Famicom Disk Writer Tech. Specs. and Discussion

[Russam5354]

  I'm both curious and interested in/about the FDS Disk Writer. What are its technical specifications? Is replication possible? Is it worth it? Are you interested in this topic, too? I'm searching for info on http://www.famicomdisksystem.com/ . Discuss.

[P]

Not much is known about it. Nintendo took back most if not all units when they ceased the service AFAIK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKN3uWZ5lrQ it had cool music!

[L___E___T]

Yes no-one's seen one in the flesh for a long time.  There's always the little Disk Writer case though

Replication is somewhat possible - disks can be rewritten with PC software or something along those lines, but you'll not be able to make a legitimate one from scratch if there isn't a unit to reference.

[Russam5354]

We could make a machine that looks like the real Disk Writer, but we'd have to make it from scratch, and it won't be exactly like a real Disk Writer, but It'd be in English. It'd have the same purpose. Writing disks. It'd also be free. JPY ¥400 (USD $5.00) is not required.

[L___E___T]

You could probably get a small PC and for it inside one of the small Disk Writer cases.  Someone here offers a rewrite service, I think it's EricJ?

[Russam5354]

A Raspberry Pi might work

Post Merge: March 01, 2014, 03:12:58 pm
A Raspberry Pi might work

[80sFREAK]

We could make a machine that looks like the real Disk Writer, but we'd have to make it from scratch, and it won't be exactly like a real Disk Writer, but It'd be in English. It'd have the same purpose. Writing disks. It'd also be free. JPY ¥400 (USD $5.00) is not required.

Sounds like you want to build communism 

[Russam5354]

Exactly! I want to build a classless society of floppy disk writers, that are no longer oppressed by those bastard CD writers! Marxist Floppy Disk Writers are the FUTURE!!!

[80sFREAK]

Good. Go ahead. Do it.

[Russam5354]

I want it to be in English because the originals were in Japanese, which I don't understand. I want it to be free to use, because it's for personal use. If people want to send me modded Quick Disks or original Nintendo blank disks to write, I'll just charge them $5.00 or ¥400 or whatever currency they use.

[featherplucknfilms]

This photo is the Disk Fax but you can see a part of the Disk Writer next to it.  Found athttp://www.chrismcovell.com/secret/sp_FDShardware.html

   

And here's the handbill.

   


In retrospect and not thinking much about it, I always thought the Disk Writer was fantastic history but a silly idea.  However, I just saw the Game Center CX movie which has a scene of the kids getting a game written by a Disk Writer in a small community game store and it really made sense to me then.   Japanese people seem to love vending machines and the Disk Writer is essentially a video game vending machine! You could have one of these anywhere, at the 7-11, the train station, book store, and kids could just walk there from their house and get a new game quickly and easily.  It really makes sense with the culture and times.  Too bad for the failures of disks and piracy.   

[Russam5354]

Thanks for the pics. Also, the Disk Writer had a successor: the (Japan-only) Gameboy/Gameboy Color Nintendo Power Catridge. You could download Gameboy games with this official Nintendo memory card. In fact, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe was a Nintendo Power Cartridge exclusive game. Google it.

[L___E___T]

Exclusive, on Gameboy or Super Famicom?  I didn't think the white GB carts supported GBC games.
The game is on GBC in North America and Europe though, so not really exclusive, unless you mean exclusively released on NP in Japan.

I have a Japanese copy of Earthbound on one of my Super Famicom Nintendo Power cartridges, that was a nice surprise.
Another has Demon's Blazon and Rockman X on with the little stickers, I like that.  I really like the idea of those official flashcarts - to me it' the equivalent of digital titles now a la Steam and the Nintendo eShop etc.

[Russam5354]

L___E___T: I meant that they were exclusives because they weren't released on normal Game Paks. NP exclusives.
featherplucknfilms: The Disk Writer is the ancestor of the modern-day eShop, Xbox Live Arcade, Wii Shop Channel, etc. Downloadable games.