(http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts?u=/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Wikipedia_nes_fourscore.jpg/320px-Wikipedia_nes_fourscore.jpg)
I'm aware of this, and could probably use it for my A/V 'new' Famicom (it ought to work with it I'd assume), but what's the Japanese equivalent?
I'm surprised I haven't seen one in any junk store yet, but there's gotta be a four player adapter for Famicoms, and I'm wondering what that is.
Also, unrelated, but wondering if it's worth it. There's a Famicom Power Glove in the box for about 20 dollars at a nearby Hardoff. Should I get it?
hm, that's a good question, but to my knowledge there isn't any such Famicom adapter.When you think of Four Player NES games, almost all of them ever American developed games such as Gauntlet II, Super Jeopardy, Super Spike V Ball or course American football. I checked around and I'm not even sure Bomberman 2 was released on the Famicom so there really might not be any such Japanese adapter!
I've been wondering about this too.
If you look at a third party famicom controller then you can see it has a plug that fits in the expansion port. Bomberman 2 and other games uses this for 3 player.
There are games that have 4 player support as well (most Kunio-kun games) but I haven't seen any adapters for this.
Wikipedia only says that you either need a controller with a secondary expansion port or a separate splitter for two controllers in the expansion port. But I haven't seen any pictures of any of these.
Wow, that is the first time I've ever seen one of those. Let us know if you find one!
About the Power Glove, I actually was in the exact same position having found one for 2650 yen at a Fukuoka Hard Off. In fact I even put photos of it in my post here (http://famicomblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/fukuoka-famicom-shops-ii-decline-and.html ).
I never bought it though. Actually I had earlier found one at my regular shop boxed for only 100 yen, but I didn't buy that either. It seems to be the consensus opinion that the Power Glove sucked. Very difficult to set up and use.
Also, looking at the actual glove in the box, I noticed that the rubber didn't seem to have aged well. It actually looked kind of gross - not the sort of thing I would feel comfortable wearing. Years and years of someone else's accumulated sweat stains. Ugh.
SO I don't know. If the thing itself is in pristine condition it might be worth it. But if not......buyer beware.
This is my answer to the American 4 player adapter counter part for the Famicom...Runs all ports...But is just a mod ;) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFLwMCRQuGc
Interesting. Surely there must have been something, some kind of four player adapter so that Technos would keep putting 4 player support in their Kunio-kun games.
So if there's no adapter, is there a special pair of controller that plug into the fFamicom accessory port? I've seen the arkanoid ones, I've picked up the joysticks, and I've also seen the Konami Sports pads (do those even have a d-pad?), but not just a pair of normal functional controllers.
So these NES Four Scores. From comments here and there and what not, they seem affordable. How often do these show up in stores in the US?
Senseiman, I haven't taken a good look at the power glove really, but it looked in good condition. But yes, the point really is... do I even want a power glove? I'll have to take another look.
Hori made an adapter for the Famicom called "4 Players Adapter". Googling for ファミコン用マルチタップ will get you some results. Here's a picture of it (yoinked from http://kantakupiano.at.webry.info/201001/article_4.html (http://kantakupiano.at.webry.info/201001/article_4.html)).
(http://i.imgur.com/mpTVkl.jpg)
The Portuguese to English translation is kind of interesting. So those aren't NES style controller ports, but ports for controllers that firt the accessory port. Heh, that's
QuoteThe Famicom also received gambles rampant, especially games of the series of Kunio-kun , with beatings and extreme eastern exclusively as Nekketsu Kakuto Densetsu or even the famous Kunio-Kun Nekketsu Soccer League in , or "Goal 3" to his friends, a game that undoubtedly was the "inspiration" for Rockman Soccer and Mario Strikers, but that's another story ... Speaking of only a few games that were more than two simultaneous players in Japan suffered a downgrade to reach the U.S. market. A good example is Moero! Twin Bee , Famicom Disk for three kids simultaneously: the West had as Stinger , only two caboclos.
The most interesting and obscure is that Nintendo has never released a multitap for the Famicom! Curious, no? The only four joystick adapter that has news is the HORI ! I need to mention it's almost impossible to take off one of those? A detail nearly as dire as the difficulty to find this white fly the "blue Zoio [save, Corisco!]: To play in the multitap HORI , probably will need four controls compatible with the extra port of the Famicom, or fail to function automatically controls two standard plugs and are now worth only plugs special multitap. This means that besides the quest to get an adapter to four controls will require a mission with four stages, each of them to get a control that is compatible with the extra port of the Famicom! Must have great faith in the Invisible Famicom for it!
