Is the Famicom Disk System worth it?

[Videogamecollector123]

So I just got into Famicom collecting(still waiting on it to come from Japan), and I was considering getting a Famicom Disk System. Then I read about it's numerous hardware issues and the fact that games are kaput if one sector on the floppy is corrupted. So my question to anyone out there, is it worth it to import a disk system? I know that it has a lot of games exclusive, or cheaper than their cartridge counterparts, but the hardware issues make me hesitant.

[Scotterpop]

I've wondered about this too. I would really like to own a Sharp Twin Famicom, but they're fairly expensive. And apparently, the drive motor band on these things is prone to breakage fairly easily. As for the basic famicom system, it is really, really fun to collect for. I love the small, multi-colored carts that were made for it. It's the Skittles of the classic gaming world! And there are so many strange and wonderful games that were never released here in the west. And if you're into pirate and multi-games... woo-boy are you in for a treat.

 

But back to the disc system, the format is of course pretty fragile. Because of this and the fact that pirated games could be loaded onto them fairly easily, Nintendo chose not to release the system here in the states. But if you've got the money to spare, I say go for it (I'm a sucker for Japanese hardware). If you're concerned about the shipping cost, you could always wait for a US seller to post one on eBay. BTW, I've always found it amusing that the initials for the Famicom Disk System are FDS. Just like feminine deodorant spray. Heh.

[high voltage]

Well, it wasn't successful, so it's good to buy for collecting purposes, if nothing else.

[Dripfree]

Well, it wasn't successful, so it's good to buy for collecting purposes, if nothing else.

 

Yea I think that sums it up. Im not sure how usefull it would be. As a collection piece I think its more then worth it. I do have a softspot for the failed tech in my collection.

[Hatta]

IIRC the NES powerpak supports FDS images. Buy an FDS for display purposes, play your FDS games on an NES with a flash cart. Then you don't have to worry about keeping mechanical devices in working order.

[goldenegg]

IIRC the NES powerpak supports FDS images. Buy an FDS for display purposes, play your FDS games on an NES with a flash cart. Then you don't have to worry about keeping mechanical devices in working order.

 

If you use an NES, you'll want to do the sound mod, otherwise you'll miss out on extra audio for some games.

[CatPix]

It definitively worth it.

Zelda II, Kid Icarus, Akumajō Dracula (Castlevania), Super Mario Bros 2 (the Lost levels, not the USA/Euro version).

With better sounds that their NES coutnerpart and less censure. Of course it depends of your tastes after all.

[Satoshi Matrix]

Is the Famicom Disk System worth it?

 

Absolutely not. The Famicom Disk System is extremely unreliable hardware. The vast majority of its games that are worth playing were ported to cartridge both on the NES and the Famicom itself. I like the concept of the FDS, but the hardware has aged extremely poorly, and the software as well. Games will RANDOMLY develop bad sectors on their own with age, and once that happens they're completely useless. Even if you buy brand new old stock games they could have gone bad years ago. I spend $60 on a brand new copy of Metroid for FDS and when I opened it and popped it into a working FDS for the FIRST TIME EVER, it wouldn't work because of a bad sector.

 

And it doesn't matter what FDS you go with - the standalone or the Twin, the hardware is flawed, flawed, flawed. People complain about the Xbox 360 and how unreliable that is, but the FDS is a thousand times worse.

 

I've gone through two FDSes and a Twin and dozens of disks all failing over the past few years alone. Do not buy an FDS. Instead, invest in an NES or Famicom flashcart. Flashcarts are able to play FDS roms reliably, and you get the same performance, and reduced load times.

 

Do yourself the huge favor and avoid the FDS. Even if you find one that's 100% working with working disks, it's a ticking time bomb that will go off sooner rather than later.

[xDragonWarrior]

I never played it before but the Price plus the Hardware issues makes me think it's not worth it.If you can find it for cheap than get It.Some highlights are Super mario bros:the lost levels(the REAL Super Mario bros.2)armana's miracle(Indiana Jones meets Bionic Commando,Fire rock,Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa(action platformer where you play as a baby),Falsion(a 3D glasses game) and others are some good games to get.I would say don't spend more than 80(if that and assuming you have a Famicom) on one.

[Hatta]

It would be awesome if the HxC floppy emulator had FDS support.

[0078265317]

There is a couple of sharp twin around 200 on ebay right now in working condition.

[Satoshi Matrix]

Yeah, but those are ticking time bombs. FDSes break without warning, and so do the disks themselves. It's like if a CD game developed cracks or deep scratches on its own. Do not buy an FDS. It's an endless amount of headaches. If you want to play the best of the FDS library, emulate them, or play them on an flashcart. There's no reason to buy the actual hardware. Don't do it, because it'll mean endless headaches, guaranteed sooner or later.

[+Gemintronic]

I don't think most people realise that they don't use standard floppy disks either.. It isn't anything like the third-party Interceptor Mega Disk on the Sega side.

