Famicom World

Family Computer => Famicom / Disk System => Topic started by: okame on December 08, 2013, 10:26:56 pm

Title: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: okame on December 08, 2013, 10:26:56 pm
I'm looking for a good portable Famicom, and the cheapest option that's big enough to be used by my beefy mitts is this one: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NES-Famicom-Nintendo-handheld-portable-console-system-/231050731417?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35cbb25f99 Does anyone have it, or know someone that does? Is it any good? If not, anyone know a cheap, good quality portable Famicom, for less that $100 U.S.? I need something to use to play Famicom game on long car trips, or at cons.
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: famifan on December 09, 2013, 12:05:40 am
okame, the thing you find will work, but it's the low quality thing. The display, the sound, the buttons, the gaming time, the ergonomics in design. In doubt about non-uniform cart type fitting.
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: okame on December 09, 2013, 06:06:05 am
Nice to know. Now, is there a better option, for a low enough price?
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: L___E___T on December 09, 2013, 10:07:41 am
I would suggest a GBA SP - plus EZ Flash IV to be honest.  That'll get you a decent portable famicom, plus gameboy, Game Gear, Gameboy Colour and importantly NES/Famicom gaming on the go.

Or you could get a homebrew PSP, that's probably better than any other option.

Playing with real carts is not good for portability, plus I've not yet seen a decent clone that will actually play them.
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: fcgamer on December 09, 2013, 10:28:13 am
Game Theory Admiral...funky design, excellent battery life.
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: FamilyMan on December 09, 2013, 05:28:50 pm
As a man who collects handhelds for when I travel abroad, I would have to say the best handheld I've come across that plays original Famicom carts is the HAMY portable system. It is the only one that I could find that supports the EverDrive cartridge. The design is nice, the buttons are responsive and overall I would say it is the best you can get for a handheld.
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: famifan on December 10, 2013, 05:05:11 am
Quote from: okame on December 09, 2013, 06:06:05 am
Nice to know. Now, is there a better option, for a low enough price?

nor nor nor. if you aren't in a need of junky device that will die after few month of active usage. I'm not aware about brand named licenced handhelp famicom existence. (Eg.. For super famicom it exists...). Maybe it's just me
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: jpx72 on December 11, 2013, 02:55:10 am
QuoteHAMY

You mean this one?
http://ebay.com/itm/231071011077

EDIT:
don't worry just bought it (need to treat myself on xmas). will let you know my impression ;)
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: FamilyMan on December 11, 2013, 01:14:22 pm
Quote from: jpx72 on December 11, 2013, 02:55:10 am
QuoteHAMY

You mean this one?
http://ebay.com/itm/231071011077

EDIT:
don't worry just bought it (need to treat myself on xmas). will let you know my impression ;)


I own 3 version of the portable. Ironically only the HAMY plays with Castlevania III and the Everdrive, albeit sound is off on games with extra sound channels with FDS and Castlevania III among others.

In fact, all have different boards apparently! I've had the misfortune of getting the HAMY portable last as I thought the other ones are compatible with the Everdrive.

(http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z371/Highfuel90/637f0d84-9d78-4aa5-9e18-39b9d3cdaed5_zps5770e29d.jpg) (http://s1186.photobucket.com/user/Highfuel90/media/637f0d84-9d78-4aa5-9e18-39b9d3cdaed5_zps5770e29d.jpg.html)