Cool. I googled that and this also came up:
(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGgjK4XeHwVXEhc6woM3jqVslGxnuS8v-lqoqYSU6P8GEM2mTe&t=1)
Wonder if this is is just a modern mass produced thing or an actual release by a third party back in the day.
(Hmm.. seems like the link is from a site that might sell it)
There wouldn't have been much of a market for such an adapter back then. Only the AV Famicom controllers used the NES-style ports (afaik) and if you had the AV Famicom controllers then you probably had an AV Famicom to plug them into :P
or you could just be an import nazi like the rest of us in north america/europe/not in japan
I said "back then". Please notice the usage of past-tense "had" throughout. It's very likely a latter-day adapter for using NES controllers with a Famicom.
For what it's worth, the FourScore and the Hori MultiTap work on entirely different principles, and the games are not cross-compatible. To use 3/4-Player Famicom games, you need a MultiTap (even on the "New Famicom" A/V); the FourScore and the NES Satellite won't function for them.
Here (http://www.rahga.com/ffpa/) is a technical brief that details the differences, for anyone wanting to read it. I'm kind of shocked that the Hori adapter isn't universally known, as 'Moreo! Twinbee' requires it, amongst a handful of other games, for multi-player mode.
Quote from: ooXxXoo on February 16, 2011, 04:39:02 pm
This is my answer to the American 4 player adapter counter part for the Famicom...Runs all ports...But is just a mod ;) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFLwMCRQuGc
I have something like this too.
(http://i52.tinypic.com/s6psg2.jpg)
(http://i52.tinypic.com/2aetkio.jpg)
Only two ports, but works with all accessories I've tried it with, including the Four Score.
Alright, so how the games read those ports are important too...
So if I want to play a 4 player Famicom game, I'm going to need the Hori Multitap? And on a US machine with a Four Score, a 4 player famicom game won't work either?
And if I want to play a 4 player game on a Famicom, there's no way around it, I'm going to need the multitap?
What do you guys use to play 4 player famicom games?
Nintendodork, So on your famicom, can use a four score to play four player games by plugging the four score into that device right there? Or... Hah, I'm sorry, I believe I've confused myself. :crazy:
4-Player Famicom games need the Famicom-type multitap on any system: You would need to buy or construct one.. On the NES (toaster) this can be done via the Expansion port (underneath the console).
To use 4-Player NES games on a Famicom you'd need to custom-wire up the ports to function as they do on a NES.
It is not possible to use a FourScore to run 3/4-player Famicom titles, as the method it uses for this is completely alien to that required by the games. 'To accommodate four player gaming on the NES, Nintendo released the Satellite and Four Score, which requires games to support another method of reading the joystick ports (first eight reads come from the first controller on the port, second eight reads come from the second controller on the port, followed by another 8 reads that includes a signature, letting the game know whether or not a four-player device is plugged in). '-Richard Hoelscher
The multitap actually uses independent signals for the joystick reads, whereas the FourScore uses (to put it in simplest terms) a form of multiplexing. :bomb:
P.S. I still think a technical discussion forum is a good notion...
I don't own any four player NES/Famicom games, but simply to test it out, I plugged that converter into my Famicom, plugged a Four Score into the converter, and then plugged a regular NES controller into the first port on the Four Score, and it worked just fine. :star:
Nintendodork, where did you get your adapter?
So Xious, unless I modify something, the only way I can play 4 player famicom games, period, is if I buy the Hori Multitap and enough controllers with ends that can go into the accessory port.
By NES Toaster, you mean top loader model, right? The expansion port on the bottom of that is the same as the famicom accessory port?
This is all very educational, thanks everyone for your informative posts. :yoshi:
One of our members, used to make them. Nintendork bought a prototype version, but I do not know if said member still makes the adapters or not.
Quote from: tappybot on February 16, 2011, 08:24:58 pm
Nintendodork, where did you get your adapter?
[...]
By NES Toaster, you mean top loader model, right? The expansion port on the bottom of that is the same as the famicom accessory port?
I got it from a member here on a custom order. I don't know if he'd still make them or not.
Xious meant the original NES. The toaster has an expansion port on the bottom that was never actually used for anything.