[Videogamecollector123]

Well thanks for the input, I decided against buying one and I'm just going to use the money to buy more cart games. I already got Super Mario Bros, Super Mario USA, and Super Mario Bros. 3

[Satoshi Matrix]

Buy a flashcart like the NES Powerpak or EverDrive N8. Those will play FDS games with the additional FM syth channel emulated, as well as have faster load times and ya know, be garunteed to work the next time you actually wanna play.

 

Dispite my criticims of the hardware itself, there are quite a number of excellent FDS games that are worth your attention, most noteworthy examples being Metroid, Zelda, Kaettekita Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 2J. If you can read Japanese, also check out the excellent Famicom Detective Club adventure games.

[BrianC]

Doesn't the JP Zelda need the mic to defeat the pols voice (an issue if you don't have the first JP model Famicom)? There's also an EU Mario Bros Classic version based off of Kaettkita Mario Bros., which I heard will play on a model 2 US NES, but will probably run a bit fast. Then again, I noticed some games like Ufouria only optimized the music and not the speed (telling from a video on YouTube that has footage from the EU game played on a US NES and how the game runs on the US VC. Music is definitely sped up compared to the JP Heberke version, but speed is about the same).

 

I'm somewhat torn when it comes to the FDS. I definitely want to play Vs. Excitebike and the better version Clu Clu Land, but I heard the disks are unreliable. At least I have SMB2J on 3DS VC and games like Jackal and Gun.Smoke have better versions on cart. I might use a flash cart as a solution, but I'll probably mostly stick to regular FC and NES carts.

 

I also noticed, like FC carts, there seem to be a lot of bootlegs of FDS games going around.

Edited June 5, 2013 by BrianC

[NinjaWarrior]

The FDS version of Zelda does need the Mic, But not for the Cart

[BrianC]

The FDS version of Zelda does need the Mic, But not for the Cart

 

From what I read, it sounds like the Pols Voice isn't hurt by arrows in either the FDS or the JP cart version and needs either the sword or use of the mic on the second controller to be defeated. I also read the JP Famicom Mini for GBA is based on the JP cart and has an alternate code instead of the mike. This page has some information.

 

The barter trick for Kid Icarus is also done with the mic in the JP version. The 3DS classics version for 3DS has some elements from the JP version, but still uses a code rather than the mic for bartering.

Edited June 6, 2013 by BrianC

[Austin]

I didn't know flash carts would be compatible with disk images. I am going to give that a try on my PowerPak.

[Satoshi Matrix]

yup. the only limitation (with the powerpak anyway) is that you can't play multi disk games....but then again, the only multi-disk games that exist are all Japanese text heavy adventure games like Famicom Detective Club.

[Tricky_]

I bought an FDS last year, had no issues with it. As far as I know, the only common issue with regards to them breaking down is the belt in the disk reader snapping, which is a very easy fix, just get a new one for $6 on eBay and replace it . Not had any issues with bad disks either, since I write-modded mine, if I have a disk that's giving me issues I just rewrite it and as long as the disk isn't in bad physical condition, it'll fix it.

[jhd]

Are blank 2.8" disks still available anywhere, or do you just rewrite new data to an existing disk?

[y-bot]

In my experience getting a FDS to function correctly is much more complex than just replacing the belt. The motor speed may need to be adjusted and the head needs to be lined up just right. The disks often don't work and sometimes have been recorded over with a different game. I decided to part with my collection last year because it was just too much trouble. I've owned maybe 10 disk systems and spent hours upon hours tinkering with them. Never again!

[Satoshi Matrix]

I bought an FDS last year, had no issues with it. As far as I know, the only common issue with regards to them breaking down is the belt in the disk reader snapping, which is a very easy fix, just get a new one for $6 on eBay and replace it . Not had any issues with bad disks either, since I write-modded mine, if I have a disk that's giving me issues I just rewrite it and as long as the disk isn't in bad physical condition, it'll fix it.

 

The hardware issues are only half the problem. The other problem are the disks themselves which as I've said, develop bad sectors ON THEIR OWN with age. There's absolutely nothing you can do about this short of rewriting the disk, which requires a hacked FDS, an old pc with parellel ports and knowledge of programming. It can be done, but it's a HUGE pain in the ass.

 

Are blank 2.8" disks still available anywhere, or do you just rewrite new data to an existing disk?

 

FDS used a custom disk size to thwart piracy (didn't work) so no, you can't simply buy blank FDS games anymore. Until 2003, there were FDS kiosks across Japan for this purpose, but these days the only way to do it is with a hacked FDS and an old pc. Not worth it

 

In my experience getting a FDS to function correctly is much more complex than just replacing the belt. The motor speed may need to be adjusted and the head needs to be lined up just right. The disks often don't work and sometimes have been recorded over with a different game. I decided to part with my collection last year because it was just too much trouble. I've owned maybe 10 disk systems and spent hours upon hours tinkering with them. Never again!

 

This. I had more disks and for longer, and yeah, the FDS is one pile of problems.

[Uzumaki]

So TL;DR version:

buy only if you want to display, not worth trying to play

For playing, get EverDrive or PowerPak and run FDS image from there.