General Questions

Q: When I try to play a game in my regular front loading NES the screen starts blinking! How can I get my system to work? How do I clean the system and games?
A: If only I had a quarter - no, a dime - no, a penny - no, a hay penny for every time I was asked this...
-Official Nintendo Advice
-Our Methods

Q: I've tried the above methods and my NES still doesn't work. Help!
A: It could be that the NES system's 72 pin connector is shot. In that case, do a search on eBay or securely order online @ MCM Electronics, part # 83-3785, for a new connector. If you're feeling lucky you could try getting in touch with Nintendo's hotline first (contact found on Nintendo.com) and be real nice and they might just send you one for free.

Instructions on replacing pin connectors can be found here.

Q: Is what I read true about top loading NES systems really preventing the infamous "blinking screens" from appearing ever again?
A: Yes.

Q: Is what I read true about top loading NES systems really starting up all NES games without having to clean or blow on the bottom of the carts?
A: No. This is a common misconception that many NES resources unfortunately preach to be the truth. Although it has been tested myself in a experiment I conducted between a regular NES and a top loading system to be true that top loading systems have a higher probability rate of playing NES carts on the first try, you need to take into consideration that the Top Loader is not the end-all to your woes. Not all games will work like a charm and will require cleaning just as the regular Front Loaders do.

Q: Well then why did you answer "yes" to the question that top loading systems don't show blinking screen?
A: Because it's technically true. Instead of seeing a blinking screen as you normally would, a solid non-blinking color appears in place. So really now you have another excuse to scream at your t.v. set!

Q: Can blowing into the cartridge's contacts (at the bottom) damage it?
A: Nintendo people have confirmed that by blowing directly into the bottom of NES cartridges you are in fact slowly damaging them. Moisture from your breath may actually lead to the corrison of the connectors on your game and NES system in the long run. It's OK to do once in a great while, but don't get into the habit of blowing if you want to preserve the contacts for as long as possible.

Q: I know I probably screwed up, but I bought this system through EBAY and received it and I cannot get it to play. The power light just flashes when I push it or if I do hold the reset in sometimes the power light will become steady but it still won't play. It came w/6 games. All of them do the same thing. Is there anyone out there that might tell me what to do or did I screw up buying it on EBAY?
A: The blinking power light could be because the system or the game's connectors you are attempting to play are dirty. Consult our FAQ above about cleaning and replacing the connectors.

You might also want to contact the seller about this. I've once had a problem with buying a busted video game system off of eBay from a nasty seller and I know for a fact that eBay's official policy is that all items up for auction MUST BE IN WORKING CONDITION unless the seller specifically says that the items do not work. The words "AS IS", a nice way for a crafty seller to say he hasn't tested it (or he knows it does not work), do not at all change eBay's policies.

Q: What are some of the WORST games on the NES?
A: http://www.nesplayer.com/features/worst/worst.htm

Q: I'm new to NES playing/collecting, what are some games I should look out for first?
A: If you're getting into collecting I can't stress this enough: BUY TO PLAY, DON'T BUY FOR RARITY! Collecting hundreds of NES titles is a very daunting task. So to get started it's best to find the better playing ones instead of the "rarer"/unlicensed variety. This way of choosing your purchases will hopefully push you into continuing the hunt. Trust you me, if you start out by collecting only the rare games, especially the kind in the crappy unlicensed tapes (as most are), you're going to find yourself feeling discouraged real fast.

To the new NES player/collector I'll break my recommendations down into two categories, one for "common" great games and another listing "rare" great games for the budding collectors.

