History of Disk Games: In Japan, the original Nintendo games were released in two formats: floppy disk and cartridge. Back in the early '80s, floppy disks were cheaper to produce than cartridges. For that reason, many of the original Nintendo games were released as floppy disks. For example, The Legend of Zelda was released on floppy in Japan in 1986. It was not released as a cartridge until 1992, which is even after the launch of the Super Famicom. Notice the two dates on the screen: 1986 & 1992.

Besides Zelda, many other famous games first appeared in Japan as Disk System games: Kid Icarus, Super Mario Brothers 2, Metroid, and Castlevania just to name a few.

Before the Twin Famicom, floppies were played via the the Disk System - an add-on peripheral to the Famicom. The Disk System was red and shaped like a large brick. The Disk System connected to the Famicom via a Rom Adapter Cable that plugged into the cartridge slot. When pictured side-by-side with the Disk System-Famicom combo, it's night and day; the Twin is like an updated sports car version. Same chassis, new curvy design.

Not Made by Nintendo: Surprisingly, the Twin Famicom was not manufactured by Nintendo. Nintendo contracted with fellow Japanese electronics giant Sharp to produce the Twin. Twin Famicoms were released in two colors: red and black. The red version was released first, but due to its perceived feminine appearance, Sharp dropped it in favor of the more masculine black. (Or so the story goes....)

Diskettes: Finding true original Disk System games to play on your Twin is quite a chore. Part of this is due to their extreme fragility. The Famicom Disk System games are without a doubt the most delicate software format ever developed for a gaming console. If you slide a floppy disk across the floor, kiss it goodbye. Any tiny dosage of: static electricity, hot/cold temperatures, moisture and you might as well toss it in the trash (or use it as a coaster for your beer). Original Disk System games were either yellow or blue. Other colors like white, black, etc., are pirated versions. In the picture is a copy of Golf - Japan Courses (blue) and Doki Doki Panic (yellow).

Loading Floppies: When you switch the Twin Famicom into "disk mode", Mario and Luigi appear on the screen and begin to frolic and chase each other around until you load a game. Loading times are typically about 3-5 seconds. Most games have a "Side A" and a "Side B" and require you to load both sides before game play begins. For example, to play Zelda you must load both Side A and Side B before you can advance beyond the Zelda startup screen. Once the game is in, a few clicks and whirls as the drive belt spins, and its game on. If the game doesn't load, then a numbered error message will appear on the screen. The numbered error messages are indexed in the Twin Famicom instruction booklet and can mean anything from "disk problem" to "take your game back to the store you bought it from." Honest.

Screen Shots: The graphics of Disk System games are no better and no worse than their cartridge counterparts. Here are a few screen shots of Disk System games in action on the Twin:

Doki Doki Panic Start Up Screen

Doki Doki Panic Character Select Screen

Golf - Japan Courses (Japan-only sequel to the original "Golf")

Super Rare Gold Famicom Disk (awarded on the Famicom Golf Tour)

Legend of Zelda - 1986 Disk System Version (left) and 1992 Cartridge Version