Family Computer Disk System

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Template:System-Infobox

The Family Computer Disk System logo, "Diskun".
The system's logo, Diskun.

The Family Computer Disk System (also called the Famicom Disk System) is an accessory for the Family Computer. It allowed the Family Computer to play certain games on a proprietary floppy disk format called "Disk Cards" rather than ROM cartridges. Disk Cards had the advantages of being cheaper and allowing for higher data capacity than cartridges at the time. Besides that, the disks were rewritable, making saving easier. Nintendo sought to make Disk Cards a permanent standard for all of their future games at that point, though this plan was abandoned a few years later, due to various issues. Sharp Corporation, a Japanese Electronics and Domestic Appliance company, created the Twin Famicom, a Family Computer combined with the Disk System into one piece of hardware, but it was also only released in Japan.

Issues

The main reason why Family Computer Disk System was not released outside Japan and why it eventually lost developer support altogether is believed to be due to a lack of success caused by various issues with the system:[1]

  • The games were significantly easier to pirate; the way the Disk System recognized pirated games was by checking to see if the "I" and the third "N" embossed "NINTENDO" logo at the bottom of a Disk Card was present, via fitting a raised version of the same logo into the embossing. The intention behind this was for Nintendo to be able to directly counter production of unauthorized Disk Drive games by suing their manufacturers for trademark infringement, assuming that pirates would copy the full logo outright. However, it was easy for pirates to bypass this check without directly copying Nintendo's logo by creating alternate off-brand logos with the "I" and third "N" intact (i.e. "NINFENDO" or "NINIENDO") or by simply embossing blank spaces that occupied the locations of the necessary letters. Furthermore, the fact that Disk Cards were simply modified versions of Quick Disks (a brand of floppy disk easily purchasable in stores in the late 1980's) meant that unauthorized Disk Cards could be easily manufactured by attaching a copy check-compatible piece of plastic to the bottom of a Quick Disk.
  • The games were easier to damage; Disk Cards, being a form of magnetic media, were sensitive to magnetic wavelengths, and unlike regular 3.5-inch floppy disks, most Disk Cards did not include a shutter to protect the window that exposed the magnetic disk inside; shutters were only included on blue competition cards and gold prize cards. The lack of a shutter meant that the disk could get scratched, dirty, or even grow mold in severe cases.
  • The system itself was more fragile than the base Famicom, due to the large number of moving parts needed for the disk drive; in particular, the rubber belt that the system used was prone to wearing down much faster than that of a standard floppy disk drive.
  • Any games that made use of the supplementary audio channel provided by the Disk System's 2C33 chip would have to be drastically altered during localization for international markets to conform to the audio capabilities of the standalone Famicom, as no devices were released for the Nintendo Entertainment System that supported 2C33 chip audio.
  • The games had lengthy loading times at various points (often when swapping sides, or when entering particularly data-heavy areas). This is because magnetic disk drives have to physically seek out where data is located on the disk in order to load it into RAM. By comparison, cartridges are able to load near-instantaneously due to all the data being stored in a single location, that being the on-board ROM chip.
  • Most games would have to be split across both sides of the Disk Card due to the small size of the magnetic disks; typically, the first and final portions of the game would be stored on Side A, while the rest would be stored on Side B. Consequently, whenever the player progressed to a certain point in a game, they would be required to eject and flip the Disk Card before reinserting it.
  • The jewel cases that contained the games were smaller than cartridge boxes, and were therefore easier to overlook in stores or lose in homes. The cases were also required to fully protect the Disk Card, whereas cartridges could be stored, standalone, on shelves.
  • The technological superiority of the Disk Card format was short-lived, with higher-capacity cartridges becoming cheaper to produce just a few years later. Combined with the higher rate of piracy that Disk Cards suffered from, this deprived the format of the practicality that served as its primary selling point for developers.

The piracy issue was an especially big problem for Nintendo, and is believed to be the source of their stringent policies regarding copyright protection. It is also widely believed that the Disk System's high piracy rate is what convinced Nintendo to use cartridges for the Nintendo 64 rather than the technologically superior optical discs seen in their rivals, the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation.

