FC Twin Video Game System

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FC Twin Video Game System
Manufacturer	Yobo^[1]
Type	Video game console
Generation	Seventh generation era
First available	November 20, 2006
CPU	NOAC (NES mode), Ricoh 5822 or compatible 3.58 MHz (SNES mode)
Media	NES/SNES cartridge
System storage	on-cartridge
Controller input	2x SNES
Backward compatibility	Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System

The FC Twin Video Game System is a Famiclone that can play Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games. It has a fairly low pricetag of $60. The system has been well received due to the increasing scarcity of original hardware. The system has been followed by a number of similar console "remakes": the Gen-X Dual Station Video Game System for NES 8 Bit & Sega Genesis 16 Bit Games,^[2] the GN Twin Video Game System for Sega Genesis & NES games,^[3] and the Retro Duo Twin Video Game System for NES & SNES games.^[4]^[5]

1 Compatibility
- 1.1 NES compatibility
- 1.2 SNES compatibility
2 References
3 External links

[edit] Compatibility

The FC Twin Video Game System has separate circuitry and card slots for both hardware NES and Super Nintendo Entertainment System, allowing it to play games for both consoles. It features a single-pole, double-throw power switch with open position; the switch can be thrown to 8-Bit (NES) or 16-Bit (SNES), or set to off.

[edit] NES compatibility

The FC Twin console uses SNES compatible controllers and devices such as the Super Scope and Konami Justifier light guns, but cannot use NES compatible controllers and devices such as the NES Zapper peripheral for Duck Hunt. The Super Nintendo controller buttons otherwise map to the NES controller inputs (B maps to Y, A maps to B. A maps to turbo B, X maps to turbo A; L and R serve no function). When using any controllers besides the actual FC Twin ones, the A and X buttons do nothing during NES play. Gauntlet II pauses when L or R is hit.

The FC Twin connects through an RCA connector, and can be hooked into a surround sound system. When using stereo and surround output from these systems, NES sounds and music may seem very different from their typical mono output. Using output modes that properly generate mono sound, either through a single center speaker or cloned to multiple speakers, the sound output sounds mostly identical to the original NES. The FC Twin does not produce some sounds faithfully, even with mono output; sound effects in the Super Mario Bros. series games will for example immediately seem different. Nevertheless, some later models of the console produce NES sound much more faithfully than units made closer to launch. Recent models produce sound with complete fidelity.

FC Twin with two games in it

The FC Twin uses a card slot reader rather than a ZIF connector. The second-generation NES also used a card slot reader, and featured no 10NES lock-out chip; however, unlike the top-loading NES 2, the FC Twin is completely compatible with the Galoob Game Genie without the use of an adaptor. Both the official NES2 and the FC Twin capitalize on the card slot reader's greater reliability; games rarely suffer from bad connections as they did with the original ZIF socket. In the FC Twin, the NES cartridge still has to be reseated occasionally; the pins can misalign and short across each other or otherwise fail to connect properly; you have to maneuver the game cartridge until it works.

As tested by consumers, the following NES games are not compatible with the FC Twin:

Bandit Kings of Ancient China
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (works on FC Dual and Retro Duo System)
Cheetahmen II
Challenge of the Dragon
Crystal Mines
Dragon Warrior II
Gauntlet
Gemfire
Jordan vs Bird: One on One
Laser Invasion
L'Empereur
Mad Max
Nobunaga's Ambition II
Pipe Dream
Rad Racer II
Romance of the Three Kingdoms II
The Krion Conquest
Uncharted Waters
WWF King of the Ring
WWF WrestleMania Challenge

At times different copies of the same game can behave differently in the FC Twin. This may be explained by a malfunction with the cartridge itself. Some copies of Dragon Warrior or Super Mario Bros. 2 for example will not work in the FC Twin; while other copies of the same games will operate in the same machine. In other cases, the system simply does not function with certain expansion chips, such as those in Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse.

[edit] SNES compatibility

The FC Twin uses Super Nintendo compatible controllers and devices, and can thus connect to specialized input devices such as the SNES Mouse for Mario Paint.

The FC twin reproduces SNES sound very well for a Famiclone. Some find that the audio has too much treble at times though most agree that the sound quality is true to the original. The SPC700 in the original SNES used a sample-driven mechanism similar to a type of instruction-driven MOD file. Reproducing the sound from these systems simply requires playing back clips of sounds with mathematically-defined effects and loop points.^{[citation needed]} As long as the CPU can read the instruction language or run a program to emulate it, this task presents no difficulty.^{[citation needed]}

While the FC Twin is Super Famicom compatible, two plastic tabs in the cartridge slot prevent them from fitting. These tabs must be removed- or otherwise worked around- to play Super Famicom titles. Similar tabs are used in the American Super NES. Note that it is not PAL compatible in any way as so a universal adapter is necessary to play PAL games. This however means some games with special hardware requirements may not function due to lack of adequate region protection circuitry.

Using Super Famicom cartridges with the FC Twin's tabs removed, it takes a number of attempts to get any cartridge running. This makes it hard to recommend this unit for Super Famicom use. Also, the FC Twin does not have a lockout chip to prevent bootleg games from being played. This also causes compatibility isues with later games with the Nintendo SA-1 coprocessor that were programmed to detect if the SNES lockout was disabled.

As tested by consumers, the following SNES games and peripherals are not compatible with the FC Twin:

The Incredible Crash Dummies
BatterUP
E.V.O.: Search for Eden - Cannot save or delete save files. (Disputed.)
Street Fighter Alpha 2 - The S-DD1 chip does not function. (Disputed.) (Compatible with Retro Duo system)
Star Ocean - Another S-DD1 dependent title.
Kirby Super Star - Due to Nintendo SA-1 Coprocessor built (disputed) into the Cartridge (Compatible with Retro Duo system)
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars - Another Nintendo SA-1 dependent title. (Disputed) (Compatible with Retro Duo System and FC Twin IF you have one of the earliest versions of the game. Later versions of the game will not work with either console)
Super Bomberman 2 - The game starts up but the control pad does not function.
Super Scope 6 - Gun will work but you can not use controller it wont let two player mode work on Terminator: Arcade, Metal Combat, etc.