Here's one to make some of us feel old - the Famicom is 32 years old today, released in Japan on 15th July 1983. It was, of course, the system that would be revamped and remodelled as the NES in October 1985 in North America.
Famicom was the shortened name for Family Computer; a key difference of this original model over the eventual NES came with the controllers, in particular. They were permanently wired to the system, so couldn't be replaced, and also had a functional microphone that had limited use in games like The Legend of Zelda.
We've written extensively about the Famicom in the past, so by all means check out our article on the history of the system, or leap forward a couple of iterations for our hardware review of the AV Famicom.
The Famicom will forever be an integral part of Nintendo's history; let us know if you have one of these original Japanese models, or share some memories of its successor the NES. Both are part of the big N's glorious 8-bit history.
Comments 47
First
That's great! Congrats Nintendo, you have come a long way
@Ninstarkof First? Really? Anyways...happy birthday, Famicom!
@NintendoFan64 come on, this is my first time being first on @NintendoLife
@Ninstarkof Sorry, I just don't see what the big deal is...
@NintendoFan64 it's not a big deal. It's something people do to make themselves feel like they accomplished something, even if it was just commenting first.
@Ninstarkof Um...okay...I'll just let you be, then.
It's a pity Mr Iwata wasn't around to celebrate this anniversary nor to see the Mario 30th anniversary in September
@FragRed "What we do in life, echoes in eternity" - Marcos Aurelius
He never left
@NintendoLife I thank you for giving me my account back, but I need to say I wasn't disrespectful to Iwata. I said my condolences and the things I'm thankful for. But when people say that he was like family and he did such a good job as CEO, that is when I called bull. I said overall he did a bad job as CEO, but not him as a person or as a game developer.
Famicom > NES
I wish I never let my nephew inherit my FamiCom. It could still be functioning now to play it with my kid if I've kept it.
@NintendoFan64 you should really try it. You feel this sense of pride and achievement
@NintendoLife Any idea what's coming to the eshop tomorrow please.
Hurray for Japanese consoles with hardwired controllers!
What a great design the Famicom was!
@FragRed at least he saw the 25th anniversary. May his banana loving soul rest in peace
@PanbanRichard although we got the console late, the redesign was worth it. Not only is the controller hardwired, but the cord is really short. Usa!
I recently watched an AVGN video where James and Mike screamed, er, the F word at the Famicom's microphone while playing Zelda and cleared a whole room of Pols Voices. That was fun stuff.
I think the Wii should've been called the Family Console or FamiCon.
The 1980s hold a lot of sweet memories in terms of cultural references from my childhood. Duran Duran, the Deloren, the 1984 Summer Olympics. But I do not associate the famicom and the NES with the 1980s in the same sense . . . because, unlike so many fads of the decade, they transcended the 80s.
weird question... where did you plug the zapper in the original famicom... In my country what we had was a famicom knock off called the family which had player one controller hardwired like a famicom but controller 2 could be umplugged and replaced with the zapper... so I'm wondering how did it work on the real famicom were both controllers were hard wired
@andyg1971 Not Metroid Zero Mission, that's for sure.
Oddly I'm not sure I became aware of the NES until the 90s - everyone I knew in the 80s seemed to have computers (BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, Spectrum, Atari, Apple Mac, Commodore, IBM, Amiga) or a Sega console. I reckon I probably played on a SNES before I played on a NES.
About the only NES game I did play was Goal (loved the 2 player penalty shoot-outs), and maybe a tiny bit of one of the Marios. Add Duck Hunt and that's about my only experience of the NES.
Perhaps I need to pick one up some time...
It does have a steady job. It gets show time all the time on all Nintendo platforms forever in virtual console form
@DualWielding Do you see the little red plastic thing on the front of the Famicom? You have to remove it and plug the zapper right there.
@Mr_Zurkon Not rubbing it in but I am in the UK so I already have Zero Mission, would love to see Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn on the eshop. It is crazy that USA still doesn't have MZM, I feel your pain.
The famicom turned 32 today while i turned 14 today
Happy Birthday, CosmicYoshi65! Nice name. . . would make for a really cool Amiibo, lol
@CosmicYoshi65 Happy birthday!
I love those coincidental birthdays. A little of topic, but my birthday is on the 23rd of september, the same day Nintendo was founded.
But happy birthday to the Famicom! Even though my first consoles were Wii and DS Lite, I now have an NES, and I'm loving it. Nothing beats playing Duck Hunt with an actual zapper
Happy birthday famicom.
@LinkSword I do the same on Super Mario 3D World, when you have to blow into the mic lol screaming into the gamepad never gets old!
I've always wanted a Famicom, I really like the cartridges (compared to the big bulky ones the rest of the world got) Plus there were a few exclusive games which I wouldn't mind trying out.
I was just watching the Game Historian YouTube video on Super Mario Bros. 2 yesterday and it got me thinking to how big the difference in graphics and technique was between Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3. The NES/Famicom was such a well-designed system for its time and it's nothing short of amazing what great developers were capable of doing with it. I still look back on those days with great fondness.
Thank you to both @bluedogrulez and @Poketendo for wishing me a happy birthday
That job and mortgage line....so perfect
NOW YOU'RE PAYING FOR YOUR MORTGAGE! NINTENDO MORTGAGE!!!
I know lots of people at that age without a mortgage or steady job lol they are also some of the smartest people i know FYI
@CosmicYoshi65 Happy birthday! Also, the date you made your account, 9/13/2014, is the 29th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., and the date I created my YouTube channel!
@CosmicYoshi65 Happy birthday! What'd you get? Oh and what kind of cake?
@NTELLIGENTMAN I like your profile picture
I own a Famicom and a NES. The famicom is a neat little system, though the coax connection is a bit crap. Bought it to play those alternate versions of castlevania and other games that have the extra sound channels. https://twitter.com/Gio32k/status/593414288645185536
I always liked that you could properly sit the controllers on the actual console unit with the original Famicom. It's just a nice little touch.
@ninstarkof if being first is your idea of "achieving something" and gives you a feeling of "pride" then I really wouldn't want to have your sad little life. And shut up about Iwata too. Show some respect,
Wow! And last year it was 31 years old. And next year it'll be 33 years old!
Call me when it gets to 50.
@Poketendo
Yeah right? My sister turned 19 on the 11th... The same day that...
@Giygas_95 thnx i got windwaker hd and lemon cake
@Zelda_Rocks really i never noticed that and thanks for saying happy birthday
The Japanese (Famicom) version of Castlevania III is vastly superior to the North American / EU versions. Sadly, own a NES and I have to resort to emulators for that.
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