Nintendo Power (cartridge)
The Nintendo Power (Japanese: ニンテンドウパワー, Hepburn: Nintendō Pawā) is a Japan-only peripheral produced by Nintendo for the Super Famicom and the Game Boy. The service allowed owners to download Super Famicom or Game Boy games onto a special flash memory cartridge for a lower price than that of the full cartridge.
Nintendo Power flash cartridges for Super Famicom (SF Memory Cartridge) and Game Boy (GB Memory Cartridge) | |
Developer | Nintendo |
---|---|
Release date | September 30, 1997 |
Discontinued | February 28, 2007 |
The Super Famicom version of Nintendo Power was released in late 1996.[1] The Game Boy Nintendo Power was released on March 1, 2000. The service as a whole was discontinued on February 28, 2007.[2]
History
Background
During the days of the Family Computer, Nintendo developed the Disk System, a disk drive expansion for the Famicom with expanded RAM which allows players to use rewritable disk media called "disk cards" at Famicom Disk Writer kiosks. The system was relatively popular but suffered from issues of limited capacity. However, Nintendo did see a market for an economical rewritable medium due to the popularity of the Disk System.
Nintendo's first dynamic flash storage subsystem for the Super Famicon was the Satellaview, a peripheral released in 1995 that facilitated the delivery of a set of unique Super Famicom games via the St.GIGA satellite network.
Release
The Super Famicom version of Nintendo Power was released in late 1996.[1]
The Game Boy Nintendo Power was originally planned to launch on November 1, 1999;[3] however, due to the 1999 Jiji earthquake disrupting production in Taiwan, it was delayed[4] until March 1, 2000.
Legacy
In 2003, Nintendo launched another game delivery kiosk network for the iQue Player in China.[5]
Usage
A user would first purchase the RAM cartridge itself, then bring it to a store which had a Nintendo Power copier.[6] The player would select games to be copied to the cartridge. In addition, the store would provide the purchaser with a printed copy of the manual for the game. Game prices varied,[1] with older titles being relatively cheap, and newer titles and Nintendo Power exclusives being more expensive.
Due to being a proprietary medium, Nintendo Power memory cartridges made copyright infringement by illicit duplication much more difficult than if a standard format (such as a floppy disk) had been used.
Technical details
Each cartridge's flash ROM is divided internally into eight blocks. Unless an 8-block game is loaded onto the cartridge, however, one block is reserved for the game selection menu, leaving only seven blocks for games.
In addition, each cartridge has a small amount of SRAM for game saves, which is divided into sixteen blocks. Games are rounded up in capacity; for example, a 10 megabit Super Famicom game needs three flash ROM blocks totaling 12 megabits, and a Game Boy game that needs 100 kilobits of save space would need two SRAM blocks totaling 128 kilobits.
Games that utilize an enhancement chip (such as the Super FX) cannot be placed on the Nintendo Power cartridge, as the required chip is not present.