Here are my suggestions for must-have pick-ups that are common finds:

1. Super Mario Bros. 1-3 (Platforming)
2. Castlevania 1, 3 (Platforming)
3. Bionic Commando (Action)
4. Mega Man 2 (Action)
5. Contra (Action-Shooting)
6. Startropics (Action-RPG)
7. Legend of Zelda (Adventure)
8. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (Sports)

Now for some titles to cater the NES collector inside of you. These games are harder-to-find, more collectable, and a great way to begin fueling a healthy collecting habit. But regardless of their value, they are still must-plays:

1. Little Samson (Platforming)
2. Dragon Warrior 3, 4 (RPG)
3. Gargoyle's Quest 2 (Action-RPG)
4. Princess Tomato (RPG)
5. Bubble Bobble 2 (Arcade)
6. Micro Machines (Sports, and a great start to unlicensed cart purchases)
7. Fire 'N Ice (Puzzle)
8. Rockin' Kats (Platforming)

Q: I prefer doing things based on what season we're in. Can you create a virtual NES game calender for us seasonal-playing gamers?
A: The NES Player.com Official Year-Round Calendar

(Dec. - Jan.) -- see: Winter-Themed Games on the NES feature, Ice Hockey tribute
(Feb.) -- see: 8-Bit Love Machine feature
(Mar.) -- Relive the trill of the NWC World Championships!
(Apr.) -- April Showers, stay in and take the time to explore all of the obscure and memorable game tributes [the little buttons on the left-hand menu]
(May) -- Spring is a time for lovers, spruce up on Hot Slots and the other Panesian games
(Jun. - Aug.) -- Summer road trips & adventure, see: NP Goes to Disney World feature, The Wizard & The Goonies media outlets, Summer Vacation Nintend-o-vision article; but remember it's still not safe to go back into the water
(Sept.) -- School Days, School days, Dear Old Golden Rule Days... If you're a nerd, see: Donkey Kong Jr. Math review; if you're a geek, read up on Information; or if you are the freak school rebel type, who cares about school in the first place, I hear a good movie is playing
(Oct.) -- see: Ten Horror Games of the NES & Taboo Fortune features, plus Halloween Countdown Bash!!
(Nov.) -- Turkey Day, the official eating month! Who has time to play! Get your stomach in motion and munch down on some Nintendo Cereal System, Mario Candy Bars, Nintendo Ice Cream Sandwiches, or Adventure of Link fruit snacks.

Site Questions

Q: Why didn't you respond to the email I sent to you?
A: I try really hard to get back to people via email in a relatively timely manner because I'd hate to be the kind of rude webmaster that just deletes everything people send me. I mean, it's pretty cool to get emails about the site from people all over the country (and the world). But there will be times when I miss out on some messages. I apologize for that. There are too many reasons to list on why I might not have responded. Instead of attempting that, I'll hypothesize the two most prominent cases. The first is your email was mistaken as SPAM by me or the program I use to check emails and was accidently deleted. The second most common reason is you contacted me at a busy time in my life and I might be unavailable online for a span of time. In the latter situation, when I return to pages upon pages of email it is possible I passed by yours in my haste to replying to the others.

In either case, if I do not respond right away, send me another email and put the words NES PLAYER in all caps as the subject line.

Q: Are any of the things on the Merchandise page up for sale?
A: Nope, sorry. Nothing on the site is for sale. The merchandise page only serves to archive the various Nintendo things that were once sold in catalogues or retail stores.

I've seen just about everything listed on the site up on Ebay.com at one time or another, though. Try searching around a bit and you're bound to find what you're looking for (and plenty more). That's your very best bet.

Q: Can I use the sprites and images found on NES Player for my site?
A: Thanks for asking! You are welcome to use any of the sprites found in the Sprites directory only. I ask that you place a link to NES Player somewhere on your site (i.e. a "links" page or something).

The sprites located on that page are there for a number of reasons, one of them being to help budding webmasters spruce up new fansites until the webmasters get into the habit of ripping sprites and begin creating images themselves.

I ask that you do not take any of the other images that you may find elsewhere on the site.

Q: Can you give me all the facts I need to make my own NES Flash shorts?
A: Making Flash is actually a very complex matter that with only over time and much practice will become as easy as pie.

First I would recommend you taking the Flash lessons found in the 'Help' tab. These will help you with basic movement and functions of Flash. (Note: I have Flash 5 so it may be named or found differently for you if you are not using the same program.)

