On the Famicom World page (and also I think on the forum there was a post a long time ago), there has been mention of some pulse line Famicom carts with "Family Computer" written on them in English; these were always attributed to being official releases in the Taiwan / Hong Kong regions, yet I have never seen much real evidence of that either way. I've always been a bit skeptical of the providence of those carts, but I do own one (Golf) with a box (and maybe a manual, I forget) and it seems too nicely done to be some elaborate fake.
With that said, the other day I found a F1 Race cart, pulse line version. Back label is the same as the HK / Taiwan versions, also bears Family Computer in English. I didn't think much more about it until it later dawned on me that this game was never made in pulse line version.
IMO the Nintendo logo at the bottom definitely looks off, making me believe that this (and then perhaps all of the others) are just good bootlegs. Other thoughts on the matter? Either way, still a really cool piece to own, for those that like the pulse line carts.
(http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y419/fcgamer26/IMG_6697_zps1hdbvacr.jpg) (http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/fcgamer26/media/IMG_6697_zps1hdbvacr.jpg.html)
Have you opened up the cart to look for Nintendo branding on the PCB/chips (HVC-whatever)?
Quote from: UglyJoe on January 04, 2016, 09:24:51 am
Have you opened up the cart to look for Nintendo branding on the PCB/chips (HVC-whatever)?
Just opened it up (luckily I didn't damage the case), the results are even more interesting.
At first I was a bit disappointed, as I was greeted with glob tops. Board is stamped with HVC-FR and there is also a small sticker with the same code on it.
Then I remembered something I had read a long time ago, that some early games also had globs versions, as evidenced below:
http://www.vintagecomputing.com/wp-content/gyro/gyro7_big.jpg
http://www.racketboy.com/images/Gyromite-Cart-Comparison.jpg
http://www.classicplastic.net/dvgi/editorials-davidnesconvert002.jpg
The PCB is exactly the same as the Gyromite (Famicom) board slapped with the Famicom to NES adapter, only of course with the appropriate part number stamped. It lends credence to the fact that despite the globs, this could indeed be real.
I'll take pictures soon...
Post Merge: January 04, 2016, 09:50:11 am
Board pictures...
(http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y419/fcgamer26/IMG_6699_zpssouyntwm.jpg) (http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/fcgamer26/media/IMG_6699_zpssouyntwm.jpg.html)
(http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y419/fcgamer26/IMG_6700_zpsnplvuhns.jpg) (http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/fcgamer26/media/IMG_6700_zpsnplvuhns.jpg.html)
That looks virtually identical to this entry in bootgod's db: http://bootgod.dyndns.org:7777/profile.php?id=2325 except the date code on yours is one week(?) earlier. That entry is also the earliest for that game in the db, so yours appears older than his currently estimated manufacturing range.
Interesting. Looking very much like a legit Nintendo product :o
The lack of Nintendo silk-screening (or any copyright info at all) on the board is a bit suspicious to me, but the Gyromite cart you posted does indeed match, so it could certainly be an official release.
The glob tops are a lot nicer looking than the usual pirate efforts too :)
I wonder why Hong Kong Famicom carts are so rare. Maybe the Famicom just didn't catch on and Nintendo gave up on it over there?
Since Nintendo released a 72-pin NES in Hong Kong, they may have discontinued the 60 pin one.
Very interesting ! I would suspect it's more likely that they were just part of an initial run at launch - no need for HK-specific carts after that, Hong Kong was the hub of Asian imports then after all.
Quote from: L___E___T on February 01, 2016, 03:22:25 am
Very interesting ! I would suspect it's more likely that they were just part of an initial run at launch - no need for HK-specific carts after that, Hong Kong was the hub of Asian imports then after all.
I know in Taiwan, some games had special yellow stickers on them mentioning that they were officially imported for distribution by Nintendo.
I figured it might have been because of the heavy piracy in these parts that Nintendo just threw in the towel on licensed releases. As a buddy of mine involved in the sales industry back in the day had told me, (at least in Taiwan), everyone had preferred the bootlegs. The quality was about the same at the time (none of this modern cheap plastic and globs), and the cost was much, much cheaper. So it meant cheaper prices for consumers, and much larger profits for stores.
What about cash only for the three Pulse Line carts?
I think those were for Taiwan only, not Hong Kong.
Quote from: Flying_Phoenix on April 09, 2016, 12:48:21 am
What about cash only for the three Pulse Line carts?
I think those were for Taiwan only, not Hong Kong.
PM sent.
Post Merge: April 12, 2016, 07:04:59 pm
Also just to let everybody know, for F1 Race pulseline version, I have thought a lot about it and will only trade for some other (truly) rare pieces (I don't mean over-hyped expensive stuff either, rather truly rare / unique stuff). Taiwanese Famicom would be a good start, or more Kiddie Sun cartridges, etc.