Specifications
Super Famicom
"SF Memory Cartridge (SFメモリカセット)" MSRP – ¥3,980
- Onboard flash ROM (for game data) – 32 megabits total (4 megabits/block × 8 blocks)
- Onboard SRAM (for game saves) – 256 kilobits total (16 kilobits/block × 16 blocks)
Game Boy
"GB Memory Cartridge (GBメモリカートリッジ) " MSRP – ¥2,500
- Onboard flash ROM (for game data) – 8 megabits total (1 megabit/block × 8 blocks)
- Onboard SRAM (for game saves) – 1024 kilobits total (64 kilobits/block × 16 blocks)
Reception
When the Nintendo Power for Super Famicom launched, it was perceived by the press as being in-part an effort to free up retailer shelf space for more Nintendo 64 products.[1]
List of games
Super Famicom
- First party
Title | Release date |
---|---|
Heisei Shin Onigashima: Kōhen[lower-alpha 1] | December 1, 1997 |
Heisei Shin Onigashima: Zenpen[lower-alpha 1] | December 1, 1997 |
Wrecking Crew '98[lower-alpha 1] | January 1, 1998 |
Kirby no Kirakira Kizzu[lower-alpha 1] | February 1, 1998 |
Super Punch-Out!! | March 1, 1998 |
Famicom Tantei Club Part II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shōjo | April 1, 1998 |
Super Famicom Wars | May 1, 1998 |
Dr. Mario[lower-alpha 1] | June 1, 1998 |
Zootto Mahjong! | July 1, 1998 |
Sutte Hakkun[lower-alpha 1] | August 1, 1998 |
Derby Stallion '98 | September 1, 1998 |
Mini 4WD Let's & Go!! Power WGP2[lower-alpha 1] | October 1, 1998 |
Power Lode Runner | January 1, 1999 |
Power Sōkoban[lower-alpha 1] | January 1, 1999 |
Picross NP Vol. 1 | April 1, 1999 |
Picross NP Vol. 2 | June 1, 1999 |
Famicom Bunko: Hajimari no Mori | July 1, 1999 |
Picross NP Vol. 3 | August 1, 1999 |
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776[lower-alpha 1] | September 1, 1999 |
Picross NP Vol. 4 | October 1, 1999 |
Picross NP Vol. 5 | December 1, 1999 |
Picross NP Vol. 6 | February 1, 2000 |
Picross NP Vol. 7 | April 1, 2000 |
Picross NP Vol. 8 | June 1, 2000 |
Metal Slader Glory: Director's Cut | November 29, 2000 |
- Third party
- Columns
- Dōkyūsei 2
- Mega Man 7[lower-alpha 1]
- Ring ni Kakero
- Super Family Gerende
- Was also released on cartridge.
Gameboy
Title | Release Date | Publisher | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Genuine Hanafuda GB | December 1 2000 | Artron | 1,050 yen |
Match Up Shogi | July 1 2000 | Athena | 1,050 yen |
Trick Border Grand Prix | December 1 2000 | Athena | 1,050 yen |
Professional Mahjong Goku GB | March 1 2000 | Athena | 1,050 yen |
Professional Mahjong Goku GB2 | June 1 2001 | Athena | 1,050 yen |
Purikura Pocket Incomplete Schoolgirl Manual |
March 1 2000 | Atlus | 1,050 yen |
Purikura Pocket2 Boyfriend Remodeling Operation |
March 1 2000 | Atlus | 1,050 yen |
Purikura Pocket3 talent debut masterpiece war |
March 1 2000 | Atlus | 1,050 yen |
Hamster Paradise | June 1 2001 | Atlus | 1,050 yen |
Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible | March 1 2000 | Atlus | 1,050 yen |
Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible II | March 1 2000 | Atlus | 1,050 yen |
Guru Guru Characters | March 1 2000 | Atlus | 1,050 yen |
Super Genie Heroes Wataru Mazekko Monster 2 |
August 1 2000 | Banpresto | 1,050 yen |
Kakutou Ryouri Densetsu Bistro Recipe: Wonder Battle | October 1 2000 | Banpresto | 1,050 yen |
Kakutou Ryouri Densetsu Bistro Recipe - Gekitou Foodon Battle Hen | December 1 2000 | Banpresto | 1,050 yen |
Bionic Commando | March 1 2000 | Capcom | 1,050 yen |
Gargoyle's Quest 2 | March 1 2000 | Capcom | 1,050 yen |
Gargoyle's Quest | March 1 2000 | Capcom | 1,050 yen |
Street Fighter II | March 1 2000 | Capcom | 1,050 yen |
Rockman World | March 1 2001 | Capcom | 1,050 yen |
Rockman World 2 | March 1 2001 | Capcom | 1,050 yen |
Rockman World 3 | March 1 2001 | Capcom | 1,050 yen |
Rockman World 5 | April 1 2001 | Capcom | 1,050 yen |
Rockman World 4 | April 1 2001 | Capcom | 1,050 yen |
Sword GB | May 1 2001 | Kemco | 1,050 yen |
Batman Beyond | May 1 2001 | Kemco | 1,050 yen |
Spy vs. Spy | May 1 2001 | Kemco | 1,050 yen |
Authentic 4-person Mahjong Mahjong King | April 1 2000 | Child | 1,050 yen |
The mysterious dungeon Kurenai Shiren GB Tsukikage village monster |
