Family Computer
| Family Computer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Generation | Third generation | ||
| Release date | Family Computer: July 15, 1983[1] 1987[?] 1991[?]Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer: November 10, 2016[?] | ||
| Discontinued | Family Computer: September 25, 2003[2] Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer: | ||
| Ratings | Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer:
| ||
| Predecessor | Color TV-Game | ||
| Successor | Super Famicom | ||
- Twelve years and older- “If you were to strike up a friendship with a Japanese gamer and happened to ask him whether he owned a NES back in the '80s, you'd probably be met with a blank stare.”
- —Official Nintendo Magazine
The Family Computer (often shortened to Famicom) is a third-generation video game console created by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on July 15, 1983; Taiwan in 1987; and Hong Kong in 1991. Because the latter region previously saw an official release of its Western counterpart, the Nintendo Entertainment System (or NES), the Hong Kongese release of the Famicom was marketed as a "second-generation" hardware revision, adding the ability to toggle between PAL 50 Hz and PAL 60 Hz output.[3] Nintendo additionally arranged a deal with the Russian technology company Steepler in 1994 to permit the sale of a clone console called the Dendy in the former Soviet Union in exchange for providing equal distribution for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.[4][5][6] The console would be redesigned for the West as the Nintendo Entertainment System. The Family Computer's controllers were attached to the main unit and could be stored on the sides of the system. Player One's controller can pause the game, and Player Two's controller has audio controls. The cartridges were about half the size of NES Game Paks, and were inserted in the top of the console. Famicom cartridges more closely resembles an audio cassette rather than a video cassette for NES Game Paks, and Famicom cartridges can be found in different colors, such as red, yellow, and blue. By the release of Super Mario Bros., Nintendo had already sold over four million units.[7] The redesigned New Famicom (often called the AV Famicom) would release in Japan on December 1, 1993. The Famicom sold 19.35 million units in Japan and would be discontinued on September 25, 2003.[2]
A few months after the July 1983 release of the Famicom, Sharp produced the Sharp C1 Famicom TV, a combined console and TV unit packaged with Donkey Kong Jr. + Jr. Sansū Lesson. The following year, Sharp released the Playbox BASIC and Family BASIC accessories, allowing users to program in BASIC on their Family Computers, and included characters of the Super Mario franchise as programmable sprites.
In February 1986, the Family Computer Disk System accessory was released, and it enabled games to be played on the Famicom in the form of a Disk Card. Many newer games that were never released on the Famicom or NES were released only on the Disk System, such as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
In 1987, the Famicom 3D System accessory was released, but like the future Virtual Boy, it flopped. This is compatible with the Disk System game Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally.
Accessories[edit]
Famicom Controller[edit]
The Famicom Controller is the basic controller that is hard-wired into the Family Computer. Controller 1 has four buttons and a directional pad on a round-shaped case. 
and 
are stationed on the right, the 
and 
is in the middle, and the D-pad is on the left of the controller. Controller 2 has two buttons with and being replaced with a volume slider and microphone. Nintendo later released a different form of the Famicom, the New Famicom (also known as the AV Famicom), which used a "dog-bone" design similar to the Super Famicom controller. This design combines elements of the Game Boy and Super Famicom controller. Unlike the original Famicom controller, the New Famicom controllers used the same controller plugs as the ones found on the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Family BASIC Data Recorder[edit]
The Family BASIC Data Recorder is a cassette tape deck released alongside Family BASIC in 1984. It can be powered by 4 AA batteries or a 6 volt power adapter. The Data Recorder features two 3.5mm mono data ports that you plug into the Famicom Keyboard's "write" and "save" ports. In Family BASIC, the Data Recorder is used to save and load programs. Several games used the Data Recorder including the Famicom game Wrecking Crew. When the game was later released for the Disk System, it saved data onto the Disk Card.
Famicom 3D System[edit]
The Famicom 3D System is an accessory for the Famicom that connects to the system via an adapter that plugs into the expansion port. A version of the Famicom 3D System was also distributed by SHARP for the Twin Famicom. The Famicom 3D System was compatible with a select few games including a Super Mario game for the Family Computer Disk System, Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally. The 3D System was a commercial failure and was never released outside of Japan.[8]
Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer[edit]
- Main article: Classics § Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer
On September 29, 2016, Nintendo announced the Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer, the Family Computer counterpart of the NES Classic Edition,[9] and was released alongside it in Japan on November 10, 2016. Like the NES Classic Edition, it includes 30 pre-installed Family Computer games, although with some differences in the game lineup, such as Mario Open Golf in place of Donkey Kong Jr. Production for the console was discontinued in April 2017.[10]
Appearances in the Super Mario franchise[edit]
- In Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen!, Mario himself owns a Famicom, on which he plays an unnamed video game which bears some similarities to Super Mario Bros. Princess Peach and Bowser also teleport through the television to which the Famicom is connected, although they do not appear to have any role at all in the game Mario is playing.
