Nintendo Family BASIC/Famicom Keyboard/Cassette setup instructions

[floatingyeti]

 

So I got Famicom Family BASIC cassettes to launch directly to game using RetroArch MAME core.

Download Setup

I cant simply share a setup that is completely pre-configured so I will attempt to explain the process.

 

Whats needed:

 

Run either Famicom or Famicom Twin System with Famicom keyboard enabled.

 

A Famicom BASIC Cart must be loaded and Cassettes loaded and played with Tape Control Feature

 

Ini file must be created with auto/save load states enabled. Auto load states must be made “read only”

 

Lets begin:

 

1. Using the files from my “Famicom Family BASIC” upload add the system as you normally would

2. Launch a game press “Scroll lock” and open the Mame Menu (tab) go to Slot Devices and “exp” must be “fc_keyboard”. Select Reset Machine from within Slot Devices menu

3. Open RetroArch Menu and go to Options and enable both “Read Configuration” and “Write Configuration”. Exit the game so an .ini file will be created

4. Launch the same game again but disable “Write Configuration”.Exit game again.

5. Open “famitwin.ini” in Retroarch\system\mame\ini

6. Find # CORE STATE/PLAYBACK OPTIONS section. Set autosave to 1 and save. Now every time you launch a Family Basic game the Basic V3 cart is loaded and your an auto save/load state is created when you exit game.

7. Launch a game. Example: bv3bonbon (Bound Bon-Bon)

8. Initial screen is NS-HUBASIC V3 command prompt. Always press Scroll Lock first so you can use all keyboard keys.

9. Type: LOAD and press enter. Then open Mame Menu go to “File Manager” menu, select cassette (cass) and select “bonbon.wav” which is in “famitwin” rom directory. Select “Return to Previous Menu”.

10. Select Tape Control and then PLAY. You can hit tab to exit Mame Menu and wait. Once tape is loaded and command prompt displays “OK”, type LOADS (with an S) and use File Manager to load in bonbon1.wav and the TAPE CONTROL to PLAY. The command prompt will display “OK” again then type RUN and press enter.

11. Once the game starts I suggest quickly exiting the game. This will create an autoload state at the beginning of the completely loaded game.

12. Before you launch anything else go to Retroarch\saves\mame\states\famitwin in that directory is a folder for bv3bonbon with a “auto.sta” file. Adjust the properties of the file to be “read-only”. Now whenever you launch that game it will always start at the same point and not be overwritten

 

You must repeat this process for every single game. If you mess up the timing on the autosave state just delete it and start over. Everytime you set up a new game it will have the previous cassette loaded, always load the making wav file before pressing “PLAY”. All bv3(romname).zip use (romname).wav.

Many will have 2 wav files, if the game is missing background graphics you forgot to LOADS (romname)1.wav

 

For Metal Arms, Ryuhyokn and Satan load cassette 1 then run and you will be prompted to load (not loads) cassette 2

 

Mario World and Pen Pen Maze are built into Basic V3 cart

 

type game1 to load Pen Pen Maze

type game2,1 to load Mario World

 

 

I know that many games have a black background (missing graphics). There is a BG.wav file for each game that will not properly load on the basic v2 or v3 carts. I included the original cass roms with the BG files. I dont think MAME is compatible with them yet.

 

 

This is my best attempt to explain this complicated process, I hope it helps.