Family Computer Disk System facts for kids
The Family Computer Disk System (often called the FDS) was a special add-on for Nintendo's Famicom console. The Famicom was the Japanese version of the NES. This system let players use game disks instead of cartridges. It was only sold in Japan, even though Nintendo had plans to release it in America. The FDS came out in 1986 and brought new ways to play games.
Contents
What is the Famicom Disk System?
The Famicom Disk System was a peripheral, which means it was an extra device you could connect to your Famicom. It was a yellow box that sat next to the console. A special cable connected the FDS to the Famicom's cartridge slot. This allowed the Famicom to read games from the disks.
How Did It Work?
Instead of game cartridges, the FDS used special floppy disks. These disks looked a bit like smaller versions of the floppy disks used in computers back then. You would insert a disk into the FDS, and it would load the game. This was different from cartridges, which held the game data inside them.
Why Disks?
Nintendo chose to use disks for a few reasons. One big reason was cost. It was cheaper to make game disks than game cartridges. This meant games could be sold for a lower price. Another cool feature was that disks could save your game progress directly onto the disk. This was a big deal because many cartridge games at the time didn't have a way to save.
Saving Games and New Sounds
Being able to save games meant players could enjoy longer adventures without starting over each time. Games like The Legend of Zelda used this feature. The FDS also had extra sound chips. These chips allowed games to have more detailed music and sound effects than regular Famicom games. This made the games feel more exciting and immersive.
The Challenge of Copying Games
While disks offered many benefits, they also had a downside. It was very easy for people to copy the games from one disk to another. This is called piracy. Nintendo tried to stop this by using special ways to protect the disks, but it was still a problem. People could even go to special "Disk Writer" kiosks in stores to get new games written onto their old disks for a small fee.
Popular Games and Its Legacy
Many famous games were first released on the Famicom Disk System. These include The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Kid Icarus. Even though the FDS was only available in Japan, it helped Nintendo learn a lot about making games and consoles. Many of its ideas, like saving game progress, became standard in future video game systems. The FDS eventually stopped being made as cartridge technology improved and became cheaper.
Images for kids
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The Sharp Twin Famicom is a Famicom with built-in Disk System.
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A blue 3D Hot Rally Disk Card with shutter.
See also
In Spanish: Famicom Disk System para niños
