http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-x-2043-x-x-x Before E3 I saw this or something like it in a local gameshop. How safe is it to use? Will it damage the carts?
Welcome to the world of Famiclones, my good sir. Long story short is that the NES/Famicom is made up of easily and cheaply cloned components (and legally too, as Nintendo's patents have run out). In fact, the NES so easily cloned that it has been reduced to fit into a singe, rather tiny, microchip. So, what this "Yobo FC Game Console" is, is a redesigned, streamlined famicom. Keep in mind though that this is not a licensed product. Though it will play (most of) your Famicom or NES carts (depending on the model) it's not an official Nintendo product...so...though I've never heard of a Famiclone coming alive and eating somebody's family...it just might be possible. Safety? Well, it probably won't eat your family, and it probably won't hurt your cartridges, but I would still never use one. Keep in mind, these things come from China...CHINA! They are incredibly cheap. They're are of really low quality in general, and I'm sure their quality control isn't all there. Maybe their cartridge slots tear up games, maybe crappy wiring will make the thing light on fire. Who knows. Yeah. They're legal. They probably won't do any noticable damage to your carts. But who really wants one over an NES? Famiclones are cheap cheap cheap. They often contain pirated games (Those Yobo units don't) and they're generally junk.
I wonder if these clones have the same problems as a real NES (Not the Famicom) From what I remember the NES was a right bitch to get games running. Games would many times flash or crash. Sort of like the same problem the Saturn has with it's cartridge port. Yakumo
indeed - Famiclones are a bit more reliable in the sense that the toaster-NES does have a lot of flashing and stuff. I'd get a Japanese made one, though. Famiclones have SERIOUSLY lost quality with the end of the 90s, but many old-school ones were very reliable.
the reason nes have trobule with games flashing, is that they incorporated a security chip that was never put into the famicom, but was added for the U.S. release since they did not want to risk piracy in the U.S., so baisicaly the system is flashing as it can not read the security chip, however half the reason the U.S. one have this problem is the parts used as well as the way cartridges are loaded, since thei process often causes the pins to get bent, and realisticly you can play nes games without puching the loading spring down, it was just done for safety and design reason just so nobody could pull the game out.
i own one of those yobo famicom clones...mine came with a little u.s. cart adapter. the only game ive had a problem playing is mad max...i can seem to get out off the title screen. the controlers are a bit too small for me, i keep accidently switching the game into slow mode. i have big and clumsy hands so maybe this wouldnt be a problem for most people. for what it is, its ok. i use it more than my nintendo and i have both the toaster and the top loader.
I once read that the famicom clones used more amps or volts on the cartridge which could possibly lead to shortening the cart's life. That's why I asked about yobo. I have heard the top loader reduces this problem. Also I have read repositioning those contacts in the cartridge to give a tighter fit and improve connectivity helps.
Contact spray is all you need. I dusted off one of my NES's to give as a birthday present to a friend, inserted the cart, grey screen. Just sprayed a bit of contact spray on the cart, reinserted it a few times and it works like a dream
I miss the Famiclones I could buy back in 1991. They looked nice, quite stylish, and they worked well. WTF is it with modern clones that they ALL must look like a bloody Xbox or PS2?! If you want a good clone, get the NeoFami by GameTech or whatever they are called. Then get an adapter for NES carts. I prefer Famiclones since they are easier to hook up to a TV than the original model of FC.
Honestly, I have a Neo Fami, and for what it is, it's great. Reliable, small, only beef is that it doesn't have standard NES ports on it, so I can't use an advantage or Max or anything like that.
My feelings exactly, mate. I really miss the 90s, videogamewise. Famiclones are one example of what was really much better back then... boy, if I had known, I'd have hoarded many of the great clones of the time... This.. "contact spray" thing. Where do I get it? How much is it worth? Can cartridges be sprayed with this?
Don't make me all nostalgic now... :smt022 Damn, I miss the olden days of gaming. Parralax scrolling was such a buzzword and they really did some cool things with the FC in its final days. It's why I am so into retro these days. I like to try and discover at least one new exciting retro game a week. :ramen
I got it from a goold old we-sell-resistors-and-stuff store. On the can it says something about dissolving corrosion. I suppose if you can't find it I can buy a can for you (only 3e) and send it, but it's certainly not the cheapest option.
Thanks for the offer. Shipping rates are insane from there, though... When I get to one of those electronic component stores (of which there's a whole block in Juárez, about a block from San Juan), I'm sure they'll know about this magical substance. But thanks a lot, man.
Actually, I'm pretty sure that this Yobo FC clone is the same clone as the Neofami made by Gametech. That's just the name it has here in the US and Europe. Pretty sure about that. You can find contact spray in any electronics store. It's like WD-40 as in it dissolves rust, but safe for use on electronic components becasue it evaporates away. (BTW don't spray WD-40 on electronic componenets as it's intended to be a lubricant and will actually trap dirt, and problably destroy your game system too.)
