Family Computer

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Family Computer
Family Computer
Generation Third generation
Release date Family Computer:
Japan July 15, 1983
Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer:
Japan November 10, 2016
Discontinued Family Computer:
September 25, 2003

Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer:
April 2017

Ratings Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer:
CERO:B - Twelve years and older
Predecessor Color TV-Game
Successor Family Computer Disk System
Super Famicom
“If you were to strike up a friendship with a Japanese gamer and happened to ask him whether he owned a NES back in the '80s, you'd probably be met with a blank stare.”
Official Nintendo Magazine

The Family Computer (often shortened to Famicom) is the Japanese equivalent of the Nintendo Entertainment System (or NES). The Family Computer's controllers were attached to the main unit, unlike those of the NES, and could be stored on the sides of the system. Player One's controller can pause the game, and Player Two's controller has audio controls. The cartridges were half the size of the NES's, and were inserted in the top instead of through a door in the front (like on the NES). Instead of looking like a vertical cartridge, like the NES, a Famicom cartridge more closely resembles a SNES cartridge but can be found in different colors, such as gray, yellow, and blue. By the release of Super Mario Bros., Nintendo had already sold over 4 million units.[1]

A few months after the July 1983 release of the Famicom, Sharp produced the Sharp C1 Famicom TV, a combined console and TV unit packaged with Donkey Kong Jr. + Jr. Sansū Lesson. The following year, Sharp released the Playbox BASIC and Family BASIC accessories, allowing users to program in BASIC on their Family Computers, and included Super Mario characters as programmable sprites.

In February 1986, Family Computer Disk System accessory was released which enabled games to be played on the Family Computer in the form of a disk. Many newer games were released only on the Disk System that were never released on the NES or Family Computer, such as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.

In 1987, the Famicom 3D System accessory was released but like the future Virtual Boy, it flopped. This is compatible with the Disk System game Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally.

Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer[edit]

Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer
The packaging of the Nintendo Classic Mini.
Main article: Classics#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,[2] and 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.[3]

Appearances in the Super Mario franchise[edit]

Gallery[edit]

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Super Mario games[edit]

Miscellaneous[edit]

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References[edit]

  1. ^ 上村雅之さん 大いに語る。 ファミリーコンピュータ インタビュー(後編)(2013年10月号より). Nintendo DREAM Web. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Nintendo. (September 29, 2016). ファミコンが、手のひらサイズで"再"登場!. Nintendo. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  3. ^ Sephazon, R. (April 14, 2017). The Famicom Classic Edition Has Now Also Been Discontinued. Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 26, 2017.