's what the box looks like. (Not my pic.)

As for the quality, well, I haven't played any NES games on it yet (need adaptor) but the audio/video isn't that bad. Certaintly passable for $10.

I'll have to see what the Tetris clone is called. Honestly I don't remember. I do remember that most of the games had a copywrite 2002-2003 Power Joy on the title screen. Nothing critical, just a point of trivia for you. :D

I think I mentioned this before, but I have seen this exact same hardware as a different set. The packaging was a long skinny box with a clear window on the front and the cart was a 75000000000000 in one (or something like that) which clearly had SMB, Contra, etc., etc. if the screen shots on the box are to be believed. That one also came in different colors. There's a Korean shop selling these for $20, I think. I almost bought one of those until I found this. :)

jasonlotp

11-23-2005, 11:48 AM

If you go to the Power Joy website (http://www.power-joy.com) you can see three different sets. Others have found the rightmost set. I got the leftmost set, called the Executor or something with 50 unique somewhat fun games. Plus the controller is built reasonably well and hasn't fallen apart after my hours of use.
Has anyone found the middle set? Does that set have a famicom slot?
Are there any more variations to collect? I seriously can't believe they programmed up all of these games instead of pirating others.

Gapporin

11-23-2005, 12:22 PM

Are there any more variations to collect? I seriously can't believe they programmed up all of these games instead of pirating others.

Well, like I said before, I have a Power Joy III. Looks exactly like a black standard N64 controller. It doesn't have any slots for Famicom games, and because of that, it didn't come with a cartridge of its own (but it did come with a small pistol light gun). All the games are built-in. It claims to have 76,000 games, but we all know how that goes. I'd venture a guess to say that it actually has about 75-80 different games.

Most of these are well-known NES/Famicom titles stripped of their copyright info, but a handful appear to be either homebrewed or very obscure Famicom games (like the aforementioned "Magic Jewelry", there's also "Door Door" (useless to play), "Bird Life" (?, can't remember the exact title, but it's not worth it either) and "Aladdin III" which is actually pretty playable for a homebrew game, despite the fact that it has no title or game over screens).

� Gideon �

11-23-2005, 01:14 PM

Thanks for posting the pic, Capt. That will help in finding the right one. Good luck, guys!

Jagasian

11-23-2005, 02:13 PM

Considering that a toaster NES can be had for $10 on Ebay, and can be fixed of blinking by taking it apart and cleaning the 72-pin connector... the Power Joy isn't a good deal for playing NES games. However, its pirate original games make it worth the money.

easy to make portable NES's with....go check ben hecks website (you know the dude with the atari laptop)

gotta give some pimpage to the portables

There is already an officially sold portable Famiclone called the "Pocket Fami". Past portable Famiclones sucked bad, but the Pocket Fami is actually worth owning. Ben Heck did it even better though, with a portable NOAC based NES that is absolutely tiny! It is GB micro sized:
http://www.benheck.com/Games/Nintendo_projects/NES_Micro/NES_Micro1.htm

Captain Wrong

11-23-2005, 02:39 PM

[Most of these are well-known NES/Famicom titles stripped of their copyright info, but a handful appear to be either homebrewed or very obscure Famicom games (like the aforementioned "Magic Jewelry", there's also "Door Door" (useless to play), "Bird Life" (?, can't remember the exact title, but it's not worth it either) and "Aladdin III" which is actually pretty playable for a homebrew game, despite the fact that it has no title or game over screens).

Yeah, I wish I had more time to spend with this or was an expert on obscure Familcom games. I have a hard time believing that the same company that is known for pirating other games woud take the time to actually code unique stuff for this (even if many games are just graphic swaps or clones of older games like Kaboom!) Maybe someone else will get one of these and figure out what we're actually looking at here.

And I don't know. If I had a converter handy, I'd probably use this to play NES with, if for no other reason than just to see how well it works.

MrRoboto19XX

11-23-2005, 03:56 PM

No famiclones at my Big Lots.... :(

Ill offer anyone $10 for a pirate cart though. :D

I will be back. Oh yes, I will be back.

darknut101

11-23-2005, 06:30 PM

I'll have to check my big lots. I picked up a Super Joy III last year at my mall from some foreigner. I find out months later the FBI was looking for this guy at the mall because he was an illeagel alien and he was selling illeagel merchandise (Super Joy III).

heyricochet

11-25-2005, 12:00 AM

None at the Dudley MA Big lots.

InsaneDavid

11-25-2005, 02:23 AM

I actually finally went through and read all of this thread. The unit linked to in the very first post, I've actually seen that sold on QVC in the US, although it only had one appearance last year.

There was some bald white guy in his late 40's schlepping it, each of the ROMs was a hack with all the Nintendo crap removed. That's to be expected with pirate stuff, however... Here's where I busted up laughing. The guy was demoing the unit and he loaded up Gradius. Now where the copyright stuff was it had his last name or bootleg company something. So he goes "see, that's my name because I made this." LOL He wasn't asked about it, no one pointed it out, he said it out of the blue. :shameful:

� Gideon �

11-25-2005, 02:20 PM

I got one! I've used it a bunch already; it's pretty interesting. I'd like to try a Famicom cart in it. They're not as tall as NES carts, so I wonder if it would work all right.