Quote from: nintendodork on February 16, 2011, 08:18:07 pm
I don't own any four player NES/Famicom games, but simply to test it out, I plugged that converter into my Famicom, plugged a Four Score into the converter, and then plugged a regular NES controller into the first port on the Four Score, and it worked just fine. :star:
This is because using ports 1&2 on the FourScore is existentially identical to using an extension cable. Try running a 4-player game, the plug a device into ports 3&4; the Famicom game doesn't read the electronic signature from the third and fourth controllers, and they won't function as such. It's possible that a NES 4-player game will work this way, but I've never tested this theory, and I have doubts, as the registers may not be correct.
I can also make those adapters: If I have the time coming up, I'll probably knock out a few. :bomb:
P.S. I've made something for that NES EXP port. :)
It is possible to wire up a Four Score with a DA15 female cable to work for 4 player games. I've made two of these (sold one on here and made a replacement for myself). You have to completely bypass the IC in the Four Score for it to work, since as Xious points out, the NES Four Score uses multiplexing, which the Famicom doesn't support.
Well Xious, if you, or anyone else made something that allows 4 player famicom games to be play with a four score, or some other multitap with NES controller ports, I'd be happy to take it off your hands if you're selling.
Now the thing you're talking about that goes into the bottom of the NES, that allows it to use the hori multitap then?
True, although at that point you're only using the body of the unit and directly wiring the ports. If you want to do it this way, I'd wire it both ways and use a selection switch to toggle between modes.
I'll eventually get around to making a few types of adapters: At present, I have one request for a bypass adapter (NES or FC controller to FC DA-15F), so when I do them, I'll let you all know. The EXP device is this (the NESpander Dev):
http://atariusa.com/flashback/index.php?cat=7 (http://atariusa.com/flashback/index.php?cat=7)
No, the aren't (yet) available to buy, so please don't ask.
Quote from: Xious on February 16, 2011, 09:40:29 pm
True, although at that point you're only using the body of the unit and directly wiring the ports. If you want to do it this way, I'd wire it both ways and use a selection switch to toggle between modes.
I'll eventually get around to making a few types of adapters: At present, I have one request for a bypass adapter (NES or FC controller to FC DA-15F), so when I do them, I'll let you all know. The EXP device is this (the NESpander Dev):
http://atariusa.com/flashback/index.php?cat=7 (http://atariusa.com/flashback/index.php?cat=7)
No, the aren't (yet) available to buy, so please don't ask.
Xious glad to see the NESpander is coming along. When do you think one of them might be sell-able?
So you need a Hori multitap and four special Hori controllers to be able to play 4 player on those games that support it? Can't you even use the built in controllers on the Famicom for player 1 and player 2?
Is it possible to build a splitter with Neo Geo extension cables that works with these games if this multitap is near impossible to find?
Someone bought all the Neo Geo cables from Tototek though...
Quote from: P on February 17, 2011, 01:04:29 pm
Is it possible to build a splitter with Neo Geo extension cables that works with these games if this multitap is near impossible to find?
Someone bought all the Neo Geo cables from Tototek though...
Yes, it is possible. Have a look at the link Xious posted about the way the Famicom requires them to be wired.
ToToTEK will have more in stock soon. They always sell out pretty quickly.
I don't have enough technical knowledge to understand all that but If it's just a matter of tying together cables and isolating them in electronic tape it shouldn't be any problems as long as I know what cables goes where.
So these games with 4 player support needed to have it's code altered if they wanted to release it for NES with 4 player support?
Edt: Looking at the link again it doesn't seem to be that complicated after all.
I strongly advise soldering the connections...
For the FC games on a NES: Either change the code (a lot of work) or view up a FC-type four-player adapter to the EXP slot. :bomb:
OK soldering cables still sounds easier than soldering on a PCB. Thanks for the advice!
Oh I meant what the companies had to do to release the games in a NES region. For example Super Dodge Ball doesn't have 4 player support like the Japanese version maybe because of this problem. I don't have a NES anymore, it was thrown out long ago (without my knowledge) but I have Famicom now so I'm happy again!
Edit: I finally found information about the splitter! There is one called Hori Twin Adapter and it splits extension port into two DA-15 ports. I guess you can use it for all 3 and 4 player games. But it seems to be quite costly.
Edit2: Found another splitter called "Joy Pair", I have no more info on it though.
Quote from: P on February 22, 2011, 10:46:18 am
OK soldering cables still sounds easier than soldering on a PCB. Thanks for the advice!
