Oh no you think, not a totally Famicom-newbie! ::)
Well, let's start off by introducing myself. I live in Sweden, and I've been collecting NES-games for 3-4 years. I started off by having a goal to collect all 210 games that was released in Sweden. 6 months ago I was less then 20 carts away from my goal. Now I've been selling off the most of my collection. I got tired of collecting games that I didn't really want to play. ow I just buy games that I will play!
Well, now to the questions. I've just bought my first game for Famicom on eBay! Castlevania 3... Now I am planning to get a Famicom! Wich model should I go for? Here in Sweden we have the PAL system (PAL-B) and there seems to be problem using Famicoms/NES from other regions with RF cable. So I guess the AV Famicom should fit me best?
I've read about, and seen some Famicoms that have AV mods. Does that make the original Famicom work just as fine as the AV Famicom on a PAL system?
Is there any negative sides if I choose an AV Famicom, except that I don't get the microphone in controller 2 and a newer design...?
You need a Multisystem TV to play Fami, and those usually only support NTSC through the baseband inputs (aka RCA jacks), so it's wise to get an AV Famicom or an AV modded Famicom.
I live in a NTSC-M country, here multisystem TVs are pretty expensive and rare, but as far as I know multisystem TVs are pretty common (and cheaper) in PAL/SECAM countries, is that true?
Remember, you don't nessesarily need a Famicom to play Famicom games as the NES and Famicom share the same hardware, just differently shaped so your best bet might be to simply find a NES-to-Famicom 72-60 pin converter. Since your in Europe you hsould be able to find them very cheaply as most are either made and sold in Britian France and Germany. A good converter costs more than a cheap one, but you pay for what you get.
As for Famicom recommendations, I suggest the AV model. It not only supports everything the original has (except for RF and the mic in controller 2 which was hardly ever used) but you can use NES controllers you already have on it and its small, light and just awesome.
Regardless of what Famicom you're looking into, keep in mind the voltage difference. Japanese electronics use 100v which even 120 v North American AC adaptors can damage. Let alone European 240. Buy either a step down converter rated for 100v or a universal adaptor rated up to 240 input.
Yup, forgot that thing about the voltage :P. Chile is a 220V country and I assume Sweden is too. I have several step-down transformers lying around the house so I can use 110V appliances ;D
Quote from: Kreese on August 05, 2007, 01:56:42 pm
Is there any negative sides if I choose an AV Famicom, except that I don't get the microphone in controller 2 and a newer design...?
I think that the negative side of it is that you shall
never look the original Famicom the same way...
Because it is very better!
Quote from: Profeta Yoshitake on August 06, 2007, 09:35:59 am
Quote from: Kreese on August 05, 2007, 01:56:42 pm
Is there any negative sides if I choose an AV Famicom, except that I don't get the microphone in controller 2 and a newer design...?
I think that the negative side of it is that you shall
never look the original Famicom the same way...
Because it is very better!
Meh I still perfer the original Famicom. I like the redesign of the 1993 one but I don't know if the Famicom Disk System is compatible with it.
The FDS is perfectly compatible with the AV Famicom.
Woohoo, I won this auction today:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290145576179&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=019
You might think this is overpriced, I really don't know, but I am still happy! :)
Now to the question... What kind of power adapter should I be getting for this console? Here in Sweden we have 220 volts.
I don't think it's overpriced. It had the box and 15 games with it.
A while ago I got myself a backup-unit for Game Boy, for using LSDJ, the music program. I got it from this webshop: http://www.robwebb.clara.co.uk/shop/copiers/copiers.htm ...
For that backup device I bought a compatible AC-DC Adapter, that works here in Sweden. When I looked thoriugh the pages once again, I found that on this page: http://home.clara.net/robwebb/shop/nes/nes.htm
QuotePower Supply Unit (UK) £6
AC 230V to DC 9V power supply/adapter for use in the UK
Output 9V DC, 1.2A, center negative
For use with:
Sega Master System 2
Sega Game Gear
NEC PC Engine
Atari Jaguar
Atari Jaguar CD Unit
Nintendo Famicom
Nintendo Super Famicom
Gameboy Transferer
Gameboy Xchanger
N64 CD64
SNES/SFC Game Doctors
all Pro Fighters
all Wild Cards/Magicom etc.
