Nintendo Famicom Facts that will Blow Your Mind!

Are the controllers truly built into the console? What's up with all of the funky looking cartridges? Is there a way to tell whether a game is bootleg or not? Was the original Dragon Quest really that primitive!? Today we dive deep into the Family Computer questions that Nintendo doesn't want you asking. The secrets that they have Miyamoto working overtime to bury in the parking lot of the convenience store across the street. All will be revealed!
Or, as much as we can fit into about 10 minutes, anyway. Don't want to scare people away with like a 5 hour video! But really, the Famicom is just so cool, so I thought to celebrate its 40th anniversary it'd be fun to share some of my favorite odd facts about the console and its games. This is really just the tip of the iceberg, but I hope that there will be at least a few things here which are new to you. Please feel free to share your own Famicom fun facts down in the comments below!
Find out how to discover Famicom converters hidden inside of your NES cartridges:
• How to find Famicom Co...
Read the never-before translated Famicom and Famicom Disk System manga:
higsby.net/manga-famicom.html
higsby.net/manga-disksystem.html
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A very Special Thanks to:
-Abdulla Mahboub
-Christopher Conte
-EvilsDeathAzul
-Justatreeandall
-Max Howard
-Phillip Shinn
-Tealgamemaster
-TheGreenLightningMRT
-WateryWizard
-Wayoshi
-Wayne Smith

[@Bro3256]

cool video although regarding the Famicom Family logo, the reason for its existence wasn't only because of piracy but because Nintendo starting in 1988 wanted to apply the same cartridge manufacturing restrictions the NES had to the Famicom in Japan and Nintendo was particularly annoyed with third party publishers manufacturing their own cartridges as their 5 year license contracts allowed them to do so and because Nintendo couldn't garantee the quality of cartridges from third parties the Famicom Family logo is by all means an attempt by Nintendo to show that they manufactured the cartridges most notably during all of this Namco had a falling out with Nintendo and after the release of Splatterhouse on the Famicom they moved onto creating games for the PC-Engine and Mega Drive but eventually renewed the license after some time but never supporting the Famicom as hard as prior to 1989

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you so much for that additional information! There is just so much fascinating history when it comes to the Famicom. I'm always happy to learn more! :)

[@Bro3256]

@@TheGameDisplay There are tons of stories both big and small that are very fascinating. I'd actually recommend checking out RndStranger's Famidaily series where he goes through each Famicom cartridge release from 1983 to 1994. It's where I initially learned a lot about the Famicom and eventually digging deeper into Japanese sources.

[@nate567987]

www.youtube.com/@RndStranger@@Bro3256

[@sonder420]

Fun fact the Famicom is actually a microwave. Nintendo at the time couldn't use the portmanteau of family computer it's just a natural slang to shorten the two words. Gtv has a couple videos up about the history on this.

[@lucascouto166]

I really love how the Famicom wasn't just a toy for Nintendo, like how some companies treat their consoles, but they really wanted to turn it into a working computer with loads of functionalities, giving it a really good lifespan even after the Super Famicom

[@TheGameDisplay]

Absolutely! The Famicom really is amazing in that regard. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! :)

[@diegorosillo6931]

You promised these facts will blow our minds, and you definitely delivered. Man, primitive Nintendo is so interesting, the Famicon is a wild different beast compared to the NES. 🤯

[@TheGameDisplay]

I'm really happy that this video had some facts which were new to people! I've been wanting to talk about some of these things for years but just never had the opportunity. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! :)

[@dr.charlesedwardflorendobr3952]

The Famicom to NES converter was cool. I had one. Unfortunately, most of the converters didn't have a lock-out chip and won't work right out of the box. I brought it to an electronics repair shop and for a small amount they shorted 2 points in the converter's circuit board, and the converter worked perfectly.

[@bonciutalentadv7599]

FANTASTIC video. Blown my mind, never knew about the manga.

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you for watching! I'm really glad you liked it! :)

[@MrSwaggU]

This did blow my mind! It's interesting to know this type of stuff about old consoles

[@TheGameDisplay]

Glad to hear it! There really is a lot to dive into when it comes to old consoles, especially the Famicom. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! :)

[@MrSwaggU]

@@TheGameDisplay no problem! My birthday is coming up on July 29 and I might get mk8 for switch! So I'm really excited about that!

