Twin Famicom

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Twin Famicom
Twin Famicom logo.svg
Sharp-Twin-Famicom-Console.jpg
The second version of the Sharp Twin Famicom in black (AN-505-BK)
ManufacturerSharp Corporation
TypeVideo game console
GenerationThird generation (8-bit era)
Release date
  • JP: July 1, 1986
[1]
Introductory price¥32,000[2]
MediaROM cassette
Famicom Disk Card
Controller input2 controller ports

The Twin Famicom (Japanese: ツインファミコン, Hepburn: Tsuinn Famikon) is a home video game console that was produced by Sharp Corporation in 1986 and was only released in Japan. It is a licensed Nintendo product that combines the Family Computer (Famicom) and the Family Computer Disk System (FDS) into a single piece of hardware.[3] Sharp removed most Nintendo branding from the system, even going as far as to remove the "Nintendo" branding from the Famicom Disk System startup, replacing it with the same "FAMICOM" logo used on the system itself.[4]

Overview[]

The original version of the Sharp Twin Famicom in black (AN-500-B)

The basic parts of the Twin Famicom include a slot for Famicom cartridges, a slot for the Disk System's Disk Cards, a switch located right below the cartridge slot to switch between the two formats, a power button, a reset button, and an eject button. The back of the console has slots for controller storage.[5]

The original version of the Sharp Twin Famicom in red (AN-500-R)

The system does not allow both slots to be used at the same time. The switch that changes the mode from disk to cartridge works in a manner in which choosing to use the cartridge slot will block the disk drive, and vice versa. However, in some systems, only the cartridge slot will be blocked, but it is impossible to change to cartridge mode while the disk is being read.

Specifications[]

  • Main Processor: Ricoh 2A03 at 1.79 MHz
  • RAM: 2 KB work RAM, 2 KB video RAM, 32 KB work RAM in FDS mode, 8 KB video RAM in FDS mode
  • ROM: FDS BIOS and 60-pin "cassette" (cartridge) slot
  • Audio: Six voices; two pulse wave channels, one triangle channel, one noise channel, one PCM channel, one 6-bit wavetable channel.
  • Graphics: Ricoh 2C02; 256×240 pixels, 64 sprites, can display 25 colors out of 53

Features[]

The second version of the Sharp Twin Famicom in red (AN-505-RD)

Like all other Famicom consoles, the Twin Famicom has an expansion port that allows additional peripherals to be connected to the console, such as the beam gun or another controller; it is located on the right side of the console and labeled "Expansion Terminal A" (拡張端子A, Kakuchō Tanshi A).[6] The console also features three additional expansion ports; port "B" is located next to port "A", while ports "C" and "D" are located on the bottom rear, hidden by a removable cover.[5][6] However, unlike port "A", no known existing peripherals use them.[6]

Whereas the standard Famicom only has one color combination, the Twin Famicom was initially sold in two colors: red with black highlights (AN-500R), and black with red highlights (AN-500B). A second version of the system was released in 1987 with a slightly different case design, turbo controllers, and two different color schemes; black with green highlights (AN-505-BK) and red with beige highlights (AN-505-RD).[7]

The Twin Famicom generates an NTSC signal, but outputs composite video and monophonic audio via RCA connectors instead of using an RF modulator,[3][7] allowing for greater audiovisual quality on TVs and monitors with such inputs; such connections were quite rare in Japan when it was released.[5] An external RF modulator is bundled with the unit for connection through a TV's antenna/cable input. The two gamepads are hardwired into the console, so they can not be disconnected.[7]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Retro Diary". Retro Gamer. No. 91. Imagine Publishing. June 2011. p. 15. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  2. ^ ウワーマン (July 1, 2021). "ツインファミコンが発売35周年。シャープから発売されたファミコンとディスクシステムが一体化したゲームキッズ羨望の豪華マシン【今日は何の日？】". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Dodgy disks". Retro Gamer. Vol. 2 no. 1. Live Publishing. February 2005. pp. 23–24. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "famicom". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c 森英雄 (August 25, 2016). "カセット＋ディスク、高嶺の花、憧れの的 - シャープ「ツインファミコン」". Mynavi News (in Japanese). Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Bivens, Danny; Kaluszka, Aaron (October 26, 2011). "Nintendo's Expansion Ports". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Retroinspection: Famicom Disk System". Retro Gamer. No. 75. Imagine Publishing. April 2010. p. 64. Retrieved June 8, 2021.

External links[]

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