Next you're going to need to know how to rip sprites from ROMs. If you don't know how to, there are plenty of sprite sheets online free for the taking - just make sure you credit the source somewhere on your movie and that it's cool with the creator. You will then want to make these images transparent in an image editor such as Paint Shop Pro. The way I do this in PSP is by filling in the background area that you want removed around the sprite to a certain unique color. Then in the 'Colors' tab, select 'Set Palette Transparency...' and set the transparency to that same unique bg color you chose and click OK. When you're done, save the image as a .gif file and now you have yourself a transparent image.

Next you go to 'File' > 'Import' in Flash and click on the images you want to import into your movie. Now you can play around with moving them about. You can import backgrounds and other images this way too.

Finally you're going to want sound or music. You can do this by starting up an NES emulator, I prefer JNes for this, and choosing a ROM of a game with the music/sound you wish to use. But there are sound effects and enemy movements and other sounds getting in the way of the music! When the game is started and the music you want is playing in the background, go up to the 'Options' tab and then 'Audio'. Here you can uncheck and silence the other "noise" that is interring with your music so it sounds authentic. You will want to then record this music to a .wav file using some kind of sound recorder device like Soundblaster Recorder. Back in Flash, import this .wav file in the same way as you did with the sprites and then right click on the frame that you wish for it to begin playing and go down to 'Panels' > 'Sound'. Another window pops up and you can choose the song from the menu that says "none."

This is only the beginning of learning Flash. I cannot go through all of the steps myself so I suggest reading more tutorials on places like Flash Kit and practice, practice, practice.

Q: What is the name of the NES game where that catchy song playing in loop on the Flash directory comes from?
A: I actually get this question pretty regularly and seem to disappoint when I give an answer: It's not from any NES game. The tune is from a bad-ass Nintendo soundtrack based on the audio track in the game Super Mario World. The CD is called "Super Mario World Live" by Koji Kondo and this particular song is entitled "Mario! Stay Alert!". Why did I pick a SNES music track for NES movies? I'm not really sure. All I know is it works and in my opinion fits great!

Q: I'm having trouble getting the Adventure of Error ROM hack to work. Help!
A: This is really much easier than it sounds and I can't simplify these steps any further.

1. Download NESTool.EXE, a DOS IPS patcher.
2. Place ERROR.IPS, included in this .ZIP, in the same folder as the original Zelda II ROM image. NOTE: We do not supply any copyright ROMs! Don't ask!
3. Double-click NESTool.EXE and select 'Use ISP' (or type 'U'). Choose ERROR.IPS.
4. NESTool.EXE will then ask for you to locate the GAME file (original Zelda II ROM). The file name may differ, however the file type will always be .NES! Highlight the .NES file, and press enter.
5. NESTool.EXE will notify you of a successful patch. Load the newly altered .NES file into a Nintendo emulator and play!

NES Hardware & Technical Questions

Q: I have an NES top-loader and I am getting a plasma TV. I want to find a way to either hook the top-loader up to the plasma (by whatever means necessary) or get a different console that has AV outputs (but I would want to be able to use the original NES controllers).
A: Although most NES top-loaders have only RF outputs, there are in fact some models that contain A/V. They appear on eBay occasionally, but you have to be certain by the item descriptions, and the images provided, that it is of the A/V kind.

The easiest and most common way to get A/V picture, though, is to just buy the original model front-load NES system.

Be careful with playing video games on plasma screens. The plasma screen is suspectible to burn-in, meaning stationary images (like a life bar in a game or something) could potentially become stuck on the screen after long playing sessions. (I have an LCD TV screen myself for this very reason.)