Super UFOs
Since the adapter that I have for my Gameboy Transferer works fine, perhaps it even works with the AV Famicom... Are the Famicom adapters and the AV Famicom adapters the same?
Quote from: Kreese on August 12, 2007, 08:52:21 am
Are the Famicom adapters and the AV Famicom adapters the same?
Yes.
Kreese, just a suggestion - you might want to look into getting some other NES or maybe even a North American NES 2 controller to go with your AV. Although the AV controllers are nice they are still the same length as the original Famicom - 3'. the US version (same controller exactly otherwise) is around 9'. Keep in mind the AV Famicom has the same input ports as the NES so if you prefer the old boxy controller you can use that too.
Thanks for the advice! Right now I have an NES 2 here at home, borrowed it from a friend. But we can't get the sound to work through the RF... The picture is nice, but the sound is not working, just noise and stuff. If I adjust the channel-searching thing, I get some sound (but still really bad, but I can hear some music) but then the picture goes bad... I'm planning to let my father do a modification to this NES 2: http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/nes2avmod.htm - I hope that it will fix the problems.
Anyway, I could use this dogbone for the AV Famicom then. Great to being able to use sandard NES-controllers too!
At our Swedish NES-fan-site ( www.nesdb.se ), we are currently discussing the NES-controllers compabilty. I guess any controller would work on AV Famicom, an US NES. But on some european NES's there are some problems using either NES-004 or NES-004E controllers... That's so strange, how come my Scandinavian NES take all the controllers while a NES from Holland or something can't take NES-004 controllers? Pretty wierd!
I wonder what it says on the Famicom Power adapter & AV Famicom adapter. Here at home I have a Swedish NES-adapter and an Canadian one.
QuoteSwedish:
AC ADAPTER NES-PAL-002
INPUT: AC 220-230V/50Hz
OUTPUT: AC 9.8V/1.3A
Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Made in Japan
QuoteCanadaian:
Nintendo
AC ADAPTER
MODEL NO. : NES-002
INPUT AC120V 60Hz 17W
OUTPUT AC9V 1.3A
POWER SUPPLY FOR USE WITH VIDEO GAME NES-001
ONLY
Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Made in Japan LR83366
http://www.famicomworld.com/Workshop/Famicom_AC_Adaptor.htm
Quote from: Kreese on August 14, 2007, 12:49:56 pm
I wonder what it says on the Famicom Power adapter & AV Famicom adapter. Here at home I have a Swedish NES-adapter and an Canadian one.
QuoteSwedish:
AC ADAPTER NES-PAL-002
INPUT: AC 220-230V/50Hz
OUTPUT: AC 9.8V/1.3A
Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Made in Japan
QuoteCanadaian:
Nintendo
AC ADAPTER
MODEL NO. : NES-002
INPUT AC120V 60Hz 17W
OUTPUT AC9V 1.3A
POWER SUPPLY FOR USE WITH VIDEO GAME NES-001
ONLY
Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Made in Japan LR83366
Don't use any of those, unless you want to fry your new AV Famicom.
Yup. Those things output AC and the Famis use DC. If you're good with electronics you can fit a bridge rectifier and a filter capacitor inside one of those and then you can use it for powering an AV Famicom.
Hi, Kreese!
I enjoyed your website very much!
It's so cool to get to know overseas versions
of NES stuff!!!
The stores section at your site would help
our friend Cospefogo, who is in Sweden
right now! :D
I hope that he visit that stores and bring
some Svensk cart for me!!! ;D
I just wanted to thank everyone for helping a Famicom-newbie out! Today I recived my AV Famicom + the 15 games that was included. I've played a bit with it and could finally try my Akumajou Densetsu (Castlevania 3)! Cool game and I really like the extended channels. It takes the music to a new dimension!
The next thing for me to get is a FDS! Cause now I'm really going deep in the Famicom-collecting-swamp. :)
After looking through this site, I am completely hooked to the Famicom!
I plan on getting one off of E-bay, or at a local Flea market this Sunday.
I have a few questions though.
