Famicom World

Family Computer => Famicom / Disk System => Topic started by: okame on October 20, 2012, 07:51:12 pm

Title: Do The Famicom Box Games work on an NES?
Post by: okame on October 20, 2012, 07:51:12 pm
I've seen some of the games that came with the Famicom Box they had in Japanese hotels for sale on eBay, and I wondered if they play on NES systems and my Retron 3 clone. They look like NES carts, and they apparently don't play on Famicom systems. Am I right, or do they just work if you have a Famicom Box system, which is WAY over my budget!
Title: Re: Do The Famicom Box Games work on an NES?
Post by: UglyJoe on October 20, 2012, 09:07:13 pm
I've heard conflicting reports on whether it is possible or not.  The most common response is "no, it won't work".  However, I've read anecdotal evidence (http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=6873.msg113618#msg113618) that the only difference between FamicomBox and NES carts has to do with which pins are used for the lockout chip.  As such, there are claims that it will work fine on an NES with the lockout chip disabled or on a top loader NES.  If that theory is correct, then it should also work on Famicom systems with a pin adapter, as the Famicom has no lockout chip.
Title: Re: Do The Famicom Box Games work on an NES?
Post by: L___E___T on October 21, 2012, 03:20:11 am
I bought one recently and will give it a test.  
I didn't think they worked, but I have a famicom and pin adaptor to run a quick test.  
Give me a few hours to dig everything out :)
Title: Re: Do The Famicom Box Games work on an NES?
Post by: Duke.Togo on October 21, 2012, 07:25:29 am
They work just fine on an NES with the lockout chip disabled/toploader. It also worked fine in my Famicom with a pin adapter.
Title: Re: Do The Famicom Box Games work on an NES?
Post by: L___E___T on October 21, 2012, 08:10:04 am
Yup, photo evidence:

(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/L___E___T/5a1e6338bd2219ef661fd6cc1470c11e.jpg)

The thing with the famicombox/ station is that it doesn't play regular games.  From the sounds of it you could rewire a game to work, but it seems a lot of work for a small benefit.
Title: Re: Do The Famicom Box Games work on an NES?
Post by: okame on October 21, 2012, 03:43:02 pm
Thanks for the replies. I'm not getting one any time soon, as the cheapest I've seen them for is $40. I has a Retron 3, not an NES, so as long as it doesn't have a lock out chip, I should be fine. I was just wondering if they worked. I'm curious about these things at times.
Title: Re: Do The Famicom Box Games work on an NES?
Post by: VinylDracula on October 25, 2012, 12:27:28 am
just pull up that single pin on the nes board to disable the lockout and they will work.
Title: Re: Do The Famicom Box Games work on an NES?
Post by: jpx72 on October 25, 2012, 12:45:58 am
Quote from: VinylDracula on October 25, 2012, 12:27:28 am
just pull up that single pin on the nes board to disable the lockout and they will work.

Some tech reading about that "mod" : http://forums.nesdev.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9279