Q: Can I connect my NES to a computer monitor? VGA or RGB - which kind would be compatible? What about loudspeakers?
A: First I went straight to the horse's mouth - Nintendo. Here's the official word:

"The only type of monitor that the Nintendo system may work with is the Commodore monitor. Some Commodore monitors have standard Audio/Video inputs. A Commodore monitor usually has two inputs on the back called Chroma and Lumen. These are both "video" inputs, but they are not the inputs we need to get the Nintendo system to work. To get an NES, Super NES, N64, or Nintendo GameCube to work with a Commodore Monitor, it must have the following:
* An alternate set of audio video inputs on the front or back of the monitor. They may be behind a hidden panel.
* A "standard/commodore" switch. This is an input select that will switch between the Chroma and Lumen inputs and the standard AV inputs. Without the standard AV inputs, there is no guarantee the Nintendo system will work. Nintendo systems are not compatible with any other RGB or VGA monitors."

And now for my (unofficial) word:

It can be done. For a price. Although newer video cards are allowing S-Video and HD Component inputs, obviously neither are compatible with the NES (except for French NESes which oddly have RGB outputs). So instead you could try investing in a VGA A/V Composite adapter. I have not tried any sort of device that does this so I'm hesitant recommending any one specific product. Do a search on Google to find reviews and research the best converter for you.

As for bringing your NES sound to life via external speakers, you could head to an electronics hardware store, such as Radio Shack, and inquire about a RCA adapter that will accept the audio plugs from the NES and convert them to play on speakers or a home system setup.

(Also keep in mind that the NES Toploader DOES NOT have an A/V Composite output option; only RF. Stick to the old toaster style for that!)

A PHILIPS Monitor (which also works with an AMIGA 500 Computer, and has build in loudspeakers) has been tested and works. It was possible to connect the Monitor and the NES with an A/V cable (consists of a red and a white connection).

Q: How do I replace a dead battery inside of a battery-save Nintendo cartridge?
A: First remove the screws on the back of the cartridge (see below on how to obtain the special tool you need to do this), take the casing off, and pry the dead battery out while making sure not to destroy its holder. Next purchase a new 3 volt battery (part #'s CR2032, DL2032, & ECR2032 will all work) and affix it into the holder slot by soldering or taping. Carefully screw the case back on and your new battery should last you years to come.

Q: How do I open up a Nintendo cartridge?
A: No ordinary screw driver will do the trick. You will need to buy a special tool called a 3.88 MM security screw bit. (Check your local hardware store or securely order online @ MCM Electronics, part # 22-1145. They should cost no more than a few bucks.) This specially crafted hardware tool can be used to open both NES and Famicom game cartridges. The screws that the tool will work on, which are found on the backside of cartridges, have a special tamper-free security groove to prevent modification, hence the need for these little guys. For pictures and more information, check out the 3.88 MM bit accessory info page.

Q: How do I open up an unlicensed or Wisdom Tree/Color Dreams cartridge?
A: You might have noticed if you ever tried to use the method mentioned previously on some unlicensed cartridges, such as those manufactured by Wisdom Tree or Color Dream, that the 3.8 MM bit is too small to remove the screws. A 4.5 MM bit will probably fit, instead, as it is the next most popular screw bit used on cartridge games. (I am unable to test this to be 100% accurate, though.)

Q: Does the AC adaptor that come bundled in the regular NES package use the same power as top loading NES? Are they interchangable with one another?
A: Yes they do, and yes they are interchangable. Input is AC120V 60Hz 17W. Output is AC9V 1.3A. The model number for the AC adaptor is NES-002.

Q: Are the model numbers of the two types of NES controllers the same? If not, what are they?

A: No, the model number for the regular controller is NES-004 and NES-039 for the redesigned version.

Q: Can I use the RF adaptor that came bundled in the regular NES package with my top loading NES?
A: Yes you can if the model numbers match. The model number is NES-003.

Q: Are gold Nintendo cartridges more rare than gray ones?
A: That all depends on what game you're referring to. Believe it or not, but gray Legend of Zelda carts are in fact rarer than gold ones because they were later releases and experienced shorter manufacturing time. The same goes for its sequel. Generally gray beats gold in rarity and value.

Q: Why is everyone so hard on the Mattel Power Glove? The thing's actually pretty cool.
A: Short answer: the Power Glove is terribly flawed.