In 1986, Nintendo sought to counter Disk System piracy by installing special Disk Writer kiosks that would allow consumers to download games onto Disk Card 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.

Games

Title Release date Publisher(s) Serial Number Notes
19 - Neunzehn 1988-03-04 Soft ProS SFC-NEU
Adian no Tsue 1986-12-12 SunsoftS SSD-ADA
Ai Senshi Nicol 1987-04-24 KonamiK KDS-AIN
Akumajōu Dracula 1986-09-26 Konami KDS-AKM Later released for the NES and the Famicom as Castlevania
Akū Senki Raijin 1988-07-12 Microcabin SQF-RJN
All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. 1986-12 Fuji TV ANN-NSM Given away in a contest by the Japanese radio program All Night Nippon
All One 1991-02-22 Tokuma Shoten GTS-ALD Famimaga Disk Vol. 3
Apple Town Story 1987-04-03 Square SQF-APT
The Miracle of Almana 1987-08-11 Konami KDS-ARM
Aspic - Majaō no Noroi 1988-03-31 Bothtec BTC-ASP
Backgammon 1990-09-07 Nintendo FMC-BAG
Bakutōshi Patton-Kun 1988-08-05 Soft Pro SFC-PAT
Baseball 1986-02-21 Nintendo FMC-BAS Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Big Challenge! Dogfight Spirit 1988-10-21 Jaleco JDF-DFS
Big Challenge! Go! Go! Bowling 1989-06-23 Jaleco JDF-GGB
Big Challenge! Gun Fighter 1989-03-28 Jaleco JFD-GNF No.09
Big Challenge! Judo Senshuken 1988-08-10 Jaleco JFD-CJS No.06
Bio Miracle-I'm Upa 1988-04-22 Konami KDS-BOK Later released for the Famicom
Bomberman 1990-04-24 Hudson Soft HFC-BMD Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Breeder 1986-12-15 Soft Pro SFC-BRE
Bubble Bobble 1987-10-30 Taito TFD-BUB Later released for the NES
BurgerTime 1988-09-23 Data East DFC-BGT Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Chitei Tairiku Ordola 1987-03-27 Sunsoft SSD-ORD
Cursed Treasure of Cleopatra 1987-07-24 Square SQF-CLO
Clox 1991-04-19 Tokuma Shoten GTS-CKD Famimaga Disk Vol. 4
Clu Clu Land: Welcome to New Clu Clu Land 1992-04-28 Nintendo FMC-CLD
Cocona World 1987-04-10 SOFEL SFL-CCN
Dandy: Zeuon No Fukkatsu 1988-10-21 Pony Canyon PNF-DAN
Dead Zone 1986-11-20 Sunsoft SSD-DZN
Deep Dungeon 1986-12-19 HummingBirdSoft SQF-DPD
Dig Dug 1990-07-20 Namco NDS-DIG Originally released for the Famicom
Dig Dug II 1990-08-31 Namco NDS-DD2 Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Dirty Pair: Project Eden 1987-03-28 Bandai BAN-DPR
Donkey Kong 1988-04-08 Nintendo FMC-DKD Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Donkey Kong Jr. 1988-07-19 Nintendo FMC-JRD Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Doremikko 1987-12-04 Konami KDS-DRE
RJ250
Dr. Chaos 1987-06-19 Pony Canyon PNF-DRC Later released for the NES
Dracula II: Noroi no Fūin 1987-08-28 Konami KDS-DRK Later released for the NES as Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Druid: Kyōfu no Tobira 1988-03-03 Jaleco JFD-DRD
Eggerland 1987-01-29 HAL Laboratory HAL-EGL
Eggerland – Departure to Creation 1988-08-20 HAL Laboratory HAL-EGS
Electrician 1986-12-26 Kemco KSC-ELC
Esper Dream 1987-02-20 Konami KDS-ESP
Exciting Baseball 1987-12-08 Konami KDS-EBS
