Famicom Data Recorder HVC-008 is a compact cassette data interface for the Family Computer

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...

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History

Manufactured by Matsushita/Panasonic for Nintendo, the Drive was released in 1984

1984 in video gaming

-Notable releases:* May 10, King's Quest , the first animated adventure game, the first in the King's Quest series, and the first to use the AGI engine.* June 4, Nintendo releases Donkey Kong 3...

 only in Japan as an addition to the Family BASIC Keyboard to save data from BASIC

BASIC

BASIC is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages whose design philosophy emphasizes ease of use - the name is an acronym from Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code....

 programs created by users. Also, Castle Excellent, Excitebike

Excitebike

is a motocross racing video game franchise made by Nintendo. It first debuted as a game for the Famicom in Japan in 1984 and as a launch title for the NES in 1985. It is the first game of the Excite series, succeeded by its direct sequel Excitebike 64, its spiritual successors Excite Truck and...

, Mach Rider

Mach Rider

is a futuristic driving video game created by Nintendo. It was first released on October 18, 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, as one of the 18 initial launch games. A month later, on November 21, the title was released in Japan. On March 15, 1987 it was released in Europe and Australia...

and Wrecking Crew

Wrecking Crew (video game)

is a action game developed and published by Nintendo. It was designed by Yoshio Sakamoto and released as a launch title for the Nintendo Entertainment System.-Gameplay:...

can use this device in order to save tracks/stages created by users. The drive uses standard Compact Cassette

Compact Cassette

The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...

 tapes.

The drive was needed due to the high cost of storing data by battery backup; the high cost of production also led Nintendo to create the Famicom Disk System

Famicom Disk System

The was released on February 21, 1986 by Nintendo as a peripheral for the Family Computer console in Japan. It was a unit that used proprietary floppy disks for data storage. It was announced, but never released, for the North American Nintendo Entertainment System...

. Whilst ASCII Corporation created the Turbo File

Turbo File (ASCII)

The Turbo File devices from ASCII Corporation are external storage devices for saving game positions on various Nintendo consoles. The devices have been sold only in Japan, and they are mainly supported by ASCII's own games.- Turbofile :...

, an external battery-backed RAM-disk for storing game positions.

Operation and use

The Data recorder was powered either by a 6 volt adapter or 4 AA batteries. The recorder could be used as a conventional sound recorder, and included 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 jack plug. 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 included an instruction manual, a data cable, a Nintendo-branded Compact cassette, a 6 volt AC adapter and a carry handle that extends from the front bezel.

Legacy

The Data Recorder did not suffer the same problems that relegated other first party Nintendo peripherals to the sidelines. This recorder is perhaps the only first party Nintendo peripheral that functions outside of its intended purpose as a game save device and could be operated without ever owning a Famicom. However it became obscure with low sales and virtually unknown outside of Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

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