Gooday Gaming Guests - Nintendo SNES & NES vs. Super Famicom & Famicom

Episode Date: November 22, 2024

Japan Always had Better Games, System Designs and Colors.

So today we'll talk Super Nintendo. I was cleaning up some cover and cases and some other little buttons and stuff. So Super Nintendo came after, obviously, the Super Nintendo. There's two different makes and models of motherboards in there. One has a sound box and one does not. That bottom case for the sound box or not sound box is a little bit different the top case is basically the same um super nintendo is very similar to the super fan com from japan but the super fan com as i said always it's it's much better it's more sleek design than the super nintendo and the motherboard inside looks very similar

the front port is differently designed however the cable that connects you can use that one from a super fan comm on a Super Nintendo it's just a little bit shorter on the super fan comm but it does fit in the Super Nintendo and the motherboards just like the super fan comm the Super Nintendo. And the motherboards, just like the Super Fancom and Super Nintendo, have the original ones with the little sound box, and then they have the newer ones without the sound box. Most of them, on the Super Nintendo, you're able to pull the cartridge slot off,

kind of like an N64, that way you can clean under it. There's two motherboards on the super nintendo that you cannot pull that cartridge off that was the newer boards the abg or apg i believe is the motherboard and then there's an rgb i think those two the cartridge slots actually soldered onto the board i believe those might have been the last two boards. And those are from the ones without the sound box, if I'm correct. So let's bring my little zippy in hand

so we can come up with some Super Nintendo and Super FanCon. Then there's the FanCon, which I really am a big fan of. The FanCon, which is similar to the regular nintendo but but they're not really um let's see what we can find out about that let's bring my little buddy in here let's see what we got good morning good morning tom how's your day starting out? Good. Today we're talking Super Nintendo. Awesome choice. The Super Nintendo has such a legendary lineup of games. What's on your mind about the SNES today?

So we'll break down the two different motherboard types in the Super Nintendo. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, SNES, primarily has two main motherboard variations, mostly based on the region, the NTSC and PAL versions. This is the version that was sold in North America and Japan. The North American SNES has a distinctive purple and gray color scheme, while the Japanese Super Famicom features a more colorful design. The motherboard in these consoles was designed to support NTSC video output, which is standard in these regions.

PAL version. This version was sold in Europe and Australia. The PAL SNES has a different outer design compared to the NTSC model, with a more rounded shape and a different color scheme. The motherboard in the PAL version is tailored to support PAL video output, which has a different resolution and refresh rate compared to NTSC. These differences in the motherboards mainly affect the video output and compatibility with games and accessories from different regions So what I was talking was there's two Motherboards one has a sound box and one does not for this for the SNE SNS

correct, I In the Super Nintendo the two main motherboard revisions related to sound are the earlier revisions with a separate sound module, often referred to as the sound box, and the later revisions where the sound hardware is integrated directly onto the main motherboard. First, early revisions with sound module. In the initial models of the SNES, the sound hardware was housed in a separate module on the motherboard. This module included the Sony SPC700 sound CPU and the digital signal processor, DSP, that were responsible for the console's distinctive sound. This setup allowed for high quality audio, but increased manufacturing complexity.

Later revisions with integrated sound, in an effort to reduce costs and streamline production, later SNES models integrated the sound hardware directly onto the main motherboard. This revision eliminated the need for a separate sound module, simplifying the console's internal design while maintaining the same sound capabilities. The design of the Super Famicom is much better than the Super Nintendo. The Super Famicom's design does have a sleek and colorful appeal.

With its rounded edges and vibrant red, yellow, green and blue buttons on the controllers, it's got a fun and inviting look. The Super Nintendo, on the other hand, has a more angular design with a grey and purple color scheme, which some might find less eye-catching it all comes down to personal preference but the Super Famicom definitely stands out with its distinctive and playful design that also has basically the same two types of motherboards in them yes the Super Famicom like the SNES also went through revisions in its motherboard design. Early versions had a separate sound module while later versions integrated the sound hardware directly onto the main board. The changes were similar to

those in the SNES aimed at reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying the internal layout while maintaining the console's audio capabilities. Each uses the RF and also has the audio-video. That's right. Both the Super Famicom and the Desk NES offer RF and AV output options. The RF output allows you to connect the console to older TVs using the antenna input, while the AV output provides a cleaner, higher quality connection using composite video and stereo audio cables. These options give players flexibility in how they connect their consoles to various types of