[@TheGameDisplay]

@@MrSwaggU That's awesome! Mario Kart 8 DX is great. Happy early birthday! :D

[@MrSwaggU]

@@TheGameDisplay Thank you man :D

[@Jarod_Schultz]

That rotating platform at 2:09 is a good idea for gaming channels. It's good for showing games and other equipment. I've seen another KZbinr also use one.

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you! I have a smaller rotating platform which is motorized. In this video, that bigger one is actually from the dining room table, and I was spinning it by hand off-screen, haha. I'm glad the effect turned out decently. :)

[@yubl10]

It's called a lazy Susan. My grandfather (who enjoyed making things out of wood) built one for my grandmother 20 something years ago. That's how I know what it's called. I don't really know why that's its name thought.

[@TheGameDisplay]

@@yubl10 It's funny that you should mention that, as we got our lazy Susan from my grandparents! Thank you for reminding me of the name. :)

[@dr.charlesedwardflorendobr3952]

The controller port at the front could also be used to unlock secrets. One such game was the 1987 Namco Star Wars game. If you were to short the correct pins on the Famicom front port with a paperclip, you would get a stage select screen. However, there is a small possibility that you might destroy your console if you short the wrong pins. I believe this hack also worked on the pirated Taiwanese made Famicom clone units. I am surprised that until this day, I haven't seen a KZbin video on this yet.

[@TheGameDisplay]

I've seen Japanese videos on this subject! Another game where you can do this is Baseball, where by shorting the pins you can throw an unhittable pitch. I guess no one wants to risk blowing up their Famicom in order to make a video about it, haha. Thank you for watching and commenting! :)

[@dr.charlesedwardflorendobr3952]

@@TheGameDisplay I had lots of friends who used to do that to play Star Wars, and I even finished that game by doing it too. Out of the many people who claim to have done it, I only know of one person who blew up his Famicom. I hope there is a way to simulate it using an emulator, cause it was a really cool trick.

[@RetroGamesCity]

I hope I can get this console. It is a very interesting console with a big history. Thank you for showing and greetings from RetroGameCity 🤗😊

[@TheGameDisplay]

Hello RetroGameCity! Thank you so much for checking out the video! The Famicom is awesome, and I'm really happy that you enjoyed my video about it. :)

[@ecmyersvids]

Terrific video! Some of these facts actually did blow my mind, and I thought I knew a lot about the system. How many games do you have in your Famicom collection?

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you so much! I'm super glad that I was able to introduce some new things to you. I currently have about 50 Famicom games which are Japan-exclusives, and another 30 or so which also had western releases. I'd love to beef up my Japan-only collection some more! Thank you again for watching and commenting! :)

[@HackinQuackin]

Fantastic job Andrew on this video! Especially with the editing! Loved how you made the games appear suddenly towards the start with some clever editing tricks! Also haha! XD Love the fact that we can't take our Famicom games to court! XD Makes sense why we didn't have an Ace Attorney game on the system! Happy 40th to the system! And I remember when Nintendo celebrated the 30 years of the Famicom back (can't believe it) in 2013! You could buy select Famicom or NES games EVEN in NA for only .30 cents!! (On the Wii U for only select time periods with one game about every week replacing the other) That was insane!! Sadly, I believe I only was able to take advantage of this special sale for only a game or two and I remember one I got was Donkey Kong and had a blast knowing I only payed what I could find between the couch cushions!..now if Nintendo can do that with their retro classics, WHY CAN'T WE JUST HAVE GAMES LIKE THOSE FOR SO CHEAP AND ACCESSIBLE THESE DAYS!!..regardless, keep up the great work Andrew!!

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you so much! Haha, I love those silly warnings on the back of that bootleg cartridge. It feels like celebrations for game and console anniversaries are a bit subdued these days compared to what they used to be. I would definitely jump at the chance to buy some discount Famicom/NES stuff! That's awesome that you were able to take advantage of it a bit for the 30th anniversary. If Nintendo launched another virtual console and all games were only a dollar or two I would definitely go on a shopping spree! They just have to make everything so unenjoyable and inconvenient. Thanks again, and take care! :)

[@Ninten70]

I was playing SMB: The Lost Levels while watching this. Tbh I think the FC sound chip on Dracula's Curse sounds cool but I always liked the NES version. Same goes with Zelda 1.

