Famicom Converters

[MarioMania]

How many converters are out there, Besides the one's in the early NES carts..Does the 3rd Party one's has it so the Famicom Label could face forward..I have the one with the Converter from Gyromite

[shadowkn55]

Mine is a gray honey bee converter with a green ribbon to pull it out. As far as I know, all convertors require that the game face backwards. Even on the Super 8, the game faces backwards.

[MarioMania]

thanks for the info, Anyone else

[rbudrick]

Can't say I've ever seen a single one that had the label forward.

-Rob

[Synergy]

Probably a stupid question as it's evident in the picture above, but the official top-loader needs an adapter to play Famicom carts also? I was under the impression it could play both since it doesn't have the lockout chip. I don't know why, heh.. :P

[MrRoboto19XX]

The top loader also needs the converter because of the different pins on the NES vs Fami.

I always forget the numbers, I think the nes has 42 pins, and the famicom has 36.

Im probably wrong though, but thats why it needs a converter, pins.

[InsaneDavid]

Probably a stupid question as it's evident in the picture above, but the official top-loader needs an adapter to play Famicom carts also? I was under the impression it could play both since it doesn't have the lockout chip. I don't know why, heh.. :P

As written in the editorial at my site (www button) concerning Famicom to NES converters...

Aside from cosmetic changes the NES would use a 72 pin cartridge connector as opposed to the 60 pin connector used by the Famicom. Four of the added pins ran to the new 10NES lockout chip inside the NES. The lockout chip inside the NES would compare data with a matching chip inside a licensed cartridge for authentication. If the code matched then the system would start up and the game run, if the proper code was not given then the system would not load the game. Ten of the new pins directly interfaced with the NES expansion port on the underside of the system. Two pins from the Famicom were removed that allowed for Famicom games to use their own onboard sound expansion chips. So there were 14 extra pins, 2 original pins removed (which caused some inferior games on US shores but that's another story) for a total of a 12 pin difference between the two consoles. More pins meant wider cartridges.

Also if you want to get technical, NES cartridges in a toaster NES face backwards as well, as the labels face up which if turned vertical would be facing backwards. For the record Famicom games through a converter in a toaster NES face down.

[MrRoboto19XX]

Where the crap did I get 42 and 36 from?

This is what happens when you dont eat your breakfast.

[MarioMania]

Thanks all for the info