Famicom World - Square-Button Famicom

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Square-Button Famicom

LAST UPDATED: 01/17/07

WRITTEN BY:

"Now you'll know what features to

look for when doling out the big bucks

for a square-buttoned Famicom."

Nintendo Co., Ltd. continually changed the internal workings and look of the Family Computer throughout the 1980s. Most Famicom collectors know that the most sought after Famicom, the square-buttoned Famicom, was made with square A and B buttons on the controllers and a smooth bottom on the console itself, instead of the textured bottom we most often see.

Square and Round Buttons

The square-buttoned Famicom atop a round-buttoned one.

The square-buttoned Famicom was the first and possibly second release, and because it had bugs, it was recalled and revamped. For the next release of the Famicom, the buttons were made round and hard, instead of square and rubbery. The bottom casing was made rough, instead of smooth. And the bugs were fixed. Because of these changes, the square-buttoned Famicom is the rarest of the Famicom versions released.

Smooth Bottom

The smooth bottom casing of a square-buttoned Famicom.

Rough Bottom

The rough bottom casing of a round-buttoned Famicom.

What some Famicom collectors might not suspect is that sellers on auction sites get clever and place square-button controllers on a newer Famicom. Because the original Famicom didn't work properly, replacing it with a newer Famicom allows the seller to make more bucks on the sale of a "working square-buttoned" Famicom. But because of this, buyers get ripped off.

Below are pictures of the various Famicoms made during the 1980s. Now you'll know what features to look for when doling out the big bucks for a square-buttoned Famicom.

SQUARE-BUTTONED FAMICOM

Smooth Bottom Casing

Black Pin Adapter
HVC-CPU-05
1983