Famicom Data Recorder (HVC-008) is a

compact cassette The Compact Cassette or Musicassette (MC), also commonly called the tape cassette, cassette tape, audio cassette, or simply tape or cassette, is an analog magnetic tape recording format for audio recording and playback. Invented by Lou Otte ...

tape data interface introduced in 1984, for the

Famicom The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit Third generation of video game consoles, third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redes ...

which had been introduced in 1983. It is compatible with four Famicom games, for saving

user-generated content User-generated content (UGC), alternatively known as user-created content (UCC), is any form of content, such as images, videos, text, testimonials, and audio, that has been posted by users on online platforms such as social media, discussion f ...

to tapes. As Nintendo's first rewritable storage medium, it was replaced by the

Famicom Disk System The commonly shortened to the Famicom Disk System or just Disk System, is a peripheral for Nintendo's Family Computer home video game console, released only in Japan on February 21, 1986. It uses proprietary floppy disks called "Disk Cards" for ...

in 1986.

History

Home game consoles may present the player with the opportunity for storing game positions and original

such as custom game levels. Based on the read-only memory cartridge medium, the premium cost of easy-to-use solid-state data storage technology, such as battery-backed memory, drove the 1980s market to seek cheaper compromises. Utilizing standard

tapes, Nintendo began with the Famicom Data Recorder. A compatible game runs on cartridge and optionally allows the creation of user-generated content to be saved onto cassette tapes using this tape drive. Manufactured by Matsushita/Panasonic for Nintendo, the cassette tape drive was released in

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

only in Japan for . Available to any game developer, it was launched as a peripheral for Nintendo's ''Family BASIC'' Keyboard to save

BASIC BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages designed for ease of use. The original version was created by John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz at Dartmouth College ...

programs written by users. In addition to ''Family BASIC'', this compatible game library is Nintendo's ''Programmable Series'' with '' Excitebike'' (1984), ''

Mach Rider is a vehicular combat racing video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo. It was first released for the Famicom in Japan in 1985, and for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in 1986 and for the PAL region in ...

'' (1985), and '' Wrecking Crew'' (1985)and the third party games ''

Castle Excellent ''Castlequest'' (known in Japan as ) is an adventure/puzzle video game. It was developed and published by ASCII Corporation in 1985 for the FM-7, PC-88, and Sharp X1. Additional versions followed in 1986 for the Famicom and MSX, and was su ...

'' (1989), ''

Arkanoid - Revenge of Doh ''Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh'' (a.k.a. ''Arkanoid 2'') is an arcade game released by Taito in 1987 as a sequel to ''Arkanoid is a 1986 block breaker arcade game developed and published by Taito. In North America, it was published by Romstar. C ...

'', ''

Lode Runner ''Lode Runner'' is a 2D puzzle-platform game, developed by Doug Smith and published by Broderbund in 1983. Its gameplay mechanics are similar to ''Space Panic'' from 1980. The player controls a character who must collect all the gold pieces in ...

'' (1984), and ''

Nuts & Milk is a puzzle-platform game developed and published by Japanese software developer Hudson Soft in 1983. The game was released for the FM-7, MSX, NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-6001, and later to the Famicom in Japan. Along with '' Lode Runner'', it was ...

''. As production costs decreased over the years, Nintendo later developed the

floppy disk A floppy disk or floppy diskette (casually referred to as a floppy, or a diskette) is an obsolescent type of disk storage composed of a thin and flexible disk of a magnetic storage medium in a square or nearly square plastic enclosure lined ...

based

, and ASCII Corporation created an external battery-backed RAM-disk called the Turbo File.

Operation

The Famicom Data Recorder is powered either by a 6 volt adapter or 4 AA batteries. The Recorder can be used as a conventional sound recorder, and includes a built in microphone in the bottom left hand corner of the unit. The Recorder has mono sound output from a built in speaker on the top of the unit. A convenient volume control is accessible on the left hand side. The Recorder has two data ports that use a conventional 3.5mm mono phone connector. The port on the left hand side is labeled "ear" and "load". The port on the right is labeled as "Mic" and "Save". When used as a data storage device the phone cables connected to the corresponding "write" and "save" ports on the Family BASIC keyboard. The Data Recorder set includes an instruction manual, a data cable, a Nintendo-branded

, a 6 volt AC adapter, and a carrying handle that extends from the front bezel.

References

{{Nintendo hardware, NES Nintendo Entertainment System accessories Computer-related introductions in 1984 Japan-only video game hardware Video game storage media