Family BASIC

[P]

1. Go into BASIC mode (backup switch must be OFF).

2. Type a program (or anything with line numbers, but a simple program is more fun):

Code Select Expand


10 CLS
20 PRINT "TEST"

Enter LIST if you want to see if a program is in memory, or RUN to execute the program.

3. Enter SYSTEM to go back.

4. Set the backup switch to ON.

5. Shut down the Famicom for a while.

6. Turn it on again

7. Turn OFF the backup switch and start BASIC mode.

8. Type RUN or LIST to see if the same program you entered before is still there.



The V3 manual is already fully scanned by Manuel. I'm currently translating it (when I have time) and it has it's own thread.

[zmaster18]

I think these instructions should have its own thread. When I was new to BASIC, I didn't really know about the battery backup at first. Or maybe we can do some basic tips or tutorials for beginers. 

[P]

The manual has very beginner friendly explanations to everything but I guess it's not easy to find. A quick-start FAQ might be a good idea.

[fredJ]

1. Go into BASIC mode (backup switch must be OFF).

2. Type a program (or anything with line numbers, but a simple program is more fun):

Code Select Expand


10 CLS
20 PRINT "TEST"

Enter LIST if you want to see if a program is in memory, or RUN to execute the program.

3. Enter SYSTEM to go back.

4. Set the backup switch to ON.

5. Shut down the Famicom for a while.

6. Turn it on again

7. Turn OFF the backup switch and start BASIC mode.

8. Type RUN or LIST to see if the same program you entered before is still there.



The V3 manual is already fully scanned by Manuel. I'm currently translating it (when I have time) and it has it's own thread.

Thanks.
I made a video with your description: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MisD3NzDEwY

[zmaster18]

An awesome tip for Family BASIC (Non V3 versions) : hold the letter 'F' key while turning on the game. This will take you directly to BASIC mode and you can skip the main screen where it asks you a bunch of questions

[P]

Ah sorry I never told how to go to BASIC mode, wasn't sure what version you had. But looks like you figured it out.

It asks for your name first (so you called yourself "BASIC" ) before it asks to go to BASIC mode. When it asks whether to go to BASIC mode or not, you can say YES, ハイ (press F1 or type it manually) or type a command for what mode you want to start. If you say NO or イイエ (press F2 or type manually) it will ask you about the next mode. You can also say HELLO or コンニチハ (press F3 or type manually) to greet the computer and he will ask to tell your fortune. Everything is explained in the manual fully in English BTW (check link in my signature).

But yeah when you have no more fun with the talking computer you just skip it with F+RESET (oops it was T+RESET) like Zmaster said.

[fredJ]

Thank you both!

[fredJ]

Another question.

The Q&A booklet, was it included with all Family Basic? I got one for the first time now, haven't seen it before.

[P]

No idea if it was originally included in all but it's often missing in auctions or such. I have it for mine and have started translating it a bit. Gonna release it on the forum when it's done.

[fredJ]

No idea if it was originally included in all but it's often missing in auctions or such. I have it for mine and have started translating it a bit. Gonna release it on the forum when it's done.

Do you have any information about it?
I tried but couldn't find anything.

[P]

Information? About it's origins or so? Not really, I don't know anything about it.

Family BASIC has been revised many times, both the included manual/papers and the software, If I'd had to guess I'd say it was probably included as a quick reference guide in some later revisions of the "game", with the most common questions people had (although most of the answers can probably be found in the manual as well).

[fredJ]

Okay thank you.
Yea that makes sense.

Fun trivia is that I often find A4 handbills in the family basic boxes... Last time it was excitebike:

[BaconBitsKing]

I've never seen those handbills before! Very cool It makes me wonder how many times Family BASIC was reissued.

Do you guys know anything about this unreleased version? http://bootgod.dyndns.org:7777/profile.php?id=4622

[P]

I've seen those handbills, they are promoting other games that support the keyboard.

I think that's the Playbox BASIC prototype which ROM is floating around on internet (HuBASIC version 0). I don't really know much about Playbox BASIC though. It seems to predate Family BASIC and it might be something that was included in a Sharp C1-like setup or something.

Here's a comparison of Playbox and Family BASIC including pictures of the Biorhythm Board (the second program on the label of that prototype cart, 3 and 4 are Calculator and Music Board respectively).
Here's a photo of the keyboard.

Playbox BASIC, Family BASIC and Family BASIC V3 all seems to have their own tape format which are incompatible with each other for some reason.

[80sFREAK]

6502 Disassembler in BASIC
Source code for APPLESOFT Basic
Looks a bit big for 1982bytes, but anyone feel free to try

There is another link to disassembler written in BBC BASIC dialect. While ago i made something similar, not sure, if posted here.