(1) what about voltage? I broke my old NES when I tried to use an AC adapter that came with my wireless router. The NES one had broke.
Should I be able to use the AC adapter I get with the system?
(2) I noticed that the Famicom has alot of accesories that were released on the NES too, like R.O.B. does the Famicom have a PowerPad and PowerGlove counterpart also?
(3) how much should I pay for just the Famicom system? the red/white one.
Also, is there anybody here that can order off of yahoo japan for me?
Or is there anybody here selling a Famicom?
Thanks for the help,
---MarioMan1983---
2) Yes.
3) without box round button $30 - $40, without box square button $50 - $70
CIB round button $90 - $120, CIB square button $150 - $200
1) Where do you live? (to know your mains voltage)
The US of A.
so shelling out 30$ isnt too bad a deal?
So you get 120V.
Japan uses 100V so your Famicom AC adapter would be 100V in, 10V out. 20V more in shouldn't make any difference (the windings are wired 10:1 so with 120V in you get 12V out, a mere 2 volts more) but here are reports of Famicom overheating because of overvoltage, so I say play safe and buy a generic Video Game AC adapter for your Fami. It must be 9VDC with a negative tip. Actually many old electronics use such an adapter so if you frequent flea markets you can get a compatible one really cheap. Look in cordless phones, phone answering machines and such. And yeah, never use the NES AC adapter with your Fami, it outputs AC and will fry it.
actually I would say be safe and use the original famicom ac adapter and a stepdown converter since the generic stuff is all off brand
$30 for a working system is definitely a fair price.
I'm sorry...
I'm still kind-of confused.
Can you explain the whole AC adapter thing simply?
I don't get it completely...
This might help:
http://www.famicomworld.com/Workshop/Famicom_AC_Adaptor.htm (http://www.famicomworld.com/Workshop/Famicom_AC_Adaptor.htm)
From my experience, here's what I can tell you:
Don't try to use the NES's AC Adapter (goodbye famicom #1 :'().
Don't try to use a third-party or universal adapter, even if the specs match up perfectly (goodbye famicom #2 :'().
Do get an official Famicom AC Adapter.
Do buy a step-down converter (just to be safe).
alright, so simply put I need a step down converter.
How much do those cost?
You should be able to get one for maybe around 15$ or maybe cheaper. Those aren't very expensive.
Alrighty.
That doesn't sound too bad.
Thanx for the help everyone.
I recommend the step-down shown on that FW webpage with the web address listed. It works great so long as you don't overload it like I did and blow the fuse (but it comes with two extra fuses!). I think is costs about $25 shipped, iirc.
I use a Sony cordless phone AC adapter (9VDC 500mA neg. tip) for my NES and it works great. The original adapter got trashed by the previous owner plugging it into 220V when it was a 110V model. Also my SNES uses a generic adapter (rated at 10VDC 850mA) and never had a problem in years.
Didn't wanna make a new thread for this, so I'll ask it here.
Since the NES 2 can universally play all NES games, could I play PAL NES games with a converter in my Famicom? I just found out that a game I played ALL THE TIME as a toddler on my Game Boy came out on the NES, but only in Europe.
EDIT* Sorry for the bad quality, but I don't have my camera right now. I looked through my Game Boy games, and I found it.
(http://i40.tinypic.com/vsltsp.jpg)
The Smurfs!
EDIT 2* I forgot how great the music in this game was! The NES version sounds cool, too.
Yes, you can play PAL NES games on your Famicom with a converter, since the Famicom has no lockout chip.
You're still subject to region incompatibilities, but fortunately those are the minority among PAL games.
What do you mean by that?
A few PAL games display graphical glitches or won't run at all when played on an NTSC NES due to the hardware differences (Elite comes to mind). Fortunately the vast majority of games run fine.
Does anyone have a link to the video of famitsu's top 100 famicom games?
I use an old Radio Shack SNES adapter for my AV Famicom. Has the 10V DC, interchangeable tips, and the ability to change tip polarity (since, like Nintendo are the only people I've ever seen use negative tip polarity).
I even solved the short cord syndrome with japanese dogbones with a FourScore.
I wish I knew how to mod it to use Zappers though.