Family BASIC

This article is about the software and accessory for the Family Computer. For the microgame in WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, see Family Basic (microgame).

Family BASIC
Developer	Nintendo Hudson Soft
Publisher	Nintendo Sharp Corporation
Platform(s)	Family Computer
Release date	June 21, 1984 (Family BASIC) February 21, 1985 (Family BASIC V3)[?]
Language(s)	Japanese
Genre	Progamming
Mode(s)	Single player
Format	Famicom: Cartridge
Input	Famicom: Famicom Controller Home computer system: Keyboard

Family BASIC is programming software for the Family Computer (Famicom) created by Hudson Soft, Nintendo, and Sharp Corporation. It was bundled with the Famicom keyboard peripheral. It was preceded by the nearly identical Playbox BASIC for the Sharp C1 Famicom TV. Family BASIC allowed users to create programs in the NS-HuBASIC programming language, a variation of the BASIC programming language with an "NS-Hu" prefix that stands for Nintendo, Sharp, and Hudson Soft respectively. This accessory came with a specially designed cartridge and keyboard, similar in function to that of a Commodore computer of that era. The keyboard plugs into a 15-pin expansion port on the front of the Famicom.

Family BASIC had the separately sold Data Recorder peripheral, which plugs into the back of the keyboard labeled SAVE and LOAD, and Wrecking Crew was one of the games compatible with it.

Sprites

All the available sprites that can be used in Family BASIC

Many of the sprites and tilesets were taken directly from the Arcade Classics Series version of the Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Mario Bros. There are 16 animated sprites built-in. The following are the only sprites available for programmers:

• Mario - similar to his Mario Bros. design
• Lady - very similar to her Pinball design
• Fighterfly
• Achilles - a bird-like creature, a palette swap of this sprite reappears in the Japanese version of VS. Pinball.
• Nitanita - a smiley face
• Penpen - a penguin resembling the one from the slot windows from Pinball, this sprite will later be edited and reused for Hudson Soft's Famicom port of Binary Land.
• Fireball - from 100 m of Donkey Kong, this sprite will later be edited and reused for Challenger
• Car
• Spinner - a rotational symmetric space ship
• Star Killer - the bulkier space ship
• Starship - the space ship with nacelles
• Explosion effects
• Shellcreeper
• Sidestepper
• Bird - from the Chain Scene of Donkey Kong Jr.
• Laser effects

It is possible to adjust the color of the sprites. The manual gives instructions on how to create Luigi or different colored enemies from the default sprites.

Programmable games in the manual

UFO

Before Family BASIC V3, there were no games available from the start. The manual gives instructions on how to create eight sample games.

• Knight - each player controls a chess knight on a chess board. Any spot that has been landed upon becomes unavailable. The aim is to trap the opposing player. It is similar to other "square-removal" chess variants that utilize the knight's tour.
• Super Memory - a memory game similar to Simon.
• UFO - a shooter where the player controls the Starship and faces off against a lone Fighterfly that shoots back. This game comes with the Data Recorder's cassette.
• Route 66 - an endless top-down driving game like Speed Race and Color TV-Game Racing 112.
• Type Master - a typing game
• Turtle - horse betting but on Shellcreepers
• Card - a card matching game similar to N-Mark Spade Panel
• Sample program 8 - a turn-based chase game where Penpen has to grab flags while evading a Nitanita. The manual insists that this is not a game but a tech demo and leaves it unnamed.

Family BASIC V3

Mario World

Family BASIC V3, released on February 21, 1985, came as a stand-alone cartridge. It has four minigames, all having Super Mario content.

• Game 0 "Heart": There is an outline of a heart that can be filled by speaking or breathing into microphone of controller 2. When done, Mario and Lady will come together. This is reproduction of a cutscene from Sheriff, Nintendo R&D1's 1979 arcade game.
• Game 1 "Penpen Maze": The player controls Penpen on a grid. The object is to collect numbers in order while avoiding two Sidesteppers. Penpen starts off with three traps that can temporarily stun the Sidesteppers.
• Game 2 "Mario World": Mario has to collect numbers sequentially and apples through a single screen of platforms, ladders, and springs while avoiding the two Nitanitas. However, collecting all the items does not end the game. The Time Limit will simply run out, forcing a Game Over.
• Game 3 "Star Killer": This is an endless space shooter on a wraparound screen for 1 or 2 players controlling Star Killer and Starship respectively. Enemies include Spinners, Fighterflies, Fireballs, and Achilleses.

Appearances in Super Mario games

In WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, 9-Volt's microgame Family Basic includes the Family BASIC keyboard, where the objective is to type in the requested numbers or letters.

Gallery

• 

  A screenshot of Heart

• 

  Mario

• 

  Lady (Heart palette)

• 

  Playbox BASIC set

• 

  Playbox BASIC cartridge

• 

  Family BASIC cartridges

• 

  Data Recorder periphery

Names in other languages

Family BASIC

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ファミリーベーシック[?] Famirī Bēshikku	Family BASIC

Family BASIC V3

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ファミリーベーシックV3[?] Famirī Bēshikku Bui Surī	Family BASIC V3

Trivia

The Biorhythm Board, featuring some Mario Bros. enemy sprites

• Family BASIC's predecessor, Playbox BASIC, had a biorhythm board instead of a message board as the C1 TV already came with a message board.