[@TheGameDisplay]

Right? It's usually a question of which one's better, not which one's good and which one's bad. I can happily play the games either way! I will say though that I used to prefer the NES version of Castlevania III, but then I played through the Famicom version and now I can't go back, haha! Thank you for watching and commenting. :)

[@Jarod_Schultz]

It's odd that the controllers are hardwired, while there is a controller port on the front for light guns, keyboards, and arcade sticks. It's odd because over a decade earlier, the first console, the Magnavox Odyssey, had unplugable controllers, so there is no reason for later systems to have hardwired controllers. But it's interesting that there is an NES to Famicom controller adapter for the front port. The Famicom also had a trackball which NES didn't have.

[@TheGameDisplay]

It creates a nice, clean design, which I like. But it is annoying if you have controller trouble and need to go through the trouble of opening up the console to swap it out. My main gripe is that the controller cords are way too short, haha!

[@mlodszyczapnik7684]

I have a conspiracy theory that Famicom cartridges are modeled after cassette tapes! 1) a lot of Famicom manuals refer to the games as cassettes rather than cartridges (even up to the SNES era), 2) Famicom carts have the exact same size as a casette tape cases- the exact same width, length and height- I own both, and the resemblance is almost uncanny, I refuse to believe it was accidental! (that being said cassette racks are perfect for storing FC carts) 3) Nintendo themselves claim that the holes on the top of the cartridges serve no function and are only there as a decor, however they resemble the holes on the top of the cassette tapes that served as a protection, preventing you from recording stuff on them

[@TheGameDisplay]

I'd say you're right on the money! There were even cassette tape holders in Japan that advertised they could also be used for storing Famicom games! The holes on top are great for getting a screwdriver in there and unhooking some clips, but I agree the original intention might just have been aesthetic. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! :)

[@ChristianAlvey]

It's great to be back Andrew! I just finished catching up on some of your past uploads. I can see you have been busy streaming!

[@TheGameDisplay]

Christiaaaaaaaaan! We've been wondering where you were! It's so great to see you. I hope everything has been well! Thank you for catching up on my stuff. We'll be playing F-Zero 99 tonight. :)

[@ChristianAlvey]

@@TheGameDisplay I look forward to joining the stream!

[@ChristianAlvey]

What time were you thinking of starting the stream?

[@TheGameDisplay]

@@ChristianAlvey Should be within about 10 minutes!

[@ChristianAlvey]

@@TheGameDisplay Alright I will have to dip in the beginning because dinner is almost ready. But will be there at the very beginning and after

[@yubl10]

Great video. Even though I knew everything already, I know that not everyone does. This is a really great video for people who don't know anything about the Japanese Famicom. I have had my Famicom for about 15 years now, and I enjoy playing it. Really nice Famicom collection, by the way.

[@TheGameDisplay]

That is very kind of you. Thank you so much! The Famicom is just so cool. It's great to hear that you enjoy it as well! :)

[@dooronron69]

I had a konami branded family game, wish i hadn't sold it, i bought a Chinese copy but they weigh nothing so had to open it up ground down all the inside base and glue a load of car wheel weights inside it just to give it some weight

[@FARDEENKHANQWE123]

keep the content coming

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you so much for checking it out! :)

[@TanookiSuit]

Cool manga but not quite right about the west. An early issue of NP magazine broke down how the tech of the NES worked, and also all their own memory mapper chips up to the recently released MMC5 at the time showing off how it influenced Castlevania III.

[@TheGameDisplay]

Yes! That's issue 20 of Nintendo Power. Not quite included with the console, but still nice that they did something like that for the magazine readers! Thank you for watching and commenting. :)

[@dodgykebaab]

Good video

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you so much for checking it out! :)

[@michaeldemers2716]

I prefer Famicom over NES. I have the Toploader Famicom and I also have a Rad2X Cable for it and an Everdrive N8 Pro Famicom Edition. I can't wait for my Physical Cartridge of Sam's Journey Famicom Edition to get here that I ordered. I also play on the HD-938 or HG-938 whatever they are calling them for handheld play. Now just waiting for Mischief Castle, Orange Island and Piopow to come out this year.

