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GeezerVison is showing www.mariowiki.com — Family Computer Family ComputerFrom the Super Mario Wiki, the Mario encyclopedia
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The Family Computer (abbreviated as FC), often shortened to Famicom, is an 8-bit video game console created by Nintendo. It was redesigned for the West as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985. The Famicom was released in Japan on July 15, 1983; Taiwan in 1987; and Hong Kong in 1991. Because the latter region previously saw an official release of the NES, the Hong Kong release of the Famicom was marketed as a "second-generation" hardware revision, adding the ability to toggle between PAL 50 Hz and PAL 60 Hz output.[3][4] While not officially produced or sold by the company, Nintendo additionally permitted continued sales of the Dendy, a preexisting bootleg console, in the former Soviet Union in 1994 in exchange for its distributor, Steepler, providing equal service for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy under Nintendo's oversight.[5][6][7] The console was codenamed "Home Video Computer" (abbreviated as HVC in internal names and serial codes).[8] A few months after the July 1983 release of the Famicom, Sharp produced the My Computer TV C1, a combined console and TV unit packaged with Donkey Kong Jr. + Jr. Sansū Lesson. The Famicom's red, white, and gold color was inspired by both a billboard for the Japanese antenna manufacturer DX Antenna and Hiroshi Yamauchi's favorite scarf.[9][10] Famicom cartridges were about half the size of NES Game Paks and were inserted in the top of the console. The cartridges more closely resemble audio cassettes rather than video cassettes for NES Game Paks, and Famicom cartridges can be found in different colors, such as red, yellow, and blue. By the release of Super Mario Bros., Nintendo had already sold over four million units.[11] The Famicom sold 19.35 million units in Japan and was discontinued on September 25, 2003.[2] RevisionsNew FamicomThe redesigned New Famicom (often called the AV Famicom) was released in Japan on December 1, 1993. A similar redesigned console for the Nintendo Entertainment System would release outside of Japan as the New-Style NES. The New Famicom upgrades the video output from the original Famicom with the addition of AV out. An RF modulator was sold separately and would later serve as the base for the one sold for the Nintendo 64. The New Famicom features detachable controllers compared to the hardwired controllers from the original model; however, the microphone from controller 2 is absent as a result. The 15-pin expansion port is located on the right side of the New Famicom rather than the front. PeripheralsFamicom ControllerThe Famicom controller is the basic controller that is hard-wired into the Family Computer. They could be stored on the sides of the system. Controller 1 has four buttons and a directional pad (referred to by Nintendo as the +Control Pad) on a round-shaped case. The Family BASIC
In 1984, Sharp released the Playbox BASIC and Family BASIC accessories, allowing users to program in BASIC on their Family Computers, and included characters of the Super Mario franchise as programmable sprites. It consists of a large cartridge and a keyboard. Family BASIC Data RecorderThe Family BASIC Data Recorder is a cassette tape deck released alongside Family BASIC. It can be powered by 4 AA batteries or a 6 volt power adapter. The Data Recorder features two 3.5mm mono data ports that you plug into the Famicom Keyboard's "write" and "save" ports. In Family BASIC, the Data Recorder is used to save and load programs. Several games used the Data Recorder including the Famicom game Wrecking Crew. When the game was later released for the Disk System, it saved data onto the Disk Card. Family Computer Disk System
In February 1986, the Family Computer Disk System add-on was released, and it enabled software to be played on the Famicom in the form of yellow Disk Card floppy disks. These disks could not only hold more data than typical cartridges at the time, but were rewritable through the Disk Writer kiosks. Later, Nintendo would create blue Disk Card floppy disks with a protective shutter which were primarily used for Disk Fax competitions. Nintendo would continue to support the Disk System up until 1993 with rewrite services through the Disk Writer continuing by mail until 2003. Several games were never released on the Famicom or NES but were only released on the Disk System, such as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. Sometime in the early 1990s, Nintendo would partner with Simon & Toys Limited to distribute the Disk System in Hong Kong.[12] Famicom 3D SystemThe Famicom 3D System is an accessory introduced in 1987 for the Famicom that connects to the system via an adapter that plugs into the expansion port. A version of the Famicom 3D System was also distributed by Sharp for the Twin Famicom. The Famicom 3D System was compatible with a select few games including a Super Mario game for the Disk System, Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally. The 3D System was a commercial failure and was never released outside of Japan.[13] Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer
On September 29, 2016, Nintendo announced the Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer, the Family Computer counterpart of the NES Classic Edition,[14] and it was released alongside it in Japan on November 10, 2016. Like the NES Classic Edition, it includes 30 pre-installed Family Computer games, although with some differences in the game lineup, such as Mario Open Golf in place of Donkey Kong Jr. Production for the console was discontinued in April 2017.[15] Appearances in the Super Mario franchise
Super Mario games19831984198519881990199119921994GalleriesLogo gallery
Game galleryThis gallery does not include Family Computer Disk System or Nintendo Entertainment System games. Miscellaneous
Names in other languages
References
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