Famicom World

Family Computer => Famicom / Disk System => Topic started by: Parodius Duh on May 10, 2011, 01:00:20 pm

Title: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: Parodius Duh on May 10, 2011, 01:00:20 pm
How many different types of Famicom Cartridge shells are there? (not including pirates)

I know of the most common short shell, then the namco imprinted square shell, The Jaleco imprinted short shell, the Sunsoft imprinted short shell, the Tall Namco shell, the Tall Jaleco shell.....what else is there out there? sorry if this is a bit confusing......
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: manuel on May 10, 2011, 05:17:55 pm
Konami had a special cart shape with a little whole on the side of the cart. Bandai has carts with round corners.
There are a lot of shapes, some only with minuscule differences.
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: Parodius Duh on May 10, 2011, 11:15:53 pm
Ahhh yes, Konami Has a Very Unique cart shape! although theres quite a few also released in the common short shell (Mad City, Motocross Champion, etc...)
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: L___E___T on May 11, 2011, 04:56:09 am
I like the tall Nes-style cartidges and the taller Koei ones

(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqMOKpoE0U8DDwSGBN(vLG4Vgw~~_35.JPG)
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: i heart yuna on May 11, 2011, 12:00:40 pm
I think Punch out special is the most NES like, in terms of visual cues.

(http://iheartyuna.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/mtpo-compare.jpg)


overall i think there would be too many cart variations to even bother keeping track of...
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: L___E___T on May 11, 2011, 12:36:28 pm
Famicom Jump Stars is a bit like that cart design too if I remember correctly.  
I thought a list like this would exists somewhere - if not we should definitely make one!

This is probably my favourite cart design of them all:

(http://www.gamesniped.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/the-gentle-physics-and-science-of-hazardous-materials-famicom-game-nintendo.jpg)
(on the right) one of a kind as far as I'm aware, though other games used the adaptor I think.
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: i heart yuna on May 11, 2011, 02:22:16 pm
i also really like the Maniac Mansion style with the removable dust protector:

(it's white, near the middle of the bunch)

(http://iheartyuna.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/sideview1.jpg?w=450&h=338)


EDIT: looking at that photo reminded me that Final Fantasy 1 & 2 is a lot like a NES cart, also.

Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: L___E___T on May 12, 2011, 05:25:20 am
Family Basic is awesome too - prob my 2nd fave design.

So should we make a definitive list, seriously?  
I actually think FW should have this as part of the site info collective.  I can contribute, but I can't manage the whole thing just yet :(
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: UglyJoe on May 12, 2011, 05:56:29 am
I wouldn't be opposed to having an article that shows the various cart types.
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: manuel on May 12, 2011, 06:27:42 am
That's a neat idea!
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: i heart yuna on May 12, 2011, 07:58:01 am
i don't own enough of the main variants to helm it, but i will contribute pictures and anything I have to such an article.

Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: L___E___T on May 12, 2011, 08:35:29 am
same here - I just think we need a dedicated member to spearhead it.
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: jpx72 on May 12, 2011, 10:22:50 pm
Listing color variations would take forever, but there are not so many "official" shapes.
Maybe this will help
Credits: BootGod's database (http://bootgod.dyndns.org:7777) and |tsr's NES archive (http://www.atarihq.com/tsr/)


Nintendo (Famicom Family)
(http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/9788/nintendoq.th.jpg) (http://img691.imageshack.us/i/nintendoq.jpg/)(http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/2966/nintendo2.th.jpg) (http://img859.imageshack.us/i/nintendo2.jpg/)(http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/5889/nintendo5.th.jpg) (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/nintendo5.jpg/)(http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/7796/nintendo3.th.jpg) (http://img831.imageshack.us/i/nintendo3.jpg/)


Bandai
(http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/4420/bandai2.th.jpg) (http://img840.imageshack.us/i/bandai2.jpg/)(http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/852/bandai.th.jpg) (http://img825.imageshack.us/i/bandai.jpg/)(http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/9711/bandai3.th.jpg) (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/bandai3.jpg/)

And another one had the Bandai's Karaoke Studio:
(http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/1522/karaokestudiobox.jpg)
- cartridge for it:
(http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3253/tophit20.jpg)



Jaleco
(http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7029/jaleco.th.jpg) (http://img819.imageshack.us/i/jaleco.jpg/)(http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/5899/jaleco2.th.jpg) (http://img202.imageshack.us/i/jaleco2.jpg/)


Konami
(http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/2720/konami2.th.jpg) (http://img863.imageshack.us/i/konami2.jpg/)(http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/410/konami.th.jpg) (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/konami.jpg/)


Namcot
(http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/4206/namcot2.th.jpg) (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/namcot2.jpg/)(http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/6161/namcot3.th.jpg) (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/namcot3.jpg/)(http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4070/namcot.th.jpg) (http://img218.imageshack.us/i/namcot.jpg/)


Seta
(http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/5825/setadw.th.jpg) (http://img192.imageshack.us/i/setadw.jpg/)