- In WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, 9-Volt owns a Famicom system which can be seen in the upper-left corner of the screen during his introduction cutscene.
- In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, during Princess Peach's Interlude after Chapter 5, TEC asks Peach to drink an invisibility potion in order to secretly enter Grodus's chamber and upload important data on a disk into the room's computer. When this happens, the computer screen shows the Famicom Disk System boot-up sequence.
- In the Japanese version of WarioWare: Smooth Moves, the microgame Super Nostalgic Entertainment System uses a Family Computer instead. The Famicom controller also appears as a sound effect icon in the Sound Studio.
- In Super Paper Mario, a Famicom can be seen on a shelf in one of Francis' rooms in his fort, among other Nintendo systems.
- In WarioWare: D.I.Y., a green Family Computer cartridge makes up the bottom screen of the title screen. Also, the designs and colors of the cartridges in this game are based on those of the Famicom.
- In WarioWare Gold, the Famicom appears as a collectible Nintendo souvenir.
- In WarioWare: Get It Together! in 9-Volt's Nintendo Classics level, the boss that appears in the intermission before the boss microgame has a Famicom controller for a face.
Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen!
WarioWare: Smooth Moves (Japan)
Super Paper Mario
WarioWare: Get It Together!
Gallery[edit]
Logos[edit]
Family Computer logo
Famicom Family logo
Super Mario games[edit]
This gallery does not include Family Computer Disk System or Nintendo Entertainment System games.
Donkey Kong alternate cartridge
Donkey Kong Jr. alternate cartridge
Mario Bros. alternate cartridge
Golf alternate cartridge
Family BASIC and Family BASIC V3 cartridges
Miscellaneous[edit]
Pictogram of a Famicom controller from the official Made in Wario website
Photo of the "Nintendo Classics" exhibit at the Nintendo Museum
Photo of the "Big Controller" exhibit at the Nintendo Museum
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ファミリーコンピュータ[?] Famirī Konpyūta |
Family Computer | |
| ファミコン[?] Famikon |
Famicom |
References[edit]
- ^ Nintendo Co., Ltd. (March 31, 2003). Gaming for 5 to 95. SEC.gov (English). Archived December 29, 2014, 02:34:42 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ a b http://www.webcitation.org/5nXieXX2B
- ^ Akfamilyhome (April 1, 2020). A History of Nintendo's Hong Kong Releases. YouTube (Cantonese & English (English subtitles available)). Retrieved June 5, 2024. (Archived May 25, 2024, 11:22:53 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ Игорь Пичугин (November 1, 1994). Соглашение Steepler и Nintendo. Газета "Коммерсантъ" (Russian). Retrieved June 1, 2024. (Archived April 27, 2019, 02:58:42 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ Семён Костин (December 14, 2021). Легенда о слоне: как IT-компания Steepler создала Dendy и основала российский консольный рынок. DTF (Russian). Retrieved June 1, 2024. (Archived June 1, 2024, 22:35:52 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ Олег Хохлов (August 9, 2016). Приставка Dendy: Как Виктор Савюк придумал первый в России поп-гаджет. Секрет фирмы (Russian). Retrieved December 9, 2024. (Archived December 1, 2024, 05:49:08 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ 上村雅之さん 大いに語る。 ファミリーコンピュータ インタビュー（後編）（2013年10月号より）. Nintendo DREAM Web (Japanese). Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ Plunkett, Luke (April 30, 2010). Nintendo's First 3D Technology Shot A Spaceship At Mario's Face. Kotaku (English). Retrieved November 28, 2024.
- ^ September 29, 2016. ファミコンが、手のひらサイズで"再"登場！. Nintendo (Japanese). Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Sephazon, Robert (April 14, 2017). The Famicom Classic Edition Has Now Also Been Discontinued. Nintendo Life (English). Retrieved May 31, 2024.
External links[edit]
| Video game systems and add-ons | |
|---|---|
| Nintendo home consoles | Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System (Family BASIC, Family Computer Disk System) • Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Satellaview, Super Game Boy) • Nintendo 64 (Nintendo 64DD) • Nintendo GameCube (Game Boy Player) • Wii (Virtual Console, WiiWare) • Wii U (Virtual Console) • Nintendo Switch |
| Nintendo handhelds | Game & Watch • Game Boy • Virtual Boy • Game Boy Color • Game Boy Advance • Nintendo DS (Nintendo DSi, DSiWare) • Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console) • Nintendo Switch |
| Other | MS-DOS • VS. System • Nintendo PlayChoice-10 • Nintendo Super System • Nelsonic Game Watch • Super Mario Bros. Watch • Gamewatch Boy • Philips CD-i • Mini Classics • Triforce • Visteon Dockable Entertainment System • Classics • LodgeNet • Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo |
