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Post by Kazin on Sept 28, 2022 15:17:49 GMT -5
I've recently fallen head over heels in love with the Famicom Disk System. I've spent far too much money on it - I got my Twin Famicom like a month ago, figured out how to mod it using FDSStick to write disks to fix the disks that I got from Japan that said they were, say, Metroid, but weren't, and am now importing even more cool stuff. Otocky is amazing, if you haven't played it - a side scrolling shmup that isn't really all that difficult because the point is to create cool music with it, sort of like an NES Rez, or something (he says, having never really played Rez lol). It sounds fantastic. Metroid is 100% better on Disk System too - not just the "better" sound than the NES version or even necessarily being able to save (which is great, of course), but having played through both versions back to back last week, there is far, FAR less slowdown in the FDS version for whatever reason. It's just a smoother experience overall.
I'm just dreading that belt going bad. The one I imported had a newly replaced belt, so hopefully it lasts a while (it's one of the clear ones, not the black ones, though I have no idea what brand or even how long ago it was replaced, though it works great so hopefully recently). I have a bit of repair/modding experience with simpler systems like the Gameboy (and I did mod my Genesis to output S-Video), but trying to calibrate a disk system scares me lol. There's not a *ton* of YT content about it, afaik, either, and what is there is usually pretty poorly shot and or edited.
Anyway! Tell me your favorite Famicom Disk System things! Games, experiences, etc. I love this thing. (also, hi, I'm Kazin)
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Sept 28, 2022 15:25:15 GMT -5
I'm a fan. As noted, the FDS/NES games are really fun to play via their original floppy version. Platformers and JRPGs are my two favorite retro genres and there are plenty of good ones to be found here.
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Post by Sarge on Sept 28, 2022 15:34:05 GMT -5
Hey, welcome, Kazin ! Good to see a familiar face from Talking Time. I really, really would like to get an FDS, or at the very least, the RAM adapter so I can use the FDSStick I have sitting in a box I'd gotten in a lot on the Racketboy forums. And yeah, those drive belts going bad is what I hear is the biggest problem. Although I don't think they'd be too difficult to replace? I've seen some of your projects and I'm pretty sure you've got the chops for it. One of the cooler exclusives on the system is Arumana no Kiseki, which uses a similar system to Roc 'N Rope and puts it into a full-blown platformer. Kind of funky to get used to, but once you get it it's quite fun. I've been meaning to watch Displaced Gamers' video on the FDS and how they handled the port of Zelda to the MMC1. I assume that there's something performance-wise that was sacrificed in the move to the mapper.
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Post by Kazin on Sept 28, 2022 15:34:15 GMT -5
Ooh, your photo reminds me - I meant to shoutout Nerdspaceship in my first post. They sell replacement case art, sleeves, and even some old cases if you have disks without any sort of protection (the yellow FDS disks not having any sort of protection for the magnetic strip is charming, but scary lol). The case art says "Reproduction" on the inside part, too, so no one is going to be able to pass off the repros as "real," which is nice. He also sells some custom art for games that didn't have it because they were Disk Writer only - my Wrecking Crew looks great! I read the Hardcore Gaming 101 book about the FDS, and they seemed pretty down on enormous chunks of the library - outside the Bandai stuff (which, from what I've played, really is pretty poor), which made me sad, since I figure there's plenty more than what they liked on the thing. What do you recommend? I have most of what I would consider the "obvious" stuff (Metroid, Akumajou Dracula, Mario 2, Doki Doki Panic, etc), but anything that book may have said bad things about that you disagree with?
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Post by Kazin on Sept 28, 2022 15:38:11 GMT -5
I'm gonna tell you what, Sarge, I have an extra RAM adapter on the way from Japan, and if it works, you can have it if you like - I have no need for two (and only bought a second drive/RAM adapter combo because I broke the first Twin Famicom Disk System drive I got trying to figure out if I had to mod it, then bought a standalone drive, and wanted another one for display/so I don't have to have the standalone drive plugged into my Twin Famicom via RAM adapter). I'll hit you up probably next week when that stuff gets here and I've tested it, you can pay for shipping and it's yours.
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Post by Sarge on Sept 28, 2022 15:40:56 GMT -5
You really don't have to do that, I'd be willing to give you something for it. But that's a really generous offer!
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Post by Kazin on Sept 28, 2022 15:44:03 GMT -5
I really don't need two though - I'd be keeping the disk drive itself (can't hurt to have backups when that belt inevitably breaks down), so you really can have it if you want lol. The RAM adapter+drive cost me about $40 USD on Sendico, and I bought it for the disk drive anyway - the RAM adapter isn't even something I wanted lol. All the disk drives only that I saw were listed as "untested" which I didn't want to mess with.
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Post by Sarge on Sept 28, 2022 15:51:10 GMT -5
Gotcha. Well, whatever you think is fair I'd be up for it.
Also, it looks like the performance hit may be the bankswitching on MMC1 compared to not needing to on the FDS. Of course, you lose time in other spots due to long loads, but if you've got everything in the RAM adapter, you don't have to worry about bankswitching overhead.
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Post by anayo on Sept 28, 2022 16:14:53 GMT -5
I bought a CIB Famicom Disk System from a guy in my area who used to work in Japan. I tried to do belt surgery on it, but could only get it working intermittently on some Mario car game. Then when I tried to load my cool games like Zelda or Mario the Lost Levels the belt would misalign again. So now it's just shelf candy. (Except not really cause I keep it in my closet.)
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Post by Ex on Sept 28, 2022 16:17:41 GMT -5
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