Exciting Basketball 1987-07-24 Konami KDS-EKB Later released for the NES as Double Dribble
Exciting Billiard 1987-06-26 Konami KDS-EKS
Exciting Soccer: Konami Cup 1988-02-16 Konami KDS-ESC
Fairytale 1989-04-28 Soft Pro SFC-FYT
Falsion 1987-10-21 Konami KDS-FAL Compatible with 3D Glasses
Famicom Grand Prix: F-1 Race 1987-10-30 Nintendo FSC-FRGE
Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally 1988-04-14 Nintendo FSC-TDRE
Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir (first part) 1988-04-27 Nintendo FMC-TC1
Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir (second part) 1988-06-14 Nintendo FMC-TC2
Famicom Detective Club Part II: The Girl who Stands Behind (first part) 1989-05-23 Nintendo FMC-TC3 Later remade for the Super Famicom
Famicom Detective Club Part II: The Girl who Stands Behind (second part) 1989-06-30 Nintendo FMC-TC4 Later remade for the Super Famicom
Family Composer 1987-10-30 Tokyo Shoseki TKS-FCO
Family Computer Othello 1986-11-13 Kawada KWD-OTH Also released for the Famicom and later released for the NES
Final Command: The Red Fortress 1988-05-02 Konami KDS-AKA Later released for the NES as Jackal with some changes
Fire Bam 1988-02-01 HAL Laboratory HAL-FBM
Fire Rock 1988-06-20 System Sacom USE-FRC
Fūun Shōrin Ken 1987-04-17 Jaleco JFD-FSH
Fūun Shōrin Ken: Ankoku no Maō 1988-04-22 Jaleco JFD-SAM
Gall Force: Eternal Story 1986-12-10 HAL Laboratory HAL-GAL
Galaga 1990-06-22 Namco NDS-GAG Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Galaxian 1990-07-20 Namco NDS-GXN Originally released for the Famicom
German Tanteidan: Marine-gumi Jaaman Tanteidan: Matonarikumi Jaaman Tanteidan Marine Kumi: Maruhi Jigoma Sousa File 1988-11-29 Bandai BAN-MAR
Ginga Denshō: Galaxy Odyssey 1986-11-06 Imagineer IMA-GIN
Gokuraku Yūgi: Game Tengoku 1987-12-12 SOFEL SFL-GTG
Golf 1986-02-21 Nintendo FMC-GLF Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Golf Japan Course 1987-02-21 Nintendo FSC-GFJE
Golf U.S. Course 1987-06-14 Nintendo FSC-GFUE
The Goonies 1988-04-08 Konami KDS-GNS Originally released for the Famicom
Green Beret 1987-04-10 Konami KDS-GRN Later released for the NES as Rush'n Attack
Gun.Smoke 1988-01-27 Capcom CAP-GUN Also released for the NES
Gyruss 1988-11-18 Konami KDS-GRS Later released for the NES
Halley Wars 1989-01-14 Taito TFD-HAL
Hao's Mysterious Journey 1987-05-01 DOG SQF-HFT Later released for the NES as Mystery Quest, although the levels are completely different
Hikari Genji: Roller Panic 1989-03-20 Pony Canyon PNF-GEN (L32V5920)
Hikari Shinwa: Palthena no Kagami 1986-12-19 Nintendo FMC-PTM Later released for the NES as Kid Icarus
Hong Kong 1990-03-23 Tokuma Shoten GTS-HKD Famimaga Disk Vol. 1
I am a Teacher: Super Mario no Sweater 1986-08-27 Royal Kougyou ROY-ISM [2]
I am a Teacher: Teami no Kiso 1986-09-26 Royal Kougyou ROY-ITK
Ice Climber 1988-11-18 Nintendo FMC-ICD Originally released for the Famicom and the NES, although this version is a port of Vs. Ice Climber
Ice Hockey 1988-01-21 Nintendo FMC-ICE Later released for the NES
Igo: Kyū Roban Taikyoku 1987-04-14 BPS BPS-IGO Also released for the Famicom
