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Difference between revisions of "Game Pak"

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{{Product infobox
 
{{Product infobox
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|image=[[File:SMB Game Pak.png|150px]]
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|caption=[[Super Mario Bros.]] [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] Game Pak
 
|released=1983
 
|released=1983
 
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===Famicom / NES===
 
===Famicom / NES===
 
{{stub|type=section}}
 
{{stub|type=section}}
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[[File:SMB Famicom.png|thumb|left|Famicom Game Pak of Super Mario Bros.]]
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{{clear}}
 
After the system was redesigned into the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] for the American and European markets, the cartridges were also redesigned. The Nintendo Entertainment System Game Paks are long, grey cartridges with an indent on the top left allowing players to pull the cartridge out of the system's loading tray. The console also used a 72-pin cartridge connector, as opposed to the 60-pin one on the Family Computer. Many early games, especially those released during the soft launch of the NES, use the original Famicom cartridge board attached to a 72-pin adapter.
 
After the system was redesigned into the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] for the American and European markets, the cartridges were also redesigned. The Nintendo Entertainment System Game Paks are long, grey cartridges with an indent on the top left allowing players to pull the cartridge out of the system's loading tray. The console also used a 72-pin cartridge connector, as opposed to the 60-pin one on the Family Computer. Many early games, especially those released during the soft launch of the NES, use the original Famicom cartridge board attached to a 72-pin adapter.
  
 
To prevent another situation like the {{wp|North American video game crash of 1983}}, [[Nintendo of America]]'s licensing terms required that all NES Game Paks be produced internally. All licensed NES Game Paks also have a "CIC" (Custom Integrated Circuit) chip that allows the game to play on the console, acting as a key for the [[10NES]] lockout program.
 
To prevent another situation like the {{wp|North American video game crash of 1983}}, [[Nintendo of America]]'s licensing terms required that all NES Game Paks be produced internally. All licensed NES Game Paks also have a "CIC" (Custom Integrated Circuit) chip that allows the game to play on the console, acting as a key for the [[10NES]] lockout program.
  
−
Many later Game Paks incorporated custom chips on the game board that allowed developers to make larger games and take advantage of features beyond what the system hardware normally allowed. For example, the NES port of [[Capcom]]'s ''{{wp|Ghosts 'n Goblins (video game)|Ghosts 'n Goblins}}'' was the first game to make use of a 128 KB cartridge.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9PuSrn_H1c Famicom Disk System - Gaming Historian]. Gaming Historian (YouTube; July 14, 2016). Retrieved February 6, 2017.</ref>
+
Many later games incorporated custom chips on the game board that allowed developers to make larger games and take advantage of features beyond what the system hardware normally allowed. For example, the NES port of [[Capcom]]'s ''{{wp|Ghosts 'n Goblins (video game)|Ghosts 'n Goblins}}'' was the first game to make use of a 128 KB cartridge<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9PuSrn_H1c Famicom Disk System - Gaming Historian]. Gaming Historian (YouTube; July 14, 2016). Retrieved February 6, 2017.</ref>, while the Famicom version of Konami's ''{{wp|Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse}}'' features a custom "VRC6" processor that allows the game to use additional sound channels. Later Game Paks also received a slight design revision; while earlier cartridges use five screws to hold the two shells together, those released later use a pair of plastic clips to secure the tops together, eliminating the need for the two screws at the top.
  
−
When converting {{FDS}} games to the Game Pak format for international release, the base Game Pak hardware does not have the capacity to save data unlike a [[Disk Card]]. Most games such as, {{ga|Kid Icarus}} or {{ga|Metroid}}, made use of a password system in place of the save feature, while some, such as {{ga|The Legend of Zelda}} and [[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|its sequel]], used a {{wp|button cell|cell battery}} on the circuit board to save players' progress.<ref>[http://thegaminghistorian.com/5-interesting-facts-about-the-legend-of-zelda/ 5 Interesting Facts About The Legend of Zelda]. Gaming Historian (November 16, 2011). Retrieved February 6, 2017.</ref>
+
When converting {{FDS}} games to the Game Pak format for international release, the base Game Pak hardware did not have the capacity to save data unlike a [[Disk Card]]. For most games, such as {{ga|Kid Icarus}} or {{ga|Metroid}}, the developers implemented a password system in place of the save feature. However, some, such as {{ga|The Legend of Zelda}} and [[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|its sequel]], use a {{wp|button cell|cell battery}} to record players' progress.<ref>[http://thegaminghistorian.com/5-interesting-facts-about-the-legend-of-zelda/ 5 Interesting Facts About The Legend of Zelda]. Gaming Historian (November 16, 2011). Retrieved February 6, 2017.</ref>
  
 
===Game Boy===
 
===Game Boy===
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[[File:SML Game Pak.png]]
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====Types====
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*Game Boy Game Pak (DMG-09)
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*Game Boy Rumble Game Pak (DMG-13)
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*Game Boy Tilt Sensor Game Pak (DMG-20)
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*Game Boy Color Game Pak (CGB-002)
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*[[Game Boy Camera]]
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*[[Game Boy Memory Cartridge]]
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*[[Game Boy Printer Cartridge]] (cancelled)<ref>[https://twitter.com/luigiblood/status/1168126670294933504 Tweet by LuigiBlood]</ref>
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<ref>[https://nindb.net/gb/hardware.html Nintendo Database - Game Boy hardware]</ref>
  
