Aladdin Deck Enhancer
Encyclopedia
The Aladdin Deck Enhancer, produced by Camerica
, and developed by Codemasters
, is a cartridge based system that allows software on Compact Cartridges to be played on the Nintendo Entertainment System
. It is similar to the Datach
system for the Famicom
, but without the Barcode feature. It was released in November 1992, with its planned library to reach a total 24 games by the end of 1993, however only seven games were released.
The Aladdin Deck Enhancer invented by Richard Darling, contains a bypass Security Circuit Chip, a Memory Control Chip, and a Graphics Chip, which would work with the lock-out chip
and other features inside the Nintendo Entertainment System
. First the Compact Cartridge would be inserted into the Aladdin Deck Enhancer which is shaped the same as a standard NES cartridge, and then this would be inserted into the control deck. Inside the slot where the Compact Cartridge is placed there is a recessed switch, which changes the Security/Region settings from position A to position B. The device contains 8 kilobytes of RAM
for graphics use, much like 24.7% of all other NES games released in the US.
The idea behind the Aladdin Deck Enhancer was to provide a cheaper means with which to make the game cartridges mainly because each cartridge requires its own 10NES
lock-out chip, RAM and extra circuitry. Camerica was one of the major purveyors of unlicensed NES games, so the Deck Enhancer was a logical creation for them. Also, since the slot for the actual game was much smaller, less material was needed to produce a cartridge. However by the time the product was released the Super NES
and Mega Drive/Genesis were already released and the product never had a large installed base to warrant a large amount of software. Camerica never recuperated from the release and shortly was forced to close down. This led to a small amount of game systems produced, which in turn made it a valuable collectible to many collectors that can be sold for a good price.
Codemasters' game Dizzy Prince of the Yolkfolk
designed by the Oliver twins
was enhanced for the NES this release and retitled Dizzy the Adventurer and originally bundled with the Aladdin released in November 1992, it was the only 'Aladdin' game not released on a normal sized NES cartridge. Only another six titles were ever released, all primarily from Codemasters' library. More titles were listed as "Coming Soon", but never released as Aladdin cartridges. CJ's Elephant Antics
wasn't released as a standalone game at all but was part of the Quattro Arcade NES cartridge which contained three other games. Aladdin games were typically identical to their standalone counterparts with a few exceptions. The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy was the only one to receive any improvement, having a faster character, changed items system, and 250 instead of 100 stars to collect (other smaller things were changed as well). Baseball Pros on the Quattro Sports Aladdin cartridge seems to have a small problem. It always plays ten innings despite the score, rather than ending after nine when the score isn't tied.
Big Nose Freaks Out
Micro Machines
Camerica
Camerica was a company owned and operated by David J. Harding. It was a video game company that was notable for producing unlicensed Nintendo Entertainment System games and hardware. It was founded in 1988 and published games through 1992. It created a number of peripherals for the NES, including...
, and developed by Codemasters
Codemasters
The Codemasters Software Company Limited, or Codemasters is a British video game developer founded by Richard and David Darling in 1986...
, is a cartridge based system that allows software on Compact Cartridges to be played on the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
. It is similar to the Datach
Datach
The Datach or Datach Joint ROM System, was an add-on accessory by Bandai for the Family Computer and was released on December 29, 1992. It was packaged with one game, Dragon Ball Z: Gekitō Tenkaichi Budokai. Six other games that were released for it, including one of the last games for the Famicom...
system for the Famicom
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, but without the Barcode feature. It was released in November 1992, with its planned library to reach a total 24 games by the end of 1993, however only seven games were released.
Hardware
The Aladdin Deck Enhancer invented by Richard Darling, contains a bypass Security Circuit Chip, a Memory Control Chip, and a Graphics Chip, which would work with the lock-out chip
Lock-out chip
In a general sense, a lockout chip is a chip within an electronic device to prevent other manufacturers from using a company's device to perform certain functions....
and other features inside the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
. First the Compact Cartridge would be inserted into the Aladdin Deck Enhancer which is shaped the same as a standard NES cartridge, and then this would be inserted into the control deck. Inside the slot where the Compact Cartridge is placed there is a recessed switch, which changes the Security/Region settings from position A to position B. The device contains 8 kilobytes of RAM
Ram
-Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another...
for graphics use, much like 24.7% of all other NES games released in the US.