Oh I meant what the companies had to do to release the games in a NES region. For example Super Dodge Ball doesn't have 4 player support like the Japanese version maybe because of this problem. I don't have a NES anymore, it was thrown out long ago (without my knowledge) but I have Famicom now so I'm happy again!
Edit: I finally found information about the splitter! There is one called Hori Twin Adapter and it splits extension port into two DA-15 ports. I guess you can use it for all 3 and 4 player games. But it seems to be quite costly.
Edit2: Found another splitter called "Joy Pair", I have no more info on it though.
Saw a couple Joypair in box today. They're not very expensive, like 15 bucks.. I didn't buy it though since I wasn't sure exactly what it was, Must go back and get it next week. :-X
In Japan? Yeah I would get it if I where you.
I should mangle this 4score and busted experience controllers to make 2 of these.
I know this is an oldish thread, but I recall coming across the JoyPair before.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/fjs/B49cyQCGkKGrHgoH-DEjlLl1kKDBKeoLV8eD_12.jpg)
Seems to be quite rare and expensive unfortunately.
Quote from: tappybot on February 16, 2011, 06:45:14 pm
The Portuguese to English translation is kind of interesting. So those aren't NES style controller ports, but ports for controllers that firt the accessory port. Heh, that's
QuoteThe Famicom also received gambles rampant, especially games of the series of Kunio-kun , with beatings and extreme eastern exclusively as Nekketsu Kakuto Densetsu or even the famous Kunio-Kun Nekketsu Soccer League in , or "Goal 3" to his friends, a game that undoubtedly was the "inspiration" for Rockman Soccer and Mario Strikers, but that's another story ... Speaking of only a few games that were more than two simultaneous players in Japan suffered a downgrade to reach the U.S. market. A good example is Moero! Twin Bee , Famicom Disk for three kids simultaneously: the West had as Stinger , only two caboclos.
The most interesting and obscure is that Nintendo has never released a multitap for the Famicom! Curious, no? The only four joystick adapter that has news is the HORI ! I need to mention it's almost impossible to take off one of those? A detail nearly as dire as the difficulty to find this white fly the "blue Zoio [save, Corisco!]: To play in the multitap HORI , probably will need four controls compatible with the extra port of the Famicom, or fail to function automatically controls two standard plugs and are now worth only plugs special multitap. This means that besides the quest to get an adapter to four controls will require a mission with four stages, each of them to get a control that is compatible with the extra port of the Famicom! Must have great faith in the Invisible Famicom for it!
Five years later I discover one text of mine posted on The NES Archive in Brazilian Portuguese cited here!
Man, machine translators still can't translate slang! ;D
I'm searching one of the Famicom multitaps (Hori 4P adaptor, Hori twin adaptor or Joypair) but it's imposible to find one.
Any of you know where to buy?
Thanks. Sorry for reviving an old theme :-[
I'm still looking for it.... :(
It is too difficult to find.
I'm thinking about trying to build a splitter. If I am not wrong, they are needed a TwinHead PC-100 male and two NES females and then make the connections like the photo posted,. Isn't it?
There are any tutorial for dummies? And where can i buy this items?
Thanks.
Post Merge: January 15, 2017, 08:38:16 pm
QuoteI have something like this too.
(http://i52.tinypic.com/s6psg2.jpg)
(http://i52.tinypic.com/2aetkio.jpg)
Only two ports, but works with all accessories I've tried it with, including the Four Score.
This want allow you to play Famicom games (kunio-kun saga, etc) in 4 players mode?
Yes that will work with Kunio-kun as far as I know, it might not work with games that are made for the Hori Four Player Adapter though (no idea how that one works) and it won't work with games that require the NES Four Score. It allows you to use NES controllers as controller III and IV (Zapper and NES Arkanoid Paddle among other things will also work if they are plugged in the con IV port).
Wire diagram here (http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=4564.msg74497#msg74497) (wire both controllers of course). For the male end you can use a NeoGeo extension cable (http://www.tototek.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23&products_id=192&zenid=1soauis236fmr2hbrura28oo41) and for the two female ends it's easiest to use two NES extension cables (I dont know where to get though).
Just solder each wire according to the diagram (the extension port in the diagram is from the front so you will have to mirror it for the NeoGeo cable head) using inline splice technique (http://www.instructables.com/id/Master-a-perfect-inline-wire-splice-everytime/?ALLSTEPS).
You will need a wire cutter to cut the extension cables and to strip each wire for soldering.