While I can say that the sensors have worked for me in the past - on level with the glove - I've noticed at times some action is not picked up. But that's not really the big problem. No matter how you put it the glove is essentially a novelty item. Some have come to mastered the device and dealt with the shortcomings but I haven't talked to many who have. They say it's not worth the time. I happen to agree.

For example, I've tried playing platform games with the thing and instead of "enhancing" the experience it makes gameplay twice the challenge. Sure it is cool at first to try it out on Rad Racer or games that don't rely on intricate jumping, but after a couple of times through the gig just gets stale.

There are some accessories, like the NES Advantage, which are cool AND very useful. The Power Glove, unfortunately, falls short on the latter and therefore deserves most of its bashing.

Famicom Hardware & Technical Questions

Q: I purchased a Famicom Disk System on eBay and the seller claims it has been tested and works. I am trying to run it on my US top loader NES. I have the RAM adapter connected via a Famicom to NES adapter that I took out of an old Gyromite cart. The system does not seem to be getting power. I am trying to power it via 6 C batteries. Have you had any problems like this? How do you have your drive set up?
A: I never had any problems powering up the system, only once with the belt inside. Make sure you're using all new batteries and that they're inserted the correct way. Also, remember that the FDS is powered via the top loader's power switch. When you turn on the top loader with the RAM adapter inside it, you are essentially turning on the Disk System. There is no power button on the FDS itself.

Check to see if the red light on the Disk System is lit. Is the device making any sort of "funny", erratic noises? If it is, then you know the system is somehow broken.

According to one reliable source, the AC power that the drive uses is 100 volts with a 9VA and a DC of 9V and 400ma, and the polarity as + ----@---- - if you want to purchase an AC adapter from Radio Shack or wherever.

But remember, if the problem is indeed with the power, buying an AC adapter ain't going to change things and you need to contact the seller immediately. Again, batteries work just fine with the FDS and AC power is not required.

If you are not seeing the red light on the system lit, disconnect the FDS and check to see that the NES to Famicom adapter is working properly by inserting some Famicom game in the top loader (if you have one), or by making sure the FDS RAM adapter is snuggly inserted inside of the top loader. Your system or adapter may also need to be cleaned.

The FDS I use is connected to a third-party FC-to-NES adapter (not from a Gyromite cart) and is used inside a NTSC NES Top Loader powered by batteries.

Pirate & Unlicensed Game/System Questions

Q: Is there really a Bio Hazard (Resident Evil) for the NES/Famicom, as I read in the "Did You Know..." feature?
A: Yes, technically there has been a Resident Evil release for the Family Computer; the thing is it is not an officially licensed Capcom game nor is it endorsed by Nintendo. Rather it is actually a Chinese original pirate made by Waixing Computer Science & Technology Co, LTD., which means it was developed and distributed illegally (and also quite recently).

The screen shot found on that feature is taken from the title screen.

Since all of the game text is in Chinese and my skills in the language only goes as far as ordering an eggroll at the China Town in downtown Philly, I can only assume from the intro sequence (shown above) that the game follows the same storyline as the first Resident Evil game. In case you did not know by now, RE begins as a S.T.A.R.S. members helicopter goes down in an open field filled with zombie dogs, causing the remaining survivors of the elite tactical team to find refugee in a nearby creepy mansion. They soon find out the secrets of an evil corporation called Umbrella whose experiments has virtually mutated the entire living population of Raccoon City into the walking dead. The player chooses either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine to control and explore the infested mansion which lays on top of a secret underground facility where Umbrella tests their mutational chemicals.

This "8-bit Chinese recreation" (if you can call it that) attempts to simplify the RE forumla into a very basic overhead view adventure sort of game (i.e. Resident Evil: Gaiden on the Gameboy Color). You can only play Jill Valentine this time. The pause button brings up the classic blue status screen to equip different weapons and use items. The select button shows the map.

Does the description sound a bit too short? That's because I can say that I have "played" it in the past, but the ROM is extremely buggy and was hardly playable.