The idea behind the Aladdin Deck Enhancer was to provide a cheaper means with which to make the game cartridges mainly because each cartridge requires its own 10NES
10NES
The 10NES system is a lock-out system designed for the American version of the Nintendo Entertainment System video game console. Various companies found ways to bypass the authorization chip.-Design:...
lock-out chip, RAM and extra circuitry. Camerica was one of the major purveyors of unlicensed NES games, so the Deck Enhancer was a logical creation for them. Also, since the slot for the actual game was much smaller, less material was needed to produce a cartridge. However by the time the product was released the Super NES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
and Mega Drive/Genesis were already released and the product never had a large installed base to warrant a large amount of software. Camerica never recuperated from the release and shortly was forced to close down. This led to a small amount of game systems produced, which in turn made it a valuable collectible to many collectors that can be sold for a good price.
Codemasters' game Dizzy Prince of the Yolkfolk
Dizzy Prince of the Yolkfolk
Dizzy Prince of the Yolkfolk is an adventure video game published in December 1991 by Codemasters for the Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, DOS, NES and Amiga. It was the sixth game in the Dizzy adventure series...
designed by the Oliver twins
Oliver Twins
The Oliver Twins are two British brothers, Philip and Andrew Oliver, who started to professionally develop computer games while they were still at school. Their first game, Super Robin Hood for the Amstrad CPC, was published in 1985 by Codemasters...
was enhanced for the NES this release and retitled Dizzy the Adventurer and originally bundled with the Aladdin released in November 1992, it was the only 'Aladdin' game not released on a normal sized NES cartridge. Only another six titles were ever released, all primarily from Codemasters' library. More titles were listed as "Coming Soon", but never released as Aladdin cartridges. CJ's Elephant Antics
CJ's Elephant Antics
CJ's Elephant Antics is a platform video game developed by Genesis for the Commodore 64 with conversions made for the Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum and Nintendo Entertainment System. All ports were handled by Genesis with the exception of the ZX Spectrum version which was handled by Big...
wasn't released as a standalone game at all but was part of the Quattro Arcade NES cartridge which contained three other games. Aladdin games were typically identical to their standalone counterparts with a few exceptions. The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy was the only one to receive any improvement, having a faster character, changed items system, and 250 instead of 100 stars to collect (other smaller things were changed as well). Baseball Pros on the Quattro Sports Aladdin cartridge seems to have a small problem. It always plays ten innings despite the score, rather than ending after nine when the score isn't tied.
Aladdin Deck Enhancer games
Each game for the Aladdin came in a small cardboard box with a punched out hole at its top for it to be hung on a peg; inside instead of having the typical instruction booklet with many pages stapled together, they had a brochure/poster like instructions that folded out.Big Nose Freaks OutBig Nose Freaks OutBig Nose Freaks Out is a platform game for the NES, produced by Codemasters and published by Camerica. The player controls a cave man character who has had all his bones stolen from a prehistoric bank by a dinosaur. Bignose sets off on an adventure through numerous prehistoric settings...
| This is the second of two games starring Big Nose, the other being Big Nose the Caveman Big Nose the Caveman Big Nose the Caveman is a NES game made by Camerica that was released in 1991. It is a side scroller. In 1993-94, work was done in a port for the Sega Master System, but it was never released commercially, although a prototype version exists .-Story:You control the "Big Nose" character, who is... . Both are platform adventure games. In this adventure he rolls along on his wheel board, which is sort of like a skate board but with only one wheel, holding his trusty club and the occasional rocks. Bones are considered money in his time and Big Nose has gotten all his bones stolen, and must journey through this prehistoric land and get them back. |
Dizzy the Adventurer
| Dizzy is an egg-shaped hero with red boots and gloves, and in this sixth game in the Dizzy series Dizzy series The Dizzy series of computer games, published by Codemasters, was one of the most successful European computer game brands of the late 1980s. The games were based around a central figure: an intelligent egg-like creature called Dizzy... , Dizzy and Daisy were tricked into entering an old castle by the Evil Wizard Zaks, there Daisy pricks her finger and fell into a mysterious sleep, while Dizzy is imprisoned. He must escape and find a way to wake his girlfriend, but along the way he must solve many puzzles by bringing the right item to the right place. |
The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy
| An award winning game by Codemasters Codemasters The Codemasters Software Company Limited, or Codemasters is a British video game developer founded by Richard and David Darling in 1986... , and seventh game in the Dizzy series Dizzy series The Dizzy series of computer games, published by Codemasters, was one of the most successful European computer game brands of the late 1980s. The games were based around a central figure: an intelligent egg-like creature called Dizzy... . This time Dizzy must rescue his kidnapped girlfriend and help the rest of the Yolkfolk, along the way he must face numerous dangers, collect stars to get into the castle, and solve various puzzles. |
Linus Spacehead's Cosmic Crusade
| This is Linus' second adventure for the Aladdin Deck Enhancer, the other is available on the Quattro Adventure cartridge. Linus is home at last on his own planet Linoleum and must get a car and camera and go back to Earth and take pictures then return home. It is part a click-and-move adventure/puzzle and part side-scroller platform game. |
Micro MachinesMicro Machines (video games)Micro Machines is a series of computer and video games featuring toy cars, developed by Codemasters and published on several platforms Micro Machines is a series of computer and video games featuring toy cars, developed by Codemasters and published on several platforms Micro Machines is a series of...
