Cartridges with a switch on the front

Started by BecauseBits, March 25, 2019, 10:30:41 am

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BecauseBits

I happened across several cartridges from Japan with a black switch protruding from the front of the case. Each has a crude,  circular label with a single digit number on them, black case and contain a game. Were these used for development or competition? The little I can find online so far indicates they could be prototype cartridges. Thanks in advance

P

Sounds more like those programmable NROM cartridges used by a pirate device. The switch is probably for setting the mirroring (AKA scroll) setting, which depends on what game is programmed to it.

L___E___T

 



That's correct - don't rush to believe any speculation that carts with switches on are debug / dev / test / or sample carts - generally they are just pirate / bootleg releases.

Still fun to come across and collect for - but not the rare development items they can sometimes be pitched as, in an effort to command a higher price.  A picture would help to clarify.

Nintendo did use dipswitches in later systems like GB, GBA, DS, but I have never seen an official Famicom version of this - because manufacturers generally made their own boards and shells.
My for Sale / Trade thread
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=9423.msg133828#msg133828
大事なのは、オチに至るまでの積み重ねなのです。

BecauseBits

Thanks for the info,  attached is an image for clarification.

P

Here is the device that uses them: https://famicomworld.com/system/other/fami-corder/
It can only write NROM games (Donkey Kong, Popeye, Tennis, Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros etc) I think.