Sunsoft
(http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1057/sunsoft.th.jpg) (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/sunsoft.jpg/)
This one comes with two small cartridges ("Kogame Cassette") that can be inserted inside:
(http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6755/sunsoft2.th.jpg) (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/sunsoft2.jpg/)
Those two small carts are:
1. Nantatte!! Baseball: Kogame Cassette '91 Kaimakuban
2. Nantatte!! Baseball: Kogame Cassette OB All-Star Hen
The only picture I was able to find:
(http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1786/gamejugglernantattekoga.gif)


Taito
(http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/2797/taito2.th.jpg) (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/taito2.jpg/)(http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/1136/taito3.th.jpg) (http://img818.imageshack.us/i/taito3.jpg/)(http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/4932/taito.th.jpg) (http://img820.imageshack.us/i/taito.jpg/)
This one has a "battery-door" so it's different
(http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/1069/taito4.th.jpg) (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/taito4.jpg/)(http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/4752/taito4b.th.jpg) (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/taito4b.jpg/)
This one has only a "fake" battery-door
(http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/733/taito5.th.jpg) (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/taito5.jpg/)(http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4185/taito5b.th.jpg) (http://img23.imageshack.us/i/taito5b.jpg/)


Irem
(http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/6260/iremb.th.jpg) (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/iremb.jpg/)(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/8967/irem2.th.jpg) (http://img812.imageshack.us/i/irem2.jpg/)(http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/607/irem3.th.jpg) (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/irem3.jpg/)


Idemitsu Kosan
(http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/8960/thegentlephysicsandscie.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/830/thegentlephysicsandscie.jpg/)


Another type of cartridge shape had the Bandai Datach system:
(http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/9553/datachb.jpg)
and the cartridges to go with it:
(http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/8210/crayonshinchan.jpg)
Here's a list of the available carts:
1.Battle Rush: Build Up Robot Tournament データック バトルラッシュ
2.Crayon Shin-chan: Ora to Poi Poi データック クレヨンしんちゃん オラとポイポイ
3.Dragon Ball Z: Gekitou Tenkaichi Budou Kai データック ドラゴンボールZ 激闘天下一武道会
4.J.League Super Top Players データック Jリーグスーパートッププレイヤーズ
5.SD Gundam: Gundam Wars データック SDガンダム GUNDAM WARS
6.Ultraman Club: Supokon Fight! データック ウルトラマン倶楽部 スポ根ファイト!
7.Yuu Yuu Hakusho: Bakutou Ankoku Bujutsu Kai データック 幽遊白書 爆闘暗黒武術会




So that's 27  (not counting the small cartridges that insert in the bigger adapter) of them so far.

Some of them have only small differences:
-Namco has both NAMCO and NAMCOT written on the front
-Seta cartridge is very similar to clasic small Nintendo one
-Bandai large cartridges differ only in the text (game name) on the front (only two AFAIK, both Famicom Jumps have the same, and all Family Trainers are the same)
-Taito cartridges with battery-door differ only on the back side
-Nintendo large format carts have Famicom or Nintendo written on the front
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: fredJ on May 12, 2011, 11:54:56 pm
Koei = Nintendo ?
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: jpx72 on May 12, 2011, 11:57:33 pm
Quote from: fredJ on May 12, 2011, 11:54:56 pm
Koei = Nintendo ?

Nintendo is the manufacturer of those plastic cases, KOEI is the company that made the game. The cartridge's shape is the same as (for example) Final Fantasy I+II, or Metal Slader Glory (HAL laboratories).
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: L___E___T on May 17, 2011, 05:41:09 am
Xious will know more than me about the adaptor, I'll see what I can find out.  I think only 2 or 3 games used it.
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: L___E___T on May 25, 2011, 02:09:04 pm
I can't see your embedded images bruv, what happened?
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: jpx72 on October 12, 2011, 11:04:31 pm
I have updated my previous post (http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=6176.msg94576#msg94576) with all the shapes so far, so if anyone is willing to make an article from it, go ahead ;)
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: UglyJoe on October 13, 2011, 04:26:22 am
The tricky part about making an FW article for it is that we don't use images taken from other sites, except for rare occasions (and with the other site's permission).  We'd have to get cart images from the FW community to do it.
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: jpx72 on October 13, 2011, 04:39:44 am
Ah that's unfortunate... but fair.
That negates the possibility to picture all of them... Well, at least the forum posts are not obliged by this rule.
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: fredJ on October 13, 2011, 08:17:13 am
You can take cart pictures from my Tradera store, I have over 150 carts so far, all photos taken by me or my friend.
You have to mention where you took them from, that they are used with permission, and maybe we need to discuss out the terms in details so its clear.
Title: Re: Famicom Cartridge Shape, how many differences are there?
Post by: UglyJoe on October 13, 2011, 09:13:42 am
Thanks for the offer, but this article's creation would really be a ways out.  I'm slowly working on getting a proper "Games" section onto the site to augment the game list.  It will be for articles that mostly center around lists of games (Pirate Fighters or YCPT type games, for example).  This article would fit into that section, so I wouldn't write it up until that section was ready.