Harry Potter is playable and there are some decent enemy patterns to fly through. At the start of the game Harry is sluggish. Slower than the Vic Viper without any speed power ups slow... If you shoot an entire formation you might get a weapon power-up, a speed boost or an extra life represented a by flickering Harry Potter head.

Harry Potter Shooter [Siliconera]

Business Use Home Consoles [via Danny Choo]

Ha ha ha! Just imagine if I'd say, set aside that Nintendo DS until the Lite had appeared or simply shelled out $150 for a back up. Regardless of the profit I could make, it wouldn't be worth the hilarious story of me flushing money down the drain.

For an even better tale of throwing away money, remind me sometime to spin you the yarn of placing my Game Boy Advance in the garbage as a joke, then forgetting to remove it before the janitorial service disposed of it. It's a sidesplitter!

Shigeru Miyamoto Signed Super Famicom + Games [eBay via The BBPS]

1. PlayStation 2: 62.3 percent
2. Nintendo DS: 55.4 percent
3. Super Famicom: 42.5 percent
4. PlayStation: 37. 5 percent
5. Game Boy: 34.3 percent
6. Game Boy Advance: 31.8 percent
7. Famicom: 28.3 percent
8. NINTENDO64: 25.4 percent
9. PSP: 17 percent
10. Wii: 16.4 percent

Not had enough numbers? There are more! That, after the jump:

Women
1. Nintendo DS: 62 percent
2. PlayStation 2: 58.5 percent
3. Super Famicom: 40.3 percent
4. Game Boy: 36.4 percent
5. PlayStation: 36.2 percent

Men
1. PlayStation 2: 65.7 percent
2. Nintendo DS: 49.3 percent
3. Super Famicom: 44.5 percent
4. PlayStation: 38.8 percent
5. Game Boy: 32.3 percent

Teens
1. PlayStation 2: 64.1 percent
2. Nintendo DS: 55.8 percent
3. Game Boy: 51.1 percent

20s
1. PlayStation 2: 70.2 percent
2. Nintendo DS: 56.9 percent
3. Super Famicom: 42.7 percent

30s
1. PlayStation 2: 60 percent
2. Nintendo DS: 51.1 percent
3. Super Famicom: 39.1 percent

40s
1. Nintendo DS: 58.1 percent
2. PlayStation 2: 54.4 percent
3. Super Famicom: 42.8 percent

Console Data [Oricon via Itai News] [Pic]

Dragon Quest IV Ads [Siliconera]

• 80 percent play video games.
• 34.4 percent have five or more video game machines in their house
• In a multiple answer question, 82.2 percent usually play the DS and 39.8 play the GBA. The shocker? 4.8 percent still play the Dreamcast, and 5.1 still play the Saturn. Compare that to 10.5 percent who play the PSP and the 11.9 percent who play the Nintendo Famicom (NES). Yes, more Japanese kids play the NES than the PSP. Go ahead and say, "wow." Aloud, even!
• 70.3 percent play games alone.
• 20.2 percent are "forbidden" to play games by parents.

There's more data over at website What Japan Thinks. Check that out, it's fascinating.
NES to PSP [WJT]

Ashcraft posted about Japan's Amazing DIY Famicom Guitar back in February, but we've just caught wind of someone actually playing the thing. How's the wind? Not that great apparently, but maybe it's just this unimpressive rendition of the Super Mario Bros. theme stinking up the place. Or maybe Famicom inspired guitars are just best left on their stands. Michael McWhertor

This is truly impressive. A collection of the start screens from every Famicom game ever made all put together in a five minute video that is a wonder to behold. Someone obviously put a lot work into this and even finished it all off with a super funky soundtrack of "Magic Bird of Fire" by The Salsoul Orchestra. And how can you not love the Salsoul Orchestra? I mean, come on, they did an album with Charo. Yes, CHARO. Cuchi cuchi! Flynn De Marco

Is it real? I don't know, as I was absent during most of the Sony/Nintendo negotiations for this ultimately failed partnership, but it sure looks like the genuine article. Game Rave promises more updates "very, very soon." Michael McWhertor

Super Famicom Play Station Prototype [Game Rave]

Is it possible to buy all the Famicom games? We mean all, including that copy of Super Mario Bros. with characters from radio show All Night Nippon that was given away at raffles. On a recent episode of Oriental Radio's TV show Shuukan Oriraji Keizai Hakushou, comedians Nakagawa-ke attempt to find out. Trolling Akihabara and online sites, they are able get 1043 of the 1051 games — being unable to locate titles like the card based Datch games: Datach Ultraman, Datach SD Gundam, Datach J-League and Datach Dragon Ball Z. (Some of those Datach games are available over eBay.) And the total cost? Eight games short, their bill was ¥1,350,261 ($11,095). That averages out to about $10.60 per game, which, you know, isn't too bad if you've got money to burn.

