Famiclones

[Tupin]

Well, I use an NES clone as my main system rather than an actual NES because the system works every time I insert a cart. I'll be using this as my main Famicom system until I actually get a real one.

What my personal Famiclone holy grail is one of those Brazilian portable systems that doesn't have a screen but rather connect to the TV wirelessly through an antenna. Technically, they aren't even allowed to be used in the USA because the FCC prohibits that kind of connection to a television.

[shoggoth80]

Ooohh... yeah, Brazil has some crazy pirate stuff. Not just Famicom either... there are some really unusual Atari pirate stuff that comes outta there too. I think Brazil uses an odd ball PAL that just happens to refresh at the same rate as US TVs do, so if you ever get Brazilian carts, they should work fine on US television sets. This is stuff that I have read over the years at Atari Age...none of this I have been able to verify first hand, as I do not have any contacts down south. Would be cool though, wouldn't it?

I pretty much use my Penguin clone as a main Famicom unit. I like the compactness of it, and it has decent compatibility. The controller isn't junk on it either. I have a real Famicom, but it cost me a fair chunk, still has the box and inserts... and I like to try and save wear and tear on it. I use a clone for most of my NES/SNES playing due to lack of region lockout, plus space... and the fact that everything else is still in my garage, in plastic containers (I moved, and I have a LOT of game stuff...so I try to keep the room simple. One of these days though, I will have a proper "Nerd Cave" as I like to call it).

That system might not be FCC kosher, but who's gonna stop you when you find one? Someone gonna knock on your door and slap your hand?

[Tupin]

Brazil uses NTSC, just a weird Brazil-only version of it that some how works with US TVs.

The FCCs rule of thumb when it comes to video game systems, especially in the 90's, is just to add more metal shielding. The TurboGrafx-16 was three times bigger than the PC Engine because they had to put so much metal shielding in it.

[133MHz]

Brazil uses NTSC timings (525 lines / 60 Hz frame rate) with PAL color encoding (4.43 MHz color burst).
Brazilian equipment on US TV sets will produce a steady, black and white picture, unless it's a Multisystem TV. But yeah, technically the games are NTSC so they'll play fine on a US console.

And yeah, those 'wireless' consoles are pretty much illegal in most of the world since they're technically television broadcasting equipment, and television broadcasting requires a license from the local authorities, not to mention that your neighbors can see you playing if they tune to channel 3 .

[shoggoth80]

"Oh noes! They'll know I suck at SMB2!!!!"

One of the more interesting clones I have seen (in a pic) was a clear cased one... its shape was pretty close to that of a Micro Genius, but you could see all the guts. Different, and therefore, cool in my book.

[Tupin]

They have to be pretty confident in the quality of their system to make it clear. 

[ooXxXoo]

Brazil uses NTSC, just a weird Brazil-only version of it that some how works with US TVs.

The FCCs rule of thumb when it comes to video game systems, especially in the 90's, is just to add more metal shielding. The TurboGrafx-16 was three times bigger than the PC Engine because they had to put so much metal shielding in it.

Older Brazilian video equipment uses PAL-M, which is technically NTSC but with a different color subcarrier.....You can easily get around it by replacing the color subcarrier crystal....I've heard that most newer Brazilian TV sets are fully NTSC compatible thou....

[StoneAgeGamer]

Hi guys. I'm Ryan from StoneAgeGamer.com. Don't mean to bump up a older topic, but I just noticed some links to our site from this topic.

I would just like to thank some people for some of the nice things they have said about us.

Unfortunately we do not sell Famicom specific items very often. However, in the spirit of this topic I would like to let you know that we will are accepting FC Mobile 2 preorders right now and are offering 10% off on all preorders. For more information please visit this topic on AA:

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=142705

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns please feel free to PM, IM, or e-mail us. IM and e-mail information can be found on the contact page of our site. I will be poking my head in occasionally on the forum as well.

[NintendoKing]

I hate FC Mobile, its easier just to buy an older pda and install a huge amount of roms on it. And costs alot less.
Plus, you wont have to carry around a dozen+ cartridges on you in a sack slung over your shoulder.

[shoggoth80]

The FC Mobile isn't too bad. I have the first gen one, and like it well enough. Sure, it's a little bulky, if you start packing around a bunch of NES carts...but a multicart or two and some fresh batteries can keep ya entertained for a while. I wish I could have bought the Gametech pocketfami when it was out.

[NintendoKing]

The FC Mobile isn't too bad. I have the first gen one, and like it well enough. Sure, it's a little bulky, if you start packing around a bunch of NES carts...but a multicart or two and some fresh batteries can keep ya entertained for a while. I wish I could have bought the Gametech pocketfami when it was out.

My point is if you dont even plan on using official carts on it, then just buy a pda and use it to emulate and there you have a portable nes/famicom.

[nintendodork]

I'm not such a big fan of the FC Mobile either.  It's a nice idea, but the original ones are full of flaws.  Hopefully this one will be better.  How much do they cost?

A couple problems my FC has is displaying the wrong colors or not even playing the game at all..when I could get it to work on my toaster just fine -_-

[133MHz]

Just saw this on the other forum I frequent (RetroGames.cl):



Looks original, an old model I presume (no FF logo), but what's with the turbo controllers? Did they exist as a replacement for the built-in ones?

[Rogles]

It's probably a clone. Look at the RF switch thing...

[ericj]

Looks like they just added different controllers...probably got tired of listening to the interference from the mic on controller 2.