televisions. Most of the motherboards, the cartridge slot does come off, except for two motherboards, APG, RGB. Yes, in most Super Nintendo motherboards, the cartridge slot is a separate piece that can be removed, making repairs or replacements easier however in some revisions like the AP APU and RGB models the cartridge slot is soldered directly onto the motherboard this makes it more challenging to remove and requires more careful handling if you need to work on that part of the system. The SuperFanCom motherboards, many of them do not remove cartridge slots. Yes, in many SuperFanCom models, the cartridge slot is integrated directly into the motherboard

and is not designed to be easily removed. This contrasts with some of the earlier SNES models where the cartridge slot is a separate removable component. Having the cartridge slot integrated into the motherboard can make repairs more complex if there are issues with the slot. There's a mini for the Super Nintendo, like a junior. Yes, that's the Super Nintendo Entertainment System Model 2, often referred to as the SNES Mini or SNES Junior. Released in 1997, this redesigned version of the original SNES is more compact with a rounded minimalist design the snes mini lacks the rf output featuring only the multi out port for av and the new edition of s video output the cartridge slot in the snes mini is also integrated directly onto the motherboard correct right and then so the super fan comm RF channel out is one two us

it's three four why the difference in RF channel outputs between the super famicom and the Super Nintendo is due to the variations in television standards and broadcasting regulations in Japan and the United States. In Japan, the television standard uses different frequencies, and channels 1 and 2 are commonly used for connecting devices like game consoles. The Super Famicom's RF output is set to these channels to match Japanese TVs. In the United States, channels 3 and 4 are the standard channels used for connecting external devices via RF. This is why the Super Nintendo is set to output on channels 3 or 4, aligning with the norms of North American televisions. It's all about ensuring compatibility with the broadcasting standards

and TV-TV technology of each region. What's the channel out for PAL? RF. In PAL regions, including Europe and Australia, the RF output from consoles like the Super Nintendo is typically tuned to be compatible with channels 36 or 37. This is because these channels are within the UHF band, commonly used for broadcasting in those regions. By using these channels, the console can be easily connected to a wide range of PAL television sets.

And then the games, they're not compatible Super Nintendo and Super Famicom. Right. Super Nintendo and Super Famicom games are not directly compatible due to differences in cartridge design and region locking. The Super Famicom cartridges are physically different, with a slightly different shape, making it impossible to insert them into a North American SNES without modification. Additionally, region locking measures were implemented in the consoles to prevent games from one region from being played on consoles from another region this was done through hardware and software mechanisms to control the distribution and sales of games across different markets however okay go ahead

you can play super famicom games on a Super Nintendo and vice versa. Some players choose to modify their consoles or use adapters to expand their game libraries beyond their region's offerings. The cartridge slot is the same, the removable ones, for both. Yes, the cartridge slot design for both the Super Nintendo and the Super Famicom is essentially the same, especially in the early models where the cartridge slot is a removable component. This similarity means that physically, the cartridges could fit into either console if not for the region locking measures. However, the shape of the cartridges themselves differs slightly between the two regions, preventing direct compatibility

without modification. Yeah, most of the time I test it off of it anyway to cover off so it doesn't really matter. That makes sense. Testing with the cover off gives you easy access to the cartridge slot and other components, making it more convenient for troubleshooting and repairs. Plus, absolutely, keeping down. So, let's go back to NES, top loaders compared to front loaders. Sure, let's talk about the NES. Top loaders versus front loaders. The original NES, released in 1985, is a front loader. It has a distinctive design where you insert the game cartridge into a slot and then push it down to lock it in place. This design was meant to make the console more appealing as an entertainment device, but it led to issues with the connector

pins, causing the infamous blinking red light problem. In 1993, Nintendo released the NES-101, also known as the NES Top Loader. This model features a more compact design, with cartridges inserted from the top, similar to the Super Nintendo. This design improved reliability and reduced the connection issues seen in the front-loading model. However, the top loader lacks composite AV output, offering only RF, which was a downside for some users. The top loader is generally considered more durable and less prone to the blinking issues of the front loader, making it a favorite among collectors and retro gamers. There is an AV mod for that, correct? Yes, that's

correct. There is an AV mod available for the NES top loader. This modification adds composite video and stereo audio outputs to the console, providing a cleaner video signal and improved audio quality compared to the standard RF output. The mod is popular among retro gaming enthusiasts who want to enjoy their NES games with better AV quality on modern TVs without the need for RF connections. And then the Fancom was completely different than the NES. Yes, the original Famicom, released in Japan in 1983, is quite different from the NES in terms of design and functionality. Here are some key differences.