Hit the jump for the show's clip. Brian Ashcraft

Oriradi [Official Site via Insert Credit]

What's being sold is unfortunately nothing more than a hacked ROM with a Super Mario Land meets Famicom label slapped on. The screenshots look like nothing more than a modified Super Mario Bros. 3 featuring some amatuer level and sprite editing and I'm fairly certain one could find this pirated ROM in the dark corners of the internet and save themselves some cash.

But if 150 bucks is just a drop in the bucket in your world for a "rare" NES curiosity such as this, go nuts. Me, I'll hunt it down and look for my old NESticle executable. Michael McWhertor

SUPER MARIO BROTHERS 4 IV Rare game [eBay, thanks Hero!]

Update: Hey! It's a hacked version of Armadillo! Thanks, MegaSeven.

Tokyo retailer METEOR is running an art show called "MY FAMICASE EXHIBITION" until May 31st of custom designed Famicom cartridges. Sure, the games aren't real, but the art is. Check out the gallery below. There are some real dazzlers! Brian Ashcraft

My Famicom [Gizmodo Japan]

Hudson's human mascot Takahashi Meijin is a living turbo switch. Into finger exercises, he can press the controller's "B" buttons something like 16 pps (presses-per-second). What about your skills? Above is a "B" button mock-up from the Famicom controller. It records how many times you can press it repeatedly in ten seconds. Me, I can't get my score above 65 pps. You?

P.S. Press your mouse. Not the actual screen. Brian Ashcraft

Button Pressing [Korokor Zai-ga]

It's been 13 years since the last Famicom game Takahashi Meijin no Bouken Jima IV was released. Leave it to a Japanese TV program to make a totally new, unofficial Famicom game, complete with packaging and an instruction booklet. The game is called Mr. Splash and not sold in stores. Players hover over a pool and try to splash a ball in their opponents goal. Best of all, normal people can actually play this game! So, Tokyo residents, head over to hipster space "gg" and fork over 200 yen for 15 minutes of Mr. Splash. Oh, there's going to be a tournament, and a cartridge will be given to the winner. But, remember, the tourney's on April 28th, and that's tomorrow! Here are the rules. Clips of the cartridge and game play after the jump. Brian Ashcraft

The players are getting a walk through in tips and tricks to be good at this game, but as previously mentioned, the basic point is to get your ball in your opponent's goal.

New Famicom Games [Gizmodo Japan]

Over the weekend, the fam and I hit Hankyu Department store in Umeda to check out the Nintendo Museum exhibit. Co-sponsored with magazine Nintendo Dream, the exhibition featured items from the collection of Isao Yamazaki. Goodies like retro Nintendo playing cards, post-war toys and retro consoles. Plus there were playable Wii/DS games and stuff to buy. The kid played a bit of Mario Kart on the VC — The staffer had to explain to him that the classic controller doesn't work like the Wii-mote. There were some neat items, like Mario design drawings. Anyway, I'll be uploading pics throughout my shift, so do be sure to check back. Brian Ashcraft

Bring on the saccharine cuteness! Idol Haruko Momoi covers popular anime songs via the Nintendo Family Computer on her new album Famison 8BIT. In case you are not familiar with Haruko Momoi, she's a Japanese voice actress, nerdy and gave herself the nickname "Halko," which was inspired by 2001's HAL. Have a listen for yourself here. Not bad, but I don't think I could make it all the way through in one listen. Brian Ashcraft

8BIT Album [Moeyo!]

