Can someone fill me in?

jonebonejonebone
in Collector's Corner
Sorry if I've missed this discussion before (I'm sure I have), but what's the deal with black box games that contain the Famicom adapter inside?  How much more are they worth, or does it depend on the title?  Do we know if it only occurs in 5 screw / 3 screw or both?  What's the purpose of the adapter?

I know I've found one in Hogan's Alley and possibly one other (it slips my mind).  If someone can link me to a thread then I have no problem with locking this one up so we don't beat a dead horse.

Thanks fellas.

Comments

  • NewUser123456789NewUser123456789
    Jonas, when Nintendo first released the NES they didn't have enough parts for all the carts, so they used Famicom boards inside some of the 5 screw games and then just put in an adapter so it would work on a NES..



    Gyromite (some)

    and All stack ups have an adapter inside, but many other games, but I don't remember the rest...
  • nes_kingnes_king
    yes there are many more confirmed titles with the adaptors in them but only very few copies of each if i remember correctly.



    there is a topic on this somewhere on NA..
  • jonebonejonebone
    ^ Yeah I've tried searching and couldn't find it. I know there has to be one and I'm hoping someone has it bookmarked.
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel
    The adapter is worth $15-$20, or so. That is the only difference in the price/value.
  • VGS_MrMark0673VGS_MrMark0673
    Many people talk about the comparative weight method of finding the adapter and it is just impractical and unnecessary. The easiest and only fool proof method I know is that any cart that fulfills the following 2 requirements will ALWAYS have an adapter:



    1. All carts with adapters are 5 screw.

    2. Before opening the cart, take a look at the pins. If where the pins extend out of the cart is offset, it will ALWAYS have an adapter inside. If where the pins extend is centered, it will NEVER have an adapter inside.



    A million times easier than trying to compare the weight of the carts and 100% foolproof. I know there is a diagram of this process on the web, but I can't find it right now. I'll look around a bit more for it and post it if I do.
  • NewUser123456789NewUser123456789
    http://classicplastic.net/dvgi/editorials-davidnesconvert.html


    Updated with website with pictures..
  • Maydogg6Maydogg6

    Here's an email I sent myself when this subject came up last time with some of the main highlights of the conversation:

    http://www.famicomworld.com/Articles/NES_Cart_Converters.htm

    The top is always flat for 5-screws. It's confirmed that 3-screw games can contain a converter though, since the MTPO is obviously a 3-screw game.

    Gyromites contain converters only about 5-10% of the time.

    Jason is the only person who can verify the MTPO with converter, but he's actually seen it in person. There are various theories on this one, but its existence combined with the fact that all the 3-screw revision carts contain the inner screwposts to accomodate the converter mean that NOA didn't just do this for the first run of games. Whenever they had a game that was unpopular in Japan and short on production because of demand in the USA, they had this option at any point in production.

    The list of games that potentially have a converter is in Jason's large list, but it's by no means comprehensive. For your convenience:

    1942, Clu Clu Land, DK Jr, Duck Hunt, Elevator Action, Excitebike, Golf, Gumshoe, Gyromite, Hogan's Alley, MTPO, Pinball, Raid on Bungeling Bay, Rygar, Slalom, Stack-up, Tennis, Urban Champion, Wizards and Warriors, Wrecking Crew

    Of that list, I only own five games: Gyro, Excitebike, Wrecking Crew, Pinball and Hogan's Alley. These are the "more common" adapter carts, but still only show up in less than 5% of cartridges.

    These are only really worth the value of the Joint-01, about $15-$25, no matter the game. Even if a rare one popped up, it would be impossible to verify that it's a factory original. Those who collect generally pull them as unknowns out of big lots, or while in the wild. Be suspicious of any that's specifically advertised as a rare converter game.

    Use famitek's link to identify. You've got to "sex" the game, turn it over and check out it's pins. You don't have to "feel the weight" although eventually you'll know the moment you pick one up. Black box games have a very tiny board, and the cart is significantly lighter without the adapter. Don't pick up, say, a Dragon Warrior, and get excited, since the board/battery brings the mass up to almost that of the adapter carts.

    Stack-Up  always has a converter.

  • jonebonejonebone
    Thanks for the inputs guys.



    The "looking at the pins" method seems the most practical. However, the "weight" method works just fine for me as well, because I immediately know if the weight of the game seems right when I pick it up. If you ship a lot of individual carts, you eventually learn the rough weight of the common carts. I knew that the Hogan's Alley I have wasn't normal the second I touched it (Fami Adapter), and I knew the Super Mario / DH cart I have wasn't normal either (had an EPROM chip in it).



    The difference, while slight, is definitely noticeable to a veteran collector / reseller.
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel
    Yeah, some people are good at weighing objects by feel, others aren't.



    When I play Canasta with my parents, my mom is REALLY good at weighing cards for the cut-bonus.
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