March 1 2000 | Chunsoft | 1,050 yen |
Doraemon's Game Boy, Deluxe 10 |
August 1 2000 | Epoch | 1,050 yen |
Doraemon cart | August 1 2000 | Epoch | 1,050 yen |
Dragon Slayer Gaiden The Crown of Sleep |
March 1 2000 | Epoch | 1,050 yen |
Dragon slayer 1 | July 1 2000 | Epoch | 1,050 yen |
Bomberman GB 3 | March 1 2000 | Hudson | 1,050 yen |
Momotaro Dengeki 2 | March 1 2000 | Hudson | 1,050 yen |
GB Prototype 2 | March 1 2000 | Hudson | 1,050 yen |
Adventure Island 3 | June 1 2000 | Hudson | 1,050 yen |
Game Boy Wars Turbo | March 1 2000 | Hudson | 1,050 yen |
Super Momotaro Electric Railway 2 | March 1 2000 | Hudson | 1,050 yen |
Momotaro Electric Railway jr-Rolls around Ramen in Japan |
December 1 2000 | Hudson | 1,050 yen |
Same Game | March 1 2000 | Hudson | 1,050 yen |
Bomberman Quest | August 1 2000 | Hudson | 1,050 yen |
Fairy Kitty Good Luck Dictionary- Fortune-telling of Fairy Land- |
March 1 2000 | Imagineer | 1,050 yen |
Medarot (Kabuto version) | March 1 2000 | Imagineer | 1,050 yen |
Medalot (stag version) | March 1 2000 | Imagineer | 1,050 yen |
Sanrio time net future edition | May 1 2000 | Imagineer | 1,050 yen |
Sanrio Time Net Past | May 1 2000 | Imagineer | 1,050 yen |
Medarot Parts Collection | December 1 2000 | Imagineer | 1,050 yen |
Wave Rider! | July 1 2001 | Jujube | 1,050 yen |
Kid Dracula | March 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Ganbare Goemon: Hoshizorashi Dynamites Arawaru!! | July 1 2001 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Yu-Gi-Oh! Monster Capsule GB | February 1 2001 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Survival Kids | Feb 1 2001 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Nemesis II | March 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
It's a World Rally | August 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters | March 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Konami GB Collection Vol.1 | March 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Konami GB Collection Vol.2 | March 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Konami GB Collection Vol.4 | March 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
BeatmaniaGB | May 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Hanasaka Tenshi Tenten-kun's Beat Breaker |
April 1 2001 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Bakuchou Retrieve Master | March 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
God Medicine : Birth of a Fantasy World | March 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Ganbare Goemon: Tengu-tō no Gyakushū! | May 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Azure Dreams | August 1 2000 | Konami | 1,050 yen |
Pac-Man | March 1 2000 | Namco | 1,050 yen |
Namco Gallery VOL. 1 | March 1 2000 | Namco | 1,050 yen |
Namco Gallery VOL. 3 | March 1 2000 | Namco | 1,050 yen |
Mr. Driller | June 1 2001 | Namco | 1,050 yen |
Great Greed | March 1 2000 | Namco | 1,050 yen |
Balloon Kid | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Super Mario Bros Deluxe | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Metroid II: Return of Samus | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Game & Watch Gallery | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Game & Watch Gallery 3 | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Donkey Kong Land | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Super Mario Land | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Donkey Kong '94 | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Donkey Kong Land 2 | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Kirby's Dream Land | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Kirby's Dream Land 2 | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Kirby's Block Ball | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Alleyway | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Game Boy Wars | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Radar Mission | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Solar Striker | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Tennis | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Golf | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