1. The Famicom has a compact, boxy design with a red and white color scheme. The controllers are hardwired into the console and stored in slots on the sides of the console when not in use, which is different from the detachable controllers of the NES. Cartridge size. Famicom cartridges are smaller and have a different shape compared to NES cartridges. The Famicom cartridges are smaller and have a different shape compared to NES cartridges. The Famicom's cartridge slot is also different, making the two systems' games physically incompatible without an adapter. 3. Expansion Port The Famicom has an expansion port on the front for accessories like the Famicom Disk System.

The NES has a similar port on the bottom, but it was rarely used. RF and AV output. The original Famicom only has RF output, while the NES offers both RF and composite AV output. This difference means the NES can more easily connect to modern TVs with AV inputs. The second controller of the Famicom has a built-in What does it have? So yeah, so Famicom is really fun. And if you get the disc system, that's even best. The Famicom disc system. The extra. The Famicom disc system was an add-on for the original Famicom, released in Japan in 1986. It used proprietary floppy disks, called discards, to load games, offering several advantages over traditional cartridges at the time.

1. Cost-effectiveness Discards were cheaper to produce than cartridges, making games more affordable for consumers. 2. Rewritability Players could take their disc cards to kiosks at retail locations to have new games written over old ones, providing a form of reusability and expanding the library of games without buying new discs. Expanded game sizes. the discs offered more storage than the cartridges of that era allowing for larger and more complex games the disc system connected to the famicom through the

expansion port and sat underneath the console it included a ram adapter that plugged into the cartridge slot and a disc drive for loading the games. While popular in Japan, the disk system was never released in North America, partly because by the time the NES gained popularity there, advancements in cartridge technology had made them more affordable. Right, I also have the Sharp Twin Famicom. The Sharp Twin Famicom is a fantastic piece of gaming history. It's an all-in-one system released only in Japan that combines the Famicom and the Famicom Disk System into a single unit.

Developed by Sharp Corporation in 1986, it has a unique design and offers several benefits. Convenience, by integrating both systems, players can enjoy games from Famicom cartridges and discards without needing separate hardware. Two, enhanced AV output. The twin Famicom includes composite AV output, offering better video and audio quality than the original Famicom's RF-only output. 3. Unique aesthetic. The system has a distinctive design, with models available in black, red, and black-green color schemes. Built-in microphone. Like the original Famicom, the twin Famicom's second controller includes a

microphone, which some Famicom games used. It's a great collector's item and a practical way to experience both Famicom cartridges and disc card games if you have a collection. Those hard disks are really cool designed. Absolutely. The disc cards for the Famicom Disk System have a unique and appealing design. They're reminiscent of mini floppy disks and come in bright yellow, making them stand out. The disks have a sliding shutter to protect the magnetic disk inside, similar to floppy disks, adding to their charm. They also have a label area for game artwork or titles, making them a visually interesting

part of gaming history. Collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts often appreciate them not just for their functionality, but also as a cool piece of gaming memorabilia. Yeah, I have Zelda 1 and 2 on those hard disks. That's awesome having the original zelda one and two on famicom disc system disc cards is a real treasure for any collector those games are classics and having them in their original disc card format is a unique way to experience the magic of Hyrule. Do you ever play them on the original hardware? I'm having a disk drive issue. Is there any mod out there to add other games onto those disks?

As you were saying before? Yes, there are ways to add other games to Famicom Disk System Disk Cards. Originally, Nintendo had Disk Writer Kiosks where players could rewrite games onto their disks. While these kiosks are long gone, enthusiasts have developed methods to rewrite disc cards using modern technology. One common method involves using a device like the FDS stick or FDS loader, which can interface with a PC to write disc images onto disc cards. This process requires a bit of technical know-how and the right equipment,

but it allows you to expand your game library on the original hardware. If you're interested, it might be worth looking at into one of these devices or finding a community of Famicom enthusiasts who can guide you through the process. Is there an Everdrive Famicom hard disk? Yes, there's an Everdrive for the Famicom called the Everdrive N8. It's a flash cartridge that lets you log games from an SD card, providing a convenient way to play a wide range of Famicom and NES games on original

hardware. The Everdrive N8 fits into the Famicom's cartridge slot and is compatible with the Mapper support. However, the Everdrive N8 doesn't natively support Famicom Disk System games because it doesn't have the necessary hardware for the Disk System's FM sound channel. For Famicom Disk System games, you would typically use a RAM adapter and a method to load disk images, such as the FDS stick or FDS loader. These devices emulate the Famicom Disk System and allow you to play Disk System games on

original hardware without needing the actual Disk System. Awesome, thank you very much. Alright, so that's pretty fun. The Famicom is really fun. I'm going to run out. I got a couple of those disks. So that's my little story,, story. I mean, my little, um, section today, the Super Nintendos and Nintendos, Famicons and Super Fancoms. Uh, I'll talk to you guys later.