There is a ROM of the game being circulated on at least one of the NES/Famicom ROM dump sites -- unfortunately I cannot remember which one it is. Please do not email me asking for the ROM! Trust me, you ain't missing much. Instead if you haven't already, check out a translated ROM of Capcom's great Famicom survival horror title Sweet Home. It's considered the best 8-bit horror game ever made and the precursor to the later RE series (and by that I don't mean this sorry excuse of a game).

Q: I saw a joystick / system at the mall that advertises it can play tons of old Nintendo games! Should I pick one up?
A: That all depends. Most times (and especially inside of malls) these pirate systems are overpriced and generally suck in the game department.

First a word of caution: Be-varre [my Bela Lugosi] of false advertising on these systems! Many companies put on their box an absurd amount of video titles that are built in the device. There's no way they could even begin to fit XXX,XXX games onto any of these devices. In fact, it's been my experience that the higher the projected numbers go, the fewer games are actually covered! (Case in point: I once saw a "1-in-1,000,000" cartridge that really had only 4 or 5 games that were repeated over and over again.) The "infinite" list of games you see is really only a repeating variation of names for the same few game titles.

Anything around $30-$50 bucks is very steep for a pirate (mall vendors in general tend to specialize in rip-off prices). Unless you look on the box or actually go through each individual game and see some interesting/fun/original titles, I suggest you just invest in one of the pirates on eBay for most likely half the cost. Most of these things are a dime a dozen.

No one should have to pay more than $35 for a really good pirate system because any more and you could go out and buy your daughter the real thing... with real games! So don't buy from malls!

Q: Can I play my [NES accessory] with a pirate system?
A: The problem with an NES accessory of your choice not working with a pirate system is that nearly all pirate hardware do not have the same NES controller ports as an actual official NES system, so that you would not be able to connect, say, a Power Pad (or any other NES accessory) into the controller slot.

Case in point: My Polystation III pirate system has SEGA Genesis controller ports (a commonly duped connection for NES pirates)!

The company who makes one of the newer NES pirates, the Neo Fami, is apparently releasing an NES controller adaptor soon that will allow you to plug in to the Genesis ports. If you pick one of those up when it is released, you should be able to use any NES accessory with a pirate system (granted it uses the Genesis 9-pin connector - just ask before buying).

Q: Are Polystations compatible with the NTSC television signal?
A: Yes, the Polystation III is compatible with NTSC television sets.

Q: I bought the game Bible Adventures from a yard sale and it is different from the one you have up on the site! Mine is blue and also says "Color Dreams" on the back, which is a totally different company. Also, where it says "Press Down" engraved onto the light blue plastic, mine is rigid and has a sticker covering "PRESS". The sticker says "PRESS HERE" and is pointing down. Do I own a rarer variation?
A: There are some unlicensed carts that have different color (and cart) variations, which includes all of the Color Dreams/Wisdom Tree games. There's been some discussion about the differences in the general rarity of black carts to blue ones - some say the black variation is rarer - but speaking from my own experience of seeing them in the wild, they both show up at about the same rate.

The reason the cart says "Color Dreams" on the back is because the game is technically made by them; it is by right the same unlicensed company. They only changed their name to "Wisdom Tree" later on to reflect their new Christian-themed products, such as your Bible Adventures. So they essentially must have used an old labelled cart that had their original name on it, probably by mistake or to save time/money, and shipped it out to stores like that. You do own a different variation from the blue cart shown on NP, but it is not neccessarily rarer.

Q: I found what I believe is a really rare NES cart! The casing is legitly different than the regular Nintendo and unlicensed software! How much can I get for it?
A: What you most likely have there is a pirate cartridge, an illegal and unauthorized duplication of X [fill for X] video game that could have been exported from China, Hong Kong, Taiwain, Russia, or maybe even Brazil--the usual hot markets where these things originate.

The cartridge was probably in fact manufactered that way, not simply a label swapping, and if you pry open the casing, you will find a different (usually cheaply made) circuit board without Nintendo's name on it. Each pirate company has its own way of dressing up software. However, if the game itself is a duplicate of an existing NES software it is the same as the official Nintendo version.

