Famicom to NES converter?

2014-07-06 08:56:01 am

I recently just bought a NES Top loader currently without AV only the RF and I purchased the japanese version of Ninja Gaiden III I've read mixed about if the top loader is region free some people say it is some say it wont fit some say you are fine. I've been looking around for a famicom to NES converter just in case the game for whatever reason hits one of the problems i mentioned before however the only thing i can find are the 72-60 pin converter not the other way around

Thread title:

JackintheBox333

2014-07-06 01:43:21 pm

Professional Shaq Fu Speedrunner

The NES top loader is a 72 pin system. It lacks the 10NES chip, so you can play European NES carts on it if you want, along with other unlicensed NES games along with Japanese games with a 60 to 72 pin adaptor. As for where you can find an adaptor, look on Ebay or Amazon, or if you have the old style 5 screw NES games, you can open them up and see if they have a 60 to 72 pin adaptor within them, as some early NES games actually used famicom 60 pin circuit boards due to production problems on the 72 pin boards. You can use a regular small screwdriver to open these games up, as Nintendo didn't go to security bits till they transitioned to the 3 screw model NES plastic case.

presjpolk

Edit history:

presjpolk: 2014-07-07 04:53:42 am

2014-07-07 04:50:25 am

HELLO!

60-72 pin converters will let you run Famicom games on an NTSC NES just fine, except for the Famicom games with added sound chips on board. Those games will be missing sound channels.

Famicom Ninja Gaiden 3 is not one of those though, so you're fine.

yggdrizzle

2014-07-07 11:03:13 pm

Here is something I've written up since I'm asked about this very frequently. In the near future I'll be testing out fitting adapters in carts / carts on adapters, since a lot of what I wrote here is vague. I currently have both the krikzz and official adapters to mess around with. I wouldn't recommend sticking an adapter board in the console without some sort of plastic (like a cut NES cart), but you can do that; ignore the parts about donor carts if so.

Playing Famicom (FC) on a US NES:

You will likely want one of three things, listed here from most common to least common:

1) Krikzz's Famicom to NES adapter: http://shop.retrogate.com/Famicom-To-NES-adapter-FTNES.htm
-Price: $25 + shipping (Shipping may take 2-3 weeks)
-NES donor cart ($1-2)
-Tool to cut that cart
-Ribbon/string to pull it out of the console (if using frontloader)

This was made for using a flashcart inside of an NES cart. To use a Famicom cartridge, it would be best to take a cheap NES cartridge and cut off the top. You will probably also want a string or ribbon attached to the NES cartridge to pull it out of a front-loading (original model) NES; otherwise, the Famicom cartridge will come out, and the adapter will be stuck inside.

You may also need to clip off parts of the PCB (or the NES cart) in order to fit it on the corners. I've never used one, so I can't tell you exactly how.

Examples of this, which also applies to (2) below:

http://picserver.weebly.com/uploads/6/6/1/6/6616768/5419284_orig.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/CaptainWalrus/Converter/100_1807.jpg
http://hobie-wan.nfshost.com/famadapt.jpg

As an added bonus, this adapter is already modified to allow for expansion sound from Famicom cartridges (Akumajo Densetsu (Castlevania III (J)), Gimmick!, etc).

2) An 'official' adapter found in US NES cartridges.
-Price: $30+
-Tool to cut that cart
-Ribbon/string to pull it out of the console (if using frontloader)

Early in the NES era, some cartridges were manufactured using a Famicom board, and an adapter to play it on the NES. The Famicom board can be removed, of course. Expained in detail here: http://famicomworld.com/workshop/articles/nes-cart-converters/

While it used to be easy to find one of these convertor cartridges 'in the wild', they are almost impossible to find, as sellers and buyers alike are aware of their value. Like (1) above, you will have to cut a cartridge up to fit a game onto it.

You may also need to file down the edges of this adapter, as it is a bit thick for most Famicom cartridges -- they will fit, but with a very, very tight grip.

These adapters need to be modified (requiring soldering) to allow for expansion sound from Famicom cartridges (Akumajo Densetsu (Castlevania III (J)), Gimmick!, etc).

