FamicomBox (Cartridge)
Mario’s 40-year history is full of oddities – for day 15 of 40 of my countdown of the various formats that Mario has appeared on, I’m looking at the niche Famicombox cartridge.
In the mid-1980s, Nintendo released the FamicomBox – a commercial-grade Famicom built specifically for use in hotels, department stores, and game shops. These heavy-duty units could store up to 15 games at once, offering visitors a quick taste of Nintendo’s greatest hits.
Unlike the home Famicom, the Famicombox was: – Enclosed in a durable metal shell – Outfitted with extra RAM and custom lockout chips – Designed to withstand constant public use It supported a menu-based interface, letting players select from the installed games.
These were 72-pin NES-style carts, but Famicombox exclusive, and often included security chips to prevent tampering. Store staff could also lock out games from the menu to promote featured titles (often Mario!). Think physical DRM mixed with curated game-of-the-week vibes.
Depending on the location, players accessed games differently – some units accepted coins, others needed a key to start a timed session, and a few were even set up for free play. The Famicombox provided a unique blend of console and coin-op machine in some scenarios.
In the 80s, Nintendo and Sharp had a close partnership behind the scenes. SHARP didn’t just supply components – they built full-on licensed Nintendo hardware. From the Twin Famicom to the high-end Sharp Nintendo TVs. Sharp’s tech expertise boosted Nintendo’s reach.
Especially in Japan, Sharp blended cutting-edge displays with the magic of Mario long before HD was a thing. The Famicom Station was another example, a near-identical variant, usually found in hotel rooms, with a sleeker design mounted on metal legs and using grey carts.
Several Mario classics were made available in this format, including: Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Wrecking Crew, plus Mario also made his referee or umpire cameos in: Golf, Tennis, Punch-Out!! and Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
While the gameplay remained identical to the retail versions, the cartridges themselves were unique – often built with more durable components and locked to the system through custom hardware. These differences make them highly collectible today.
The Famicombox was never meant for home use – and most players never even knew it existed. But it helped Nintendo build brand recognition in public spaces and expose casual players to games like Super Mario Bros. in a low-pressure, arcade-like format.
Today, original Famicombox units and cartridges are rare collector’s items, especially those later titles and complete with the original keys and manual.
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