From: Michael Fitz <Mike.Fitz <at> LAMBADA <dot> OIT <dot> UNC <dot> EDU>
Date: 22 aug 1994
Subject: Re: Shogi Programs for PC

Some more info on using the SNES for Japanese games:

> >
> > Two years ago, Michael Mattock <Michael_Mattock <at> rand <dot> org>
> > reported a program called "Super Shogi." It works on the Super
> > Nintendo if you have an adaptor. I quote Michael: "I got it for
> > $92.00 at my local Yaohan Pony Toy Go Round; if you shop around
> > you should be able to get it for about $70.00 to $80.00. The
> > adaptor costs about $30.00."

Most SF carts now run in the $120 range if you buy them from Pony Toy.  If
you look in some of the Video games magazines for the mail-order outlets
that stock Japanese games, and you know what you want, they might be able
to cut you a better deal.

[...]
> Apparently, these would also fit the Super Nintendo
> with an adaptor, but I don't know the specifics because
> I actually use the Super Famicom with a voltage

The "adapter" is still available and is still around US $30.  The US SNES
and the Japanese SF are electronically the same machine.  The only things
that keep SF carts from plugging into the SNES are two tabs at the base of
the SNES card slot that help the user align the card slot with the game
cartridge.  Some stores that rent anime games will cut the slots in the
cartridge, but most gamers usually just remove the tabs.

At US $85 for the SNES vs US $300 for the SF, you can see that doing the
surgery on the SNES or even buying the adapter is a much more economical
proposition.

> adapter (100 to 110). I remember a comment here
> that said the voltage difference might affect
> the strength of the program also, which means that
> using these cartridges in a Super Nintendo might
> be unpredictable.
>
What rubbish!!  Video games are computers, and most computer parts
nowadays operate at 5 volts or less (like the PROM in the cartridge that
holds the game program).  THis is true regardless whether you live in
Japan, Europe, or the USA.

[...]

The Pony Toy is usually out of Shogi carts...>sigh<. Maybe Christmas will
be a better time...

...but "Shin-Majan" by Konami is an excellent Mah-Jong game.  Any
riichi ma-jan players out there? I need some help with the rules!


--Mike Fitz
Mike_Fitz <at> launchpad <dot> unc <dot> edu