I've also been thinking about the possibility of a cart extension cable. At the end you could have a converter, and there'd be no worrying about the cart slipping out or coming loose.

diediemydarling

11-25-2005, 07:56 PM

they are total pieces of chinese made junk i have one it sucks

� Gideon �

11-25-2005, 08:59 PM

... They're also $10.

Jagasian

11-26-2005, 11:44 AM

they are total pieces of chinese made junk i have one it sucks

I don't think that anybody is claiming otherwise. These are Famiclones for godsakes, and all Famiclones are one grade of junk or another. But because of its low price, and because it comes packaged with original games, people are interested in buying it. I looked to buy one, but my Big Lots didn't have any. To be honest, it was an impulse buy, and if I actually ended up getting one, I probably would have regretted it by the next day.

Captain Wrong

11-26-2005, 01:23 PM

they are total pieces of chinese made junk i have one it sucks

Nun-uh. It's the most fun possible on my TV.

snes_collector

11-27-2005, 09:53 AM

Jagasian

11-27-2005, 02:31 PM

snes_collector

11-27-2005, 06:33 PM

I went to a Big Lots yesterday and didn't see any. I'm probably going to another one today because, Big Lots is shutting down over 100 stores! Everything in the one a went to yesterday was 20%. Just to et you guys know.

20% off or 20% of the total? That means this Famiclone would either be $8 or $2 respectively. At $2, I wouldn't hesitate buying one. Candy bars cost more than that these days.

20% off, so it would be 8$. They didn't have the Famiclone though. Also I hit a Big Lots that I thought was closing too(it isn't) and they also didn't have any. I think it's a regional thing.

diediemydarling

12-17-2005, 07:00 PM

I mean im afraid to break it, because it is real cheap plastic

Arqueologia_Digital

12-17-2005, 07:11 PM

Oh man!, that�s crap...

CYRiX

12-17-2005, 07:42 PM

Holy Thread Revival Batman!

MrSmiley381

12-18-2005, 06:48 PM

Thread revival indeed.

I also found illegal immigrants selling these at the mall last year. Although, I might pick one up for $10 anyway, maybe Megami Tensei II will work (doubt it, but, meh.).

TheRedEye

12-18-2005, 10:42 PM

I also found illegal immigrants selling these at the mall last year.

So did you actually check for citizenship, or are you just a racist fuck?

� Gideon �

12-19-2005, 04:32 PM

Maybe he read about the bust in the paper afterwards, and it mentioned the sellers were illegal immigrants. For a person who apparently hates racism, you're pretty judgmental.

TheRedEye

12-19-2005, 06:47 PM

Oh yeah, I'm sure that's exactly what happened.

� Gideon �

12-19-2005, 07:28 PM

Oh yeah, I'm sure that's exactly what happened.
Hehe. And I'm sure the gentlemen selling Famiclones at the mall were everyday citizens. Anyway, I'll stop poking.

The other day, a friend was saying how dogs aren't nearly as nice of pets as they seem to be. I told her that I have a great dog. I said he's just like dogs on TV; for example, "he loves bones." To this, she said, "Ew! You've got a sick mind!" I looked at her strangely.

Who has the sick mind?

christhegamer

12-19-2005, 08:13 PM

Whether or not ANYONE is racist is not of importance to this topic, or in life. If the person selling these cheap, bootleg "superpowerjoyIII' units is Caucasion, African American, chinese, hatian, whatever, they'd all get the same sentence, regardless of race or gender. It's not the color of one's skin that determines whether the person in question good or bad, nice or a jerk, or illegaly immagrated or not (It's basically if they run away when they see the men in the black suits :P). Fight hate with love, not more hate.

Now that that's over with, we can get on to the subject at hand:

Anyone know were else I could find these things? I'm not sure that the Big lots in my area has one, and I think that the one's in the mall are $50 @_@. I just got an FC-to-NES adapter for practically NOTHING, and it's no good if I don't have any Famicom games (even if they are pirated X_x).

Captain Wrong

12-19-2005, 08:48 PM

Can I just say this thread has taken a sharp turn into Whatthefucksville?

Can I also say I haven't seen these things at any Big Lots recently (though since the kung-fu dvds seem to have dried up, I haven't been going to Big Lots as much)?

Additionally, can I mention I've seen the 7500000000000000000 in one with the N64 and SNES lookin' controllers in mall kiosks again this year?

Oh.

Looks like I just did.

PS - to all of you turning your nose up at these things because they're obviously inferior to your AV modded toaster with composite video out and 7.1 surround or whatever the heck you NES |33+ are into these days, relax and let the rest of us have our fun. Yeah, it's cheap Chinese junk. No one is debating that it's not going to be as good as a real NES but it's not going to fall apart in your hands either. Last time I checked, this hobby is still supposed to be about having fun. Sometimes I think people get a little too caught up in the details and lose the script somewhere along the way.