Region Information

The various official models of Famicom-compatible hardware can be grouped by game connectors, video standard, and security chip. For more information on hardware, visit the Model Differences page.

Famicom (60-Pin)

60 Hz NTSC

"Region free"

• Family Computer (HVC-001): fixed controllers (with microphone replacing player 2's Start and Select), widely used 15-pin expansion port, cartridge audio loop for additional sound hardware, integrated NTSC-M RF modulator switchable between Japanese channels 1 and 2 (equivalent to American channels 95 and 96).
• Family Computer (Taiwan) (HVC-001): Nintendo logo in kanji. Same as above.
• AV Famicom (HVC-101): new design, sporting the Nintendo multiout connector with AV out (hence the name) and removable controllers which use the same connectors as the NES. Most NES controllers are compatible, but controllers which use port 2 for extra functions (i.e. Zapper, Four Score, Power Pad) will not work without modification.

"50/60" Hz PAL

"Region free"

• Family Computer Hong Kong Version: a Japanese model fitted with a slightly slower clock generator and a proprietary NTSC to PAL converter which outputs a signal vaguely similar to PAL60 with System I sound. A slowdown switch found on the back provides a relatively more standard 50 Hz PAL-I signal (but still with non-negligible tolerances).

NES (72-Pin)

When the Famicom was brought over to the United States as the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo also completely redesigned their game cartridges, making them physically larger and giving them an increased number of contacts (72 versus 60). This renders all Famicom cartridges physically incompatible with NES consoles, but a wide variety of cartridge adapters are available that allow most Famicom games to be played on NES consoles. Unlike the Famicom, the NES does not have a provision for external cartridge audio so no NES game ever featured extra audio. This functionality was moved to the bottom expansion port on front loading consoles, which went unused.

All front loading NES consoles feature a CIC (Checking Integrated Circuit) chip designed to lock out both unlicensed games and games outside the console's intended region. While the NES's design remained generally the same across the world, NTSC models used the same 2A03 CPU and 2C02 PPU as the Famicom while PAL models used the PAL-specific 2A07 CPU and 2C07 PPU. Note that despite sharing most of the same internals, PAL-A, PAL-B and Asian/Hong Kong models use different lockout chips and so their corresponding cartridges are not compatible with each other without modifying the NES console or using an adapter. All 72-pin NES cartridges have the same form factor and pinout across all regions.

Except for Asian and Hong Kong consoles, PAL models have additional diodes on their controller ports and in stock form can only use controllers that have pull-up resistors, such as the NES-004E. However, they can be easily modified to remove this restriction. They also tend to have a blue power socket, which has a larger barrel diameter than NTSC NES consoles despite the two having identical power requirements.

PAL-A (3197)

PAL-A games and hardware use the region codes GBR (United Kingdom and Ireland), UKV (also United Kingdom and Ireland), AUS (Australasia) or ITA (Italy). Some PAL-A cartridges will also have a large letter "A" on the front label denoting their compatibility.

• Mattel Version (NESE-001), named after the original exclusive importer in Australia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
• NES Version (NESE-001), the same after Nintendo of Europe took over distribution for the above countries except Italy.
• Versione Italiana, used on Italian consoles after GiG (Grossisti Italiani Giocattoli) took over distribution from Mattel in the early 1990s.

PAL-B (3195)

PAL-B games and hardware encompass a large variety of region codes, including, but not limited to, NOE (Germany), FRA (France), EEC (most of mainland Europe), ESP (Spain) and SCN (Scandinavia). Some PAL-B cartridges will also have a large letter "B" on the front label denoting their compatibility.

• European Version (NES-PAL-001, later NESE-001), sold in most of mainland Europe except Italy.
• Version Española (NESE-001), sold in Spain after Nintendo of Europe established a presence in that country.
• NES consoles sold in France (NESE-001(FRA)) look nearly identical to NTSC consoles as they lack any distribution information on their front lid.

Asia (3196)

• Asian Version (NESA-001), officially sold in: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand. Asian games and hardware have the region code ASI. This version of the NES was also sold in India as the Samurai Electronic TV Game, though examples are extremely rare.
• Hong Kong Version (NESA-001 (HKG)), nearly identical to the Asian Version but has a PAL-I RF modulator switchable between channels A and B.

"Region-free"

• New-Style NES (NESP-101), the PAL top loader. It was only released in Australia and New Zealand, but since it lacks a lockout chip, it can play any PAL game. Compatibility with NTSC cartridges varies depending on the game.

NTSC

North American (3193/6113)

• Nintendo Entertainment System (NES-001) with no additional text: the classic front loader.

Korean (3195)

• Korean Version (Hyundai Comboy) (HGM-2000), same internals as the North American model but uses the same 3195 lockout chip as PAL-B consoles. Korean games and hardware use the region code KOR.

"Region free"

• New-Style NES (NES-101), lacks a lockout chip, though compatibility with PAL cartridges varies depending on the game.

PAL Games with NTSC ROMs

A handful of early PAL releases use the exact same ROM chips as their North American counterparts, and as a result are not optimized for 50 Hz or PAL video in any way. In addition, they will also play perfectly at their intended speed on a modified NTSC front loader (to circumvent the different lockout chip) or top loader. This is not the case with most PAL releases on an NTSC system as many of them were at least partially optimized for 50 Hz.

• Baseball
• Clu Clu Land
• Donkey Kong
• Donkey Kong 3
• Donkey Kong Jr.
• Donkey Kong Jr. Math
• Duck Hunt
• Gumshoe
• Gyromite
• Hogan's Alley
• Ice Climber
• Kid Icarus
• Popeye
• Stack-Up
• Super Mario Bros. (on some early copies)
• Urban Champion
• Volleyball
• Wild Gunman
• Wrecking Crew