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Given that the Famicom was primarily designed for arcade game experiences for the home it could be that during early Famicom software development folks at Nintendo were aware of this game and sought out to make a version of it for their hardware. Hard to say for certain though...

Print advertisement for the 1981 arcade game Gomoku Narabe Renju.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 9h

Aside from both representing the tabletop "Five in a row" game, the interface and gameplay between the two are nearly identical. While Nichibutsu's game has a larger board, when scaled down it matches perfectly with Nintendo's game. The cursor and animations are also extremely similar.

Game board for the 1981 arcade game Gomoku Narabe Renju.

Game board for the 1983 Famicom game Gomoku Narabe Renju.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 9h

Was researching and stumbled upon a 1981 arcade game by Nichibutsu titled Gomoku Narabe Renju which is also the title of a 1983 Famicom game by Nintendo. I have reason to believe that Nintendo may have taken heavy inspiration from the arcade game.

Title screen for the 1981 arcade game Gomoku Narabe Renju.

Title screen for the 1983 Famicom game Gomoku Narabe Renju.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 29/09/2026

Despite my wiki site prioritizing titles in romaji there's also proper English translations for these titles which also act as redirects, but if I was casually talking about these Japanese games to folks I'm probably using the English titles just to avoid any confusion.

https://famiwiki.net/wiki/Fire_Emblem:_Ankoku_Ryuu_to_Hikari_no_Tsurugi

https://famiwiki.net/wiki/Dragon_Ball_Z_Gaiden:_Saiyajin_Zetsumetsu_Keikaku

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 28/09/2026

I actually stopped by the other day while I was in the area and saw this in-person. Hope to see the store open soon!

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 28/09/2026

Had a conversation about the current state of emulators which spiraled into me trying LJN's Video Art in MAME. Even in emulation the controls are so bad you'd be lucky to draw anything coherent in it. Can't imagine the real hardware experience...

Roo the Kangaroo trapped in LJN Video Art. He is not happy.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 26/09/2026

Speaking of product codes, if you didn't know most physically released games and software including Famicom cartridges have codes on them. I've made it so if you look up these codes on FamiWiki you'll be redirected to the software page for it.

The product code NAT-T8 for Chuugoku Janshi Monogatari: Tonpuu.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 26/09/2026

So while I was cleaning up @famiwiki.net pages I stumbled onto the fact that there's two Taito published Famicom games that use the exact same product code. Dunno how this blunder happened but that means you'll get this disambiguation page if you look up the code. famiwiki.net/wiki/TFC-KR5...

famiwiki.net

TFC-KR5500

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 25/09/2026

Count or not I like delving into non-console territory, especially if there is context to be found that explains why certain console games turned out the way they did. It's also more old tech to get into which means more games I get to play.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 25/09/2026

Not for this one but I do have a case for a different Koei strategy game.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 25/09/2026

Been a while since I've been able to buy more import games but I was nearby Book-Off today and managed to get a couple cartridges.

2 Game Boy cartridges and 2 Famicom cartridges.

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Reposted by Brenden

Video Game History Foundation @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Starting today, we're piloting Japanese magazines in our digital archive! We've spent the last few months upgrading our library infrastructure to support Japanese-language material, starting with the magazine Neo Geo Freak. Read the full blog post for more info: gamehistory.org/5k-magazines/

A two-page spread from Neo Geo Freak featuring Nakoruru from the game Samurai Shodown. All text is accurately highlighted on the page, including vertical writing being mapped vertically.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 23/09/2026

I actually would kill for a retro game focused display. CRTs are heavy, old, and aren't being made anymore so having new solutions would be nice. I guess for now you can just get a good gaming monitor and pair it with an upscaler but if that was just one product I'd buy it.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 22/09/2026

An unreleased Nintendo 64 game has been released today by Team Carrot. Kaminari no Gotoku: Choukousoku Igo by Seta is as you can guess from the screenshots a table Go game. This prototype build appears to be near final and can be fully played, as long as you have knowledge of Japanese and Go.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 21/09/2026

Closest there was is an unreleased Aliens game for the Famicom Disk System. youtu.be/i-ObSBiqFEs

youtu.be

The Year of FDS - Aliens: Alien 2

YouTube video by RndStranger

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 21/09/2026

Terminator 2 published by Pack-In-Video and WWF WrestleMania Challenge published by HOT-B.

https://famiwiki.net/wiki/WWF_WrestleMania_Challenge

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 21/09/2026

I have finished adding every LJN published NES game to @famiwiki.net which if you didn't know there were 26 games. Many of these were North American exclusive but some were released elsewhere including two getting Japanese Famicom releases. So here's all the NES box artworks. famiwiki.net/wiki/LJN

All 26 games published by LJN for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). These are North American box artworks.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 21/09/2026

The prophecy will come true sooner than later.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 20/09/2026

Fakku-kun no Bouken II must have been a beloved RPG in Japan... hey wait a minute!

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 19/09/2026

I'll probably get around to doing it for real in VRChat sometime before Portland Retro Gaming Expo but glad this talk I planned isn't fully getting shelved.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 19/09/2026

So remember that Famicom panel I had planned? I finished up doing a rough version of it in VRChat with a small audience and it went okay. I'll probably need to take notes for each slide before I do this for real but I was able to talk about aspects of Nintendo and the Famicom from just my knowledge.

Donkey Kong arcade and Masayuki Uemura of Nintendo R&D2.

Top 10 best-selling Famicom games in Japan.

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Reposted by Brenden

Gaming Alexandria @gamingalexandria.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Even in 2026 there's still undumped games to release for the NES/Famicom. Bought a lot of Fukutake Studybox tapes awhile back and they'll be released soon!

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 18/09/2026

Some more "solo adventures" in VRChat.