I've played on many portables and the HAMY is leagues ahead of the others in terms of build quality, compact size, button layout, control response etc. You made a good decision! Word of advice: get some nice rechargeable batteries for it!  ;D
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: okame on December 18, 2013, 01:13:31 pm
The Hamy sounds like a good plan, but this sounds better: http://gamedoctorhk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72_1_17_82&products_id=316 Not only does it plug into the TV, but the game on a GBA screen looks pretty darn good in one of the pics. Seems a bit clunky, but workable.
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: jpx72 on December 19, 2013, 12:57:15 am
Don't know about the game's look on the GBA screen, I have a supercard for GBA and running nes games through an emulator on it. It looks bad. The scaling is killing it. But I don't know, this thing may be different.
And then, there is the price...
Also found this on HAMY:
http://www.nesworld.com/article.php?system=nes&data=pirate-hamypocketgame
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: FamilyMan on December 19, 2013, 05:39:04 am
The hamy is by no means perfect, however I would like to imply in response of that mans complaints:(gripes with empty facts).first, the hamy does play fine on tv's and while you may be playing a little close to the tv, one must keep in mind that its not the main function of a PORTABLE. One could extend the cables range with av cords. Ive only come across ONE game which was unplayable on the Hamy, Doki Doki Yuuenchi.
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: jpx72 on December 19, 2013, 07:26:41 am
Don't worry, I know exactly what to expect when my HAMY arrives, I have much experience with chinese-made electronics. I just hope it will be working at all :crazy:
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: FamilyMan on December 19, 2013, 09:12:23 am
I am looking forward to your review! I will be bringing my portable on my annual trip to Thailand in a few days from now. Time to put the portable under some heavy use!  ;D
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: okame on January 01, 2014, 05:59:47 am
I was thinking about getting a Supaboy and NES/Genesis adapters instead. Anyone have the Supaboy and the Gen Bit adapters, that can tell me if they're compatible? I'd get the Retro Duo Portable, but I like the classic SNES look of the Supaboy more. That, and it's too red for me. Never been a fan of red for consoles, if I have a choice.
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: jpx72 on January 02, 2014, 02:27:55 pm
Ok so I finaly have the HAMY home!
My thoughts? It's AWESOME! For a chinese contraption, it's pretty sturdy, the plastic is ok, display is big enough, although from a little angle it has better colours than direct from front. TV output is not interesing, but it's good (absolutely no jailbars heh).
https://picasaweb.google.com/101780536203213953403/HAMY?authkey=Gv1sRgCKPI4O3hlvzRTg
I will write something more later. But I don't regret buying it!!! Recommended piece!

Post Merge: January 03, 2014, 02:38:39 am

To add something more:
-the scalling seems a little bit squeezed vertically, but you can see all pixels so definitely not as bad as playing on GBA.
-on Akumajou D. I noticed cut out right and left edges (see photos). Other games seemed fine displaying everything.
-battery compartment is making insertion of batteries a challenge :)
-added USB cable allows you to play without batteries on USB power....hmm ;D
-AV cable is ok, I love playing foot away from my big screen :crazy: ...makes me feel dizzy and shaky ;D
-sound is a little bit distorted on high tones, hope it only needs a capacitor filter, will do some testing.



Post Merge: January 03, 2014, 02:51:49 am

-internal memory contains around 50games, standard multicart selection (Tekken is Ye air kung fu). No surprise at all. Intro screen shows strange letters: FH
-the addition of Duck Hunt made me search for ext connector. There is none, of course.
-no extra audio from special carts, should be easily fixable.
-I think I found a PAL/NTSC solder spot on the PCB
-buttons respond nicely and rubbers are of good quality.
-I already have one dead pixel on screen, hope no more will show up. It's glowing with different colour (not black). Is this fixable?

What else? Thanks for recommending! Love it!


Post Merge: January 03, 2014, 02:58:32 am

Oh and I got it for 30$. Best offer from 39,99. Seller wrote $11 on the package. So there is the possibility to buy it much cheaper.
Title: Re: Is This A Good Portable Famicom/
Post by: okame on January 12, 2014, 06:01:18 am
After a bit of a shipping SNAFU, I'm waiting for a Supaboy to get here in the mail. Anyone have a Genesis, NES, or Famicom adapter that might work for it? I found some on eBay, but I'm not 100% sure they'd work ,without having to plug them in. Has anyone tried to use adapters for other games on a Supaboy?