Ishido: The Way of Stones 1990-12-07 Hiro HIR-ISD
Janken Disk Jō 1992-12-22 Tokuma Shoten GTS-JKD Famimaga Disk Vol. 6[3]
Jikai Shounen Mettomag 1987-07-03 DOG SQF-MTM
The Return of Mario Bros. 1988-11-30 Nintendo FMC-KMAR Disk writer only game[4]
Kamen Rider Black: Taiketsu Shadow Moon 1988-04-15 Bandai BAN-BLA
Karate Champ 1988-07-22 Data East DFC-KAR Originally released for the NES
Kattobi! Dōji 1989-10-20 Pack-In-Video PAC-KTD
Kick and Run 1988-09-13 Taito TFD-KIC
Kick Challenger: Air Foot 1987-11-20 VAP VAP-AFT (9502)
Kidō Keisatsu Patlabor 1989-01-24 Bandai BAN-PTL
Kiki Kaikai: Dotō Hen 1987-08-28 Taito TFD-KIK Precedes the Pocky & Rocky series
Kieta Princess 1986-12-20 Imagineer IMA-KIE
Kinnikuman: Kinniku-Sei Ōi Sōdatsusen 1987-05-01 Bandai BAN-KNM
Knight Lore 1986-12-19 Jaleco JFD-KLM
Knight Move 1990-06-05 Nintendo FMC-KMV
Konami Ice Hockey 1988-07-22 Konami KDS-HOC Later released for the NES as Blades of Steel
Konami Tennis 1988-08-19 Konami KDS-TNI
A Kitten's Story: The Adventures of Chatran 1986-09-19 Pony Canyon PNF-KOM (L29V5904)
The Legend of Zelda 1986-02-21 Nintendo FMC-ZEL Later released for the NES and the Famicom
The Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link 1987-01-14 Nintendo FMC-LNK Later released for the NES as Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Lutter 1989-11-24 Athena ATH-LTD
Magma Project: Hacker 1989-08-10 Tokuma Shoten GTS-MPH
Mahjong 1986-02-21 Nintendo FMC-MJA Originally released for the Famicom
Mahjong Kazoku 1987-08-04 Irem IFD-MJK
Märchen Veil 1987-03-03 Sunsoft SSD-MVL
Matō no Hōkai: The Hero of Babel 1988-09-02 Pony Canyon PNF-MAT (L30V5918)
Meikyū Jiin Dababa 1987-05-29 Konami KDS-MIK
Metroid 1986-08-06 Nintendo FMC-MET Later released for the NES
Michael English Daibōken 1987-06-19 Scorpion Soft SCO-MEA
Moero Twinbee: Cinnamon Hakase wo Sukue! 1986-11-21 Konami KDS-TIN Later released for the NES as Stinger and the Famicom, the 3-player mode was cut from the NES version
Monitor Puzzle, The: Kineco - Kinetic Connection 1986-11-28 Irem IFD-KIN
Monitor Puzzle, The: Kineco Vol. II - Kinetic Connection 1987-05-01 Irem IFD-KI2
Monty no Doki Doki Daisassō: Monty on the Run 1987-07-31 Jaleco JFD-MDD [2]
Moonball Magic 1988-07-12 Square SQF-MBM
Mr. Gold: Tōyama no Kinsan in Space 1988-07-19 Toei TDF-MRG
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School 1987-12-01 Nintendo FSC-THSE Features the likeness of Japanese singer, model, and actress Miho Nakayama.
Namida no Sōkoban Special 1986-07-30 ASCII Corporation ASC-001 Later released for the American TurboGrafx-16 as Boxy Boy with improved graphics
Nanking no Adventure 1988-12-09 Sunsoft SSD-NAD
Nazo no Kabe: Block Kuzushi 1986-12-13 Konami KDS-NZN Later released for the NES as Crackout (PAL-exclusive)
Nazo no Murasame Jō 1986-04-14 Nintendo FMC-NMJ
Nazoler Land 1987-02-06 Sunsoft SSD-NZL
Nazoler Land Dai 2 Gō 1987-06-12 Sunsoft SSD-NZB
Nazoler Land Dai 3 Gō 1988-03-11 Sunsoft SSD-NZC
Nazoler Land Special 1987-12-18 Sunsoft SSD-NSP