 
===SNES===
 
===SNES===
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[[File:F Zero Game Pak.png]]
  
 
===Nintendo 64===
 
===Nintendo 64===
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[[File:Pokemon Stadium Game Pak.png]]
  
 
===Game Boy Color===
 
===Game Boy Color===
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[[File:Pokemon Crystal Game Pak.png]]
  
 
===Game Boy Advance===
 
===Game Boy Advance===
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[[File:Golden Sun Game Pak.png]]
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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{{-}}
 
{{-}}
 
{{Nintendo Entertainment System}}
 
{{Nintendo Entertainment System}}
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{{Game Boy and Game Boy Color}}
 
{{SNES}}
 
{{SNES}}
 
{{Nintendo 64}}
 
{{Nintendo 64}}
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{{Game Boy Advance}}
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[[Category:Media storage]]

Latest revision as of 16:30, 9 November 2022

Game Pak
SMB Game Pak.png
Super Mario Bros. Nintendo Entertainment System Game Pak
Release year: 1983
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Compatible: Famicom / NES
SNES
Nintendo 64
Game Boy
Game Boy Color
Game Boy Advance
Model no.: SNES: SNS-006 / SHVC-006
N64: NUS-006
GB: DMG-13 (rumble), DMG-20 (tilt)
GBC: CGB-002
GBA: AGB-002

The Game Pak is the physical medium used by Nintendo for all of its video game devices up through the Game Boy Advance. Game Paks are ROM cartridges with the game programmed onto a circuit board. Although certain consoles had peripherals that allowed the system to play games on formats other than Game Paks, the Game Pak format would not be retired for home consoles until the Nintendo GameCube, which uses the Game Disc format, and on handheld devices until the Nintendo DS, which uses Game Cards.

Features and functionality

Famicom / NES

NintendoWiki logo.png This section is a stub. You can help NintendoWiki by expanding it.


Famicom Game Pak of Super Mario Bros.

After the system was redesigned into the Nintendo Entertainment System for the American and European markets, the cartridges were also redesigned. The Nintendo Entertainment System Game Paks are long, grey cartridges with an indent on the top left allowing players to pull the cartridge out of the system's loading tray. The console also used a 72-pin cartridge connector, as opposed to the 60-pin one on the Family Computer. Many early games, especially those released during the soft launch of the NES, use the original Famicom cartridge board attached to a 72-pin adapter.

To prevent another situation like the North American video game crash of 1983, Nintendo of America's licensing terms required that all NES Game Paks be produced internally. All licensed NES Game Paks also have a "CIC" (Custom Integrated Circuit) chip that allows the game to play on the console, acting as a key for the 10NES lockout program.

Many later games incorporated custom chips on the game board that allowed developers to make larger games and take advantage of features beyond what the system hardware normally allowed. For example, the NES port of Capcom's Ghosts 'n Goblins was the first game to make use of a 128 KB cartridge[1], while the Famicom version of Konami's Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse features a custom "VRC6" processor that allows the game to use additional sound channels. Later Game Paks also received a slight design revision; while earlier cartridges use five screws to hold the two shells together, those released later use a pair of plastic clips to secure the tops together, eliminating the need for the two screws at the top.

When converting Famicom Disk System games to the Game Pak format for international release, the base Game Pak hardware did not have the capacity to save data unlike a Disk Card. For most games, such as Kid Icarus or Metroid, the developers implemented a password system in place of the save feature. However, some, such as The Legend of Zelda and its sequel, use a cell battery to record players' progress.[2]

Game Boy

SML Game Pak.png

Types

[4]

SNES

F Zero Game Pak.png

Nintendo 64

Pokemon Stadium Game Pak.png

Game Boy Color

Pokemon Crystal Game Pak.png

Game Boy Advance

Golden Sun Game Pak.png

External links

References

  1. ↑ Famicom Disk System - Gaming Historian. Gaming Historian (YouTube; July 14, 2016). Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  2. ↑ 5 Interesting Facts About The Legend of Zelda. Gaming Historian (November 16, 2011). Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  3. ↑ Tweet by LuigiBlood
  4. ↑ Nintendo Database - Game Boy hardware


NES logo.png
click for the Page "Game Boy Color"

Hardware

Game Boy • Game Boy Pocket • Game Boy Light • Game Boy Color • Game Boy Advance (hardware family)

Components / other

Media: Game Pak (GB • GBC)

Game Boy

Game Boy Printer • Game Link Cable • Universal Game Link Adapter • Game Link Cable Adapter • Universal Game Link Cable • Four Player Adapter • Game Boy Stereo Headphones • Game Boy Rechargeable Battery Pack • Game Boy Battery Case • Game Boy Soft Case • Game Boy Cleaning Kit

Game Boy Pocket

Game Link Cable • Game Link Cable (Pocket) • Universal Game Link Adapter • Game Link Cable Adapter • Universal Game Link Cable • Four Player Adapter • Battery Pack • Game Boy Pocket Charger • AC Adapter

Game Boy Color

Game Link Cable (Color) • Mobile GB Adapter

Firmware Game Boy Camera  • Mobile Trainer
Other Game Boy Color Promotional Demo  • Deluxe software


SNES logo.png
Nintendo 64 Logo.png
click for the Page "Game Boy Advance"
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