F1 | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls) | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Kirby's Pinball Land | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Usefulness | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Kirby's Star Stacker | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Dr. Mario | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Mario's Picross | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Mario's Picross 2 | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Mole Mania | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Yoshi's Cookie | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
Tetris Attack | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Tetris DX | September 1,2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
Tetris | September 1,2000 | Nintendo | 840 yen |
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | March 1 2000 | Nintendo | 1,050 yen |
The Shutoko Racing | April 1 2000 | Pony Canyon | 1,050 yen |
Shogi 2 | April 1 2000 | Pony Canyon | 1,050 yen |
Karamuchou Ha Oosawagi! | August 1 2001 | Starfish | 1,575 yen |
Super Black Bass Pocket 3 | March 1 2000 | Starfish | 1,050 yen |
Kuzume Monster Parfait | June 1 2001 | Starfish | 1,050 yen |
Pachi Pachi Pachisuro New Pulsar | June 1 2001 | Starfish | 1,050 yen |
Karamuchou Ha Oosawagi! | March 1 2000 | Starfish | 1,050 yen |
Fossil Genesis Reborn II | March 1 2000 | Starfish | 1,050 yen |
Kogururu Guruguru ~Gurugururu Nakayoshi~ |
July 1 2001 | Sting | 1,050 yen |
Loppi Puzzle Magazine first issue of puzzle |
August 1 2001 | Success | 630 yen |
Loppi Puzzle Magazine Inspirational puzzle first issue |
September 1 2001 | Success | 630 yen |
Loppi Puzzle Magazine Thinking puzzle No. 2 |
October 1 2001 | Success | 630 yen |
Loppi Puzzle Magazine Inspirational Puzzle No. 2 |
November 1 2001 | Success | 630 yen |
Loppi Puzzle Magazine- thinking puzzle No. 3 |
December 1 2001 | Success | 630 yen |
Petit Carat | July 1 2000 | Taito | 1,050 yen |
Bubble Bobble | July 1 2000 | Taito | 1,050 yen |
Space Invaders | March 1 2000 | Taito | 1,050 yen |
Sagaia | July 1 2000 | Taito | 1,050 yen |
Puzzle Bobble GB | March 1 2000 | Taito | 1,050 yen |
Quick's adventure | September 1 2000 | Taito | 1,050 yen |
Nettou Toshinden | March 1 2000 | Takara | 1,050 yen |
Chibi Maruko-chan 4 This is Japan! Prince |
November 1 2000 | Takara | 1,050 yen |
Chibi Maruko-chan Maruko Deluxe Theater |
November 1 2000 | Takara | 1,050 yen |
Life Game | March 1 2000 | Takara | 1,050 yen |
Othello World | May 1 2000 | Tsukuda original | 1,050 yen |
Dogtato | December 1 2000 | [[Victor<br />Interactive<br />Software]] | 1,050 yen |
Harvest Moon GB | August 1 2000 | [[Victor<br />Interactive<br />Software]] | 1,050 yen |
Legend of the River King 2 | March 1 2000 | [[Victor<br />Interactive<br />Software]] | 1,050 yen |
Legend of the River King 3 | March 1 2000 | [[Victor<br />Interactive<br />Software]] | 1,050 yen |
Aretha | March 1 2000 | Yanoman | 1,050 yen |
Aretha II | March 1 2000 | Yanoman | 1,050 yen |
Aretha III | March 1 2000 | Yanoman | 1,050 yen |
See also
- Famicom Disk Writer kiosks
- Satellaview
- iQue Player
External links
- SFC game list on Nintendo's website (Japanese) on Wayback Machine
- GB game list on Nintendo's website (Japanese) on Wayback Machine
References
- Svensson, Christian (February 1997). "Nintendo's Download Dream". Next Generation. No. 26. Imagine Media. p. 28.
- "NINTENDO POWER". Nintendo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 25 February 2007.
- "平成11年11月1日、ゲームボーイ書き換えサービススタート!!". Nintendo Online Magazine (in Japanese). No. 14. Nintendo. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- "NINTENDO POWER". Nintendo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 23 October 1999.
- Robinson, Andy (February 8, 2007). "Nintendo Closes Nintendo Power". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
- "Tidbits...". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 90. Ziff Davis. January 1997. p. 26.