Family Computer Disk System
| Family Computer Disk System | |
|---|---|
| The logo for the Family Computer Disk System Official logo Family Computer and Family Computer Disk System The Family Computer with the Disk System RAM Adapter and disk drive attached to the console | |
| Generation | Third generation |
| Release dates | Japan February 21, 1986[1] British HK 1991[2] [better source needed] |
| Discontinued | 1993 (remained supported until September 25, 2003)[3] |
| Successor | Family Computer Network System |
The Family Computer Disk System (abbreviated as FCDS), often shortened to Famicom Disk System (abbreviated as FDS), is an add-on for the Family Computer. It allowed the Family Computer to play certain games on a proprietary floppy disk format called "Disk Cards" rather than conventional cartridges, as Disk Cards were not only cheaper but also allowed for higher data capacity than cartridges at the time. Besides that, the disks were rewritable, so saving was easier.
Nintendo sought to make Disk Cards a permanent standard for all of its future games at that point, but this plan was abandoned a few years later due to various hardware issues, most prominently the fact that the system's games were easy to pirate. Later in 1986, Nintendo sought to counter this problem by installing special Disk Writer kiosks that would allow consumers to write games onto Disk Cards for 500円 as opposed to the retail price of 2,600円; some Disk System games were even exclusive to these kiosks. The service was very popular, remaining in place until the Family Computer line's discontinuation in 2003, 9 years after the discontinuation of the Disk System itself. Excluding prize disks, FDS games were available through retail, Disk Writer, or both. Mario Bros. Returns and the FDS ports for Donkey Kong , Donkey Kong Jr. , Pinball , and Wrecking Crew could be purchased only through the Disk Writer. The former was priced at 400円 because of its promotional nature, making it the cheapest FDS game. I am a teacher: Super Mario Sweater was retail-only software, but it was sold in handicraft stores. All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros. was sold through a mail order lottery system and at Nippon Broadcasting System's building on a single day. The Disk Writer was also capable of updating software for any game that needed it (thus acting as an early precursor to modern internet-based software patching), the sole exception being Golf: Japan Course , which required mailing the disk to Nintendo.
Games[edit ]
Differences from cartridge versions[edit ]
For the most part, FDS games are identical to their Famicom or NES cartridge versions, including their title screen copyright years and any absences of saving data. Here are some differences found in Super Mario games:[4]
- Donkey Kong : When Mario scores, the points are in orange instead of white.
- Super Mario Bros. : The Minus World is completely different due to different memory being loaded when entering the world. Finishing the last level, "-3", counts as beating the game, which starts Hard Mode.
- Wrecking Crew : It is possible to save custom levels without the Family BASIC 's Data Recorder accessory.
Blue and gold disks[edit ]
Six games received blue disks, five were made by Nintendo and were compatible with Disk Fax, four of which are Super Mario games. All compatible blue disk games were subject of tournaments with scores submitted through the Disk Fax, a device that could send contestants' data and high scores to Nintendo. The tournament began as soon as the blue disks were released.
| Tournament number | Game | Date | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golf: Japan Course | February 21 to May 10, 1987 (original deadline was April 30) | Prizes included two different gold disk versions of the game, each with a harder course. The top 100 players received the Champions' Course and gold plaques. 5,000 others received the Professional Course. |
| 2 | Golf: US Course | June 14 to August 31, 1987 | The top 100 players received trophies. 10,000 received a gold Famicom cartridge of Punch-Out!! and 1,000 got Golf: Prize Card, a harder gold disk version. |
| 3 | Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race | October 30 to December 15, 1987 | The top 100 players of each of the four difficulty levels received trophies. 10,000 received a special edition Game & Watch of Super Mario Bros. |
| 5 | Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally | April 14 to May 31, 1988 | The top 100 players of each of the three car types received trophies. 10,000 received stationery sets. |
The three gold disks and Wakusei Aton Gaiden are the only FDS games that were never available through retail.[5] No gold or blue disk games have a cartridge equivalent and were distributed only in Japan. An NES counterpart to an unreleased sequel to Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race was planned, but was rejected by Nintendo of America for looking too "cute."[6]
Super Mario games[edit ]
This gallery does not include Family Computer or Nintendo Entertainment System games.
