Episode 359: Famicom Disk System
Added 2021-02-15 14:00:05 +0000 UTCWow! Heck! Next week, the Nintendo Family Computer Disk System turns 35 years old. For those keeping score, that's pretty old. Chances are very, very high that you personally did not own a Disk System back during its heyday, since most of you did not grow up in Japan. Since the Disk System never actually made its way beyond Japan (even though the NES's unused expansion port seemed ready-made for connecting to it), and there wasn't exactly a booming import gaming scene in 1986, it went down in history as one of those foreign-market oddities.
And yet, despite never reaching the U.S., the Disk System nevertheless had an outsized impact on the gaming habits of American and European kids. Nearly all its best games eventually made their way overseas—and the need for cartridges to parallel critical Disk System features (like the ability to save progress and other data) helped pave the way for innovations like carts backed with lithium batteries. Even if you didn't play Disk System in the ’80s, the Disk System made your gaming experiences better.
This week, Nintendo history expert Chris Kohler and author/editor of an entire book dedicated to Disk System Kurt Kalata join me (Jeremy) to talk about the history and importance of the FDS, the games it gave us, and our own experiences with the chunky little self-destructing box.
Cover art this week comes to us courtesy of John Pading, and Greg Leahy handled the edits, which means he is responsible for including the following jams:
- 12:40 - Arumana no Kiseki: Stage 1/4/6
- 23:04 - Metroid: Title Theme
- 30:39 - Famicom Golf U.S. Course: Name Data
- 37:18 - Akuu Senki Raijin: Stage 1/2
- 44:06 - Moero TwinBee (Stinger): Power-Up Theme
The Legend of Zelda: Opening Theme - 59:51 - Dracula II (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest): Bloody Tears
- 1:08:53 - Zelda II: Opening Theme
- 1:17:28 - Aliens (Unreleased): Stage 4
- 1:24:00 - Nazo no Murasamejou: Castle Theme
- 1:34:09 - All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros.: Ending Theme
- Closing - The Legend of Zelda: Ending Theme
Comments
I enjoyed this episode so much, and I learned a lot!! Everyone did a great job.
Hayden Scott-Baron
2021-02-21 07:31:17 +0000 UTCSuch a great episode.... Always was aware of the details, but this episode connected all the dots. Nintendo was once ahead of the game, basically setting up non-internet system for large scale digital distribution of cheap $5 indie niche games 20 years before steam, x-box marketplace etc rolled out.
Chase
2021-02-19 12:32:21 +0000 UTCLast time I went to Japan, I fit 2 weeks of clothes in half a carry-on suitcase just so I could bring home a Sharp Famicom Disc System. I've heard that the Sharp FDS is more reliable. I don't know if that's actually true, but mine works.
Elliot Long
2021-02-18 20:04:24 +0000 UTCExcellent episode.
Kormakur Gardarsson
2021-02-18 11:29:51 +0000 UTCYou did him a favor because eventually he was going to face a giant lawsuit from the Topps chewing gum company
SilverHairedMiddleAgedTuxedoMask
2021-02-18 08:58:46 +0000 UTCIf we’re talking Switch I vote JOYCON DRIFT. Those things are *expensive*
Diamond Feit
2021-02-18 01:28:16 +0000 UTCMade me curious, what are the single design flaws for every Nintendo system? I imagine besides Cartridges/Minidiscs for N64/GameCube I'd go Useless Folding Stand on Switch and terrible hinge on the DS
SilverHairedMiddleAgedTuxedoMask
2021-02-18 00:11:59 +0000 UTCI still remember my first time playing an imported Famicom version of SMB3 at the house of my father's friend, who just happened to be a programmer for Melbourne House. He asked me what I thought of their latest game for the C-64, which was a knock-off of Green Beret titled Bazooka Joe. I responded that I thought it sucked. Years later, the same guy thanked me for my honesty and told me it helped him realise he should stop making video games. I'm still not sure if I did him a favour or steered him wrong...
2021-02-16 11:46:21 +0000 UTCThe Japanese is “koh-nah-mee” but there are plenty of Japanese words that I grew up saying differently and I struggle to correct myself (case in point: anime)
Diamond Feit
2021-02-16 10:30:17 +0000 UTCThis is great to hear! I had a question I kept hearing Ka-nami I thought it was Ko-nami had I been saying it wrong this whole time?
Nick Rothe
2021-02-15 19:45:47 +0000 UTCThis is exciting! I recently read Kurt’s book and have been working my way through some FDS games since I got an NT Mini. I had no idea it was approaching an anniversary. I can’t wait to hear what you guys have to say about it.
YonderVittles
2021-02-15 14:11:04 +0000 UTCNice topic. Hope JP's disk system is still alive and kicking.
Normallyretro
2021-02-15 14:10:59 +0000 UTC