Piracy is very common in the countries mentioned above and is always a much cheaper alternative to go with as these things are produced by the thousands. Its worth in the US (or elsewhere) relies solely on the novelty of the item. In essence, most duplicated NES title pirated carts are worth very little. It is original game production pirate carts (such as "Kart Fighter" - a Street Fighter-type fighting game starring Nintendo characters) where you begin to see the worth go up higher.

To learn more information about pirates and to see examples of them, check out the Pirated NES/FC section:
http://www.nesplayer.com/pirates/index.htm

Q: Where can I find a complete list of unlicensed NES games?
A: http://www.nesplayer.com/misc/unlicensed.txt

Q: I won this super rare Gold NES from a popular gaming contest in California. Would you like to buy this piece of Nintendo history?
A: No, because there was no such contest to begin with, was there? You are just selling a gold spray painted regular Nintendo, which are always up on eBay. Now if we're talking about a gold Nintendo World Championship cartridge, on the other hand...

Software Compatibility Questions

Q: I have a top loading NES and wish to play Japanese Famicom games. Can I do this without a modification? How about on the original front loading NES systems?
A: Unfortunately you cannot play Japanese NES games (Famicom) on a North American Top Loader. Well, to be exact, the Top Loader-style NES was also released in Japan, so with that [imported system] you could. However with NTSC Top Loaders it is not possible because of the differences in the cartridges.

In order to play Japanese games on an American system (either front or top loading versions), you will need to purchase an unlicensed game converter or find one inside of older NES cartridges (see tsr for more info about the latter method).

You can get this adaptor through two different ways:
1.) Checking inside of older NES cartridges (such as Gyromite): there might be one you can take out and use yourself, because Nintendo shipped out early Nintendo cartridges by placing the Famicom counterpart on top of an adaptor inside of the casing (*).
2.) Logging on to eBay.com and doing a search for "Famicom Adaptors".

(*) Below is a picture of the Famicom adapter found inside of a Nintendo cart. Unscrew the black bottom, remove the Famicom game circuitboard attached, and use the black bottom to fit any other Famicom game into an American NES.

Notice the black connector in the middle of the the insides in this early Gyromite cartridge. That is the Famicom adapter. Unscrew both of the screws holding it in place and take it out for use to fashion with other Family Computer games.

Q: I have a top loading NES and wish to play European PAL games. Can I do this without a modification?
A: Yes you can! North American Top Loaders are able to play PAL games from right out the box. Regular loading NES systems require a special mod project to be done first.

Q: Where can I find a list of the NES games exclusively released in PAL format?
A: http://www.nesplayer.com/features/PAL/games.htm

Specific Game Questions

Q: What is the Konami Code?
A: The "Konami Code" (or sometimes called the "Contra Code") refers to a certain sequenced cheat code ( "Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start") that Konami infamously reused in many of its NES/FC games. By punching in the code at the right time, it allowed for extra lives or power-ups, or some kind of bonus, which was welcomed by many gamers stuck on tough challenges in Gradius or Contra especially.

The list of Konami NES titles that the player can input this code are as follows:

• Blades of Steel (during Ultra Games title--add an extra B, A)
• Contra (at title screen)
• Crisis Force (at title screen)
• Gradius (when game is paused)
• Gradius II (at title screen & during gameplay)
• Life Force (at title screen)
• Gyruss (at title screen)
• Top Gun: The Second Mission (at title screen)
• TMNT 2: The Arcade Game (at title screen)
• TMNT 3 (at title screen--reversed to A, B).

Q: Can you win at Duck Hunt? And while we're on the subject of killing defenseless animals, how do I hit the damn dog?
A: Nobody truly wins when you're taking out an entire ecosystem of wildlife birds. But I digress, to my knowledge there is no "true" way of beating the game. The score counter simply resets itself and the round number starts over to 0.