Omoikkiri Tanteidan Haado Gumi: Matenrō no Chōsenjō 1988-03-25 Bandai BAN-HRD
Otocky 1987-03-27 SEDIC ASC-OTO
Pac-Man 1990-05-18 Namco NDS-PAC Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Pachicom 1988-10-04 Toshiba EMI TFS-PCD Originally released for the Famicom
Pachinko Grand Prix 1988-11-18 Data East DFC-PGP
Panic Space 1990-10-19 Tokuma Shoten GTS-PSD Famimaga Disk Vol. 2
Pinball 1989-05-30 Nintendo FMC-PND Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Pro Golfer Saru: Kage no Tournament 1987-05-25 Bandai BAN-PGS
Professional Mahjong Goku 1986-12-25 ASCII Entertainment ASC-GKU
Pulsar no Hikari: Space Wars Simulation 1987-10-02 Soft Pro SFC-PSR
Pro Wrestling: Famicom Wrestling Association 1986-10-21 Nintendo FMC-PRO Later released for the NES as Pro Wrestling
Putt Putt Golf 1989-03-30 Pack-In-Video PAC-PPG
Puyo Puyo 1991-10-25 Tokuma Shoten GTS-PYO Famimaga Disk Vol. 5, Later released for the Famicom
Puzzle Boys 1990-11-16 Atlus ATL-PUZ
Radical Bomber!! Jirai Kun 1988-07-29 Jaleco JFD-GRK
Reflect World 1987-06-02 East Cube ECF-RWD
Relics: Ankoku Yōsai 1987-04-10 Bothtec BTC-RLC
Replicart 1988-02-26 Taito TFD-REP-3500 Released in pencil-pouch case.
Risa no Yōsei Densetsu: Risa Tachibana 1988-06-21 Konami KDS-YOU Features the likeness of Japanese idol Risa Tachibana.
Roger Rabbit 1989-02-16 Kemco KSC-RRR Later released for the NES as The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle with cosmetic changes
Samurai Sword 1988-11-15 Capcom CAP-SMU
Santa Claus no Takarabako 1987-12-04 Data East DFC-SAN
SD Gundam World: Gachapon Senshi - Scramble Wars 1988-01-20 Bandai BAN-SGW
SD Gundam World: Gachapon Senshi - Scramble Wars Map Collection 1989-03-03 Bandai BAN-SG2
Section Z 1987-05-25 Capcom CAP-SCZ Later released for the NES
Seiken: Psycho Calibur 1987-05-19 Imagineer IMA-MAJ
Shin Onigashima (Disk 1) 1987-09-04 Nintendo FMC-ON1 Also known as Famicom Mukashibanashi: Shin Onigashima
Shin Onigashima (Disk 2) 1987-09-30 Nintendo FMC-ON2 Also known as Famicom Mukashibanashi: Shin Onigashima
Smash Ping Pong 1987-05-30 Nintendo FMC-PPN Later released on the Virtual Console as Smash Table Tennis
Soccer 1986-02-21 Nintendo FMC-SCC Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Solomon no Kagi 1991-01-25 Tecmo TCF-SKD Originally released for the Famicom and the NES as Solomon's Key
Suishō no Dragon 1986-12-15 Square SQF-SSD
Super Boy Allan 1987-03-27 Sunsoft SSD-ALN
Super Lode Runner 1987-03-05 Irem IFD-SLR
Super Lode Runner II 1987-08-25 Irem IFD-SL2
Super Mario Bros. 1986-02-21 Nintendo FMC-SMA Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Super Mario Bros. 2 1986-06-03 Nintendo FMC-SMB Later released for the SNES as part of a compilation in Super Mario All-Stars, it was retitled as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Sword of Kalin 1987-10-02 DOG SQF-KRN
Silviana 1988-08-10 Pack-In-Video PAC-SIL
Tama & Friends: Great 3rd Street Adventure 1989-02-23 Bandai BAN-UTM
Tanigawa Kōji no Shōgi Shinan II 1987-11-13 Pony Canyon PNF-SHO Later released for the Famicom
