Inside the Famicom | 01: The Design of a Legend

This is the first video in my in-depth, multi-part series on the Nintendo Family Computer, better known as the Famicom. Over the subsequent videos in this series, we’re going to take a closer look at this game system and deconstruct it to understand how it works.

We’re kicking things off with a high-level overview of the system by talking about the design, how it’s powered, the main board, and a couple of the more popular Famicom variants out there. I’ll also discuss a couple of interesting differences between the Famicom and the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) and start touching on some of the history behind this system.

Links Referenced in this Video:

Correction:
11:30 I misspoke here - I meant composite video, not component!

[gluttonousmaximus]

You're the first youtuber I know to explain the NES as *an electrical appliance* rather than a "computer" to be abscracted. Understandable, considering how emulating this is a lot more ubiquitous than owning the physical stuff, and analog electronics are mathematically intense. Still, this is quite a niche you're tapping here.

[Antics]

The NES was my first console and gifted to me by my Uncle a couple months before he passed away; little did he know how much that device would impact me on my journey towards IT overall as I tore it apart and learned the basics of electronics... so this holds a pretty big place in my heart.

Really looking forward to the next of this series, having those childhood memories come flooding back just made my day. :)

[GeckoHogheadIncOfficial]

7:17 so THAT explains why the NES also works with the Famicom DC Adapter! My question has finally been answered! Thanks so much for this revelation!
Ever since Famicom Dojo reviewed the Famicom, I’ve always wondered why the NES accepted DC or AC—regardless of voltage. Nintendo was just thinking forward, having learnt their lesson in Japan for the NES’ North American release.

[stevepanna]

Awesome video! I am so pumped for the upcoming videos in this series!

[fizwidget]

The Famicon was before my time, but I still found this fascinating. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

[WalrusFPGA]

Wonderful look into the Famicom. Looking forward to the rest of this series!

[angrybear]

so well done, looking forward to more episodes and later on the super famicom!

[igorperuchi]

Deep dive into the Famicom, very nice! I didn't know about the controllers with square buttons or the strange proprietary video port on later iterations! Thank you very much for the detailed video!

[geektoolkit]

Capacitor C25...that was oddly specific LOL! Thanks for such a great, informative and entertaining breakdown!

[geofreypejsa]

Awesome! I too enjoyed the video and look forward to this series

[meneerjansen]

Wow. Didn't know there were so many different models and configurations. I really like the simplicity of the orig. Famicom after watching your vid: there's beauty in it. Loking forward to the other vids in this series! :)

[andyruizi]

Maybe it sounds stupid, but it was only after you mentioned that the RAMs were labeled U1 and U4 that I realized that each chip in the Famicom had a label. It seems like it is something very obvious, because not even Rodrigo Copetti's book mentions it. I appreciate that you try to be so didactic, so that all types of audiences understand you. Excellent video!

[caviar_dreamz]

My aunt bought my cousins a top loader NES from a thrift store and it had AV out. I grew up playing that way so I was very surprised to see that all the toploaders I looked at on Ebay were missing that AV port. I settled with the Famicom toploader haha.

[TheMikeyb]

Great video, as always. Looking forward to more Famicom/NES videos.

[ABBA_]

Looking forward to more in this series! Especially the various peripherals ❤

[astralpowers]

The Famicom was a big part of my childhood. I remember the first game I played was Super Mario Bros. I was like 3. I remember playing around with the RF modulator and hooking it up to the TV was a hassle depending on the TV set. My parents wouldn't let us use it on the newer colored TV set and we had to use it with the old monochrome TV.

[misterretrowolf]

Ken, when I see you've dropped a video I know I'm in for a treat!!!

[ScruffyLookinRGB]

Great video looking forward to the next famicom installment ❤

[knightriding]

Great video thanks for the fun great time spent 😊

[Nicszerg]

11:30 I think you meant to say composite video.