Family BASIC

Family BASIC is an accessory for the Family Computer (Famicom) created by Hudson Soft and Sharp Corporation. It allowed users to create programs in the BASIC programming language. This accessory came with a special designed cartridge, keyboard, and the Data Recorder, similar in function to that of a Commodore computer of that era. On February 21, 1985, Family BASIC V3 was released.

The keyboard plugs into a 15-pin expansion port on the front of the Famicom and the Data Recorder plugs into the back of the keyboard labeled "SAVE" and "LOAD." If one does not have the Data Recorder or spare cassette tape (or finds cassette tape technology too inconvenient), one can just use the microphone and headphone jacks of a computer or similar device to record the analog signal coming from the keyboard with their preferred audio recording program and then play it back when the game is requesting data to be loaded.

Three games are compatible with the Data Recorder:
 * Excitebike
 * Mach Rider
 * Wrecking Crew

Characters
There are 16 animated sprites built-in. Excluding animations for explosions and lasers, the following are the only characters available for programmers:
 * Mario
 * Lady
 * Fighter Fly
 * Achilles - a bird
 * Nitanita - a smiley face
 * Penpen - the penguin from Pinball
 * Fireball - the variant from 100m of Donkey Kong
 * Shellcreeper
 * Sidestepper
 * Nitpicker - the variant from Stage 4 of Donkey Kong Jr.

There are also animated vehicles:
 * Car
 * Spinner - a rotational symmetric space ship
 * Star Killer - the bulkier space ship
 * Starship - the space ship with nacelles

It is possible to adjust the color of the sprites. The manual gives instructions on how to create Luigi or different colored enemies from the default sprites.

Programmable games in the manual
Before version 3, there were no games available from the start. The manual gives instructions on how to create eight sample games.


 * Knight - each player controls a chess knight on a chess board. Any spot that has been landed upon becomes unavailable. The aim is to trap the opposing player.
 * Super Memory - a memory game similar to .
 * UFO - a shooter where the player controls the Starship and faces off against a lone Fighter Fly that shoots back.
 * Route 66 - an endless driving game
 * Type Master - a typing game
 * Turtle - horse betting but on Shellcreepers
 * Card - a card matching game similar to N-Mark Spade Panel
 * Sample program 8 - a turn-based chase game where Penpen has to grab flags while evading a Nitanita. The manual insists that this is not a game but a tech demo and leaves it unnamed.

Version 3 mini-games
Family BASIC V3 came with four mini-games:


 * Game 0 "Heart": There is an outline of a heart that can be filled by speaking or breathing into microphone of controller 2. When done, Mario and Lady will come together.


 * Game 1 "Penpen Maze": The player controls Penpen on a grid. The object is to collect numbers in order while avoiding two Sidesteppers. Penpen starts off with three traps that can temporarily stun the Sidesteppers.


 * Game 2 "Mario World": Mario has to collect numbers sequentially and apples through a single screen of platforms, ladders, and springs while avoiding the two Nitanitas. However, collecting all the items does not end the game. The Time Limit will simply run out, forcing a Game Over.


 * Game 3 "Star Killer": This is an endless space shooter on a wraparound screen for 1 or 2 players controlling Star Killer and Starship respectively. Enemies include Spinners, Fighter Flies, Fireballs, and Achilleses.

Trivia

 * In the GBA game WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, 9-Volt's microgame Family Basic includes the Family BASIC keyboard, where the objective is to type in the requested numbers or letters.