Tanigawa Kōji no Shōgi Shinan II - Shinban 1988-08-10 Pony Canyon PNF-SH2 Purchase method was special, only by sending a disk card to Nintendo head office and branch office, could one buy it by rewriting
Tantei Jingūji Saburo: Kiken na Ninin (first part) 1988-12-09 Data East DFC-KF1
Tantei Jingūji Saburo: Kiken na Ninin (second part) 1989-02-10 Data East DFC-KF2
Tantei Jingūji Saburo: Shinjuku Chūō Kōen Satsujin Jiken 1987-04-24 Data East DFC-JUK
Tarot 1988-12-23 Scorpion Soft SCO-TAR
Tennis 1986-02-21 Nintendo FMC-TEN Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Time Twist: Rekishi no Katasumi de... (first part) 1991-07-26 Nintendo FMC-TT1
Time Twist: Rekishi no Katasumi de... (second part) 1991-07-26 Nintendo FMC-TT2
Titanic Mystery
(Ao no Senritsu)
1987-07-24 Gakken GAT-TIT
Tobidase Daisakusen 1987-03-12 Square SQF-TDS Later released for the NES as 3-D WorldRunner
Topple Zip 1987-10-09 Bothtec BTC-TPZ
Transformers: The Headmasters 1987-08-28 Takara TFC-TFH Based on the TV series
TwinBee 1988-03-11 Konami KDS-TWN Originally released for the Famicom
Ultraman: Kaijū Teikoku no Gyakushū 1987-01-29 Bandai BAN-ULM
Ultraman 2: Shutsugeki Katoku Tai 1987-12-18 Bandai BAN-UL2
Ultraman Club: Chikyū Dakkan Sakusen 1988-10-22 Bandai BAN-ULC
Volleyball 1986-07-21 Nintendo FMC-VBW Later released for the NES
Vs. Excitebike 1988-12-09 Nintendo FMC-EBD
Wardner no Mori 1988-03-25 Taito TFD-WAD Port of Toaplan's arcade game
Winter Games 1987-03-27 Pony Canyon PNF-WIN Later released for the NES
Wrecking Crew 1989-02-03 Nintendo FMC-WRD Originally released for the Famicom and the NES, this version has a save function which the Famicom version offered but was only functional when used with the Famicom BASIC Data Recorder attachment
Xevious 1990-05-18 Namco NDS-XEV Originally released for the Famicom and the NES
Yōkai Yashiki 1987-10-23 Irem IFD-YOK
Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic 1987-07-10 Fuji TV FCG-DRM Converted to Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) for the NES
Yū Maze 1988-10-28 Taito TFD-UMZ
Yūshi no Monshō 1987-05-30 HummingBirdSoft SQF-YSM
Yūyūki (first part) 1989-10-14 Nintendo FMC-UU1
Yūyūki (second part) 1989-11-14 Nintendo FMC-UU2
Zanac 1986-11-28 Pony Canyon PNF-ZAN Later released for the NES

Gallery

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Media

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Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Chinese 紅白機[?] red and white machine

Trivia

Main menu
Main menu (Twin Famicom version). The original would say Nintendo instead.
  • Mario and Luigi also appear in the Disk System's BIOS, seen when the Disk System is started. The BIOS also makes a cameo appearance in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, on Sir Grodus's computer. His computer accepts Data Disks that looks like a Disk Card.[5]
  • When sped up about 16 times, the GameCube menu ambience is revealed to be a slowed-down version of the startup tune for the Disk System BIOS. [6]

References

[1]

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