3) A third party adapter.
-Price: ??$30-50??, not readily available, shows up occasionally on eBay
-Typically no tools needed, most have a ribbon already (for frontloader)

Examples:
http://www.digitpress.com/room-of-doom/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=39234&g2_serialNumber=2
http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/cult777/eretro/converter.jpg
http://www.gamesniped.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Honey-Bee-Adapter-Japan-22-Video-Game-Multi-Cart-Nintendo-NES-Famicom.jpg

These adapters are rather difficult to find, but should be in the $30+ range. (There is no reason to pay more than $40 or so, if the convenience is worth it to you.) Since most countries that manufacture this type of hardware use Famicom-style consoles, NES to Famicom adapters are much, much more common to find manufactured today.

Here is something I've written up since I'm asked about this very frequently. In the near future I'll be testing out fitting adapters in carts / carts on adapters, since a lot of what I wrote here is vague. I currently have both the krikzz and official adapters to mess around with. I wouldn't recommend sticking an adapter board in the console without some sort of plastic (like a cut NES cart), but you can do that; ignore the parts about donor carts if so.

Playing Famicom (FC) on a US NES:

You will likely want one of three things, listed here from most common to least common:

1) Krikzz's Famicom to NES adapter: http://shop.retrogate.com/Famicom-To-NES-adapter-FTNES.htm
-Price: $25 + shipping (Shipping may take 2-3 weeks)
-NES donor cart ($1-2)
-Tool to cut that cart
-Ribbon/string to pull it out of the console (if using frontloader)

This was made for using a flashcart inside of an NES cart. To use a Famicom cartridge, it would be best to take a cheap NES cartridge and cut off the top. You will probably also want a string or ribbon attached to the NES cartridge to pull it out of a front-loading (original model) NES; otherwise, the Famicom cartridge will come out, and the adapter will be stuck inside.

You may also need to clip off parts of the PCB (or the NES cart) in order to fit it on the corners. I've never used one, so I can't tell you exactly how.

Examples of this, which also applies to (2) below:

http://picserver.weebly.com/uploads/6/6/1/6/6616768/5419284_orig.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/CaptainWalrus/Converter/100_1807.jpg
http://hobie-wan.nfshost.com/famadapt.jpg

As an added bonus, this adapter is already modified to allow for expansion sound from Famicom cartridges (Akumajo Densetsu (Castlevania III (J)), Gimmick!, etc).

2) An 'official' adapter found in US NES cartridges.
-Price: $30+
-Tool to cut that cart
-Ribbon/string to pull it out of the console (if using frontloader)

Early in the NES era, some cartridges were manufactured using a Famicom board, and an adapter to play it on the NES. The Famicom board can be removed, of course. Expained in detail here: http://famicomworld.com/workshop/articles/nes-cart-converters/

While it used to be easy to find one of these convertor cartridges 'in the wild', they are almost impossible to find, as sellers and buyers alike are aware of their value. Like (1) above, you will have to cut a cartridge up to fit a game onto it.

You may also need to file down the edges of this adapter, as it is a bit thick for most Famicom cartridges -- they will fit, but with a very, very tight grip.

These adapters need to be modified (requiring soldering) to allow for expansion sound from Famicom cartridges (Akumajo Densetsu (Castlevania III (J)), Gimmick!, etc).

3) A third party adapter.
-Price: ??$30-50??, not readily available, shows up occasionally on eBay
-Typically no tools needed, most have a ribbon already (for frontloader)

Examples: 
http://www.digitpress.com/room-of-doom/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=39234&g2_serialNumber=2
http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/cult777/eretro/converter.jpg
http://www.gamesniped.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Honey-Bee-Adapter-Japan-22-Video-Game-Multi-Cart-Nintendo-NES-Famicom.jpg

These adapters are rather difficult to find, but should be in the $30+ range. (There is no reason to pay more than $40 or so, if the convenience is worth it to you.) Since most countries that manufacture this type of hardware use Famicom-style consoles, NES to Famicom adapters are much, much more common to find manufactured today.