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting! The AV Famicom in my go-to as well. I've wanted to do more 8-bit gaming on the go but any of the handhelds I've found have always had quite bad sound quality. I'll have to look into the ones that you mentioned. Take care! :)

[@TashiroSato]

Andrew rocks nes facts

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you! :)

[@JVeg199X]

Dragon Buster is one of my favorite Namco games, but I much prefer the arcade version. The Famicom version does add a lot of useful items that greatly build on the original’s action RPG feel but the base game mechanics - movement, jumping, collision - just feel extra janky. Even the camera is messed up, only scrolling when you’re very close to the edge of the screen. I once saw a rumor that there was a revision to the Famicom version that came in a lighter-gold cartridge that at least fixes the camera but it was completely unsubstantiated.

[@TheGameDisplay]

I remember from the brief moments I've tried it that the controls were very clunky. Just like with Athena, early arcade ports on the Famicom really were hit or miss. I'll need to look more into the arcade version, and I'm sure someday I'll make a true effort to beat the Famicom one. Would be awesome if that revised version of the game existd! Thank you so much for watching and commenting. :)

[@Gecko1993HogheadIncOfficial]

Question: can you use a NeoGeo joystick in the peripheral port of a Famicom?

[@johneygd]

With these many mangas in mind, it is no surprise that there are soooo many famiclones in the market since Nintendo basically did shown those internal chips inside, so Nintendo actualy should,ve to put the blame on their selfes, whoops🤣🤣

[@TheGameDisplay]

Haha, that's a funny thought! Thank you so much for watching. :)

[@MaxH0ward]

Florida man strikes again! Leave our famicom games alone florida man!!!

[@TheGameDisplay]

Haha! When the Florida man's around anything can happen. Thank you for watching and commenting! :D

[@newgameaaaa]

If I had to choose between end labels or color cartridges, I would choose end labels for easy and quick identification. The color cartridges are cool. It would be nice if we had both.

[@TheGameDisplay]

A combination of the two would have been really cool! The closest we get to that is the unlicensed carts, but even then the majority of those exchange the end label for a black or baby blue cart. :P Thank you for watching! :)

[@idioticbrady]

Yooo I’m watching this in the mall of America

[@TheGameDisplay]

Amazing! Thank you so much for watching! :D

[@rockmanrespect]

I have 5 Famicom games, and wouldn't you know it, Super Mario Brothers is a bootleg. :(

[@TheGameDisplay]

SMB is one of those earlier games that didn't typically have the FF logo, so if you're just missing that then you should be good! Otherwise, bootlegs cans till be pretty cool! They sometimes even included built-in cheats compared to their official counterparts. If you press B on the title screen you might find that you can select different worlds without first beating the game! Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I was watching some parts of your Treasure Mountain LP recently. That game brings back some good memories! :)

[@rockmanrespect]

@@TheGameDisplay Wow! Thank you so much about mentioning Treasure Mountain. As for my SMB cart, it's more than that. I always figured it was a bootleg because it is red, and from what I can tell the real cart would be yellow. But also, it has a different number on the label, and it does not say "Copyright Nintendo" anywhere! And you pointed out the 2 holes on the top of the cart, this does not have them. I think my brother bought this off Ebay like 20 years ago, clearly not knowing it was a bootleg. He may have bought it with a Famicom system, but when he tried to play it, it melted down and fried itself! So maybe that was a bootleg system, I don't know. But these days, I play Famicom carts in my AVS system, which works great. I just tried the B button trick to select the world as you suggested. It didn't work. But I know I beat the game on this cart before and did not notice any irregularities in the game.

[@TheGameDisplay]

​@@rockmanrespect You're very welcome! And I have a similar SMB bootleg that has an orange cartridge, but otherwise looks pretty legit. It has an issue where half of the screen always appears glitched! It was actually the very first copy of Famicom SMB I ever bought, and I didn't know about bootlegs at the time or the fact that the cartridge should be yellow. I had quite the shock myself when I realized later what it was. :P I ordered an AVS last year, and in the past week just finally received word that it should be shipped out around September. Really excited to try 8-bit gaming in HD! Thank you again. :)

[@wagnerpaivafernandes]

Background music is waaaaaaay too loud

[@kingreynolds0927]

Display hi!

[@TheGameDisplay]

Hiya KINGReynolds! :)

[@kingreynolds0927]

@@TheGameDisplay thx for replying, when is ur next stream?

[@TheGameDisplay]

@@kingreynolds0927 You're welcome! Possibly this weekend. Keep an eye on the Community tab where I often announce what's happening. I appreciate that you're looking forward to the next one! :)

[@user-or6yn8pm3c]

The NES was better.