Often, Mom and Pop retailers in Japan are actually official dealers of particular products. I've seen this countless times with companies like Panasonic. But Nintendo? While "wandering around aimlessly," Kotaku reader Landon came across the above shop which is a "Famicom Shop" that is "Licensed by Nintendo." He writes:

I was intrigued by the fact that it was officially licensed by Nintendo. Are there more closed-down shops like this around your area? This one was in a VERY small area — near the Saginuma station on the Den-en Toshi line. ...looked like it was completely closed down. It was on a weekday, around 4PM, so it should've been open if it was, but I saw no sign showing hours or anything, so I was one sad panda.

Sad panda, indeed! Brian Ashcraft

It's the game advertising equivalent of a monkey turning into a man! Not quite, but it is still interesting to see how promoting Metroid has evolved. Picking up where Flynn left off, web site Aeropause has a look back at Metroid's American and Japanese TV spots over the years. Nice cross-culture comparison. Just check out Famicom Disk System ad (above) and the NES one (after the jump) with added Rad Racer 3D headaches. Brian Ashcraft

Japanese Metroid Ads
American Metroid Ads [Aeropause]

Just look at that craftsmanship. An ingenious guitar loving individual hand made this Famicon electric six-string from Japanese timber. The measurements of the modeled Nintendo Family Computer even match up with the retro console. Everything, including the controller, the d-pad and the buttons were made from wood. The name of this creation? The Family Comguitar. Beautiful. Brian Ashcraft

The Family Comguitar [Mitsumatsu]

Just in time to add another bibelot to your already growing collection of Nintendo themed household accoutrement, comes this Famicom themed universal TV remote. Unfortunately, it doesn't control cable boxes or DVD players, only televisions. The list of compatible brands are: Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Sylvania, Sanyo, Aiwa, Hitachi, Philips, NEC, JVC, Toshiba, Mitsubishi and Fujitsu. Not recommended for TV's older than 5 years or so. And in case you were wondering, yes, this is an official Nintendo branded product. These are limited editions from Japan, so order now while supplies last! Flynn De Marco

Nintendo Controller Universal Remote [Think Geek - Thanks, Nova]

Picked by the pundits! Take a trip back to the Bubble-era with the ten best Japanese commercials for the Nintendo Famicom. Interesting to see Commedian Tokoro George in Japan-Only Disk System ads. (He's the guy in the Zelda ad with glasses. Side note: He voiced ALF in its Japanese dub.) My favorite? Actor/director/commedian/writer Beat Takeshi in the Taito Takeshi no Chousenjou spot. That, or the snappy Namco La Salle Ishii no Child's Quest, which looks like an earlier version of THE IDOLM@STER. Hard to choose! Brian Ashcraft

Line Up Here [Pya! Jidai to Kawaru]

They call it FAMI-COMFORT. A straight up Famicom emulator found in Akihabara by the Gizmodo Japan guys for a mere 999 yen (US $8.60) before sales tax. I'm sure somewhere in this country there is even cheaper, but with the Virtual Console alive and kicking are things like emulators now obsolete? Brian Ashcraft

FAMI-COMFORT [Giz Japan]

Light years ago, when it was cool to wear yellow sweatshirts, Hudson's human mascot Takahashi Meijin taught Japan "Famicom taisou" ("NES exercises"). Well, yellow sweatshirts may not be hip anymore, but Takahashi Meijin still is. Here is his modern day bald version teaching game aerobics to former Morning Musume singer Mari Yaguchi and Mr. Bad Teeth. (Not his name, but fitting nonetheless.) Takahashi Meijin points out:

I don't know if it really helps with gaming. Back then if you put 'Famicom' on anything, everyone would do it.

Today, too! So, everyone. Ichi, ni, san, Famicon taisou, Famicom taisou, FAMICOM TAISOU!! Brian Ashcraft

I love these Japanese Metroid commercials. In the first, Samus Aran surfs a 3.5" floppy through the universe to battle gelatinous, brain-sucking slugs. I also love how Japanese pronounce every letter in the English language like a separate syllable. "Muh-eh-tuh-ruh-oid-u!"