Roo the Kangaroo conducting a Japanese train Densha de Go! style.

Roo the Kangaroo in a Japanese game center arcade playing Puyo Puyo Tsu.

Roo the Kangaroo watching a trailer for a Conan anime movie.

Roo the Kangaroo in real life. Yes this is a scan of a real place apparently.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 17/09/2026

There does exist an emulator that takes Snes9x and puts it in the ZSNES user interface, so if you want good software emulation but a "nostalgic" interface this might be the best option. www.smwcentral.net?p=section&a=...

smwcentral.net

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 17/09/2026

For more information, check the links below. tcrf.net/DJ_GEMS_Demo hiddenpalace.org/DJ_GEMS_Demo... segaretro.org/GEMS_Module_...

hiddenpalace.org

DJ GEMS Demo (prototype)

A sound test program for the Sega Mega Drive.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 17/09/2026

Well this is a surprise! The GEMS Module Test Program for the Mega Drive/Genesis was dumped and released today by CartridgeCulture. It features music composed by David Javelosa, who uploaded footage of this demo back in 2019. It features music composed with the GEMS sound program.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 17/09/2026

I never knew I wanted this crossover.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 16/09/2026

This makes my buisness card look like a powerpoint presentation in comparison.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 16/09/2026

A long while ago I was sent a copy of Doraemon UNO, which is a typical UNO card deck but themed with Doraemon characters. I had scanned both the cards and packaging but it took me until now to port it all over to Tabletop Simulator. Have fun! steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/...

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Reposted by Brenden

Sin Cama @sincama.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Thank you for the review! I agree with you on the Soundlink bit, even with our voices, something about it all coming together during gameplay feels so natural to me. Like it was always made to be played this way! (Also dang looks like you got a pretty high score!)

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 14/09/2026

I played Episode 1 of this fanmade English version of the Satellaview game and wow I now understand what SoundLink had to offer. This is a must play if you are into unique retro game experiences and for Mario fans that want to hear characters interact and affect the game as you play.

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Reposted by Brenden

Frank Cifaldi @frankcifaldi.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

This is a part of the game's second level that exists only for you to go watch the birds and enjoy some serenity. It has its own location and scrolls the rest of the level off screen so you're not interrupted, it's very intentional. It's absolutely wild to see something like this on the NES.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 11/09/2026

When you are overqualified for the job.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 11/09/2026

Today is a day we shall never forget. That's right Klonoa: Empire of Dreams allegedly released on this day 25 years ago. At least that's the date Nintendo uses in the NSO applet, but other sources claim it actually released on August 30, 2001. So which is it then?

North American box art for Klonoa: Empire of Dreams.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 10/09/2026

Can this be in the rest of the system menu thanks.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 09/09/2026

I went ahead and uploaded original hardware gameplay on YouTube if you are interested in seeing what this contains! www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AuU...

youtube.com

Project Dream (Unreleased) / SFC/SNES Gameplay (Original Hardware)

YouTube video by Bro3256

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 09/09/2026

Can confirm this works on hardware via a flashcart.

Project Dream running on an SNES Jr. console via an SD2SNES flash cartridge.

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Reposted by Brenden

Facts About Banjo-Kazooie @factsaboutbk.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Someone claimed to have uploaded the SNES prototype of Project Dream that they had in their personal collection on Archive.org. This is footage by OlieGamerTV. We don't know if its authentic but it works.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 08/09/2026

Dunno why western box art for Zelda games in the 1990s had that gold background template so here's the Japanese box art for comparison.

Box art for Zelda no Densetsu: Toki no Okarina aka The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo 64.

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Reposted by Brenden

Syncoplay Retro Gaming @syncoplay.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

As my Beyond the NES Kickstarter wraps up in less than 24 hours, I want to thank a whole bunch of people who helped it succeed (see comments). I will forget people, but if I forget you PLEASE msg me. This wouldn't have happened without you all! www.kickstarter.com/projects/syn...

kickstarter.com

Beyond the NES: Rediscovering 8-bit on the Japanese Famicom

Discover the 8-bit games you missed. A curated, 300+ page player's guide to the Japanese Famicom library.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 07/09/2026

No* but I understand some things in the language but not enough to get through stuff like casual conversation or watching media.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 07/09/2026

Just for the heck of it I watched this Japanese dubbed version mainly to compare with the English original. I'm obviously not the target audience for this dub but we'll see how it ends up performing.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 06/09/2026

I'm actually curious if this related to this Tetris tournament? We have footage of it which shows its a version made for the Famicom Network System which to my knowledge has never appeared publicly since then. famiwiki.net/wiki/Tetris_...

famiwiki.net

Tetris (Famicom Network System)

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 05/09/2026

Appears to be reprogrammed. Different menus, music, animations, and general implementation.

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Reposted by Brenden

Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I'm sure people have been seeing this garbage pop into their feed recently. But if I recall correctly, the original video isn't even AI or misleading. Somebody made a cool oscilloscope version of Pong and it's been deliberately mislabeled.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 05/09/2026

The Goonies stage is switched to Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa while the King Kong 2 stage is switched to Antarctic Adventure. The layout is the exact same but all the graphics had to be changed. I presume if the original Famicom game were to ever get re-released these changes would have to carry over.

Goonies stage (Famicom).
Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa stage (Keitai).

King Kong 2 stage (Famicom).
Antarctic Adventure stage (Keitai).

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 05/09/2026

Was poking around with keitai emulation and played some of the mobile phone versions of Famicom games Konami released in the 2000s. The version of Konami Wai Wai World is actually pretty interesting cause it changes 2 of the main 6 stages likely due to rights issues.

Konami Wai Wai World for the Famicom and in a keitai emulator.

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Brenden @bro3256.com · 05/09/2026

Non-zero chance this happens by the way.

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