NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – May 2019 update

For May 2019, both apps have received the same games. Still, there is a difference in one of them when compared between the western and Japanese versions. First, here’s the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Donkey Kong Jr.
  • Vs. Excitebike
  • Clu Clu Land
  • (SP) Star Soldier (Starts you with full upgrades at stage 8)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Donkey Kong Jr.
  • Vs. Excitebike
  • Clu Clu Land
  • (SP) Star Soldier (Same as above)

As you can see, the list is exactly the same. Vs. Excitebike was a Famicom game that was originally never released outside of Japan. But, since the game has no Japanese text, there was no issue in also making it available on the NES app.

Clu Clu Land, though, seems to have really options and levels when compared between the two releases. The music also seems to be different.

First Play – Space Ribbon and SKYPEACE

Got these two games through Gold Points a while ago since they were about to expire.

Both are ok overall. Space Ribbon has interesting ideas for a racer but the execution is really simple and generic. SKYPEACE, on the other hand, is a very simple mobile-style game but has a lot of polish in its art side, both graphics and audio.

Nintendo LINE account May 2019 calendar wallpaper

Here’s the mobile calendar wallpaper for May from Nintendo LINE account.

9760055298507

Yup, interesting art-style for Kinopio-kun.

And yeah, I haven’t really been posting much here recently. Been busy overall during the last month. There’s stuff I want to share, though. Also, have N Masters and Makendou Central updates to do. Both are under construction, btw, and the plan that I mentioned before still remains.

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – April 2019 update

The update for April 2019 brings things back to how they started. Both NES and Famicom get the same number of games. Still, though, there’s an important difference in Kid Icarus.

Below is the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
  • Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
  • Star Soldier
  • (SP) Kid Icarus (starts off in the final level with everything powered up)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (aka, Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan)
  • Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
  • Star Soldier
  • (SP) Kid Icarus (Famicom Disk version – Same start as above)

As expected, Kid Icarus in Japan is based on the Famicom Disk version. Besides the difference in sounds, though, there’s a huge difference in gameplay as well. The final level in the Japanese version is not an auto-scrolling one, but one where you can actually move the screen at your own pace. Also, you need to press the A button if you want to keep flying.

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – March 2019 update

March update brings the biggest difference between the two apps. For the first time, the NES app gets something that the Famicom app wont, StarTropics. The reason for this is the fact that StarTropics never got released in Japan. So instead, Japanese users get a game that was never released outside of their region, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. And then there’s also the usual extra game that Japan has been getting recently.

Below is the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Kid Icarus
  • StarTropics
  • (SP) Kirby’s Adventure (Starts with the first file finished with 100%)
  • (SP) Zelda 2 (Starts at the beginning but all powered up and with all the magic spells)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Yie Ar Kung-Fu
  • Kid Icarus (Famicom Disk version, features save files)
  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
  • (SP) Kirby’s Adventure (Same changes as the NES app)
  • (SP) Zelda 2 (Famicom Disk version, same changes as the NES app)

Yie Ar Kung-Fu was never released outside of Japan and is simply ignored in this month’s NES app update.

Remote Image Loader and Sequential File Downloader

These are two small scripts I made a while ago to help me see or download images with a sequential filename (001, 002, 003… etc).

The first one is done in JavaScript and it lets you view them on your browser. You can find the code here:

https://gitlab.com/linknm/remote-image-loader

Or you can use the web app here:

https://linknm.gitlab.io/remote-image-loader/

The second one is a small Python script I did afterwards. While my idea was still focusing on image files, it can pretty much download any kind of file too as long is it has an extension in its file name. You can check the code and download it here:

https://gitlab.com/linknm/sequential-file-downloader

Proper RGB setup is important

Video settings have gotten more complicated in the recent years. To be more precise, since HD TVs started to appear, there’s been more settings to configure.

The easiest part to configure is the resolution, as that’s pretty much done automatically and in the right way. The real confusion comes with another setting in the video, the RGB Range. Setting this part correctly is as important as the resolution, specially if you are going to take screenshots, record video, or stream. It’s even more important if you’re going to do any kind of graphic comparison.

Continue reading “Proper RGB setup is important”