In the second, a sexy bikini Samus morphs into full battle armor, but only after we discover that all Anglo-Saxon scientists of the future speak perfect Japanese. Florian Eckhardt

Every game worth their salt is familiar with Super Mario Bros. minus world. But have you seen the Famicom Disk System's version? Utterly surreal. Florian Eckhardt

Destructoid's dudes found this pretty swank retro Famicom Alarm Clock over at Think Geek. Best serving as a travel alarm, the clock features:

• Alarm clock looks like a classic NES (Famicom in Japan) Controller • Use the D-Pad and buttons to change modes and set the alarm • Alarm sounds from Super Mario Bros. • Built-in mini-game • Score high enough in the mini-game and unlock another alarm sound. • Built-in Stand • Dimensions: 5 x 2 x .8 • Requires 2 AAA Batteries. Not Included.

I like the concept of a mini-game to unlock another alarm sound. I'm betting on the Zelda theme — that would certainly make for a rousing start to a bleary-eyed morning. It goes for $25, which isn't too shabby.

Nintendo Controller Alarm Clock [Think Geek]

After seeing that lame Wii-mote wheel doohickey from Thrustmaster that we posted yesterday, it just goes to show how far we've evolved in the gimmick department. Got a crap racer? Here's a crap peripheral to go with it!

Check out more pics of this Varie developed controller that was responsible for some weepy Christmas mornings over at the Video Game Memorabilia Museum. Michael McWhertor

Odd blowup bike peripheral

This Japanese ad, for the Famicom disk system in the early 80's, proves Japanese people screamed a lot even two decades ago. Banzai! Florian Eckhardt

For my yen, the most fascinating thing about Japanese arcades aren't the sticker picture booths or even the video games, but the array of prize machines. More interesting than how the machines actually work are the prizes they offer. Take this "Famicom Catcher" machine. Lucky, and I'm using that word loosely, winners get a Famicom cartridge or this goldfinger Nintendo-slash-PlayStation bastard child. Brian Ashcraft

The FAMI-EIGHT is an Famicom emulator with eight 8-bit games built in. From the looks of it, the games are Nintendo knock-offs like this mushroom Mario-copy. Cool thing is that the console actually can play honest-to-goodness Famicom cartridges. There are even two controllers, and the machine comes in a variety of colors like gray, purple, orange, black and white and red. And the sticker price was like US $9! Not bad for a soon-to-crap-out emulator. Brian Ashcraft

Before Mike Tyson tattooed his face, chomped ears and raped anything in sight, he was a pretty cool boxer. And cool boxers deserve one thing: Multiple cartridge versions of their video game. Game blog Destructoid points to this wonderfully obsessive compilation of Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! carts from around the globe. There are also photos of rabbits, but they have nothing to do with Tyson. We think. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [PBase] via Destructoid

Ever wonder what is going on in those zany Japanese comedy shows? This clip from the mid-1980's features comedic legend Shimura Ken in a Super Mario Bros. parody. I just watched it, and there are a few good jokes in there. It's far from Shimura's best, though. Here's my English explanation of what exactly is going on:

It's the Famicom boom. A troupe of girls come in, talk about what games they have and decide to start playing Super Mario Bros. Shimura Ken enters, asks what they are doing and says he wants to play. They tell him that only people who brought games can play. He says can't afford games, because he is poor. The girls play paper rock scissors to figure out who should go first. Shimura Ken goes over to play and they give him dirty looks, causing him to back into the corner. So one of the girls invites him over, saying "You can play, but only paper rock scissors." One of the girls wins. She plays through Mario, and Shimura Ken says he's going to play by himself. Cut to Shimura dressed as Mario, hitting his head and hurting himself, jumping over goombas. Finally, he plunges into a pipe filled with water. The other girls appear and say, "You're so stupid!" Shimura Ken squirts water at the girls.

Translating jokes sucks. I'm sure you could probably figure the clip out with my Cliffs Notes, but here they are in case you couldn't. Often people write Japanese comedy off as simply being "stupid" or "strange," but it's pretty close to a lot of American or Western humor. The comedic beats and punch line set-ups are exactly the same. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Aeropause]

That isn't a Black Mage air freshener. DIY type Sexylilsushiroll over on Craftster crafted the Final Fantasy character out of Perler beads, which are those small plastic beads that are melted together on an iron plate. Sexylilsushiroll has a page full of her handiwork, including Ryu from Ninja Gaiden, Super Sonic and the ubiquitous Mario. Neato! Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Wonderland]