To answer the second part of the question, in Duck Hunt there is absoultely no way for you to harm the dog. However, in another Zapper-compatible game pak called Barker Bill's Trick Shooting, you can! Just load up the Balloon Saloon mini-game, wait for the mutt to pop out of the cardboard scenery, and take aim. If you successfully shoot him, it will count as a miss.

Q: What NES games are compatible with the Zapper Light Gun accessory?
A: There are seventeen compatible Zapper titles in all.

• Adventures of Bayou Billy
• Baby Boomer
• Barker Bill's Trick Shooting
• Chiller
• Duck Hunt
• Freedom Force
• Gotcha
• Gumshoe
• Hogan's Alley
• Laser Invasion
• Lone Ranger
• Mechanized Attack
• Operation Wolf
• Shooting Range
• To The Earth
• Track & Field 2
• Wild Gunman

Q: What NES games are compatible with the Power Pad accessory?
A: There are seven compatible Power Pad titles in all.

• Athletic World
• Dance Aerobics
• Eggsplode
• Stadium Events
• Street Cop
• Super Team Games
• World Class Track Meet

Q: What NES games are compatible with the Four Score (4-player multiplay) accessory?
A: There are twenty compatible Four Score titles in all.

• Championship Bowling
• Fast Break
• Gauntlet II
• Golf Power
• Harlem Globetrotters
• Indy Heat
• Kings of the Beach
• M.U.L.E.
• Monster Truck Rally
• Nightmare on Elm Street
• Play Action Football
• Pro Am 2
• Roundball
• Spot
• Super Jeopardy
• Super Off Road
• Superspike Volleyball
• Swords and Serpents
• Top Player Tennis
• World Cup

More than you'll probably ever need to know...

Q: I'm a total neat freak and my games must be free from dust. Where can I purchase clear protective cases for my NES games?
A: With Gamestop and EBGames steadily removing all remains of their NES stock, it's hard for me to tell you of a chain store that might carry such an accessory as game cases in your area.

The safest bet is to do a search on eBay, making sure you check the box that says "Search title and description," so that you might be able to score a game or two with the cases. Or you could of course see if someone is trying to unload a whole lot of them.

If eBay's prices are scarying you away, try hunting around for some old rental stores in your area to see if they are selling any used games. Many used those old school clear plastic cases when renters took games home with them and they may be willing to give them up.

Q: I read a lot about Funcoland from various NES fansites. What is this store all about and where can I find one in my area?
A: Funcoland was sort of a classic gamer's haven back before eBay dominated things. Although there were always people who didn't like how the store was run (see smackdown GT's hilarious "Funcoland Sucks" page), most NESers agreed that Funcoland helped gamers get in touch with their roots by carrying the older titles conveniently nearby where they lived.

Funcoland was a nationwide chain of stores dedicated to video games that carried newer titles but also a good selection of older games, like from the NES or SNES eras, for reasonably fair prices. Think of it as almost the same kind of set up as EB Games or Gamestop today only with more classic games up for sale.

So where did Funco go? Continuing in the same fashion as how many corporations in America deal with their competitors, the very wealthy company behind Barnes & Noble corp. (the same people who control the Gamestop chain) gulped up Funcoland along with a few other popular game retailers, including Babbages and Software Etc., in order to possess a larger part of the game chain store market. Most (if not all Funcolands) have been closed down or reopened as a Gamestop.

There was more than a name change that went on, though. The new company's policy was much difference from the one Funcoland followed. Now shifting the emphasis on the current generation of video games over the older and less expensive software, many of the Gamestops around the country have plans to remove most (if not all) of their classic games selection to make room for the more expensive titles.

(Feeling nostalgic now that the Funcoland name is turning into Gamestop? Want to hold on to something Funco before it's too late? If so, download, print, and cut out this official Funcoland dust sleeve to preserve Funco's presence with your games. Follow this guide on how to do this.)

Q: What are the exact measurements (in inches) of NES and Famicom cartridges?
A: You never know when this information might save your life. You can never be too safe! My measurements:
--NES catridge dimensions: 5.5"L x 4.1"W
--Famicom cartridge dimensions: 3"L x 5.3"W