 | |
 The second version of the Sharp Twin Famicom in black | |
| Manufacturer | Sharp Corporation |
|---|---|
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Third generation (8-bit era) |
| Lifespan |
|
| Media | ROM cassette Famicom Disk Card |
| Controller input | 2 controller ports |
The Twin Famicom (Japanese: ツインファミコン, Hepburn: Tsuinn Famikon) is a video game console system 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.[2]
Overview[]
The basic parts of the Twin Famicom include a 60-pin slot for Famicom cartridges, a slot for Disk System's Disk Cards, a switch located right below the cartridge slot which allows the player to choose between "Cassette (カセット, Kasetto)" or "Disk (ディスク, Disuku)", the power button, reset button, and the eject buttons. FDS disks can be removed using the yellow button below the disk slot. The mechanism that it uses is similar to ones that are used in contemporary floppy disk drives. The eject button for cartridges is located between the power and reset buttons. It causes the cartridge to "pop" out of the slot, much like the way bread slices do when coming out of a pop-up toaster.
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[]
Red Twin Famicom variant
Like all other Famicom consoles, the Twin Famicom has a port that allows games like Moero TwinBee to support more than the usual two players and to which the Beam Gun can be attached. There also is a second port of a slightly different shape for connecting another Famicom via the black RAM unit that comes with the standard Famicom Disk System. This allows a standalone Famicom to use the disk drive on the Twin Famicom.
The original Famicom only has one color combination, and 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).[3]
Like the Famicom, the Twin Famicom uses NTSC but with an AV output rather than a RF modulator[2][3] with an RCA connector for composite video and mono audio, allowing for greater audiovisual quality on TVs and monitors with such inputs. 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 could not be disconnected.[3]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "Retro Diary". Retro Gamer (Imagine Publishing) (91): 15. June 2011. https://archive.org/stream/RetroGamerIssue091-095/Retro_Gamer_Issue_091#page/n15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Tokyo Web". Retro Gamer (Live Publishing) (13): 24. February 2005. https://archive.org/stream/RetroGamerIssue011-015/Retro_Gamer_Issue_013#page/n23.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Retroinspection". Retro Gamer (Imagine Publishing) (75): 64. April 2010. https://archive.org/stream/RetroGamerIssue071-075/Retro_Gamer_Issue_075#page/n59.
External links[]
Nintendo Entertainment System  | ||
|---|---|---|
| Accessories | Nintendo manufactured | Family Computer Disk System • Famicom Data Recorder • Famicom Modem • Family BASIC • NES Advantage • NES Four Score • NES Satellite • NES Zapper • Power Pad • R.O.B. |
| Third-party | Aladdin Deck Enhancer • Arkanoid Controller • Double Player • Game Genie • HES Unidaptor • Homework First • Jammer • LaserScope • Miracle Piano • Power Glove • Roll 'n Rocker • Speedboard • Super Controller • Teleplay Modem • Turbo Tech Controller • Turbo Touch 360 • Turbotronic • U-Force • Ultimate Superstick | |
| Hardware | Ricoh 2A03 microprocessor • Picture Processing Unit • Game Pak | |
| Software | List of Family Computer games (List of Family Computer Disk System games) • List of NES games | |
| Variations | NES-101 • NES Classic Edition • Twin Famicom • Sharp Nintendo Television • Famicom Titler • Hardware clones | |
 Sharp Corporation
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Divisions and subsidiaries |
Current | Sharp Solar • Takaya |
| Defunct | Optonica1 | |
| Shareholdings | Pioneer Corporation (14%) | |
| Calculators | EL-8 • EL-500W series • EL-5120 • QT-8B • QT-8D | |
| Notebooks | Current | PC-5000 • Sharp Actius RD3D |
| PCs | MZ • X1 • X68000 (X68000 games • MDX) | |
| Pocket and handheld |
PC-1211 • PC-1251 • PC-1350 • PC-1401 • PC-1403 • PC-1500 • PC-1600 • PC-E220 • PC-E500S • Wizard • Zaurus | |
| Mobile phones | GX15 • GX25 • GX29 • GX33 • J-SH04 • SH906i • SX862 | |
| Televisions and displays |
Aquos • Nintendo Television • Quattron • Super Famicom Naizou TV SF1 | |
| Other products |
Famicom Titler • Twin Famicom | |
| People | Tokuji Hayakawa | |
| Places | Abenobashi Terminal Building • Abeno-ku • Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre • Yaita | |