Appearances in the Super Mario franchise[edit ]
The Disk System makes a cameo appearance in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door , on Grodus's computer at X-Naut Fortress. His computer accepts a Data Disk that looks like a Disk Card and loads up the Disk System's BIOS when turned on.[7]
The Disk System's BIOS with Mario in it in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
The Disk System's BIOS with Luigi in it in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
_(Switch).png){kind=link}
Diskun[edit ]
A mascot known as Diskun has featured heavily in marketing for the Family Computer Disk System and its software. He is portrayed as a stylized Disk Card with eyes. Cameos of Diskun can be found across the Super Mario franchise.
- Several Diskun appear in the default service data screens of Golf: Japan Course and Golf: US Course . Diskun also appears on the score sheet menu in U.S. Course.
- A limited number of Super Mario Bros. Game & Watches with Diskun-themed packaging were awarded to contestants of a Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race tournament held in Japan in late 1987.
- Diskun cameos as a toy in Booster Tower in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars . This was made more apparent in the game's remake for the Nintendo Switch due to the higher quality graphics.
- A trophy and spirit of Diskun can be unlocked in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate , respectively.
- An unused sprite of an enemy resembling a black-colored angry Diskun can be found in the E3 demo of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga .
- In the WarioWare: Touched! microgame Power Chord, the rock star has a tattoo of Diskun on their right arm.
- A poster with Diskun can be seen behind Shop Manager Iwata during 9-Volt and 18-Volt's stage in WarioWare: Smooth Moves .
- Diskun appears as a Mystery Mushroom costume in Super Mario Maker , and can be randomly unlocked by clearing the 100 Mario Challenge on Super Expert difficulty.
- In The Super Mario Bros. Movie , a shop named "Disk-kun Hardware Co." can be seen in Brooklyn, featuring the mascot in its logo.
Gallery[edit ]
Diskun on the service data screen of Golf: Japan Course
The Diskun-themed Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch
A Diskun toy in Booster Tower in Super Mario RPG
Diskun's trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee
The unused Diskun enemy sprite from the Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga E3 demo
The Diskun tattoo in the Power Chord microgame in WarioWare: Touched!
The Diskun poster in WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Diskun's Costume Mario sprite in Super Mario Maker
"Disk-kun Hardware Co." sign from The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Multimedia[edit ]
Names in other languages[edit ]
Family Computer Disk System / Famicom Disk System[edit ]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ファミリーコンピュータ ディスクシステム Famirī Konpyūta Disuku Shisutemu |
Family Computer Disk System | [8] | |
| ファミコン ディスクシステム Famikon Disuku Shisutemu |
Famicom Disk System | [8] |
Diskun[edit ]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ディスくん Disukun |
Portmanteau of「ディスク」(disuku, "disk") and the honorific「くん」(kun ) | [9] | |
| Russian | Дискун Diskun |
Diskun | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | [10] |
Notes[edit ]
- Mario and Luigi appear in the Disk System's BIOS, seen when the Disk System is started. The sprites are based on ones from Mario Bros. for the Famicom.
- When sped up 19 times, the Nintendo GameCube menu ambience is revealed to be a slowed-down version of the startup tune for the Disk System BIOS.[11]
References[edit ]
- ^ Famicom Disk System (FDS). Famicom World. Retrieved July 2, 2024. (Archived June 25, 2024, 19:36:59 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ Nakamanga (September 30, 2019). Famicom and Disk System Hong Kong Version - Commercial. YouTube. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ ディスクシステムとは?. nintendo.co.jp (Japanese). Retrieved June 1, 2024. (Archived June 29, 2019, 04:41:00 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ カセットとディスクカード両方で発売. pony.velvet.jp (Japanese). Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ Famicom Disksystem - All Software and Version List. pony.velvet.jp (English). Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ Nintendo (September 19, 2017). F-ZERO Developer Interview. Retrieved September 20, 2017. (Archived September 12, 2017, 01:18:23 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ wildgoosespeeder (March 26, 2010). Paper Mario - The Thousand-Year Door - Famicom Disk System. YouTube (English). Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ a b November 4, 2016. 「ニンテンドークラシックミニ ファミリーコンピュータ」発売記念インタビュー 第4回「ゼルダの伝説篇」. nintendo.com (Japanese). Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ 2008. VCスマシュピンポン. nintendo.co.jp (Japanese). Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ Spirit inventory (7 Dec. 2018). Super Smash Bros. Ultimate by Nintendo, Sora Ltd., and BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc (Ver. 13.0.3). Nintendo (Russian).
- ^ Media:GCN Main Menu Sped Up.oga