You'll also need a multimeter and use the continuity test mode (http://en-us.fluke.com/training/training-library/test-tools/digital-multimeters/how-to-test-for-continuity-with-a-digital-multimeter.html) to know what wire is what pin in the cables. The probes of the multimeter are probably too thick for the NeoGeo cable head though so you'll need a needle or something to put in the holes and put the probe on that.
Thanks for answering.
I didn't now there was games that only works with Hori 4P adapter. I thought that all games works with all the three multitaps (Hori 4P, Hori Twin and Joypair, and the last two are something similar like the handmade we're talking).
I will try this. The unique problem is the part to recognise the correct cables from the neogeo extension cable. Haven't they colors?
Edit: there is any posibility to convert this simply adapter in a splitter for 4P gaming? http://m.ebay.es/itm/152391304466?_mwBanner=1
And which is the difference between use this one to build the adapter and make it with the NeoGeo cable and two new females?
I'm not sure what you mean by "overwriting the first and second controllers". The first controller's data pin isn't even reachable from the expansion port. As long as that adapter has all wires wired correctly it should work the same way as the diagram above.
Quote from: Er_tosinishoO on January 16, 2017, 06:13:00 am
I didn't now there was games that only works with Hori 4P adapter. I thought that all games works with all the three multitaps (Hori 4P, Hori Twin and Joypair, and the last two are something similar like the handmade we're talking).
Because the "standard way" to add extra controllers only adds two extra controllers. I call these controller III and IV. Most games reads these and merges the button data from them with controller I and II respectively (1 or 2 player games). Some games reads them and store their button data separately as player 3 and player 4 inputs (3 or 4 player games). A number of games ignores them completly (which is why some games won't work with expansion port controllers).
But the Hori adapter adds 4 new controllers (which isn't even possible using the standard way), so it must be using a different protocol for sending the button data. And this also means that games that use it must be made to be compatible with this protocol to be able to read the controllers. It seems it has a 2 <-> 4 switch so I guess if you set it to "2" it will work just like the standard multitap, and if you set it to 4 it will use this special protocol.
Quote
I will try this. The unique problem is the part to recognise the correct cables from the neogeo extension cable. Haven't they colors?
They have colors but I have no idea if the we can trust that the colors are the same for all NeoGeo extension cables. It's best if you can check the wires yourself using the continuity test mode on a multimeter. You can get a decent digital multimeter for a good price and it's easy to use (you can look up guides online). It's a very useful tool to have anyway, and indespensible for projects like this.
QuoteBecause the "standard way" to add extra controllers only adds two extra controllers. I call these controller III and IV. Most games reads these and merges the button data from them with controller I and II respectively (1 or 2 player games). Some games reads them and store their button data separately as player 3 and player 4 inputs (3 or 4 player games). A number of games ignores them completly (which is why some games won't work with expansion port controllers).
But the Hori adapter adds 4 new controllers (which isn't even possible using the standard way), so it must be using a different protocol for sending the button data. And this also means that games that use it must be made to be compatible with this protocol to be able to read the controllers. It seems it has a 2 <-> 4 switch so I guess if you set it to "2" it will work just like the standard multitap, and if you set it to 4 it will use this special protocol.
I want to play the Kunio-kun series' games (Hockey, Football, Basket...). Do you know if it is possible to play with these homemade adapter? Or... Are there a list with the games that only works with Hori 4P?
EDIT: And... Does this one work with all games? http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E22cpzJKFhQ/Rq9dfJiZTgI/AAAAAAAABzs/QL8XP147JlU/s320/famicom_hori_twin_adapter_fx.jpg
QuoteThey have colors but I have no idea if the we can trust that the colors are the same for all NeoGeo extension cables. It's best if you can check the wires yourself using the continuity test mode on a multimeter. You can get a decent digital multimeter for a good price and it's easy to use (you can look up guides online). It's a very useful tool to have anyway, and indespensible for projects like this.
Where can i get info about how to check the wires?
The Kunio-kun games are known to work with the standard multitap so they should work with this adapter. I have no idea what games work with the Hori multitap "4" mode but they are probably quite few.
I already told you how to check the wires. You use the "continuity test" mode on a multimeter. I found a guide here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InJhgwmj2So&t=10m16s) after some quick googling. Continuity is when there is electric connection between the two probes, it will beep when there is continuity. Just put one probe in the pins (use a needle) and one on the stripped wires and try all wires until you hear a beep.