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GeezerVison is showing www.mariowiki.com — Family Computer Disk System Family Computer Disk SystemFrom the Super Mario Wiki, the Mario encyclopedia
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The Family Computer Disk System (abbreviated as FCDS), often shortened to Famicom Disk System (abbreviated as FDS), and abbreviated in internal names and serial codes as FMC, is an add-on for the Family Computer. It allowed the Family Computer to play certain games on a proprietary floppy disk format called "Disk Cards" rather than conventional cartridges, as Disk Cards were not only cheaper but also allowed for higher data capacity than cartridges at the time. Besides that, the disks were rewritable, so saving was easier. Nintendo sought to make Disk Cards a permanent standard for all of its future games at that point, but this plan was abandoned a few years later due to various hardware issues, most prominently the fact that the system's games were easy to pirate. Later in 1986, Nintendo sought to counter this problem by installing special Disk Writer kiosks that would allow consumers to write games onto Disk Cards for ¥500 as opposed to the retail price of ¥2,600; some Disk System games were even exclusive to these kiosks. The service was very popular, remaining in place until the Family Computer line's discontinuation in 2003, 9 years after the discontinuation of the Disk System itself. Excluding prize disks, FDS games were available through retail, Disk Writer, or both. Mario Bros. Returns and the FDS ports for Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Pinball, and Wrecking Crew could be purchased only through the Disk Writer. The former was priced at ¥400 because of its promotional nature, making it the cheapest FDS game. I am a teacher: Super Mario Sweater was retail-only software, but it was sold in handicraft stores. All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros. was sold through a mail order lottery system and at Nippon Broadcasting System's building on a single day. The Disk Writer was also capable of updating software for any game that needed it (thus acting as an early precursor to modern internet-based software patching), the sole exception being Golf: Japan Course, which required mailing the disk to Nintendo. GamesDifferences from cartridge versionsFor the most part, Family Computer Disk System games are identical to their Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System cartridge versions, including their title screen copyright years and any absences of saving data. Here are some differences found in Super Mario games:[4]
Blue and gold disksSix games received blue disks, five were made by Nintendo and were compatible with Disk Fax, four of which are Super Mario games. All compatible blue disk games were subject of tournaments with scores submitted through the Disk Fax, a device that could send contestants' data and high scores to Nintendo. The tournament began as soon as the blue disks were released.
The three gold disks and Wakusei Aton Gaiden are the only FDS games that were never available through retail.[5] No gold or blue disk games have a cartridge equivalent and were distributed only in Japan. An NES counterpart to an unreleased sequel to Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race was planned, but was rejected by Nintendo of America for looking too "cute."[6] Super Mario gamesThis gallery does not include Family Computer or Nintendo Entertainment System games. Appearances in the Super Mario franchiseThe Disk System makes a cameo appearance in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, on Grodus's computer at X-Naut Fortress. His computer accepts a Data Disk that looks like a Disk Card and loads up the Disk System's BIOS when turned on.[7]
DiskunA mascot known as Diskun has featured heavily in marketing for the Family Computer Disk System and its software. He is portrayed as a stylized Disk Card with eyes. Cameos of Diskun can be found across the Super Mario franchise.
Gallery
MultimediaNames in other languagesFamily Computer Disk System / Famicom Disk System
Diskun
Notes Family Computer Disk System BIOS  Twin Famicom BIOS
References
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