| Licensed product of the Micro Machines Micro Machines Micro Machines: The Original Scale Miniatures were a line of toys originally made by Galoob in the mid 1980s and throughout the 1990s. Galoob licensed the idea behind Micro Machines from Clem Heeden, a toy inventor from Wisconsin... toy line. It is a racing game where the player controls miniature cars that drive over tables, along the floor, in a sandbox, a bathtub, and other such places. |
Quattro Adventure
| Four adventure-platform games on one cartridge. Boomerang Kid, has tossed away all the boomerangs of his town and now must go after them. Super Robin Hood, Robin hood must save his beloved Marion by searching the Castle for keys and switches while avoiding guards and other obstacles. Treasure Island Dizzy Treasure Island Dizzy Treasure Island Dizzy is a computer puzzle game published in 1987 by Codemasters for the Amstrad, Commodore 64, Spectrum, DOS, NES, Amiga and Atari ST.... is the second game in the Dizzy series Dizzy series The Dizzy series of computer games, published by Codemasters, was one of the most successful European computer game brands of the late 1980s. The games were based around a central figure: an intelligent egg-like creature called Dizzy... Dizzy the hero goes sailing one day gets lost in a storm and finds himself on a mysterious island, he must discover all the coins, located on the island and then how to get off the island, while solving various puzzles. Linus Spacehead while in a race, has crashed his space ship into the Earth and needs to get back home, he must pick up the pieces of his radio so he can signal home. He is only able to jump and duck while he moves through the various levels, while being attacked by fish, birds, coconuts, bats, and other such things. |
Quattro Sports
| Four sports games on one cartridge. Baseball Pros is a world wide baseball game where the player competes against teams from around the world. One or two players. Soccer Simulator is a top view soccer game where the player competes against teams from around the world. One or two players. Pro Tennis is a tournament based game with two player option. BMX Simulator BMX Simulator BMX Simulator is a sports arcade video game released by Codemasters in for several home computer systems. It is notable in that it is the first extreme sports video game... is a licenced product of the BMX BMX Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started... sports bike line, where the player controls a bicycle rider in a top view looking down at the track, similar to Super Sprint Super Sprint Super Sprint is a 1986 arcade game by Atari Games. The player drives a Formula One-like car on a circuit that is viewed from above.-Gameplay:... . |
Games announced but never released
The following games were announced, but were cancelled.- Bee 52Bee 52Bee 52 is a side scrolling game for the Nintendo Entertainment System .-Description:The player controls Bee 52, a honeybee with large eyes and a fly-like sucker for a mouth, through which it can spit projectiles at enemies. The game is played through 12 levels, the first four in a backyard, the...
- Big Nose the CavemanBig Nose the CavemanBig Nose the Caveman is a NES game made by Camerica that was released in 1991. It is a side scroller. In 1993-94, work was done in a port for the Sega Master System, but it was never released commercially, although a prototype version exists .-Story:You control the "Big Nose" character, who is...
- CJ's Elephant AnticsCJ's Elephant AnticsCJ's Elephant Antics is a platform video game developed by Genesis for the Commodore 64 with conversions made for the Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum and Nintendo Entertainment System. All ports were handled by Genesis with the exception of the ZX Spectrum version which was handled by Big...
- DreamWorld Pogie
- F16 Renegade
- Go! Dizzy Go!
- Metal Man
- Mig 29 Soviet FighterMig 29 Soviet FighterMig 29 Soviet Fighter is a shoot 'em up game developed by Codemasters in 1989 and released for several contemporary home computers. An unlicensed version was also released for the Nintendo Entertainment System by Camerica where the object is to defeat the World Terrorist Army. It is similar in...
- Stunt KidsStunt KidsStunt Kids is a side-scrolling motocross racing game developed by Codemasters for the Nintendo Entertainment System, and published in the United States by Camerica in 1992...
- Team Sports Basketball
- The Ultimate Stuntman