About: The Famicom 3D System is a Japan-exclusive accessory for the Nintendo Family Computer released in 1987. The 3D System consists of a pair of active shutter glasses and an adapter to connect them to the Famicom’s third player expansion port. The glasses are connected to the adapter via dual 3.5 mm jacks. This allowed compatible games to display a stereoscopic image similar to that of the Sega Master System’s SegaScope 3-D Glasses. Games would play in conventional 2D until a “3D mode” was activated by use of the select button.
Famicom 3D System Specs and Info…
Device: Famicom 3D System, (Twin Famicom 3D System)
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Announced Date: Unknown
Release Date: October 1987
Launch Price: $85.50 (£63)
Device Type: Other
Display: Active Shutter 3D System
Diagonal Field of View(FOV): 35°
Refresh Rate: 15 Hz
Weight: Unknown
CPU: N/A
GPU: N/A
Battery: N/A
Tracking: N/A
Controllers: N/A
Our Thoughts: Made in 1987 and released over 7 years before the Virtual Boy is the Famicom 3D System. This was Nintendos first ever 3D home gaming system but was only ever launched in Japan under the Famicom name. The system its self is an isometric 3D display that alternates the shutter on the glasses very much like most modern 3D glasses do, and there was even a port for 2 play 3D action!
It seems even Nintendo didn’t hold much love for it because they themselves only ever made one game (Hot Rally) for it! So sadly only 8 games were ever created for the system, but that might have been a mistake because most of the games actually look pretty decent! Sadly this lack of games and that it was never released overseas made this a non-runner from the start.
Sources used…
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famicom_3D_System