# Famicom Disk System > add-on for the Family Computer home video game console **Wikidata**: [Q135321](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q135321) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famicom_Disk_System) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/famicom-disk-system ## Summary The Famicom Disk System (FDS) is a video game accessory released by Nintendo on February 21, 1986, as an add-on for the Family Computer home console. It utilizes proprietary "Disk Cards" (a form of floppy disk) as its storage medium. The system is recognized for selling approximately 4.4 million units and featuring the mascot "Diskun." ## Key Facts - **Product Type:** Video game accessory and product model; classified as an add-on for the Family Computer console. - **Release Date:** February 21, 1986. - **Manufacturer:** Nintendo. - **Storage Medium:** Uses "Disk Cards," a type of proprietary floppy disk. - **Sales Figures:** Approximately 4,400,000 units sold (circa). - **Mascot:** Diskun. - **Generation:** Part of the third generation of video game consoles. - **Aliases:** Also known as FDS, Nintendo Famicom Disk System, Family Computer Disk System, and Famicom Disk Drive. ## FAQs ### Q: What is the Famicom Disk System? A: The Famicom Disk System is a peripheral add-on for Nintendo's Family Computer console. It allows the system to run games stored on proprietary floppy disks known as Disk Cards. ### Q: When was the Famicom Disk System released? A: The system was released by Nintendo on February 21, 1986. ### Q: What storage media does the system use? A: It uses a proprietary format called the "Disk Card," which is a specialized floppy disk. ### Q: How many units did the Famicom Disk System sell? A: The hardware sold approximately 4.4 million units. ## Why It Matters The Famicom Disk System represents a significant, albeit distinct, chapter in Nintendo's hardware history, serving as the company's dedicated add-on for the wildly successful Family Computer. Released in 1986, it bridged the gap between cartridge-based consoles and disk-based media, offering a proprietary "Disk Card" format during the third generation of video game consoles. While it was an official Nintendo product designed to expand the capabilities of the Famicom, historical analyses (such as those by Nintendo Life) have retrospectively characterized the hardware as a rare "misstep" in Nintendo's domestic dominance. Despite this reputation, the system established a notable footprint, selling approximately 4.4 million units. It introduced unique branding elements, including the mascot "Diskun," and hosted titles that are culturally significant to retro gaming enthusiasts. The existence of the system highlights Nintendo's historical experimentation with different storage mediums and hardware configurations before solidifying the cartridge standard for the subsequent Super Famicom/SNES generation. ## Notable For - **Proprietary Media:** Utilizing "Disk Cards," a unique floppy disk format distinct from standard cartridges or CDs. - **Mascot Identity:** Introducing "Diskun" as the dedicated mascot for the system. - **Sales Performance:** Selling roughly 4.4 million units, a notable figure for a console add-on. - **Historical Classification:** Being cited in historical retrospectives as a "misstep" in the domestic gaming hardware arena, despite being a Nintendo product. - **Extensive Nomenclature:** Having over ten different documented aliases and abbreviations (e.g., FDS, FCDS, Nintendo FDS). ## Body ### Overview and Classification The Famicom Disk System is a video game accessory classified as a product model and a subclass of video game console technology. It functions specifically as an add-on to the Family Computer (Famicom). Manufactured by Nintendo, the device falls under the broader category of video game accessories and is categorized as part of the third generation of video game consoles. ### Technical Specifications The system operates using "Disk Cards," which are identified in knowledge bases as a specific class of proprietary floppy disk designed exclusively for the Famicom Disk System. This media format was the primary differentiator between the add-on and the base Famicom hardware, which relied on ROM cartridges. ### Release and Commercial Performance The Famicom Disk System was published by Nintendo with a release date of February 21, 1986. Commercially, the device achieved sales of approximately 4,400,000 units globally (circa). While developed by Nintendo—a major video game industry leader headquartered in Kyoto—the system's legacy is sometimes viewed critically, with external sources describing it as a misstep in the company's hardware lineage. ### Branding and Identity The system features a distinct logo and a mascot named "Diskun." It is referred to by a wide variety of names and abbreviations in documentation and databases, including: * Nintendo Family Computer Disk System * FDS * Nintendo Famicom Disk System (NFDS) * Family Computer Disk System * Famicom Disk Drive ### External Identifiers The Famicom Disk System is cataloged in numerous gaming databases under various IDs, reflecting its extensive documentation in gaming history. Key identifiers include: * **MobyGames Attribute ID:** 2001 * **GameFAQs Platform ID:** famicomds * **Giant Bomb ID:** 3045-91 (former scheme) * **TheGamesDB Platform ID:** 4936 * **Video Game Museum System ID:** 16 ## References 1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 2. [Famicom Disk System | Nintendo | Fandom](https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Famicom_Disk_System)